Gregory gave Yukiko a smile as she came into the dining room with the others. Elsa guided Yukiko to the head of the table, sitting her so that Gregory was to her right and Jenn was to her left.
Once everyone but Elsa and Enzo were seated, Elsa spoke, “We didn’t plan a meal for you, as we were told you would be having a feast when you return to the academy, but we have made a cake for you. I prepared most of it, and Baylyss finished it while we trained. All of us wanted to wish you a happy birthday.”
A chorus of “happy birthday” came from the children as they smiled at Yukiko.
“Thank you. I’m very happy to be here to celebrate with all of you.”
“And I have the cake,” Baylyss said, backing into the room with a cart. “It’s similar to the cake we had for Gregory’s birthday. Magi, I have some fruit for you to have with it. Dia had them delivered yesterday eve. Elsa, why don’t you take over from here?”
“Thank you,” Elsa said. “Enzo, sit, please.”
“Yes, Elsa.” Enzo took one of the few remaining seats.
Elsa brought the cake to Yukiko. “It is a citrus cake with vanilla cream. I hope you like it.” She pulled out the same long thin spatula that’d been used before along with a collection of plates. “If you’ll slice, I’ll deliver the pieces to each person.”
As Yukiko started slicing, Elsa placed the small bowl of aether-infused citrus fruit where the magi could reach it easily, then started delivering slices as Yukiko directed her. Once the cake had been served, Elsa pushed the cart aside and took her piece down to her seat.
The children were already happily eating theirs as the magi each took some fruit to augment their dessert. Elsa watched Yukiko with a slightly worried, but hopeful, expression.
Taking a small bite of cake, Yukiko smiled as she ate it. “It’s very good, Elsa. It might even be better than the cake we had for Gregory’s birthday.”
Elsa smiled, her cheeks flushing as she picked up her own fork. “I’m glad you like it.”
The others chimed in their enjoyment, as well, deepening the blush Elsa had while her smile widened.
The cake was soon gone, much to the disappointment of the children.
Baylyss took the dishes off the table, then returned with a small chest that she set in front of Yukiko. “From the children,” Baylyss said as she stepped back.
Yukiko looked at the children before she lifted the lid. With a soft smile, she pulled out a wood carving. It depicted Yukiko, Gregory, and Jenn sitting on a bench. Gregory was sitting between the women, and all three of them were holding hands. The golden oak carving stood three inches high and six inches wide, and had been polished and stained to protect it.
“It’s lovely, thank you… How did you manage to get our likenesses so well for the crafter?”
Enzo blushed as all the children looked at him. “I… drew you for him.”
“Can we see the art?” Jenn asked.
“It’s not that good…” Enzo said slowly, clearly embarrassed.
“You don’t have to,” Gregory said, “but considering how well the crafter did, they had to have had a good image to work with.”
“Enzo, you did well with them,” Elsa said. “If you hadn’t been able to do what you did, we would’ve had to do a different gift.”
“I’ll be right back,” Enzo said, slipping out of his chair and leaving the room.
“Can we see it?” Victoria asked.
“Of course,” Yukiko said, handing it down to her.
The others agreed the crafter had done a good job. There were minor differences from the real magi, but overall, it captured the trio well.
“Very nice work,” Clover nodded.
Enzo came back into the room with a bundle of papers. Hesitating when everyone looked at him, he licked his lips, then advanced with firm steps toward Yukiko. He set the papers down in front of her, then backed up.
Yukiko gave him a gentle smile and unrolled the first page from the others. It was of Gregory in profile, wearing a worried look on his face. It was just charcoal, but it was well done.
“Yes, that’s him,” Jenn nodded.
The second was Jenn in profile, her expression one of determination. After that was Yukiko. She had a soft smile on her lips, as if looking at a loved one. More followed those— each of the magi who’d visited before was there, along with a few that depicted multiple people engaged in fighting or relaxing. The last one was of Elsa in her maid outfit, her face containing a radiant smile as she looked back at the viewer.
Enzo leapt forward. He snatched that page from Yukiko and quickly rolled it up, his face crimson. “That one wasn’t meant to be in with these!” he said quickly.
Only Yukiko, Gregory, and Jenn had seen the image. Yukiko nodded. “Yes, it was different. There’s nothing to worry about. It’s special in its own way.”
Enzo swallowed, not looking at anyone.
“These are really good,” Ling said as she studied the one of Gregory and Jenn fighting. “Have you ever been trained?”
“No,” Enzo said softly. “I just like to draw.”
“You do wonderfully,” Nessa said, looking at her own profile. “Can you make me a copy of the one of me? I’d like to give it to my parents.”
“Oh, and me, too,” Daciana said. “This one, where I’m poised to fight.”
Enzo glanced up and, seeing their smiles, went over to them. “You can have them.”
“I’ll pay for it,” Nessa told him. “I’d have to pay someone else to do it, so you should get that payment, instead.”
Enzo froze and Baylyss cleared her throat. “She isn’t wrong, Enzo. There is nothing wrong with accepting payment for your work. And, if you want, we can see about finding someone who can help you refine your art even more.”
“But…” Enzo hesitated.
“We can work it around your learning to be the butler,” Baylyss said. “You don’t have to give that up.”
“Please?” Enzo asked softly.
“I’ll look into it,” Baylyss said. “Now, let’s gather up the other art, as there’s another present or two for Yukiko.”
“Can I take this one?” Gregory asked as he looked at one of the drawings.
Enzo moved around to see which he was looking at. It was the art he had made for the crafter with Gregory, Jenn, and Yukiko on the bench. “Can I make a copy of it for you, instead?” Enzo asked.
“That’ll be fine,” Gregory said. Pulling out some vela, he handed it to Enzo. “This is what I think it’s worth.”
Enzo looked down at the hundred vela in his hand and his jaw dropped. “But… but…!”
“I’d pay more, but I figured this much would be hard for you to accept,” Gregory told him. “Baylyss, if I leave you the destination and the vela, can you have it shipped when Enzo finishes it?”
“Of course,” Baylyss replied. “Where is it going?”
“To my father,” Gregory said softly.
“Oh, make one for me, too, please,” Jenn said.
“And me, as well,” Yukiko added.
Enzo blushed and ducked his head. “I will.”
With him not looking at Jenn and Yukiko, the two women slipped Baylyss the money to cover the shipping and to pay Enzo. Baylyss understood their looks and nodded.
It took a moment for the art to be gathered, but when it was removed, Victoria grinned as Baylyss set a wrapped package down in front of Yukiko.
“This is from the three of us,” Nessa said.
Yukiko smiled as she unwrapped the package. It was obviously a book, and she was curious about what it covered. When the wrapper slipped aside, Yukiko’s smile grew wider. “‘Krogga’s Advanced Tactics.’ Thank you.”
“Gregory said you liked practical gifts,” Daciana said.
“I do adore them,” Yukiko said as she slipped the book into her obi.
“We didn’t have a lot of warning about your birthday,” Ling said, “but we did get you this.”
Baylyss set another item in front of Yukiko. It was made of silk, decorated with the clan emblem, and had her name stitched to the back of it.
“A bookmark? Very useful,” Yukiko smiled broadly. “How did they have it done so quickly?”
Clover blushed a little when she said, “We had it being made from the day after you gave us the books. We wanted to thank you in turn.”
Yukiko’s smile softened and she gave them a bow of her head. “Thank you, Clover, Ling. I will treasure this friendship gift.”
Ling and Clover smiled back, both of them happy their gift was well received.
“Which leaves our gift for last,” Jenn said. “It’s hard to get you things, Yuki. You do so much for us, and have given us all so much.”
The others at the table nodded along with Jenn’s words.
“Baylyss?”
Baylyss set a wrapped package on the table.
Yukiko knew it was a book as she unwrapped it. She wondered if it was another Empire’s Gambit book or something different, but when she pulled it free of the wrapping, she blinked at it slowly then giggled.
The others all strained to see what the title of the book was.
Yukiko picked it up so they could see the embossed cover easily. “‘Vera’s Myths, Legends, and Lovers.’”
“Because you are our Vera,” Jenn said, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
“You are,” Gregory added, kissing her other cheek.
Yukiko’s face was red, but her smile was bright as she sat there. “I’ll treasure this gift.”
“We had the scrivener add a message from us,” Gregory said.
Opening the front page, Yukiko read the addition. Her eyes glittered as she closed the book. Lips trembling, she swallowed hard and pushed the book into her obi’s storage space. “Thank you…” The words were frayed as she held her emotions tightly.
“What did it say?” Daciana asked.
“As we said,” Jenn replied. “That she is our Vera.”
“That is all of the gifts,” Baylyss spoke up to give Yukiko a moment. “I was asked to set the room for games so you can play with the children. If you are ready?”
The children cheered, getting to their feet quickly. The magi also stood, all of them grinning at the children. Yukiko swallowed again as she thought of the message they’d written for her.
The words echoed in her mind as she stood. You will always be our Vera, Yuki. Your love, and guidance of love, will show us the way forward. Always your hearts, Greg and Jenn. She brushed at her eyes as she followed them out of the room. I will do my best, dear ones… I just hope he understands when I ask for more…
