birthday 2

Today is my 2nd birthday—officially two years old! Since early morning, the house has been a whirlwind of activity. My parents, their friends, and even some kind neighbors have been busy preparing food, baking the cake, and setting everything up for my big day. Here I am, perched in this oversized adult chair, watching them rush about with purpose. They woke me up at 7, dressed me up, and placed me here like a prized jewel on display, meant to inspire envy—giggle. Bobo, my faithful companion, is sitting on my lap with his adorable green bowtie, looking absolutely charming.

In this moment, I feel like a little villain plotting to take over the world, all while they steal glances my way, secretly delighting in my tiny smiles and gestures.

They're really pulling out all the stops for this celebration. In this world, every child has four significant birthdays: the 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 18th. Today marks my 2nd birthday, known as "the eye-opener" or "the dream awakens." It's a ceremony where the child is placed in a room filled with various objects—wands, swords, brushes, jewelry, and more—and they pick whatever catches their eye. The idea is that this choice hints at the path the child might follow in the future, giving the parents a glimpse of what to prepare for.

Honestly, I think it's a bit silly. How can anyone expect a 2-year-old to fully understand the significance of their choice or have the determination to pursue that path? It's said that about 70% of kids end up choosing something entirely different as they grow older. But despite this, the tradition persists—whether for fun, out of curiosity, or simply because some people love any excuse to celebrate. My family, unsurprisingly, falls into that last category.

The 5th birthday is called "the power awakens," a significant ceremony held at the temple. Unfortunately, there's no temple in our village, as it's too close to the forbidden forest. The constant danger makes it impractical to station priests here or build and maintain a temple. Even the nobles and soldiers agreed it wasn't worth the cost, especially since our town is mainly inhabited by commoners. With the nearest inhabited area over 200 kilometers away, the idea of building a temple here was dismissed from the start.

So, when a child turns five, they must travel a great distance for the awakening ceremony. But knowing the inconvenience they've caused, the temple sends someone to fetch the child and their parents for the ceremony. It feels like a tremendous waste of money and effort, but tradition is tradition, and who am I to question it?

In this world, everyone has a unique power that awakens at the age of five. From swordsmen to mages, even cooking and farming are considered powers. During the ceremony, ancestors choose the most suitable power for each child, supposedly shaping their future. However, not all powers align perfectly with one's life choices. Take, for example, the bakery owner next to the adventurer's guild. Though his power is that of a swordsman, he chose a more peaceful path and became a baker. And let me tell you, his muffins are out of this world.

The 8th birthday marks the beginning of the "academy ceremony," a pivotal moment for every child. This is when they go in a  journey to the capital to take an entrance exam for the prestigious academy. It's said to be the best place for securing a prosperous future, but the road to get there is anything but easy.

First, the exam itself is notoriously difficult, designed to sift through only the most exceptional talents. Second, the academy is primarily tailored for nobles and the wealthy. Even if a child from a poor background miraculously passes the exam, they face a host of challenges—from discrimination to the sheer cost of living in the capital. Scholarships and noble sponsorships are rare lifelines, but they come with their own set of struggles. Life at the academy is harsh, especially for those from rural areas who manage to get admitted. It's an unforgiving environment where only the strongest wills survive. Despite the daunting challenges, attending the academy is still seen as the best path to a successful future.

The 18th birthday is the most celebrated of them all, marking the transition into adulthood. Nobles often refer to it as the "social season" or the "butterfly season," a time when young adults mingle, form connections, and, in many cases, seek potential marriage partners. For common folk, it's simply a societal signal to start considering marriage.

Of course, not everyone rushes to marry at 18. Some people don't settle down until they're 50, which makes sense given the long lifespan here. It's more about tradition than necessity—starting early gives one more time to find the right match.

Lost in these thoughts, I didn't even notice my mother approaching. She scooped me up gently, breaking me out of my little reverie. I guess I was deeper in my own world than I realized.

"How's my baby doing? You're not bored, right?" my mother asked with a teasing smile.

I giggled, feeling playful. "No, Mommy, I'm a big boy today," I replied, trying to sound as grown-up as a two-year-old could.

She laughed, clearly enjoying the moment, and continued to tease me. Just then, my father swooped in and lifted me high into the air with his strong arms. "My boy is a big man today!" he declared, his voice full of pride.

He rubbed his face against mine, and I squirmed, giggling even more. "Daddy, it tickles!" I protested, wriggling as his beard brushed against my cheek.

"That's the proof of being a man," he said with a booming laugh, continuing to playfully nuzzle me with his scratchy beard. His laughter was infectious, and soon we were both laughing together, enjoying the simple joy of the moment.

"Mommy, save me!" I pleaded, reaching out to the only one who could stop the tickle attack.

She smiled, swooped in, and rescued me from my dad's playful grasp. With a gentle but firm look, she warned him off, and just like that, he backed down, following us like a scolded puppy.

We made our way to the room prepared for the ceremony. It was packed with all sorts of items—swords, hammers, needles, and more. My mom gently set me down, and both she and my dad knelt beside me.

"Baby, look at all these things. Choose what you like the most," my mom encouraged, her voice soft and reassuring.

My dad, however, couldn't resist adding his own suggestion. "Check out that sword in the corner—it's magnificent!" he said, clearly hinting at what he thought I should pick.

Before I could even react, my mom gave him a swift slap on the arm. "Ouch!" he yelped, rubbing his arm with a mock pained expression.

I giggled at their antics, feeling the warmth of their love as they both waited eagerly to see what I would choose.

"Don't listen to him," my mom said, giving my dad another playful glare. "Go and choose what you want. No matter what you pick, we'll be proud of you. Just follow your heart and choose only one thing, okay?"

I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and pressure as I looked around the room filled with possibilities. "Okay," I answered, my little heart racing as I prepared to make my choice.

As I stepped into the room, I had to be careful not to trip over the sheer amount of stuff cluttered everywhere. It was almost like a treasure hunt, though I was hunting for something I wasn't even sure I wanted. Turning back, I saw my parents and everyone else cheering me on, their faces full of anticipation. I couldn't help but smile—if they were this excited, I guess I should be too.

I made my way towards the sword, knowing how much it would thrill my dad. He was already getting worked up, and I could hear my mom scolding him for being so obvious about it. I giggled softly; it was nice to see him so happy.

But just as I was about to reach the sword, something else caught my eye—a glint of blue in the sea of items. Curious, I turned towards it and found myself staring at a gem, a stunning cyan blue stone set in gold, about the size of my small hand. It shimmered as if it had a life of its own.

Is it a ball? I wondered, reaching out to touch it. The moment my fingers made contact, it transformed—first into a tiara that hovered in the air for a few seconds, then into a golden necklace with the same mesmerizing blue gem. I froze, my mind racing.

I recognized this material, this gem. The Philosopher's Stone. It shouldn't be here. It shouldn't be anywhere, actually. This was something that should've been sealed away in the headquarters, far from reach.

How did it end up here? And why was I the one who found it?

"Bobo, what's going on?!" I panicked, turning my back to the others so they wouldn't notice my distress.

"I don't know, Host," Bobo responded, his voice tinged with confusion. "I can still sense that the original Philosopher's Stone is sealed. This is a new one." He paused, checking his data. "Host, I don't know how this stone ended up here, but it's definitely sealed as well. Don't worry. Plus, I'm certain they didn't bring it here. I was monitoring when they selected the items for this room. I have no idea who put that here."

"Baby, is everything okay?" My mom's concerned voice snapped me back to reality. This wasn't the time to lose focus. Quickly, I slipped the stone into my portable space, hiding it from view.

I turned around and forced a smile. "I'm good, and I've already chosen this," I said, trying to sound casual as I reached for what I thought was the sword. But the room fell into an awkward silence as everyone stared at me, dumbfounded.

Confused, I looked down at my hand and realized I wasn't holding the sword at all. Instead, I was gripping a scepter—a one-meter-long scepter encrusted with diamonds. It wasn't just any scepter, though. This was a symbol of kingship, something that represented authority and power.

Great. What incredible luck. I didn't just pick a random item—I chose something that practically screamed, "Future ruler!"

"I didn't put that in," Theo said, his voice tinged with hesitation.

"Neither did I," Sarah added, followed by murmurs of agreement from everyone else.

I felt a sudden chill and glanced toward the window, sensing a gaze on me. When I looked, there was nothing there.

As I left the room, I noticed my parents' pale faces and the nervousness of everyone around them. My heart raced. "Is my choice wrong?! Did I make a mistake?" I asked, my voice trembling as I still clutched the scepter.

My mom wrapped me in a comforting hug. "No, darling, it's okay," she said, though I could hear the fear in her voice.

Just then, Mac's loud voice broke the tension. "I knew he would choose that. My investment wasn't for nothing, hahahaha!"

The others quickly shifted the topic to avoid further discussion, but I could tell they were masking their unease. My dad's pale face and my mom's trembling hands only deepened my fears about what lay ahead. Even though Bobo hadn't sensed anything unusual, the feeling of being watched earlier lingered ominously.

And that's how my 2nd birthday ended—a day meant for celebration turned into a whirlwind of confusion and anxiety about what the future might hold.

Hello sunshines ☀️

I'm thrilled to share this special chapter with you all to celebrate reaching 1,000 reads! 🎉 It's a bit longer than usual, but I wanted to make it extra special to show my gratitude for your amazing support. Thank you so much for being part of this journey with me—I couldn't have done it without each and every one of you! 💖 Enjoy the chapter and stay tuned for more adventures!