It looks to like I have just received my first birthday present from someone other than my present family. Luscia was my family before so, she must have wanted to give this to me for a long time already.
I don't know how she was able to get the silk of a Magistrate Moth as they aren't really found in this area, but I do know that there must have been some of them here.
"Luscia."
"And then-. Huh? What is it?"
"I have to know where you got this. Magistrate Moth silk is pretty rare around here and the only way you could have gotten it was by buying it from a traveling merchant, right?"
"Actually, I didn't buy it from a merchant."
"But, where did you get it then?"
She didn't buy it from a merchant? Then, who was the one who sold it to her? Or, maybe one of her guards killed one?
"I bought it from the Adventurer's Guild just a few days ago. I think it was the same day when you asked me to help you decipher the passages about the Divine Beasts. Apparently, someone was able to find a stray Magistrate Moth and the cocoons of their larva. So, I asked you if you like capes and made sure to get someone to sew some of the silk together to make an outfit for you. I was able to dye it in the colors you said that you liked and I even made sure to have some people cast charms on it to resist magical and physical damage because, knowing your personality, you might get in trouble while wearing it."
When I heard all of that, my eyes widened in shock. If my guess is correct, then, this is one hell of a coincidence. If she bought it on the Deciphering day, then it would be the 26th Day, right? When she surreptitiously asked me what my favorite colors were and if I liked capes, it was because of this? Also, the 26th Day was the same day when I killed that Magistrate Moth and took the cocoons I found. Is fate screwing around or something?
"Hey, you know, I so happened to kill one of those moths the exact same day AND took the cocoons. Does that mean that these clothes are made up of the silk I found!?"
"Really?!"
I can't see it but, judging by her voice, she is obviously surprised and confused right now. I am as well. Who would have predicted that the birthday gift you receive from your best friend is made out of the materials that you found.
"Oh. So, this was made out of your hard work, huh. Tell it to me straight. Do you like the present I gave you? I didn't even ask you what kind of gift you would have liked and just gave you something that I thought that you would like."
Is she doubting my love for cool costumes!? I love this kind of gift. It is not like those kind of situations where you can't refuse a gift from someone you are close to even though the gift isn't something you wanted. I really do like this kind of gift. I should tell her that to cheer her up. I mean, she honestly gave her opinion about it so, I should do the same.
"Honestly, I didn't expect this kind of gift."
"So, you didn't like it after all-"
"That is not what I said. I said that I didn't expect this kind of gift. I didn't say that I didn't like it. I can sense the hard work you put into it and I like it so, don't doubt yourself. You said it yourself, right? 'You should show your confidence on your face'. You also have good judgement as you knew what I would like."
Actually, I am just saying some random stuff I came up with on the fly. If she isn't convinced, I might have to come up with an emotional quote that could go down in the history books.
"R-really? Thank you for saying those kind of things. They really mean a lot."
Oh man.
I can detect some sort of uncertainty in her voice after all of my compliments. Looks like I will have to say some big stuff right about now.
"Luscia, you are an amazing person. You know, I might not be able to see but, I can tell you this with absolute certainty. You are a person who is beautiful, both on the inside and on the outside."
There was absolute silence around me after I said that. Wait a minute. Were my words a bit too cheesy or something?! I just wanted to cheer her up!
********************
(Switches to Luscia's point of view)
Huh?
What did Alex just say to me?
My head is starting to feel a bit light and I can feel my heart beating slightly faster than normal. What is happening? He just said a simple compliment to me and yet, I feel like all of my anxiety is gone. It is like I can take on any challenge now after hearing those words. I think I am starting to cry from relief.
I smile with some tears welling up and start giggling.
"Huh?! W-what is so funny!? What did I do wrong!?!"
After hearing Alex start screaming confusedly, I start to laugh even harder.
"Was this your attempt to make me feel better?"
"Um, yeah, it was."
"Really!?"
This is amazing! He actually said something that could really affect the feelings of a girl! I always thought that he was the nice guy who was oblivious to the feelings of girls. He actually surprised me with that. I will have to return the favor.
It is just as they say. The pen is mightier than the sword but, in this situation, actions speak louder than words. I then walk closer to Alex.
********************
As I was trying to think of something to do, I felt something touch my cheek. It feels smooth and it is also soft. It is also pretty small but, I definitely felt it. Just as suddenly as I felt it, the thing pulled away.
I put my hand on that spot on my cheek.
"Luscia, what did you do?"
What did she actually put against my skin!? I need answers to my very important questions! If I don't answers now, the suspense is going to kill me!
"That is a secret. You need to figure it out by yourself."
"I'll never be able to do that! Oh."
I just remembered something. I put my hand in one of my pockets.
"Whats wrong?"
"Well, actually, I also have something to give you."
"You do? Why would you give me something on your birthday?"
"Remember when we first met each other?"
"Yes?"
"You said that we should give each other gifts to seal our 'friendship contract'. Since you already gave me one, I have to fulfill my end of the deal, right?"
"Huh? Y-you remember that?"
"Of course I do. My gift is a little small compared to yours though. Here."
I pull from my pocket the locket that the blacksmith gave me when he gave me my sword. I made sure to fit the piece of Recollection Glass I bought earlier into it as well.
"Wow! This looks very nice! Wait, this kind of looks like the same metal from your sword."
"That is because they were made from the same lump."
"Really. So, we both own things that were made from the same thing. That's very amazing. But, what is this part on the inside?"
"It is a kind of glass that can project memories. The user has to pour Mana into it to project a memory that they are thinking about."
"I've been surprised a lot of times today already. I will find a chain to attach this to so I can always wear it and never lose it."
I wasn't able to hear the last part of her sentence but, oh well.
"Speaking about surprises..."
I pull my new sword from my shadow and show it to her.
"I didn't get to name this guy yet so, I thought that maybe you could name it for me."
"Well, it looks to be much shinier than the swords my guards use. Plus, I know that you like over the top names so, it should be based on a word that means something cool.
...
How about 'ethereal'?"
Ethereal?
"It describes something that is so magnificent that it looks to be heavenly. But, it is a bit too long so I will just nickname it after Heaven itself, Aether. The Ethereal Sword of The Hero: Aether!"
"There you go again with your weird yelling."