Part 1
Almost another year flew by its time spent studying with Hikari in the mornings and physical training with father in the afternoon. Then suddenly one afternoon Elxie asked me if I could come with her into town.
"Was there something we need to get?" She smiled and nodded.
"Yes it's about time I stopped into town to grab some food for dinner tonight."
"Oh then sure I don't mind." There's no reason to say no. Its not like I'm currently doing anything anyways.
I silently follow her lead as we made our way past the gate and through the field to reach the road. As we walked on the road I was finally able to see what the area around us looked like. The only other time I've left our home was with father and when I fought the goblins. Turns out we have a lot of crops. A lot of them, in fact everything surrounding the village for what felt like miles were just rows and rows of crops.
"Are those crops the main source of money for our village?" I asked as I pointed into the horizon.
"Yes young master. The Blue plants are for an expensive spice that the guild in Bufaross purchases from us. The tan plant is uses for bread."
"Oh alright, that's good to know."
As we continued on the road the silence gave me time to think. (Why isn't she holding my hand as we walk? I'm like four years old, don't children still hold hands in this world?)
"Um M-Miss Elxie?" She turned and gave me a confused look.
"Why wont you hold my hand while we walk?"
"Because I'm just a servant. That's something you do with your parents or close friends." She says responding without delay.
"Aren't we close friends?" She just kept walking.
"Weren't you there to help me when I almost died?"
"It's my duty."
(Wow another swift reply. I guess I wont press her on having any kind of relationship other than that of servitude.)
We continued to walk silently until we were on our way back from the trip now carrying a ton of meat and ale. I thought the meat would be super heavy for me but it ended up not being so bad. At least till we were half way back home.
"Young master you don't have to carry anything. I can manage just fine as I always do." I shake my head.
"No its alright. If I'm tagging along I might as well help." For a moment I thought I could see her smile.
Once we arrived home and entered the front door I was ambushed.
"Happy birthday Samu!!" Hikari, Torren, and Rubyanna are standing around the front door, shouting at me as I entered the home.
"What? Happy birthday?"
"Yep its your fifth birthday! Todays a big day!" Mother hugged me and lifted me off of the ground.
"Today we celebrate your life!" Father pats me on the back.
"Congratulations on making it to five years old!" Hikari seems overjoyed.
(So its to celebrate me simply surviving to the age of five? What kind of a world is this? Eh whatever. I wont turn down a birthday party.)
During the celebration just before we sat down for dinner I heard a knock at the door.
"Hey Hikari do you mind getting that? I think its the party guest!" My mom shouted from the kitchen. Father nudges me signaling me to go greet them. I made my way over to the door as it opened and two parents with white hair and their hooded child walk into the home. The two parents turn and smile as they saw me.
"Hello Samu my names Elmar Elwyn and this is my wife Ayana Elwyn."
"Nice to meet you. My names Samu Wolfang. How do you two know my father?"
"My husband and I bot keep watch in the watch towers around the village before your father relieves us. Though we aren't here for him, we are here to celebrate you." (Huh? Why? I don't know them like that?)
"Is the rest of the village coming? If so we should have held this outside or something." The two parents laugh.
"No young one. We are here to celebrate your life out of courtesy for saving our child." A small hooded child was hiding behind their dad as they spoke silently to me.
"T-thank you for saving me f-from the g-g-g-goblins" (Oh wow they all have such soft voices. Must be an elf thing.)
"Its no problem at all! It wasn't really a decision I made. My body kind of acted on its own after I heard screams near by." Her ears could be seen wiggling around from inside her hood. I smile and decide not to force them to talk to me. I didn't like strangers at this age either.
"Well with that we should take our leave. Our guard duties are fairly early in the day so this is good bye for now. *All three of them bow* Thank you again for risking your life." I just smiled and waved bye to them as they left. The whole situation was pretty uncomfortable for me.
Part 2
Suddenly as we finished eating Hikari broke the silence.
"I think my time here is coming to its end."
"What? How come?!" I unintentionally ended up raising my voice.
"I've taught you everything I know whenever it comes to being a mage. If I remain here any longer I'd only be taking advantage of this family."
"Our offer still stands. You're more than welcomed to stay here until you find another job if you wanted." Mother said in a serious tone.
"I appreciate the offer but teaching your child made me realize that there's still so much left for me to learn and master. I plan on leaving to further develop my own learning as to not get left behind by Samu." She stands up and bows before going back up stairs.
"Sorry son it looks like your crush is leaving forever now." The sound of his laugh fills the house.
"I don't have a crush on her! I'm just bummed out that my friends leaving! Hell she's more like family at this point!" Its true, by this point most of our time spent together was just spent on talking. Heck every once and a while she even helped wash me instead of my parents or Elxie.
"Her leaving just hurts as much as it would if Elxie left.."
"We know Samu. Your idiot father is just teasing you for kicks." Mother says as she elbows him in the ribs. I sigh and wipe off my mouth and start making my way upstairs.
"Well I'm going to go to sleep. Thanks for tonight, I had a lot of fun." I could hear my parents telling me their goodnights and their goodbyes as I made my way to my room.
When I entered my room I was surprised to see Hikari standing there holding onto a small box.
"I have your graduation gift. Its tradition for the master to present their student with a wand upon graduating into the intermediate level. With you now being a Saint level fire mage this gift is long over due. Even so please accept it." She opens the box to reveal a simple wooden 10 inch wand with a few small red gems on the handle.
"Those gems were all I could afford but they'll still serve you well."
"Serve me well? Up until now I've only ever used my hands, does using an object to cast help?" Hikari nods.
"Yes, the magical crystals in the wand help amplify and control your spells. The better the martials used to create a wand or staff the stronger it becomes." I nod in understanding.
(So the better the mats the better the item. Pretty intuitive.) I kneel down and accept her gift with both hands.
"Thank you master for this gift. I shall carry it in honor."
"That's not all. Id also like you to have this." She hands me her necklace with a stone turtle carving tied to it.
"This is my tribes symbol. Show it to a demon if you're ever in trouble with one. It should help resolve the conflict, though don't expect it to work every time." I take the necklace and put it on all the while not noticing the smile on my face.
"I shall wear it with pride!" She gave me a hug before leaving my room.
"Ill see you tomorrow morning Samu." Waving goodnight as she closed my door.
I look down at the necklace around my neck and the wand in my hands. (What a great day! This is the happiest I've been in years!") Though I wanted to stay awake and admire my new gifts I decided its better to sleep. This night I fell asleep holding onto the necklace and the wand in each hand.