VI. Birthday (3)

After leaving the gate I head down the road and quietly make my way into the forest, out of site. I transform into a werewolf and run on all fours at full speed to my home. it only takes a couple of minutes, which is fast considering my home is around 5 kilometers away from Koto City.

I have no problem showing or interacting with people in my werewolf form, since there are beastkin variants who look similar to me, but as far as I'm aware there are no werewolves in this world. Which is useful, since I essentially have two identities when it comes to interacting with humans, elves, and demons. The beastkin will just recognize me by scent though so it wouldn't work on them.

Thinking of some useless things again, I've arrived home.

It's quiet, but I can smell 4 individuals. One is my mother, and another is Takeo-san? The other two are a woman, and and female child.

What's Takeo doing here? I know he's a friend of the family, but he never visited before.

I open the door casually.

Valister: "I'm home."

Everyone: """Happy Birthday!!"""

Oh? It's my birthday? I'm mean, yeah I knew that, but what's with the big celebration? All my other birthdays were pretty weak.

Daria: "Congrats on turning 15, sweetie!"

Mom came up and kissed me on the cheek.

Takeo: "Congrats, Val. Your finally graduated from being 'little'. Guess that makes you an adult now.

Valister: "Uh, what's going on? None of my other birthdays were like this. Is this some sort of important time?"

Daria: "Yes, sweetie, a person turns into an adult at 15! I wanted to keep it a surprise so I didn't tell you about it. Well have to go to the church tomorrow to complete the adult ceremony."

Valister: "Oh, okay. So, Takeo-san, these people are...?"

Takeo: "Yes, this is my wife, Hana, and my daughter, Taki."

Hana is a pretty looking onee-san with brown hair and hazel eyes. Taki has Takeo's black hair and green eyes.

Hana: "Hello, I'm Hana. It is nice to meet you. It's kind of hard to believe your only 15. You look like a grown man. Say hello, Taki.

Hana gently grabs Taki's arm and waves it softly.

Valister: "Hello, I'm Valister Vellwood."

I wave my hand and smile in response.

Taki: "Aaahh. Nah, naaaah."

After Taki takes a look at me, she starts leaning and grabbing towards me. Aw, what a cute gesture.

Hana: "Ara, ara. It seems Taki-chan has taken a liking to Val-kun. Has she found her future husband?"

Wow, I know I have a killer smile, 'cause I'm handsome and all, but to even 'seduce'(?) a baby who doesn't even know her left from right? That's too much. Damn my elven blood, I didn't want this.

(A/N: FBI OPEN UP!)

Takeo: "Heh, he'll have to be more than just handsome to be able to take my daughter. Hmph."

He pouts and looks away.

Oh, he's a tsundere dad. I know you like me as a friend, Takeo, but you don't have to say it so openly. Weirdo.

Daria: "Ok, now that we've finished with the greetings, let's cut the cake!"

Mom brings us to the kitchen table which was already set with the small cake.

It's small because sugar is expensive. That's ok though, I've never had much of a taste for sweet things in this life. Probably because I'm a wolf.

We all sat down and they sung this worlds version of 'Happy Birthday'. Even Taki sung along, albeit it was only daaah's and baaah's and out of rythem.

After the singing, mom brought out the delicious beef stew she cooked, along with the hare I hunted, a side dishes of rice for everyone and various vegetables dishes separated by the type.

I devour the my share of the beef stew and hare. I would've asked for more since this is not nearly as much as I usually eat, but I held back since it wouldn't be normal for an elf to eat so much. I can just eat later when the guests leave.

Then we dug into the cake. It was good, but I prefer meat.

After we ate, we settled into the living room and talked about various things like my future and what I wanted to do. I'm gonna be an adventurer, obviously.

While we were talking I was playing with some toys along side Taki. She seemed to like me alot and constantly sat on my lap while she played with her dolls. She sure likes me alot. Have I raised a flag? Is she gonna remember me in 15 years? I hope not.

---------------

After the Takeo family left, which took forever as they had to wait until Taki was asleep, as she didn't want to leave, mom finally gave me more food.

After I finished eating, I went to go to my room before mom stopped me.

Daria: "Hold on, sweetie, I got a present for you."

Oh, I didnt get much presents on previous birthdays. I guess the 15th is just the only one that really matters.

Daria: "Here you go. I knew that you wanted to be an adventure ever since we first visited the guild when you were 5. So I got you something to make your adventures easier for you. I hope you like it."

She hands me a square hemp bag with something folded inside, along with something square and hard. A book?

I open it up, and to my surprise it's the same soft armor I saw at the shop with the pretty clerk! And a basic magic book that teaches lightning.

It's a full body armor, so it looks like a wet suit. The only place it open is the hands and part of the upper foot and heels, leaving a band that covers the middle of the soles.

No wonder mom has been working so hard this past year. full body soft armor is hella expensive! So are magic books! Most adventurers who can afford soft armor usually go for the half torso type that covers their belly while wearing regular hard armor on their chest, or the leotard type that the sexy mage in the city wore. While magic books are hard to come by, and even harder to buy, since mages and wizards are known to be stingy.

Valister: "Wow, this is absolutely fantastic! Thank you, mom!"

I gave mom the biggest hug I've given her while being careful not to hurt her, and she gives me a kiss on the fire head, while she can still reach it.

Daria: "Hehe~ I'm glad you like it, sweetie. Make sure to take good care of the armor. It was a very expensive custom order. And since you seem to have been interested in lightning magic I got one one from an acquaintance."

This is awesome. I got exactly what I wanted.

I'm even more pumped to start adventuring. I'm gonna register with the guild as soon as we're finished with the church.

I put mom down and give her a kiss on the cheek.

Valister: "I'm gonna head to sleep now! I want to get ready for tomorrow!"

Daria: "Heh, okay, sweetie, have a nice rest then. Oh, and your dad will be here tomorrow. He has something to tell you."

Valister: "Okay, goodnight!"

Maybe today's not so boring after all.