As the knock echoed through the house, I turned my head curiously from my place near the crib. My father, always quick to act, walked over and opened the door. I expected maybe one or two visitors, but to my surprise three figures stepped inside.
The first was a tall man, probably pushing two meters, with a lean but imposing figure. He looked young late teens, maybe but his aura and demeanor suggested someone with far more experience than his face betrayed. His hair was short and spiky, colored a soft gray, and his sharp aquamarine eyes glimmered with calm precision. He wore sleek black clothes and a deep blue scarf wrapped tightly around his neck. His expression was unreadable stoic, almost intimidating but there was a calm, confident energy radiating from him.
The second person made him look small in comparison.
A towering woman, at least two meters tall, stepped in behind him. Unlike the man's lean frame, she was absolutely ripped muscles on top of muscles, carved like a statue, yet with an elegant air that made her just as beautiful as she was formidable. Her skin was a deep chocolate tone, smooth and radiant, and she wore tribal-style clothes that left most of her body exposed. Scars were scattered across her like medals from her forehead, across her chest, and down her stomach. Feathers of vibrant colors adorned her long, flowing blonde hair, and her piercing emerald eyes carried a wild, untamed strength.
And nestled in her muscular arms was a little girl.
She looked about my age, perhaps a few months younger. Her skin matched her mother's, but her hair was tied into a small ponytail and had the same gray tone as the man's. Her aquamarine eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked around the house, wrapped in a cute blue dress that reminded me… of my little sister from my previous life.
I blinked, stunned by the memories that thought triggered.
"Ha! You're finally here! Shade! Nepheline!" Dad greeted them with his usual booming energy, rushing forward to hug them both like long-lost family.
"It's good to see you again," Shade replied calmly, offering my father a small nod of respect.
"Your daughter's grown up beautifully, Faylen," Nepheline said, grinning. "Look at her!"
"I could say the same to you," Mom replied with a warm smile. "Aquarina's so big now!"
My attention shifted to the girl again Aquarina, was it?
Dad turned and looked at me, grinning. "Leon, these two are our old friends former Heroes like us."
I tilted my head, still absorbing everything. "Really?" I asked.
"Oh ho! He can already talk?" Nepheline raised an eyebrow and chuckled, shifting her daughter to her left arm and lifting me up into her right one effortlessly.
She brought me face-to-face with the quiet little girl. Her aquamarine eyes locked with mine for a moment before she averted them quickly, cheeks flushing.
"He's a Half-elf, isn't he? He's got your hair," Shade said, glancing over at me.
"Hehe! Right? He's handsome already," Dad boasted proudly.
Mom leaned forward and addressed the girl. "Aquarina, I'm Faylen. This is Allan. We're your parents' old comrades."
"Fwends…?" Aquarina mumbled shyly.
"That's right," Dad nodded. "And this little guy here is Leon. I hope you two can get along."
Oh, so that's how it is? Alright, allow me to take it from here.
I extended my small hand toward her and smiled. "Nice to meet you, Aquarina. Can I call you Aqua for short?"
Her eyes widened, and suddenly her face turned a deep red.
"Ah—Uwah—"
She pulled her gaze away and looked down, too flustered to even respond.
"Eh? Did I say something wrong?" I blinked.
Nepheline giggled. "No, no. She's just very shy. Aquarina, don't be rude, now. You always say you want to make friends, right? Well, here's your chance."
Aqua slowly peeked back up at me before focusing on my red outfit instead of my face.
"H-Hi… N-Nice to meet you…"
"You're adorable, Aqua!" I said, beaming.
I gently reached out and held her soft little hand. Her skin was warm, and her grip, though timid, was there. I even gave her head a small pat, trying to be friendly and help her feel more comfortable.
But instead, her face just got more red. It was almost glowing now. A tiny puff of steam even rose from her head.
"W-Whoa! Is she overheating?!" I asked, alarmed.
"Hahaha, no," Nepheline chuckled. "She's just shy. You're a bit too straightforward for her. Don't worry, she'll warm up."
"I-I see…" I scratched my cheek nervously. "Sorry if I embarrassed you, Aqua."
"Buh… I-I'm okay…" she muttered.
"Alright," Dad said cheerfully, "while the cake's cooling off, why don't you two go play for a while? Get to know each other!"
"Great idea!" Nepheline agreed, setting us both down on the floor.
I got to my feet immediately, while Aqua wobbled slightly.
"Come on! You can do it," I encouraged.
She glanced nervously at her mom, then at me.
"Here grab my hand!"
Slowly, she reached out and took it. I pulled her up with a bit of effort. "See? Easy!"
"T-Thanks…"
She was clearly still shy, but her eyes sparkled with wonder.
We wandered around the house together. I gave her the grand tour of the first floor pointing out weird things like the jar containing a floating eyeball (Dad's old souvenir), a glowing red gemstone necklace Mom had tucked away in a display box, a giant oil painting of a castle I didn't recognize, and one of Dad's many greatswords mounted on the wall.
"Oooh…" she gasped, entranced by every object.
Each time she got excited, her cheeks flushed just a little more. I found myself smiling at her reactions. She reminded me of a curious kitten.
"Aquarina," I said suddenly, "do you want to be my friend?"
"Fren…?"
"Yeah! We're both kids of Heroes, right? That makes us special. Let's be friends!"
"…Okay," she whispered.
"Yaaay!"
Without thinking, I hugged her tightly. She stiffened in surprise but didn't pull away.
I'd made my first friend.
"Thank you, Aqua."
"I-It's nothing…" she said, flustered.
Then, as if on cue
BOOOOOOM!
A deafening crash shook the house.
I froze. Aqua clutched my sleeve.
That sound… That wasn't thunder.
That was something landing something big.
"What was that?!" I asked, heart pounding.
Something or someone was approaching.
And just like that, the calm birthday party turned into something entirely unexpected.
---