Azrean pushed the door open and stepped out into the wide hallway.
Tall arched windows stretched along one side, letting the morning light pour in. It spilled across the polished marble floor in long golden strips, warm against the cool stone. The faint scent of fresh flowers drifted through the air from the vases placed neatly along the walls. Sumi stood waiting at the foot of the grand staircase. She had already changed.
A soft lavender dress wrapped around her, the fabric light and smooth, with delicate silver embroidery tracing along the hem and sleeves. It was simple enough for movement, yet carried a quiet elegance that drew the eye. The skirt flared slightly as she shifted her weight, and her long white hair was tied back with a thin ribbon that matched perfectly.
She noticed him right away. A small, teasing smile formed. "Took you long enough."
Azrean walked over, falling into step beside her as they began climbing the stairs together. The wide stone steps felt cool beneath his shoes, each one shallow and evenly spaced.
"Sorry," he replied with a small shrug. "Had to find something that didn't make me look like I've got no sense of style."
Sumi let out a soft huff of laughter. As they climbed, Azrean glanced at her from the side and he could feel it. That faint presence brushes against his senses. It was her mana. Steady and cool. Like thin frost spreading across glass.
'I can clearly sense others' magic energy now…'
The thought settled quietly in his mind as they reached the landing. He knew this wasn't normal.
'Some people can sense mana… the same way others feel rain before it falls.'
And he had it. From the very beginning. Every servant they passed in the halls, every guard standing at the corners—he could feel them. Their presence lingered in the air, quiet but undeniable. Sometimes it got overwhelming, especially when there were too many at once. Which only made one thing clear that they weren't ordinary.
'And Invanne…' His gaze drifted slightly.
'Her presence is the strongest I've ever felt.'
He remembered how it felt. Deep, cold, and thick. Like staring down into a frozen well with no bottom.
'Even stronger than my and Sumi's dad.'
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Sumi's voice snapped him back. Azrean blinked, then pointed lightly at her dress.
"Just wondering how you changed so fast. That looks like it'd take forever to put on."
Sumi lifted her chin slightly, a proud smirk forming.
"I'm not slow like other people," she said. "And I don't need to stare at a mirror for hours." She crossed her arms lightly.
"I already know how beautiful I am. I inherited Mom and Dad's genes, after all."
Azrean let out a quiet laugh, the sound echoing faintly in the open hallway.
"Yeah… yeah, you did."
Sumi slowed as they reached the top of the stairs, her steps easing as she glanced sideways at him.
"Remember, in five hours they're taking us to the Saken Church of Goddess Latila."
Azrean nodded, walking beside her without breaking pace.
"Yeah, I remember. Today's the day they check our magic aptitude."
She gave a small bounce on her toes, her eyes lighting up.
"I'm so excited. I've been thinking… maybe I'll get blood type AB like Dad. Ice magic would be perfect."
Azrean tilted his head slightly toward her.
"Didn't you want to be a swordsman?"
She nodded quickly.
"I still do. But if I get ice, I can just freeze someone mid-swing." Her smile widened. "Sword and ice together? That's a pretty cool combination."
Azrean let out a quiet breath of agreement.
"Could be. I might get flame like Mom… or wind like Dad. But we won't know until they test us. Blood type can turn out completely different too."
Sumi nodded, her expression turning thoughtful for a second. Then, without warning, she reached over and wrapped both her arms around his, holding him close as they walked.
"We're here."
They stopped in front of a massive double door. Dark wood, heavy and tall, with silver vines carved across its surface that caught the hallway light.
"They called us here, right?" Azrean asked, his voice lowering slightly.
"Yeah. If I remember correctly, this is the place." She leaned a little closer to him. "Anyway… we both know what's behind it, don't we?"
Azrean gave a small smile and nodded. Together, they pushed the doors open. Light spilled out to meet them.
Inside, the room glowed warmly. Soft golden lights hung from the high ceiling in clusters, scattered like stars. They reflected off the polished marble floor and the walls draped in deep blue silk banners, each embroidered with fine silver constellations.
Tall vases stood in every corner, overflowing with white lilies and pale blue orchids, their scent fresh and clean. At the center of the room stood a long table covered in smooth white cloth.
And on it—a massive tiered cake. Lavender and cream frosting layered perfectly, decorated with delicate sugar flowers. Five candles burned softly on each tier, their flames steady and warm.
Azrea, Memei, Invanne, and several maids and butlers stood waiting. All of them smiling—except Invanne.
The moment the doors opened, their voices rose together.
"Happy birthday!"
Sumi froze. Then her hands flew to her mouth, her eyes widening as they sparkled under the light. A small sound escaped her before she started bouncing in place, her dress lifting slightly with each jump.
"Oh my god… a surprise? I didn't know about this at all!"
Azrean glanced at her, watching her excitement spill out so freely. A quiet smile formed on his face.
The celebration drifted by in a warm, lively blur. They started with the cake. Azrean held the knife steady while Sumi leaned in, already laughing. She insisted on cutting the first slice herself—and made it crooked on purpose. The uneven piece tilted slightly as she lifted it, and that only made her laugh more.
Gifts began to pile up on the side table. From Azrea came a small velvet box. Inside rested a silver pendant shaped like a cat, its surface smooth and polished, catching the light when Azrean lifted it.
Memei's gift was for Sumi—a delicate bracelet, ice-blue and faintly shimmering. The moment Sumi slipped it onto her wrist, it caught the light in soft glimmers, almost like frozen water.
The butlers presented neatly wrapped leather-bound books—magic theory, thick with pages and careful script.
And from Invanne, it was a pair of finely crafted wooden practice swords. Sumi's eyes lit up the second she saw them. She picked one up immediately, gripping it with both hands, testing the weight with a small, excited swing.
They played games after that. Simple ones like pinning tails onto painted paper dragons while blindfolded, missing wildly, and laughing when the tail ended up nowhere near where it should be. Tossing soft silk balls into baskets, competing over who could land more.
Laughter filled the room, bouncing off the high ceiling, warm and bright. At one point, Sumi slipped away quietly. She dipped her finger into the lavender frosting, scooping up a small, thick dollop. Then she walked straight over to Azrean.
Before he could react—she smeared it across his cheek. Then gently pushed the rest into his mouth.
"Happy birthday, Azrean," she said, her smile soft, bright, and just a little playful.
Azrean blinked, caught off guard. There was frosting on his cheek… and even a bit on his nose now.
But he didn't wipe it off. Instead, he reached down and scooped a small piece of cake onto his own finger.
Then he leaned closer. Carefully, he took her hand. And pressed a light kiss against the back of it, right over her knuckles.
Sumi froze. Color rushed to her cheeks, turning them a soft pink. Behind them, Azrea and Memei both went still at the same time. Their eyes widened, hands clasping together without realizing it.
Memei pressed her palm against her chest. Azrea covered her mouth, trying to hide the wide smile spreading across her face.
Sumi blinked at Azrean, then let out a quiet laugh.
"Did my mom tell you to do that?"
Azrean nodded once, his eyes calm, warm.
"Yeah."
He picked up another small piece of cake and held it out toward her.
"Happy birthday, Sumi."