The celebration unfolded in the spacious backyard of the estate, which had been transformed into a true fairy tale for the evening. Along the entire area hung glowing magical garlands, shimmering in soft shades of gold and silver. Beneath the guests’ feet was smooth, even stone tiling, bordered by living flowers. Enchanted light orbs floated overhead, illuminating the courtyard without being overly bright.

  Around the perimeter of the yard stood round festive tables draped in snow-white cloths, adorned with fresh flowers in tall crystal vases. The tables were laden with an abundance of appetizers, fruits, pastries, and glasses of wine and champagne. In one corner stood a separate large table with a luxurious multi-tiered cake. Gentle music played from a nook where enchanted instruments performed charming melodies on their own.

  Alex was the center of attention. He had chosen a white shirt with a narrow collar, slightly unbuttoned at the chest, dark trousers, and classic shoes. His look was both festive and reserved. His hair was neatly styled, and in his eyes was a mix of surprise, warmth, and gratitude.

  Gabriel, his father, wore a dark blue shirt with a subtle pattern and black pants. Emma was dressed in a delicate champagne-colored gown with an elegant embroidered hem—her gentle appearance perfectly matched her genuine smile.

  The maids looked stunning in their festive dresses. Their clothing was modest yet elegant—just what befit the faithful companions of the house.

  Mireya looked like a true doll—her lavender dress, white shoes, and a headband made of real flowers made her resemble a little fairy. She ran joyfully among the guests, smiling brightly and occasionally hiding behind the skirts of familiar women.

  Among the guests were: Count Astarion—in a light linen-colored shirt and dark trousers; Adam—in an emerald-green shirt buttoned to the neck; Aria—in an elegant silver outfit with semi-transparent inserts; Damian—in a dark green shirt with a subtle sheen; and finally—Elizabeth in a luxurious red dress with bare shoulders, perfectly suiting her regal and confident bearing.

  The members of the raiding party were also tastefully dressed: the men in shirts of various colors and styles, the women in dresses that highlighted their beauty and individuality. Tonight, they had gathered not for battle, but for celebration—in honor of someone who had become more than just their commander.

  Alex slowly looked around. The spacious courtyard, decorated with magical garlands glowing in the twilight, the tables brimming with food, the familiar faces, the smiles… All of it created an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. For a moment, he allowed himself to simply stop and breathe in the evening air—infused with the scents of fresh fruit, flowers, and a faint magical whisper.

  “My first birthday on this scale…” he thought with a light smile. “Unusual… but nice.”

  "You’ll get used to it," came the gentle voice of the Siren in his mind. "And you’ve completely earned this celebration, my Lord. I hope you’ll be able to relax today… and just enjoy the evening."

  "I will," Alex replied silently.

  His gaze accidentally met that of Lianel, who was approaching alongside the other members of the raiding party. As always, confident and wearing a sly smile, he stopped in front of Alex and tilted his head playfully.

  "Well? You planning to stand there frozen all night?" he said, throwing his arms out. "We’re here, all dressed up, with gifts in hand… and the guest of honor is lost in thought."

  "Just thinking for a moment," Alex replied with a smile.

  "No surprise there," Lianel immediately jumped beside him, slinging an arm over his shoulder. "Now give us a few minutes of your precious time and come back to reality. Tonight’s your night. And no one’s going to stop us from celebrating it. Leave the brooding for later."

  "Alright, alright…" Alex gave in with a grin.

  "Sorry to interrupt," Celia chimed in with a smile, "but maybe it’s time to stop hogging the spotlight, Lianel? Let’s get to the point?"

  Lianel glanced at her for a moment, then looked at the others and slowly withdrew his hand from Alex’s shoulder. Now he spoke more seriously:

  "We spent a long time thinking about what to give you, Alex. We wanted something useful—not just another item gathering dust in your inventory."

  He paused briefly.

  "And then… after much contemplation, a brilliant idea came to me," he added with special emphasis, glancing meaningfully at Celia, Lilith, and Eliria.

  Three pairs of eyes instantly locked onto him—each narrowing slightly, full of feigned but quite expressive indignation.

  "Fine, fine, it came to all of us," Lianel corrected himself with a sigh, "an idea for a gift that would be useful both to you and our whole team."

  He opened his inventory and pulled out a small, neatly wrapped box that fit easily in the palm of his hand. He held it out to Alex.

  "Open it."

  Alex carefully unwrapped the package. Inside were seven small artifacts—dark, smooth, elongated-oval plates engraved with runes along the edges. They were lightweight, easy to carry—just the right size to be placed behind the ear. Cool to the touch, they emitted a faint magical pulse.

  "Whoa…" he whispered, lifting one of them. "Is this what I think it is?"

  "Exactly what you think," Lianel replied with satisfaction. "These are communication artifacts. With them, we’ll be able to talk to each other no matter where we are. Even if I’m on the other side of the continent—you’ll still be able to hear me. And I’ll hear you."

  He paused and added:

  "Especially useful in dungeons. Minimal gestures, maximum coordination."

  Alex smiled, looking at each member of the group, their faces glowing with happiness, before sincerely saying:

  "Thank you… really. This is an incredibly valuable gift."

  He embraced each of them in turn. Then he handed out the artifacts, and each member tucked theirs into their inventory.

  "We’ll have time to talk more later," Kaelis stepped in. "But for now, let’s make room for the others. Looks like we weren’t the only ones who brought a gift."

  The six of them stepped aside, and Alex was left alone—though only for a few seconds, as Aria and Damian were already approaching with purpose.

  The girl stopped first in front of Alex, offering a slightly nervous smile, holding a neatly wrapped package in her hands.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  "Happy birthday, Alex," she said softly. "My brother and I prepared something for you too. We hope you’ll like it."

  Alex accepted the package and nodded slightly.

  "Thank you, both of you."

  He unwrapped the gift and found inside a thin silver chain with a pendant in the shape of a crescent moon. Its surface was inlaid with tiny stones, and in the center was a larger, transparent, light-blue gem that emitted a faint glow.

  "This… is beautiful," Alex said, lifting the pendant toward the light. "And… is it magical?"

  "Yes," Aria nodded. "It holds a protective enchantment. Once per day, if your mana drops below a certain level, the pendant will automatically activate a barrier that lasts a few seconds. Just enough time for you to react… or retreat."

  Damian added:

  "We wanted to give you something special. Something that would not only be with you—but might help at a crucial moment."

  Alex paused, gazing at the pendant, then slipped it around his neck and tucked it beneath his shirt.

  "Thank you. This is more than just a gift."

  He embraced both Aria and Damian in turn. The girl lingered in his arms for a brief moment but quickly stepped back with a gentle smile.

  Alex nodded gratefully, and they stepped aside. The next to approach him were Astarion and Adam.

  "You look very much alive," Adam spoke first, crossing his arms over his chest. "So, two days in a coma left no trace at all."

  Alex smiled.

  "All thanks to good care... and solid sleep."

  Astarion took a step forward and continued more quietly.

  "And still, you impressed us all. Not just by surviving that battle... but by winning it. It's not every day you see a level sixty-six vampire single-handedly take down an S-ranked monster."

  Alex gave a brief nod, not wanting to comment on that.

  Adam grinned.

  "Alright, enough talk about that story. You acted like a hero. And heroes deserve gifts."

  He held out a small, yet heavy-looking, ebony wooden box. Alex opened it — inside lay a pair of elegant black gloves made from a thin, almost silk-like fabric, embroidered with silver symbols at the wrists.

  "This?" Alex looked up.

  Astarion explained:

  "Enhanced artifacts, custom-made. They boost precision and control over the magical flow in the limbs. Especially useful for those who work with mana at high speeds or in close combat."

  "And they're stylish too," Adam added, "in case you want to impress someone with more than just raw power."

  With a faint smile, Alex pulled the gloves on, feeling how perfectly they fit, as if made just for him.

  "Thank you. This is really... more than I expected."

  Astarion placed a hand on his shoulder and said quietly:

  "This is just the beginning, Alex. I believe you still have many great things ahead of you."

  Then both of them gave a small bow and stepped away, leaving him to himself. Alex turned — Elizabeth was already approaching him.

  Amid the festive bustle and bright smiles, Elizabeth made her way to Alex. Her figure, as always, radiated confidence and grace, and the smile on her lips was warm, almost homely.

  "Looks like I’m the last one," she said with light irony. "And honestly, after all these impressive gifts, mine might seem... well, less luxurious."

  Alex smiled back.

  "I'm sure my best aunt won’t let me down."

  "You’re much better at flattery than improvisation," she noted with a grin, then pulled out a small dark blue box from her inventory. "Here. Take it."

  Alex carefully opened it — inside were five small potion vials. The liquid in each shimmered softly, changing color depending on the angle of the light. He picked up one vial, examining the fluid carefully, then looked up at Elizabeth in surprise.

  "Where did you... where did you get so many of them?"

  Elizabeth smiled slyly.

  "You just have to know the right people — and negotiate well. I didn’t get them for free, of course, but the result was worth it."

  Her smile softened, and her gaze grew warmer.

  "You often go into dungeons alone, Alex. And though I know you can handle yourself… these potions are special. Much better than the ones you can buy in an ordinary shop. I’ll feel better knowing you have them with you. Especially after what happened a few days ago."

  Alex looked at the box once more, then gently closed it and put it into his inventory.

  "Thank you, Aunt," he said softly, and hugged her.

  "What wouldn’t I do for my favorite nephew," she replied with a light smile, patting him on the shoulder.

  But in the next moment, her gaze drifted past Alex. He noticed and turned slightly, seeing Gabriel and Emma talking to Astarion nearby.

  "You're still afraid to go up to him?" Alex asked quietly, turning his eyes back to Elizabeth.

  She was silent for a few seconds, then sighed.

  "Yes. But… after what you told me earlier… that we might…," she gave a faint smile. "It helped. A little."

  "He’s stubborn," Alex sighed. "And he won’t make the first move. If you want to fix things — you’ll have to start."

  Elizabeth looked at him, thinking for a moment, then turned her gaze to her brother with a bittersweet smile.

  "You’re right about that too. He always was stubborn..."

  Another deep breath. She straightened up, gathering her courage.

  "I'm ready."

  Alex hugged her briefly once more.

  "Good luck."

  She nodded and slowly walked toward Gabriel. Alex watched her for a moment, then turned and made his way toward Adam, Aria, Celia, and Lianel.

  Alex was just passing by one of the drink tables when he heard footsteps nearby. Turning his head, he saw Rogan approaching with confident, yet relaxed strides.

  "Alex," the beastkin said in a calm tone. "Can I have a word?"

  "Of course," the young man nodded, stopping and gesturing to step aside.

  They stopped beneath a sprawling tree with a nice view of the backyard. The festive atmosphere still lingered — soft music played, the laughter of guests mixed with the gentle rustling of the wind.

  Alex turned to Rogan.

  "Is something wrong?"

  Rogan was silent for a moment, then looked toward where Mireya was laughing, holding Eliria’s hand. Both looked genuinely happy.

  "I want to ask… what is she doing at your house?" he finally spoke, not taking his eyes off the girl.

  Alex glanced in the same direction for a moment, then slowly nodded, understanding who he meant.

  "I met her by chance. Four days ago, in Morwen," Alex’s voice was steady, though a slight tension stirred inside. "She looked lost… scared. I offered her a place to stay for a while."

  Rogan nodded, but didn’t stop there.

  "Tell me… when you saw her for the first time. Did anything strange happen?"

  Alex glanced at his companion in surprise for a moment, then looked again at Mireya, who was chirping away to Eliria, waving her hands animatedly.

  "Strange?" he repeated. "Well… she was being chased by two grown men. They didn’t look particularly friendly. I distracted them, sent them off on a false trail, and took Mireya with me."

  Rogan stood thoughtfully, his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze was steady but not anxious.

  "I see…" he finally said, quietly, almost to himself. Then, at last, he looked away from the girl and met Alex’s eyes. "Thank you. For not leaving her out there. Not everyone would’ve done the same."

  "It wasn’t a problem for me," Alex shrugged. "But now I have a question. How do you know Mireya?"

  Rogan’s eyes warmed slightly, and a brief smile touched his lips. His voice remained calm, but now held softer tones.

  "I often visit the ‘Ray of Hope’. That’s where I met Mireya. She’s one of the children I used to bring things to—food, clothes, sometimes just came by to talk. I was once an orphan myself… I know what it’s like to be alone in a place like that. I guess that’s why I keep coming back."

  He paused, as if recalling something.

  "Though I didn’t speak to Mireya all that often," he added with a small smile. "There was another girl—Malva. Very jealous. If I gave too much attention to someone else, she would instantly get upset."

  Alex listened in silence, his eyes drifting once more to Mireya—the same joyful girl, laughing as if all her fears had long been left behind.

  "You don’t happen to know what’s going on at the ‘Ray of Hope’ now, do you?" he asked, still watching the girl.

  Rogan crossed his arms over his chest, his voice turning more serious.

  "Unfortunately, I only know part of it. Problems started after Duke Lorenzo de Carvalho got involved. It seems he made some kind of deal with the shelter’s owner. Not long after that, children began disappearing. The staff became fewer. Rumors say the funding has started to dry up too… although there's no solid info on that part."

  "Do you know the name of the owner?" Alex asked quickly.

  Rogan sighed.

  "I do, but… it won’t help you now. He was found dead a week ago, in his own estate. Now all the orphanages are practically in the Duke’s hands."

  "That’s bad," Alex muttered under his breath, clenching his fist. "And what do you know about Lorenzo himself?"

  "Not much. He owns the most popular gambling house on the continent. Learning more than that about him… is nearly impossible."

  A brief silence followed. Alex seemed deep in thought, clearly processing everything he’d just heard. Then he said,

  "Alright. Thanks for sharing all this. I’ll try to figure out more on my own. If I learn anything—I’ll let you know."

  Rogan nodded.

  "And thank you. But I’m afraid this is where I have to leave you. I want to speak with Mireya while I still have the time."

  "Of course," Alex smiled, clapping him lightly on the shoulder.

  They exchanged short nods, and Rogan walked off toward Mireya and Eliria. Alex turned his gaze back to the group of friends—Adam, Aria, Celia, Lianel, now joined by Demian and Kaelis—and confidently headed their way.