The silence stretched making even breathing feel like a monumental task. I shifted in my seat, trying to think of a way to escape.
My eyes fell on my dad's face. The look on his was clearly screaming out that not even God could save me from her wrath.
My mother looked at me long and hard, her expression softening slightly as she turned to my father.
"What exactly did he say yesterday?"
"I am not completely sure, but I definitely heard something related to 'dad'."
My Mom gave Dad a sceptical look.
"Are you sure you heard it?"
He nodded in affirmation. Seeing which my mother sighed before continuing,
"Maybe he just… picked it up somehow? Babies go through all sorts of strange phases."
My father nodded slowly, with an awkward and forced smile on his face. "Yeah, I've heard of that. Kids can say the weirdest things at this age."
I kept my expression blank, trying not to look too relieved, struggling to prevent tears of joy from trickling down my face.
Phew… I survived through hell today. Good job, Kael. But a phase, huh? Sure, Mom, let's go with that.
I kept my baby face blank and innocent, while secretly reveling in how easy it was to fool them. At this rate, I could probably recite Shakespeare and they'd call it "advanced babbling."
It's not like I was extremely good at speaking, though. I still wasn't completely used to my new body. I still struggled with pronunciation, but that wouldn't take long to fix.
...............
Just like that another week blew by. Turns out the saying that time ticks by quicker when you are having fun is quite the understatement.
My parents have finally adjusted to me being able to speak more fluently than a poet, and the best part. Tomorrow, I'll officially be one year old.
Again.
Well according to this world's calender at least. Turns out this world—Zerathis has only ten months and a baby isn't considered truly "born" until the day of their essence awakening, which happens after a full year of life. My dad told me it's an old tradition tied to the development of a child's essence core—a spiritual thing that binds you to this world. I don't fully understand it yet, but apparently, it's a huge deal.
And today? Today was all about the celebration.
The morning began like most others, with sunlight spilling through my window and the chirping of strange, colorful birds in the distance. But something about the air felt different—electric, brimming with anticipation. The house was alive with activity, my mother humming to herself as she prepared breakfast, and my dad rummaging through drawers, muttering something about decorations.
"Kael, look at this!" Dad beamed as he held up a slightly lopsided banner made of wood and cloth, the words "Happy Birthday, Kael!" painted in bold, uneven strokes. The edges were decorated with what I assumed were runes, though I couldn't tell if they were functional or just for show.
"What do you think?" he asked, clearly fishing for praise.
"It's… unique," I said carefully, earning a loud laugh from him.
"Hey, no judgment from you, mister. This is your first birthday not mine. If you don't like it just too bad!"
I smiled. My dad, had a way of turning even the smallest things into moments of joy.
After breakfast, the preparations kicked into high gear. Villagers stopped by with gifts and supplies, their laughter and chatter filling the house. Humans, beastmen, even a few mountain dwarves—everyone seemed to be in high spirits. My dad, as usual, was at the center of it all, directing people with his trademark grin and infectious energy.
The decorations went up quickly, transforming our modest home into something out of a storybook. Lanterns glowed softly with runes etched into their surfaces, their warm light casting intricate patterns on the walls. A massive table was set in the yard, piled high with food that made my mouth water just looking at it.
It was overwhelming but… nice.
For most of my previous life, birthdays were just another day that I spent alone, but here? Here, I felt like I mattered.
As the day wore on, I found myself standing outside with Dad, watching the sun dip lower in the sky. The golden light made the fields behind our house look like they were glowing, and for a moment, everything felt calm.
Dad stood beside me, his arms crossed, a rare moment of stillness in his otherwise chaotic day.
"You nervous?" he asked, glancing down at me.
"A little," I admitted. "Didn't expect this many people to gather."
He chuckled, ruffling my hair. "Well your dad is the village's chief and you just so happen to be my only son. It was obvious that people would gather."
I nodded, though his words did little to calm the fluttering in my chest.
"Your mother's parents are coming, you know," he added, his voice taking on a more serious tone.
"Grandparents?" I asked, tilting my head.
He sighed, a hint of tension creeping into his usually cheerful demeanor. "Yeah… They haven't visited in six years. Your mother… well, let's just say things are complicated between them. They're nobles, you see, and I was an adventurer in their son's party—" he sighed coming to an abrupt stop.
"Anyways today is not the day to talk about gloomy things." he said clapping his hands.
He smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "They're here to see you, and maybe…" He trailed off, his gaze distant for a moment before he shook his head.
"Just be yourself, kiddo. They'll love you. And even if they don't, who cares? You've got me and your mom."
His words warmed something inside me, and I couldn't help but smile.
"Now," he said, clapping his hands, "why don't you go inside and let your mother know they're on their way? I'll wait out here to greet them."
I nodded, turning to head back inside. But before I could take more than a few steps, I heard the distant sound of hooves.
The first thing I noticed was the carriage.
It glided down the dirt path leading to our house, pulled by two magnificent creatures that looked like horses, only far too large and with feathery wings folded neatly against their sides. Their silver coats shimmered in the fading sunlight, and the faint glow of runes etched into their bridles made them look almost ethereal.
The carriage itself was no less impressive, its polished black surface gleaming like obsidian. Intricate carvings adorned its sides, glowing faintly with a soft, golden light.
As it came to a stop, the entire yard seemed to hold its breath. Villagers who had been chatting and laughing only moments ago fell silent, bowing their heads almost instinctively. Even my father straightened, his usual grin replaced by a more subdued expression.
The door opened, and out stepped a woman dressed in a black gown so perfectly tailored it looked like it had been sewn onto her. A single crimson rose adorned her wide-brimmed hat, the only splash of color in her otherwise monochromatic ensemble. Her sharp green eyes scanned the yard with the precision of a hawk, and her lips curled ever so slightly, as though she were unimpressed by what she saw.
She moved with an air of authority, every step deliberate and commanding.
Behind her came a man who couldn't have been more different.
Broad-shouldered and towering, he exuded warmth despite his imposing presence. His neatly trimmed white beard and the crinkles at the corners of his eyes gave him an approachable, grandfatherly appearance. Unlike the woman, his smile was genuine, and he looked around with quiet curiosity rather than disdain.
"Dravin and Tessa Ashenvale," my father murmured under his breath, as though their names alone carried weight.
The woman's gaze finally landed on my mother, and her expression hardened.
As the silence grew, so did the awkwardness, as everyone except me was still bowing down. The lady shifted her attention to my mother and spoke.
"Alethia, I am disappointed. You couldn't even teach your son a few manners? Or did he learn to be this disrespectful from his dad?"
The words struck deep in my heart and I glared back at her. Who does this lady even think she is, being this rude to my mother and disrespecting my dad? Before I could say something, my mother forced my head down, cutting me short.
"I am sorry, Mother. I'll be more careful next time," my mom replied.
That's when it clicked—so these were my grandparents… but the realization only made my anger grow. No matter how bad your past is, that is no way to speak to someone, and that too, your own daughter! Like what, did you expect a one-year-old to give a proper introduction?
Actually… that is not a bad idea.
I shifted my head back up, escaping my mother's gentle hold, and spoke out with a sarcastic tone.
"I am so sorry, ma'am, for not knowing proper etiquette and how to treat such a noble person like yourself, but if I may, I most definitely didn't like the way you spoke to my mother, soo…" I grinned tilting my head to the side.
"Can you please apologize?"
Everyone looked at me with terror and awe. It most definitely made me uncomfortable and a little scared, to be honest.
She glared back at me, shaking with anger. "What did you say, you little brat? It seems yo…"
Before she could say something else, my grandfather cut her short, "So you must be Kael, right? I am Dravin Elion Ashenvale and this is my wife, Tessa Ashenvale. You must already know, but we are your grandparents."
I bowed down, showing respect. "I am extremely sorry for my rude conduct a while ago… I am Kaelric Elion Ashenvale, and it's a pleasure to meet you, Grandpa," I gleamed with a smile.
Just as the awkward silence started to bite, my dad spoke out.
"Now that everyone is here, shall we start the party?"
Everyone, including my grandpa, went into the over-cramped living room and indulged in their own activities, having fun. My grandmother, on the other hand, scoffed at the proposal and sat down in the corner of a couch, still maintaining her noble demeanor. The atmosphere around her was dark and depressing. Quite the contrast to the rest of the room.
That was the only place that no one dared to approach, no matter how cramped it got. I had quite a huge smile on my face, which quickly faded as I smelled impending danger just behind my back.
I turned around to see my mother, who had nothing but bloodlust in her eyes. I gulped and tried to make an innocent baby face, but nothing could save me from the thrashing I was in for. I surrendered myself to fate and decided to enjoy while the fun lasted.
I was quite literally the center of attention, unable to get even a second away from people. I did pick up on a conversation between a group of people betting on what essence type I'll get.
I swear every time this word "essence" comes into play, I get more and more confused and no one explains it to me properly. AHH, it's such a pain…
Just as I thought I could get a moment of peace away from people, someone picked me up from behind. I shivered at the sudden touch but soon calmed when I realized it was my grandfather. He lifted me up and put me on his back. That's when my dad announced raising a glass of what I presume to be wine:
"I would like to thank everyone for gathering here today, for my eldest son's true birth. We will soon begin the ceremony for his essence awakening."
Wait, what? Essence awakening? No one told me anything about this…