Autumn 49, X008

  Today is Hank’s birthday, but he mentioned that his family has this tradition where, whenever someone comes of age, they throw an over-the-top celebration. Because of that, he invited us to join this big event instead of sticking to the usual birthday celebration the five of us normally have.

  He told us not to worry too much about our behavior and just to be ourselves—though he did add that we should avoid wearing anything too extravagant. While he addressed all four of us, it felt like the comment was aimed more at Haley and Marge, who have a tendency to act like proper ladies or aristocrats. Which, to be fair, they are.

  I remember the first time we celebrated birthdays together—Haley and Marge showed up in these elegant dresses, acting all prim and proper, like they were nobles or something. The three of us guys just looked at each other like, “What’s up with them?” We shrugged it off as some weird phase or fad they were into at the time. Little did we know, they weren’t just putting on an act—they were actual aristocrats.

  Anyway, we decided to prepare for the night and meet up with Hank, who would then lead us to the celebration. But he seemed a little uneasy about something and started giving us the directions towards the place.

  I couldn’t help but feel like this part was directed at Daelan, who has a habit of falling asleep as soon as we’re done with whatever we’re doing. There have even been times when we came back the next morning, and he was still snoozing in the exact same spot.

  As for me, I don’t have much else going on, so I figured I might as well work on my throwing skills or find something to kill time until the celebration.

  That was something. The whole experience was enjoyable, even though a few things got on my nerves.

  Here’s how the event unfolded:

  I actually overslept, but thanks to the directions Hank had given us, I managed to reach the destination. On my way there, I noticed the village was quieter than usual. I wondered where everyone had gone—even at this hour, there are usually people roaming around.

  When I arrived, I got my answer. The place was packed, and it seemed like almost everyone in the village was there. It felt more like a festival than a simple celebration.

  Even though Hank’s house was on the smaller side, they made great use of the outdoor space. Multiple lights were hung around, brightening up the area and creating a lively, welcoming atmosphere.

  I wandered through the bustling crowd, scanning the sea of faces for my friends. The sheer number of people was overwhelming, and I felt utterly lost. Just as I was about to give up, I felt a gentle tug on my hand. I turned to see a young girl staring up at me with bright, eager eyes.

  “Hey, you! Let’s play!” she exclaimed, her voice full of excitement.

  I tried to brush her off. “I’m too old to play with you,” I replied, hoping she’d leave me alone.

  The girl tilted her head, her expression puzzled. “Huh? Aren’t we almost the same age?”

  Her comment caught me off guard, and I couldn’t help but feel a little insulted. “If we’re the same age, why am I taller than you?” I shot back, trying to defend myself.

  She didn’t miss a beat. “I have friends who are the same age as me and as tall as you,” she said matter-of-factly.

  I opened my mouth to argue, but no words came out. Defeated, I exhaled heavily. “Okay, you win.”

  Her face lit up with a gleeful smile. “Okay!! Let’s play hide and seek! You’ll be the seeker!”

  I nodded reluctantly and began counting. When I finished, I started searching for her. I’ll admit, she was good—so good, in fact, that I couldn’t find her. Just as I was about to give up, I heard a voice calling out, “Endora! Endora, where are you?”

  It was a familiar voice, so I turned toward its source. There stood Hank, his eyes widening in surprise the moment they met mine. Before I could even utter a word, I felt someone brush past me—it was the young girl, darting toward Hank with uncontainable glee.

  She motioned for him to pick her up, and when he did, she whispered something in his ear. Hank carried her closer to me, and with a smug grin, she declared, “Haha, I win! You’re a loser!”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Hank shot her a half-hearted scolding look and set her down. “Mom’s looking for you. Go on,” he said, nudging her gently. She stuck her tongue out at me before skipping away.

  He turned to me with a grin. “I thought you weren’t coming. We waited forever for you.”

  “Sorry,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “I overslept.”

  Hank laughed and slapped my shoulder, pulling me into a side hug. “Daelan’s gonna laugh his ass off when he hears this,” he said, his grin widening.

  As we walked around to meet the others, people kept greeting Hank, wishing him a happy birthday again. It seemed they had already greeted him earlier, before I arrived. Each time someone called out, “Happy birthday, Hank!” he smiled and nodded politely, though I could tell he was growing a bit overwhelmed.

  When we finally reached our friends, I was surprised by the crowd surrounding them.

  Daelan was hanging out with a group, drinking alcohol even though he had only recently turned the legal age. He looked thoroughly drunk, belting out songs with the other revelers. Haley, on the other hand, was helping some elderly folks, using healing magic to massage their aches away. Marge was surrounded by children, dazzling them with her magical tricks.

  It hit me then—my friends weren’t just well-liked; they were famous. In the time I’d been away, they’d carved out a place for themselves in this community.

  “Huh,” Hank mumbled beside me. “I only left Daelan for a moment, and he’s already drowning in alcohol. And the girls are busy too. Guess it’s just the two of us for a while.”

  I took the opportunity to ask him why there were so many people here. Hank hesitated, his expression turning serious. “I don’t want to bring up bad memories for you,” he said, “but if you’re sure you want to know, I’ll tell you everything.”

  I nodded, assuring him I was fine with it.

  “Remember when you were unconscious for five days?” Hank began. “Daelan and I figured you’d been cursed by something. We told Haley and Marge, but Marge didn’t believe us. Even Haley sided with her. So, Daelan and I decided to investigate on our own. Blah, blah, blah…”

  I didn’t want to recount everything Hank said verbatim, so I’ll summarize it instead.

  Hank and Daelan gained recognition after they began subjugating numerous monsters in the southern forest. They would bring back the corpses and consult the local priest to determine if the creatures had any lingering curses. If the monsters were safe, they distributed the remains to the villagers, who could use them as materials or even food. If a curse was detected, they’d have the priest cleanse it before handing it over.

  When Haley and Marge caught wind of their activities, it seemed like they realized it was too late to stop Hank and Daelan. Instead, they decided to join in from time to time, which eventually earned them their own share of fame.

  Later, the group encountered and defeated an unknown monster—one that left no trace after death. When they returned to our usual meeting spot to discuss what the monster was and how to report it to the authorities, they found me waiting for them. That’s essentially what Hank told me.

  I asked Hank what the authorities thought of the monster. He paused for a moment, thinking, and then said they did report it—but his tone was full of uncertainty. I doubted his words, but I decided to let it go, figuring Marge probably wouldn’t forget about it… right?

  Then, two adults and the same young girl approached Hank. The woman, her voice soothing and gentle, said, “Son, it’s time for the ceremony.”

  Before leaving, Hank introduced me to his family. His mother, Enara, exuded a gentle and caring aura, her presence warm and comforting. His father, Harun, bore a striking resemblance to Hank, with the same strong features and confident demeanor. And then there was that little brat—uh, I mean, his little sister, Endora, the same girl who had roped me into playing hide and seek earlier. When Hank introduced her, she stuck her tongue out at me again, clearly proud of herself.

  After the introductions, Hank told me, “Just join the others and follow their lead. You’ll figure it out.”

  I nodded and watched as he walked over to a table at the center of the gathering. On it sat a massive circular pastry, topped with a single candle. The crowd began to gather around him, and I was swept along by the tide of people, losing sight of my friends in the process.

  The chatter died down as everyone fell silent. Then, Enara’s voice rose above the quiet, soft and melodic, as she began to sing. The lyrics were simple—“Happy birthday to you”—but she sang them over and over, each time with a slightly different tone, as if weaving a spell with her voice. The crowd joined in, clapping in rhythm, their voices blending together in a harmonious chorus. I didn’t know the song well, but I hummed along, caught up in the festive atmosphere.

  When the song ended, Hank leaned forward and blew out the candle. The crowd erupted into cheers, their applause echoing through the night. It was a moment of pure joy, and I couldn’t help but smile.

  That’s when I spotted Daelan, Marge, and Haley making their way toward me. Marge and Haley looked like they were about to say something, their expressions a mix of surprise and genuine happiness to see me. But before they could get a word out, Daelan stumbled forward, a wide, drunken grin plastered across his face. He shoved a drink into my hand and, without warning, tilted it toward my mouth.

  “Drink up, buddy!” he slurred, his laughter bubbling over as the liquid spilled down my throat.

  And that’s the last thing I remember.

  When I woke up, it was morning.

  End.