Happy Birthday

"We'll find glory up ahead!"

"Glory?"

"Yeah! It's what those old knights that papa always talks about say! They also slay the dragon and save the princess!"

"But who's going to be the princess?"

"Oh… I-I don't know."

"It's alright Victoire, I can be the prince in danger instead. Come, let's go find a dragon for you to slay."

Olivier gently grabbed his younger sister's hand and took her into their shabby house. She had a warm smile as they looked for their mother, Lisa.

The floor of the house creaked with each step. Some of the paint was peeling off the walls and ceiling in hard-to-reach spots. There was a light layer of dust coating some their old photos.

The two entered the kitchen where their mother cleaned some of the vegetables from their small garden. When she heard the creaking floorboards, she turned. Upon seeing her two children she couldn't help but lightly laugh at Olivier.

His face turned red in embarrassment, not knowing what he did. His mother walked forward and licked her finger before rubbing it against his nose and cheek.

"You had dirt all over your face."

"O-oh." Olivier stammered slightly while looking at her, "Um, Vic wants to play knights, could you be the dragon?"

His mother cocked her head in confusion.

"Are you feeling alright?"

It was Olivier's turn to be confused, "Yes?"

"Alright, just making sure. You seem nervous."

"I do?" Olivier looked down at his hand only to find it trembling.

His mother walked past him and took her daughter's hand. She began walking towards the door to the backyard when she looked towards Olivier.

"Coming?" She asked.

"Yes!" Oliver began running towards the door with a grin on his face while the other two stepped outside.

When he made it outside his grin faded and he paused.

"Oh yeah… I remember now." He said dispassionately as his face turned gloomy.

His mother, Lisa, laid on the ground clutching Victoire. Lisa had tears streaming down her face as she cradled Victoire. A moment later the sound of a siren blared out from behind Olivier.

He turned with tired eyes and found himself in a hospital. He glanced to his right and saw himself and his mother sitting by the side of his little sister.

He quickly looked away, wanting to forget the memory.

He looked around at the hospital's harsh interior. But when he blinked, he found a younger version of himself with his mother on a bridge. She stared off into the distance absentmindedly.

"I haven't told your father or brother yet." She muttered while fumbling a cigarette in her hand, "I'm sorry to put the burden on you."

"Maman?" The younger Olivier asked with a trembling voice.

Although he knew it wouldn't change a thing, Olivier wrapped his arms around his younger self. A moment later, his mother was gone.

His younger self tried to rid himself of the arms and run to the railing, but Olivier wouldn't let him go.

"Maman! Maman! Please!" His voice was filled with pain as he tried reaching out, "Please, let go of me! Maman!"

"You'll be okay." Oliver mumbled to himself.

Olivier shot up from where he laid as sweat trickled down his body. He took long breaths calming down his mind. He shoved his memories away and preoccupied his thoughts with where he now found himself.

He was in a delicate looking bed in a fancy room complete with hardwood and stone laden with embellishments. Everything looked so neat and clean.

He rolled out of the bed to find a sharp pain in his chest, causing him to collapse to the floor.

He groaned and looked at his body only to find thin skin and scrawny bones. His eyes widened as he began trying to stand using the bed as support. His eyes staring at his now frail body.

"Olivier?" There was a knock at the door.

When it opened a beautiful woman entered with saddened eyes. Upon seeing Olivier trying to stand, she quickly went over to support him. The entire time Olivier stood in shock.

"Maman?" He said in a barely audible whisper.

"Hmm? Yes?" She looked at him with an interested face.

"Ah… no, it's nothing." He muttered trying hide his utter disbelief.

She smiled, "Alright pumpkin. Here, let me get your crutch." She reached just behind the bed's mantle and took out a small crutch, gently passing it over.

"Olivier, do you need me to help you get ready for the test?"

"Test?" He couldn't help but blurt out.

"Yes, to see if you have magic, silly."

"Y-yes. The test... No maman, I can do it myself."

"Alright, I'll see you in the dining hall then." She got up with a smile and left the room.

"What is happening?" Olivier couldn't help but mutter aloud. "Is this is supposed to be Gehenna? Hell?"

Olivier once again inspected the room, this time his thoughts were preoccupied with his mother. He was struggling to accept everything that had happened to him. He had died and gone to the afterlife, but his mother was here? Wasn't this supposed to be hell for him and other sinners?

The devil did mention native inhabitants…

'And the test… there's magic?' He rubbed his forehead in frustration.

"Is it all real?" He asked himself upon finding himself to be in the same spot as before. It didn't seem to be a nightmare.

He gathered his withered strength and stood, placing his weight onto the crutch. He began walking over to what looked to be a dresser, next to it was also a mirror. He needed to inspect the damage.

As he next to it, his already weak body nearly gave out completely. He was extremely young yet so scrawny.

If he had to estimate he'd say he was around five. He concluded his body must have some disease since the environment he found himself in was too nice. But he couldn't get over the rebirth, it seemed to be the same body besides the disease.

He clenched his fist in frustration. All the effort of his previous life, gone in an instant.

He stubbornly forced these thoughts to the back of his mind. His old life was gone, he wasn't a mob boss, he didn't have connections, he didn't even know where he was, he wasn't even strong anymore.

But his mother was here, meaning the rest of his family might be too.

That was all that mattered to him at the moment.

'It's an opportunity for a new start. One of redemption.' He said with a determined face as he slowly changed his clothes.

After nearly ten minutes he finally gazed into the mirror one last time. A crippled kid with pitch-black hair and hazel eyes. Pretty pathetic compared to his old self.

He sighed and began making his way out the room with a substantial limp. At the speed of the snail, he eventually found his way around what seemed to be a castle. He thanked whatever god or gods that were out there that it seemed everything was nearby his room.

It seemed counterintuitive as a hell though.

As he pushed open the door, he felt like he had taken a step back into time. His mother, father, older brother, and younger sister all sat in the dining room eating breakfast together.

'How many years has it been?' Olivier thought to himself. He didn't consider himself an emotional person, but he couldn't help but feel tears threaten to fall from his eyes. Everything had simply been too much for him to handle.

It was overbearing for any one man.

He joyfully limped forward to join his family at the table. They were listening to the radio as their father lazily used magic to flip through a newspaper.

"Ah, if it isn't the birthday boy!" His father, Aymeric, exclaimed when he looked up and saw his son. He looked at a maid and asked, "Could you please bring out the cake?"

"Of course, sir." The maid bowed and quickly left to the kitchen.

"Nervous?" Florian, Olivier's older brother by many years, asked.

Olivier didn't really have an answer since he was preoccupied by staring at people he hadn't seen since he a kid.

He also found it ironic that he was a kid once more when finally reuniting with them.

"No." He answered truthfully. He didn't even know what the test entailed, nor did he particularly care.

"I'm sure he'll pass with flying colors." Aymeric said with a slightly wavering voice, causing Lisa to glare at her husband.

A moment later and the cake arrived. The maid placed it down and lit the sparkling candles with a smile. Olivier was told to lean forward and blow them out.

He hesitated but eventually accepted the demands of his family. Afterall, he had nothing to lose.

They all began eating the cake blissfully. Once their plates were clean and their bellies content, Aymeric spoke, "Son, no matter what happens your mother and I will always love you."

He paused for a moment, perhaps trying to think of what to say. Eventually he found the words.

"Your brother and I are going on a trip to the capitol. We've got an audience with the king and since he's far, we'll be gone for a long time. Sadly, we've also got to leave in just a moment. What I'm saying is we won't be there to witness your test." He said with saddened eyes.

"I'll bring back some souvenirs for you." Florian said with a smile.

"Yes, they'll be leaving soon Olivier. We'll be saying goodbyes in just a moment." Lisa said.

Olivier could tell she was angry at his father. But it was a passing anger since she knew it wasn't his fault.

After getting up, they went to the entrance of the castle and Olivier said farewell to his father and brother. Even if it was just this moment, he was content with seeing the two of them again.

"Your father and I have something to discuss, why don't you go play with Victoire for now?" His mother asked with a kind smile.

She left to the outside world where their car was waiting. She grabbed her husband and spoke to him in a hushed tone.

Olivier had a bad premonition about the trip since this was hell. He could feel the parallel to his last life creeping up on him, so he chose to eavesdrop on them.

"Aymeric, you've seen it, I know you have. Our son has no magical talent, he's going to fail the test." Her voice trembled.

"Lisa… you know our family; we're bound by the creed. There's nothing I can do. I'm heading to speak to the king for an exception, but the old coot won't budge. It's a vain effort, but I'm going to try my damnedest. Watch over him until I get back, hide him if you have to."

Olivier's eyes widened.

'Hide me?'

He began walking away as quickly as he could as his parent's conversation began ending. Just as he limped past the corner, he nearly fell. He heard the door opening and his mother sighing.

He breathed a sigh of relief and kept going. He felt weird eavesdropping on them.

Eventually he found Victoire in what seemed to be her room. When she looked up and saw her brother, she gave a wide smile with one or two missing teeth.

"Brother!" She got up and ran over to him.

"Hey Vic…" Olivier said, reminiscing.

"Vic?"

'Did I not give her that nickname in this life?' He questioned himself, although he obviously didn't expect an answer.

"It's a nickname." He explained.

"Ah! Like maman and papa!"

"Kind of." Olivier chuckled.

"But can we play knights! Papa showed me a picture book of them!"

Olivier froze.

"Can we play nothing else?"

"No! It has to be knights!" She said adamantly.

He bit his lip.

"They're so cool! They say funny things too!" She giggled.

"Oh? Like what?"

Olivier heard an unfamiliar voice coming from behind him, causing him to whip around. He saw a butler wearing a sharp suit. Planted securely in his grinning mouth, was a lollipop.

He instantly grew pale just as Vic shouted.

"We'll find glory up ahead!" Victoire answered.