Gracie's Birthday

"Yea! It's done!!" Gracie exclaimed in her sweet voice as Maeve pulled out the cake they both made.

"Papa! It's done!!" Gracie jumped in excitement as she turned towards Ace who was just smiling at her. 2 Cute dimples appeared on either side of her face, enhancing her cuteness.

*Claps* *Claps* *Claps*

"You did great! You are the most amazing girl ever!" Ace applauded in response and Gracie's smile widened.

"It is still not done, Gracie, we still have to decorate…" Maeve informed.

"I'll do! I'll do!!" Gracie raised her hands and started jumping.

"Alright, let me bring the cream first" Maeve smiled as she turned around.

"Papa… see how fluffy it is!!" Gracie exclaimed excitedly as she pointed towards the cake.

"Of course it will be, it is my Nightingale who made it, after all…" Ace nodded as if it was obvious and Gracie smiled widened.

"Alright, here's the cream~" Maeve appeared as she brought 3 cones filled with different colored creams.

Gracie excitedly ran towards her and grabbed the cream, spilling some of it on her face in the process.

"Do you even know how to apply it?" Maeve questioned with an amused look.

"Of course I do!" Gracie answered as she puffed her chest in pride.

Ace and Maeve smiled and allowed her to do everything.

Gracie held the cone and pressed it, trying to apply the cream to the cake but nothing happened. She then started applying even more pressure and Maeve chuckled.

"That is enough little girl, if you apply more pressure, it will explode on your face"

Gracie glanced towards Maeve with a confused look and she smiled.

"Alright, let me show you how it is done"

"First, you take this butter knife and apply the first layer of frosting" Maeve explained as she demonstrated at the same time.

She worked professionally and within 1 minute, the base was ready.

Then Maeve made small cuts on the end of the cone and gave it to Gracie.

"Now you use this to decorate it" Maeve smiled and Gracie's eyes brightened.

Even Ace, who was just sitting and enjoying a beauty and a cutie making a cake stood up and walked towards them.

Gracie quickly held the cone and started drawing, of course, she wasn't perfect and most of the thing was unclear but the Ace and Maeve smiled and clapped while Gracie closed her left eye as her tongue popped out, the determination was overflowing on her cute little face.

"I made it!! I made it!!!" Gracie exclaimed in joy as she completed her drawing.

"Wow!"

*Claps* *Claps* *Claps*

Ace and Maeve clapped happily and Gracie smiled.

The drawing she made was 3 stickmen, 2 of them had long hairs. One stickman was small and was standing in the middle while holding the other two's hands. Well, a typical drawing every child makes but it was a lot more unclear since Gracie didn't know how to use the cones.

"Alright, do you want to decorate your drawing with different colors?" Maeve questioned.

"I do!!" Gracie answered as she picked another cone. Maeve smiled cut the top before Gracie started making little dots on the cake.

"What are these?" Maeve questioned with an amused smile.

"Haa? Don't you know? It is so much clear? How can you not know that she is showing snowfall!?" Ace answered.

"No… these are stars…" Gracie answered as she glanced at Ace.

"Huh? Umm… I mean, of course, these are stars! Hahaha! I was just teasing your mama!!" Ace laughed it off and Gracie continued with her stars.

"Alright, now write 'Happy Birthday Gracie' here" Maeve pointed and Gracie did as she was told with another cone.

"It's done! It's done!!" Gracie jumped in excitement.

"Alright, now let it cool down while Gracie goes and wears beautiful clothes so that she looks pretty" Maeve spoke and Gracie's eyes brightened even more.

Maeve nodded at Ace who nodded back and took Gracie away.

While Ace helped Gracie wear her new dress, Maeve prepared the rest of the dishes to celebrate her Nightingale's birthday.

…

"Mama! Is the cake ready!?" Gracie questioned as she ran towards the kitchen, this time, her face was clean and she wore a black-colored skirt.

"Just wait for a while, it will be ready soon" Maeve answered.

"Alright, love, you go and change quickly," Ace spoke as he appeared wearing a good-looking black-colored coat which was decorated with golden designs. Adding it with his white hair and golden eyes, he looked perfect. A dream man for any woman.

Maeve nodded and walked towards her room.

After a while, she returned wearing a Black colored skirt that matched her Nightingale's while Ace placed the cake in front of a table.

"Alright, My princess, now blow the candles" Ace spoke and Maeve nodded. Gracie nodded excitedly and walked towards the table and Maeve followed her from behind.

"Fooohh~~" Gracie blew with her small mouth, causing her cheeks to puff up, making her even cuter.

*Claps* *Claps* *Claps*

Maeve and Ace clapped while Gracie jumped in excitement.

"Alright, now cut the cake" Maeve spoke.

"Mm!"

"Happy birthday to you~…"

…

Gracie cut the cake while Maeve and Ace sang the birthday song, Gracie picked a piece of cake and extended her hands towards Ace, Ace smiled and opened his mouth, allowing her to feed her.

Gracie repeated the same with Maeve and then Ace and Maeve fed Gracie.

Maeve then brought other dished she prepared and the three ate together merrily.

"Alright, now time for the birthday gift~" Ace sang and Gracie's eyes brightened.

"Hahaha! Gift! Gift!!" She laughed merrily and Maeve pulled out a necklace from her storage ring.

Gracie, just like any normal little girl, loved shiny things and this Necklace's chain was made from the shiniest Material present in Ashleyn. The chain itself was golden in color, similar to the 'G' shaped locket it was connected to, the whole necklace looked really pretty and Gracie's eyes sparkled when she saw that.

She quickly extended her hands to grab the necklace but Maeve pulled it back.

"We will give it to you but you have to promise us something" Ace spoke, his tone was a little serious than normal.

"What is it?" Gracie questioned innocently.

"You will never remove this necklace, no matter what. Promise me" Ace spoke in a very serious tone.

"Not even when I go 'Bathy Bathy'?" Gracie questioned.

"Not even when you go 'Bathy Bathy'" Ace answered.

"Okay, I promise!" Gracie answered with a bright smile.

"You know what happens when you break your promise, right?" Ace questioned.

"I know, bad people will come and take Papa away and Gracie will never be able to see Papa again which will be sad.

So I will never break any promise I made!" Gracie answered and Ace hugged her in response, his expression was back to normal.

"Okay, now let us see how it will look on Gracie" Maeve smiled and walked behind Gracie. She then helped Gracie wear the necklace and once it was on, Ace and Maeve's smiles widened.

"Waaa! It's so beautiful!" Gracie exclaimed as she rolled around in excitement while her eyes never left the necklace.

"You like it?" Ace questioned.

"I love it! I also love Papa!" Gracie exclaimed and jumped towards Ace, who carried her happily.

"Hmm? What about Mama?" Maeve questioned.

"I also love Mama too!" Gracie replied with an innocent smile.

"Aww~ You cute little thing..." Maeve mumbled as she joined the family hug.

...

"Papa! You promised to teach me magic today, right!?" Gracie questioned excitedly.

"Mhm, I did.

So, my little Nightingale, are you ready to become 'the strongest magician'?" Ace questioned with a smile.

"I am! And once I become very strwong, I will protect Mama and Papa from all the bad men!" Gracie answered innocently while Ace and Maeve nodded thankfully. It was funny how the 2 strongest people in this world were thankful to a little girl who claimed that she will protect them.

"Alright, now let's test your affinity, shall we?" Ace questioned as he took out 17 football-sized crystals.

These were the Affinity crystals, each of them representing one element. These are used to determine which Element a person has an affinity to.

The process is fairly simple, the aspiring mage places his hand on the crystal, for example, a Fire Crystal, if the crystal shines, it means the mage has an affinity with the fire element. The more the crystal shines, the better the affinity.

"Alright, which element do you want to test for?" Ace questioned, he had already explained the process to Gracie as she was too excited to learn about magic.

"Ice!" Gracie answered.

Ace picked a slightly light blue-colored crystal and placed it on the table. Ace nodded towards Gracie and she nodded back before placing her hands on crystal with a serious expression.