A Birthday Wish and a Costly Promise

Amidst the cat-eared lolis, Iordera had grown completely accustomed to the cellar. She was, in essence, like a miniature guardian.

Her days were filled with finding ways to brighten their lives and diligently tending to each loli’s well-being, both physically and mentally.

For instance, little Awang, the cat-eared loli, had been noticeably downcast these past few days. The melancholic expression on her face felt strangely familiar to Iordera.

“Awang, you seem a little sad,” Iordera asked with concern. “Is there anything you wish for?”

If all else failed, she might even offer her magical girl wand to play with, just to see a smile.

Awang shook her head, forcing a small, knowing smile. “I’m fine, thank you, Big Sister.”

Despite her words, Iordera couldn’t simply ignore it.

She seized an opportunity to ask Grandma Sharp about it.

“Awang has been unhappy lately. Has something happened?”

Grandma Sharp paused her needlework, removed her reading glasses, and sighed. “It’s natural for her to be feeling down.”

Iordera blinked. “How so?”

“Didn’t I tell you before? She’s five this year, and her fifth birthday is in just a few days,” Grandma Sharp said, her voice softening. “She’ll be thinking about how she’s grown another year older.”

Another year older also meant another step closer to the end of her life.

“A birthday,” Iordera mused, then asked, “Has she ever celebrated one before?”

“Celebrate a birthday?”

“Yes, a celebration of sorts, to mark the day she was born.”

Grandma Sharp frowned slightly. “I’ve heard of it. Nobles do such things, but common folk don’t have that custom. It’s meaningless, at most just an excuse to make some good food.”

“Well, usually that’s the case,” Iordera said with a smile. “But if one wishes, they can still celebrate.”

She gestured with her hands. “It’s about having family and friends gather, lighting candles, cutting a birthday cake. While it might seem trivial, it gives people a profound sense that the day holds special meaning.”

Many would call it an illusion, but that’s precisely what a sense of ritual is.

Whether it’s a genuine feeling or a mere illusion, life needs a touch of ceremony.

“But I don’t understand what you mean by birthday candles, birthday cake…”

“Don’t worry,” Iordera patted her chest, “Leave it to me.”

****

With only a few days remaining until Awang’s birthday, these were agonizing times for the little girl.

Her days dwindled, yet each morning she awoke in the cellar, confined to its limited space.

This existence, like waiting for death, was a dull knife slowly carving at her, the pain never sharp enough to be decisive.

Fortunately, a beautiful young lady had recently arrived in the cellar, bringing a refreshing zest and joy to their otherwise bleak lives.

However, Awang had noticed in the past few days that the young lady kept pulling Duo Duo and Little Pa aside, whispering secrets.

‘Why wasn’t she included? Was it perhaps related to the magical girl’s wand?’

****

While life at the workshop progressed pleasantly, the students at the academy were also enjoying their days.

After the initial period of unfamiliarity, the students had grown somewhat accustomed to the academy and were beginning to settle into their most comfortable routines.

Study groups had formed, small cliques were thriving, and tea parties were being held with great enthusiasm.

Only Sophia remained troubled.

With the Red Tea Party invitation imminent and her allowance yet to arrive, she desperately needed to find a way to visit the night market again and pick up some tasks.

Coincidentally, Augustus Obsidian was plagued by a similar vexation.

The Little Prince of the Obsidian family didn’t worry about money; his concerns lay with matters of a higher echelon.

For instance, the collaboration with The Governor of Saroyan’s Eastern District.

“Busius, that fellow, has borrowed our manpower for so many days, and he still hasn’t finished?” Augustus Obsidian paced his room. “Such low efficiency. Can he really be relied upon?”

His teacher chuckled softly. “Don’t be so anxious, Young Lord. Mr. Busius didn’t have our personnel before, and he dared not use Saroyan’s soldiers, so for a long time, he was unaware of the situation. Now that he has the manpower, he must first investigate thoroughly before gradually proceeding.”

“This prudent approach, in fact, further demonstrates his reliability.”

Augustus Obsidian grunted. “I certainly hope so.”

****

Another bright day dawned, and Saroyan, bathed in daylight, was vibrant and prosperous, exuding an air of friendliness everywhere.

Take, for example, the cake shop.

“You mean, a sponge cake base, covered with fresh cream, and then some special shapes on top?”

“Yes,” Iordera nodded her small head. “And it would be best with some fresh fruit dotted on top.”

The cake shop’s master baker pondered for a moment before saying, “This handcrafted cake is a bit intricate, and the price will be rather steep.”

“How steep?”

As high as three or four stories?

“Twenty gold.”

Iordera’s expression immediately turned complicated.

‘Good heavens, it truly was that steep. Twenty thousand coins for a single birthday cake? That’s highway robbery!’

Then again, fresh cream was a rare commodity in this otherworld, making a birthday cake undoubtedly a luxury.

“Never mind, it’s too expensive.” Iordera took two steps back.

“No matter,”

the pastry chef still said cheerfully,

“Come back when you’ve saved enough.”

Listen to that – this was Saroyan in the daytime, where even turning people away was done with such goodwill.

‘So it all came down to money, after all?’

Twenty gold coins.

While Iordera could technically afford it, doing so would jeopardize her long-term stay in Saroyan. She needed to reside there for at least six months to a year to gain access to the restricted section of the library.

Even for a family of three, daily sustenance required funds.

Yet, Awang’s birthday was fast approaching. The little girl wouldn’t have many birthdays in her lifetime, and missing this one would be truly heartbreaking.

Just then, an advertisement from her previous life inexplicably surfaced in Iordera’s mind—

“No matter how tight your budget, your daughter’s birthday must be celebrated properly.”

Iordera, a 22-year-old resident of Saroyan City, a small library guard, using her credit line to celebrate her adopted cat-eared loli daughter’s birthday.

It so happened that she was now in the academy’s library. Looking up, sunlight filtered through a crack in the rooftop, illuminating her small head.

From this perspective, the room on the rooftop appeared as holy as fire, radiating boundless light.

That was her credit line.

‘If there’s anything, you can come up and find me directly.’

The witch’s whisper echoed in her ears. Iordera’s eyes reddened. She gritted her teeth, stomped her foot.

She would go. What was the harm in taking a risk, all for her cat-eared loli daughter’s birthday?

Taking several deep breaths, she mustered her courage and ascended the winding staircase. After a strenuous climb, she arrived at the door to the rooftop.

Knock, knock, knock.

Knock, knock, knock.

Fortunately, it was precisely the afternoon’s leisure time. Hecate had no classes that afternoon and had returned to her room after lunch.

“Please, come in,”

a gentle voice drifted through the door, murmuring before Iordera, “My dear.”