Chapter 14: Birthday
"What time is it?" Raven asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
[It's 2:45 A.M. You should rest now and start writing tomorrow,] Zera suggested gently.
But Raven shook his head.
"No. I want to write the first page before going to sleep."
He flicked on the aether lamp and placed it carefully on the wooden floor. The pale blue flame sputtered to life, casting a soft glow around the room. It was an odd contraption—an aether-based lamp powered by a mysterious gas. Unlike the Aether Rifles used by city guards, the lamp was cheap, easy to mass-produce, and could burn continuously for two days. Yet despite its humble design, it still felt magical in the silence of the night.
With slow, deliberate steps, Raven tiptoed out of the bedroom. He retrieved his school bag from the living room, careful not to wake Aunt Shirley or Athena, then returned and shut the door behind him.
He knelt beside the lamp and took out the items: a blank notebook with thick parchment pages, the silver pen gifted by his teacher, and a small black ink bottle.
Uncorking the bottle, he filled the pen with ink and flipped open the first page of the notebook. Then, gripping the pen with practiced fingers, he began to write—his strokes curved and elegant, guided by Zera's teaching from the past few days.
"The ink dries fast... The paper's quality is excellent," he murmured. "If it's like this, I can write much more quickly."
Though the aether lamp's glow was dim, it provided just enough light for Raven to write comfortably. Time passed unnoticed as he focused wholly on the page, scribbling each letter with care and precision. His world shrank to the soft scratch of the pen and the slow, unfolding story in his mind.
After an hour and several pages, fatigue finally caught up with him. His eyelids drooped, and his hand slowed. With a sigh, he placed the pen, ink bottle, and notebook into his inventory and climbed into bed. He drifted into sleep around 4 A.M., content.
For the next few days, Raven became obsessed with finishing the notebook. He skipped playtime, ignored lessons in his elementary class, and copied all the content meticulously.
At last, on September 2nd, he sealed the final page and let out a breath of relief.
"Tomorrow is my sister's birthday," he whispered to Zera. "How should I give her the notebook?"
He had carefully wrapped the book in brown sheets, folding the edges to make it look like a gift box—plain on the outside, mysterious within.
[Even though you changed the handwriting and disguised the cover to look older, we still need to be careful. It would be more believable if Athena found it by chance rather than receiving it from you,] Zera mused, pausing thoughtfully before chuckling.
[Wait… maybe we're overthinking. You're just a five-year-old kid. No one would believe you wrote a Knight Technique manuscript, right? So instead of telling her the truth, just tell Aunt Shirley you mysteriously found the book in your bag.]
Raven blinked in surprise.
"Will Aunt Shirley believe that?"
[Of course. Now, get some sleep. Tomorrow is a special day.]
He nodded solemnly, lay back, and let sleep claim him.
…
The next morning arrived with a breeze of excitement. It was Athena's birthday.
Raven could barely contain his nerves. His chest fluttered with anticipation and dread. He had never given a gift like this before—one that could change her life.
The tiny house was alive with celebration. Shirley had somehow managed to hide a beautiful birthday dress and other small gifts. Laughter filled the air, and the scent of sweetbread baking in the oven wafted through the rooms.
Yet Raven remained distracted.
During breakfast, Shirley noticed his silence.
"What's bothering you, Raven?" she asked gently, offering him a smile.
He hesitated, then spoke, trying to sound casual.
"Aunt Shirley… I found something in my school bag two days ago. A notebook. It has… strange writing. I think it might be a Knight Technique. I wanted to give it to Athena as a present."
Shirley raised an eyebrow.
"A Knight Technique? Are you sure it's not just something you picked up from the school library? How could a notebook like that end up in your bag?"
She watched Raven fidget, then smiled inwardly.
He must have found one of the old training journals and wants to surprise his sister. That's sweet. I'll let him give it—then we'll return it later.
She ruffled his hair.
"You're a thoughtful little one. Don't worry—we'll figure out the perfect moment."
…
Evening arrived, bringing with it a modest celebration.
The birthday cake was small but lovingly made, and the three of them gathered at the table in warm candlelight. Athena lit up with joy when she saw her new dress and gifts. Laughter rang out in the tiny house.
But Raven held onto one last surprise.
"Wait! There's one more thing," he blurted. "It's not much, but I hope you like it."
Athena raised an eyebrow curiously as he handed her the box. She tore the wrapping, revealing a black-covered book. Strange characters shimmered faintly on the surface.
"This…" she murmured. "It says Harmony."
"Just read it," Raven said, trying his best to sound mysterious. "You'll understand."
"Oh? Let me see what my cute little brother's written," she teased.
She opened the cover.
"Chapter 1: Knight's Awakening."
As she read, her playful smile faded. Her brow furrowed. Her eyes widened.
The book detailed a Knight's training regime—daily practices, meditations, and battle philosophy. But it wasn't child's play. It was profound. Technical. Advanced.
"Raven… where did you find this?" she asked, her voice laced with awe and unease.
"In my bag," Raven repeated softly, eyes wide.
Athena glanced at Shirley.
"Aunt… do you know something about this? This isn't just a book. It's… refined. Like something from a Knight Academy."
Shirley took the book, flipped through the first few pages, then grew quiet. Her expression darkened with realization.
"T-This… this might've been written by an Expert. The techniques are too accurate. Too deep. Even the first chapter outlines a Radiant Knight's training regimen…"
She looked toward Raven, concern growing.
"Could this be from him?" Athena whispered, tense.
"It's possible," Shirley said gravely. "He had the power to kill us that day, but didn't. Maybe he's watching."
"Who's he?" Raven asked, looking between them in confusion.
"You don't need to worry," Athena said quickly, masking her concern with a gentle smile. "Thank you, Raven. This is the best gift I've ever received."
She hugged him tightly, and Raven buried his face in her shoulder, heart pounding. At the same time, the mystery behind their family origin made him ponder deeply. He couldn't help but wonder about the person Shirley and Athena talked about.
…
In the days that followed, Athena devoted herself to the notebook. The training method was demanding but rewarding. She began with the body strengthening techniques, practicing each movement with care.
Then, something changed.
Her body responded with a sharp rise in strength. Her affinity with the element of darkness intensified. Soon, she felt something inside her shift—click into place.
Her fourth circle formed.
"I've entered the realm of an Official Knight," she whispered in disbelief one morning, standing in the yard under a rising sun.
As she turned to the next page, her eyes gleamed.
"Next up… 'Eclipse Fury.' A real Knight Skill. Aunt once said only Elite Knights can awaken such techniques."
She smiled and flipped the page.
"I'll master this. No matter what."