"Empowerment?"
Katara asked in extreme curiosity since everyone had intense reactions at what happened, but no one knew what exactly happened. Only the most powerful and capable individuals present might have an idea of what happened
"Tenshi absorbed the Nothingness Catalyst"
Philip decided to tell the truth since there's no harm in telling everyone
"Nothingness Catalyst? How?"
"I can't reveal that secret... But what happened is that everyone of us basically forgot her. Long story short, she underwent some test and she overcame it. She became more powerful and I reclaimed her also, brought her back, and here we are! Do you all still remember Tenshi?"
"Uh, yeah, I believe so? I don't think anything changed?"
"As far as I can remember, I'm still aware of her existence"
"..."
Katara and Sai tried to see if they forgot anything they learned about Tenshi. Alucard and the others shook their heads as they could remember everything
"That's good..."
Philip smiled softly, as well as Tenshi
"..."
Everyone looked at them like they are too lovey-dovey. Only Natsume, Celine, Sheena, and Clara are smiling at them
"You two are awfully close..."
Katara narrowed her eyes in suspicion
"Oh! That's because something happened..."
"Something happened?"
"Yeah, we have an announcement to tell everyone..."
Philip turned his head towards Tenshi and smiled
"...?"
Everyone that saw this were confused, but for the people that were aware had an idea, like Natsume, Celine, Sheena, and especially Natsu since she noticed the ring on both of their ring fingers earlier
They don't seem jealous or envy at all, more like happy, and Natsu remains indifferent, even though when Philip has complicated feelings towards her sisters, which makes Natsume, and probably Natsuki, expect their feelings to be reciprocated
Though, Tenshi already talked to the potential lovers about something, before surprise party, and Natsu is unaware of the contents of their conversation
"..."
Natsu just placed her hands behind her head and laid back as she relaxed. She gazed away and reminisced about her non-existent love life
"Just a few hours ago... Due to some circumstances... Tenshi and I got married!"
Philip and Tenshi showed the rings on their left ring fingers and they began to glow
"...!"
"...!"
"..."
Some others were surprised, some were stunned, and some were relatively happy
"It's been a short time since you met and you're already married??"
Vanessa asked in alarm, as if she's jealous or something
"Well... We did have a ceremony and all..."
"What? When? Where??"
"Somewhere..."
Philip didn't tell everyone about the ⟨⟨ World of Imagination ⟩⟩ since it's very secret and it's his trump card. Although, some of the gods has an idea of it because Philip revealed that he killed the previous God of Darkness, Tenebris, in his mental world
"What does that even mean?"
"Well, the circumstances is that we basically have a special bond and earning these rings has special effects. In simpler terms, we earned these ring through specific circumstances. We just considered it as marriage because it's consensual"
"Huuuh?"
"Whaaa??"
"So, it's not an actual marriage?"
"Probably? But we can consider it. We could do another ceremony someday and invite everyone!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
Everyone became silent. They didn't know what to think, but they could only feel happiness and satisfaction for some reason. They know that they should feel some kind of way since Philip and Tenshi just met six months ago and they slept mostly through that time frame because of Philip's awakening
At most, they could only be considered as ordinary lovers since they only hung out for a total of two to three days, from when Philip was in the military base and yesterday to today
Little did everyone know, despite Philip and Tenshi only being together for six months, where only three days are considered, they've actually been together for at least their entire lives realistically
Tenshi saw Philip's entire life through Soul Link and also lived with it, which lead her to know and understand his entire existence. She also knows more of his secrets and almost everything of his beliefs, virtues, and thoughts
On the other hand, Philip might not have lived through Tenshi's entire life, but he already witnessed her birth and accelerated growth before leaving when the military took her. Even though he took Tenshi's feelings for granted, he tried his best to accept her feelings and it lead to their marriage
Not only he witnessed Tenshi's birth and lifespan, he also witnessed Amatsuka's birth and a few of her important memories, as Tenshi's alter ego
In addition to that, the people that has mixed emotions were being influenced more than before. It was because the [Love Shard] has leveled up from Tenshi's intense love towards Philip and the [Love Shard] absorbed her love
The [Love Shard] is influencing everyone's feelings and eliminating any negative emotions that are countering Philip and Tenshi's love. On the other hand, the [Love Shard] is almost amplifying the emotions of the people that has a satisfactory emotion towards Philip to decrease the negative emotions that might affect their love towards Philip, like jealousy, envy, anger, and many more
The [Love Shard] remained hovering in the middle of the Dining Hall while spinning and rotating in a pattern as it emits pink light that no one could see
Despite all of that, some people still has lingering and clashing emotions within them that the level 1 [Love Shard] couldn't influence
One of them is Sai as she's feeling a little envious, but she's happy with Alucard. Her feelings are more tied to Philip's status as her Disastrous Hero that almost saved her world
Another one is Katara, but most likely she just wants Philip because of his mysteriousness and especially her masochist tendencies that only Philip could satisfy
Next is obviously Vanessa because of the incident six months ago, where she tried to probe for Philip's memories, but instead it was deflected towards her. Because of that, she felt different towards Philip, but a part of her is trying to be normal because of age difference and she knows she's mentally unstable and she has deep secrets
Next is Natsuki since she's envious of Natsume. She's envious that her little sister has experienced love before her. She couldn't blame her though, since she has the lingering regret of the accident that lead to the death of their parents and a few innocent lives. That's the reason she's been holding herself back, but sometimes she couldn't because her heart is beats everytime she's with Philip, mostly it's because of the influence of the [Love Shard]
On the other hand, Natsu is extremely confused as well because she only sees Philip as a brother or some sort. When talking to him, she couldn't help but feel softer and hates that, so she sometimes tries her best to ignore him when necessary
Bari has a small feeling towards Philip, but she's already a mother, so she almost doesn't have any lingering feelings toward him, only a negligent amount. Her human husband is missing after all and she doesn't know his whereabouts
Mei'er is still a child, but as a child, she has admiration for Philip and she would want attention from him. Although, she has a mysterious condition now, she still shows reaction when something happens to Philip
Bea is also a child and she's indifferent. She only wants to read and gain knowledge, but she recently gained appreciation when Philip is around her
Rue also feels strange because she feels some kind of connection towards Philip, but there's nothing overall. Only a relationship of nearly coworkers or comrades, but she couldn't help but feel warm when he's near
It's the same for Corleona. She's supposed to be angry at him because of all the incident of the destruction of Saykrandae, but recently, her heart is very confused after her talk with Philip earlier
Clara already has admiration for Philip, but she could advance forward because of the difference in their race, status, and origin
The only people that has intense feelings towards Philip are Tenshi, Natsume, Celine, Sheena, and possibly Clara. Only Camille doesn't have feelings towards Philip, probably because of his status and power
This includes Mathilda because she sees Philip
Chibi Sai is still zero years old, at least a few hours old, but she has a special connection with Philip due to a mysterious reason, but no one knows that yet
"Well... Congratulations then!"
"Yeah! That's good news!"
"Congrats!"
"When's the honeymoon?!"
"Let's celebrate it with your birthday!"
*Clap clap*
Everyone clapped and cheered their marriage and gave their blessings. Katara didn't bother giving them a curse disguised as a blessing because she knows that they will do well, considering their identities
They kept eating and talking more until time passed by quickly
They already forgot and moved past from Bea's unusual power that's being sensed by the gods. It is more like it never happened as Beatrice kinda rewind time and manipulated the flow of information that everyone received
Beatrice wanted to keep her identity and Bea's true power a secret for now. Philip wanted that too after all
~~~
An hour and a half later, it's already 10:30 pm. The birthday party is almost coming to a close
"What's a birthday party when we don't do the most important part of it?!"
Natsume opened the next segment of the party
"Hm? What is that?"
Philip asked in curiosity. Usually birthday parties just end, he wouldn't want something like a dance production or singing number. He never got used to those when he attends birthday parties years ago
Although, he understands debuts and coming of age parties as he appreciates them since it's relatively special for the celebrant
He never experienced that after all, when it was his 18th birthday, since he only celebrated it alone
"Gifts!"
"Gifts?! Uuu~~"
Philip exclaimed in shock and worry
"What the hell was that noise?!"
Sai asked after seeing Philip made a worried sound
"Nothing nothing... Continue please!"
"Mhm~"
Tenshi giggled under her hand. She already knew that Philip doesn't receive gift very well and she explicitly asked everyone to have a gift for Phili when she was telling them about his birthday
Of course, since everyone is well connected, as well as Jude as the head butler of the expensive mansion, they have already prepared their gifts in just a few hours. Delivered within minutes as well
Some are materialistic objects, some are self-made, and some are very special
"We'll start by row starting from the back, Braudain"
Braudain stood up with his arms crossed and walked over to Philip
"..."
The gods could feel the weight of his steps, but he wasn't making any intense vibrations nor shaking for each step he made. This is the cause of Fénsuî inside his ear
A few seconds later, Braudain arrived next to Philip
"In my world, gifts are often given to those that deserves them. Everyone deserves it no matter what the celebration or event is... Gifts are meant to be given... Not taken away!!"
Braudain clenched his fists as his face is full of pain regret. His eyebrows were curled and he is grinding his teeth behind his mouth
Braudain spoke in a very broken English and everyone barely understood him, but Philip completely understood him, as well as the gods
Philip stood up and placed his right hand on his left shoulder to comfort him
"That's okay, Braudain... Here in this world, everyone gives and receives gifts unconditionally. No one will be able steal gifts in this world... So, don't worry. You, Clara, and Corleona can give gifts whenever, wherever, and however you want"
*Sniff*
Braudain sniffed and wiped his tears by swiping his left arm while holding something in his hand
"Alright... I got this for you..."
Braudain extended his left hand and opened it, revealing a purplish scale that's emiting a soft light. The way he gave him his gift tells Philip that Braudain is actually left handed
"I don't have the means to obtain a proper gift, suitable for a powerful person as you. I refuse to receive help from Sir Jude because I want to obtain my own... In that regard, I got this 'Purple Scale' as a gift. I think you already know what it's for. Happy birthday!"
"Yes..."
Braudain emphasized the "Purple Scale" because it would be his own scale that he might have broken off of him since he's a Dracotaur. He knows that his identity as a half dragon is supposed to be kept secret for now, so he made it very vague for people that was listening
"..."
Philip picked up the Purple Scale on his hand and as soon as he lifted it, he felt a vertigo within him, like his entire consciousness thumped violently
"!!!"
He then turned towards Sai because he felt Sumpaka's presence, like she momentarily showed herself
"Hm?"
Katara tilted her head, unaware that Sumpaka showed herself in a split second
"..."
Philip quickly turned away and thanked Braudain
"Thank you..."
"No problem... Giving gifts is our specialty. We put our souls and hearts to all the gifts we give"
"..."
Philip could only nod. He learned a trait of the Saykranians where they are basically gift givers. Whenever they give gifts, they put everything to it. They always give gifts to each other and everyone
But that changed when the demons conquered Saykrandae. From Braudain's words, seems like there's a deeper story where their gift giving traits somehow destroyed or stolen away, like there was some catalyst that the Demon Lord conquered
He placed the Purple Scale on his right, on the table near the corner. He plans to line up the gifts across in front of him before examining them
He then waited for Corleona and Clara to arrive