Chapter 11: A year!

Summer was a harvest period. The sights of golden fields of ready yields were visible in the farms of many.

It was around this time when the children said their first words. Lucien's being, "Mom." and Mikaela's being, "Papa!"

While some conflict happened in reasoning why they would say those words, it cooled down when they said the other parents' title after a period of consistent training and repetition.

The weather was perfect for being outdoors, the children had a lot of time outside the house basking in the sun and became slightly tan.

Soon, the season changed as time passed and there were constant rain showers. The season of fall and endings. It was also a time when children were prone to sickness. Testament to that, The children had constant fevers and allergies. Thanks to healing spells, it was a relatively easy time. The children started to learn a few things from observing their parents. 

They would feed themselves often but sometimes whine to be fed which the parents were more than happy to do. They would start expressing themselves more with 'yes' and 'no' words. They understood some phrases but did not comprehend complex sentences. That being said, most of the day, the parents would actively start conversations with the children. 

Mikaela and Lucien felt uneasy with strangers and easily distinguished familiar and unfamiliar people. It was a huge development over the past weeks.

"Little Lu is so smart. Isn't he a smart boy? He is! Who is my smart baby? Luu!" Bianca played with little Lucien in her arms as she swayed around the house. It was raining outside and the air was very damp. She could not settle down so she played with Lucien. Lucien obliged and giggled and mimicked some of her words.

Anette had visited and was seated watching this silently. In her arms was Little Mikaela who snuggled and was peacefully sleeping in her embrace. His tranquil sleep was undisturbed by the ruckus Bianca was making. 

"Gah! Ga! Luu! Mama!" Little Lucien responded. 

Bianca squealed happily at this and kept forming more silly sentences and expressions. 

'It never gets old,' lampooned Anette.

She had seen so much of this scene over and over too many times. Bianca never got tired of receiving a response or the mention of 'mama'.

It was to be expected. Unlike her Little Mikaela, Lucien was a very quiet kid. He rarely smiled, cried, or talked. He stared off and observed others silently. He would only respond when stirred or cry when he needed something. For that, he was a very easy-maintenance child. 

Mikaela in her arms was Lucien's exact opposite. He would make noise every moment of the day he was awake and whimper and laugh very often. He was easy to comfort though as he settled down in his parent's embrace. Easily manageable as well. A spontaneous child is how Anette would describe Mikaela.

Soon enough it was a year since they arrived at Grinas village. Nearing the day of Luz and the children's birthday. The baby's first year.

It was a special event and they wanted to celebrate it. Lucien and Mikaela were, after all, their precious babies. Bianca was most enthusiastic about it. Followed by Mitchell who wanted to shower his son with love any chance he got. Anette and Merlin were not unsupportive of it. Their reaction was much milder but it didn't stop them from helping with the planning. 

On an evening of the autumn nearing winter season, a family of six was gathered together in a room. 

The candles swayed lighting up the room and the two birthday stars wore cotton one-piece suits specially sewed by Bianca. A warm meal was made by Anette part of which was hunted by Mitchel and Merlin. 

The children crawled and sat up in their cradle looking curiously at their parent's activities. It could not be helped since Mitched was mischievously waving a warped box in the children's faces while Bianca was dancing with a cloth pouch completely immersed in her own bubble world of joy and excitement. 

Merlin watched Bianca fascinated by her playfulness, under his shadowed face was a hidden curve on his lips. It had been a constant sight of Bianca who seemed to have returned to her childhood. Even as her husband, he found this sight new and enthralling. 

Anette facepalmed at the silly sight of her husband. She was beyond embarrassed but she took comfort in Bianca's more eye-catching performance. 

Lucien and Mikaela giggled and made 'Guh! Guh! Gah! Gah!' noises while randomly saying 'Mama' and 'Papa' every so often. 

Mikaela was most frustrated, he would reach out to grab at whatever his father had in hand but would be left empty-handed. He had even stood up on the cradle. When he understood his pleading would not grant him his wishes, he switched tactics. Facing his mother, Anette, he called in the most pleading voice.

"Mammaaa!! Pleessh!!" 

Anette was caught off guard by this and remained motionless for a while. Soon her smile was revealed as she laughed in amusement at the child's intelligence. 

'He should have known to come to me first!' she harrumphed proudly in her mind.

What could she do in the face of such cuteness?

"We should get started!" Anette's voice sounded bringing all focus on her. 

She stood up and walked to her child, Mikaela, and picked him up. 

"We should get you your present, right, My Little Kaela." Mikaela in her arms giggled as he snuggled into her arms. If not enough, he turned to Mitchell and gave him the tongue and a stink face. 

The room could not help but light up in laughter at this sight.

While Mitchell was gloating about his loss, Bianca picked up Lucien and passed him to Merlin. She handed the bag in her arms to him as well. The two stared at her in confusion. 

Bianca felt they were very similar with a blank expression. She giggled and took out a photo printer they had carried with them. It was an upgraded version that printed out real-time photos in an instant. It was convenient.

She placed it at an angle and pointed to Merlin's direction. Merlin became enlightened and called out to Anette and Mitchell.

"Anette, Mitchell." his words were as short as ever.

Anette and Mitchell walked over and stood beside him with Mikaela in Anette's arms. 

Bianca set a timer and ran up to Merlin. Merlin naturally passed the child into her arms, held her waist, and looked in the lens direction. His effort not to look too cold failed miserably with his stone-frozen face. His sharp silver eyes didn't help much either. 

Mitchell beamed a smile with his two sets of whites looking zestful and chivalrous. Anette beside him was his exact opposite but she tried smiling knowing it was a precious moment for her child. Maybe the only reason she would bring herself to form a curve of her lips. Lucien and Mikaela were drawn to the blinking lights on the photo printer eager to find out its secrets. 

Kacha!

The picture was taken.

The babies' curiosity got the best of them trying to find out what was hidden within the bag and box. 

"Mama! Whad dis? Papa!" urged Mikaela.

Beside him, Lucien silently tried maneuvering his little hands to open it but it proved too difficult. His weak clumsy hands gave up and he looked at Merlin. Merlin locked eyes with him and inwardly sighed.

"Bianca, help him," said Merlin.

Bianca was more than happy to do it. She effectively forgot the attention Merlin got from Lucien quickly. 

Lucien got a a picture book powered by runes which produced sounds when pressed. Animal noises, weird voices, normal words. All were compiled within the covers. 

It was a fascinating book in Lucien's eyes and kept flipping the pages staring in deep curiosity.

Mikaela's gift was not so different from Lucien's. He got a coloring book and a set of huge crayons. It was just a non-magical one but he loved it all the same. His interest was mostly in the crayons not knowing what the plain colorless book was for. He held some tightly in his hands, not daring to drop them despite not knowing what they were.

This time, side by side, the children had their first year pictures taken. Their merry spirit was captured within a paper frozen in time. The precious moment would forever be unforgotten.

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