Aurora caught Lucas's hand with her mouth and threw him into the lake.
Lucas was surprised but kept himself calm after coming to the surface. He looked at Aurora in confusion for a while. Then, he swam to the centre but paused when he reached near Dashiell. He swam further near the dagger, worried about being repulsed like Dashiell. But to their surprise, he swam further than him and didn't face any kind of resistance. He reached for the dagger and held it with ease. Now that he was looking at the dagger from nearby, it was elegant, and its design was beautiful. The first thought that came to his mind was to give it to Ivy once she became a hunter. "I will give it to her," he confirmed his thoughts.
Lucas took the dagger and brought it back. Dashiell looked at the dagger. He again tried to pick it up, though he wasn't pushed back, but he couldn't touch it. After trying a few times, he gave up. They rushed back, Dashiell on his wolf, Lucas on Aurora's back, and the little pup running behind. After they entered the city, wolves returned to the woods. They showed the dagger to Elara and described to her what had happened. She also tried to hold but to no avail. Dagger had nothing special except being designed to be extremely beautiful. There was no sign of abnormality. While they were examining it, Ivy jumped and picked it from the table. All of them were surprised as she was watching the dagger playfully. Lucas took the dagger back, afraid she might hurt herself. She may be a child, but she had started understanding things beyond her age. She didn't fuss over it and sat on the chair behind Elara.
After putting a lot of time into examining it, they all decided to let it be with Lucas. And not to tell anyone about it until we find further details. Since they didn't get anything from outside, the hunt for money and gifts began again. Lucas forced Elara to take him for more challenge matches to win and earn more money. He won all the fights, though leading candidates didn't come for his challenge, but Lucas's name has sent a sensation in their locality. When he had enough to buy gifts for Elara and Ivy, he went to the market again. He searched and bought two similar bracelets made of shiny beads; they looked cool, gentle, and beautiful. The seller promised that they were not only attractive but also durable. The rest of the days were filled with practice and training, as Lucas wanted to join the training program this year only.
For Ivy's birthday, Lucas, Elara, and Dashiell planned a mini party at Dashiell's place, as it wouldn't be much of a surprise if she knew. Dashiell and Lucas prepared the cake, other food items and decorations. Elara accompanied Ivy till everything was prepared. They started the celebration after the sun went down. Ivy was delighted by the surprise, and she hugged Lucas when he gave her his gift. She wore it right then and admired it like some treasure. Though Elara and Dashiell also gave beautiful gifts, she was busy with the bracelet Lucas gifted. The celebration was fun. After the celebration, all four went on the roof to watch the stars. The sky was clear, and it was littered with bright stars. Ivy was admiring her shining bracelet. Dashiell was chatting with Elara while Lucas sat near Ivy, playing with her.
After the destruction of Riverton and the death of his parents, today was the happiest day for Lucas. Though he knew people could not be replaced, he and Ivy have found a parental place with Elara. She was the reason why they had such a wholesome birthday celebration for Ivy. Elara didn't do anything great for them; all she did was give them a place to live and lots of love and care. She provided their daily needs and spent time with Ivy and Lucas. In the beginning, when Ivy was intolerant and kept calling for mother and father, it was Elara who kept her cool and took her care. She was extremely gentle with them, always putting them before her needs. Her gestures were small but significant enough for the siblings to feel at home. Though things are incomparable with the original, she was god's gift for them. Lucas's thoughts of gratitude and familial love towards Elara were heartfelt. He smiled while watching Ivy playing, Elara and Dashiell chatting on the other corner of the roof.
"Everything is good," He whispered with the same smile.
Four days again, they started preparing for Elara's Birthday. This time, they had to make many excuses to keep it surprising for her. Again, it was planned to happen at Dashiell's place. Lucas and Dashiell would go out in the name of training and practice and come back late. Most of the preparation was similar to what they did for Ivy, but the cake was done differently as Dashiell made it with lots of love and care. Everything was what she liked, and it showed all his love for Elara. Lucas didn't say much about adults' matters. He did his part in the preparation.
The celebration of Elara's birthday was also very exciting and fun. Dashiell gifted her a wooden sculpture of her, while Lucas gave her the bracelet he had bought earlier. She appreciated his gift and wore it right then only. After everything was done, Lucas left Dashiell's place with Ivy to give them their personal space. After leaving, He took Ivy around, buying her toys, sweets and other things for her to enjoy. He wanted to spend some time with her as, starting tomorrow, he would begin training for this year's Hunters' training quota competition. He wandered the street till she was tired and slept in his arms. She was sleeping peacefully without any worry. Lucas was satisfied with this; this was the reason he was training daily. For this reason, he was going to train harder in the future. He took her to their home and gently let her sleep on her bed.
From the next day, Lucas only had to focus on training; they had no birthdays coming in between. Dashiells's birthday falls on the fifteenth of the month Frostfang, and Lucas's Birthday is on the tenth of the month Bloodmoon. He had never mentioned his birthday to anyone after coming here. But when they were planning for Ivy's Birthday, Elara had forced him into telling. He started his training with Elara and Dashiell. They would usually practice in a place secluded from the public eye. Sometimes, He and Dashiell leave the city to practice in more open areas. Once, all four of them went together. Upon Elara's whistle, Aurora came together with the pup. The pup had already met Dashiell and Lucas; it looked at Ivy for a few seconds and then ran to her. Ivy was startled by it, but when it didn't harm her, she touched its head. After a while, they played with each other as if they had known each other for a long time. When they started returning after finishing their training, Ivy wanted to take the pup back with her. She asked Elara again and again, even after her continued refusal. If it weren't strictly prohibited, she would have brought it back. At last, she agreed to leave it in the forest when promised that Elara would bring her back occasionally to play with it.
Slowly, months passed, and the day of the competition was only two days away. During this time, Elara would take Ivy to play with the pup, and Dashiell would practice with Lucas. Elara strictly prohibited Lucas from participating in challenge matches for a month. She was worried that someone might intentionally injure him. They had arrived at the location of the Arena, where the competition was to be held and booked a room in an inn nearby. Many competitors have already arrived. The number of people already enrolled for the competition had reached over three hundred, and many more were still coming. Elara had said that the number of competitors would be around eight hundred and nine hundred. These two days were quite tense for them. Competitors were challenging each other now and then. Many challenged Lucas just to ensure he was Eleven years old. It was pretty surprising when they heard that an eleven-year-old boy was also participating in the competition where the youngest to participate had been thirteen years old, but only one month was left before he turned fourteen. However, Elara politely refused them on Lucas' behalf. Many hunters who had guided their disciples mocked them when they would go out to eat.
When the day of the Competition arrived, the number of competitors who enrolled was nine hundred and seventeen. Organisers divided them into nine groups, with one hundred and two in each except one with one less. In the first round, one group would fight in the Arena among themselves. Only the last ten standing in the arena will pass to the next round. Lucas's group was second. No weapon of any kind was allowed. They were told to prepare for their round, while the first group was sent to the arena for their first round.
Lucas only heard the whistle of the judges and the cheering of the crowd while he was preparing in the trial room.