Birthday Celebrations

This article is part of NovelEmber 2024.

"Can I come out yet?" I pleaded to my mother, who was keeping me locked in my closet. It was dark in there, and my body was pressed up against a sharp corner, digging into my back. This was always my least favourite part of birthday celebrations.

"Just a minute, my snowdrop!" I heard, echoing from downstairs. I loved how my mother's voice boomed; I could hear her from any room of the house. Problem was, she could never hear me reply.

Every daglacian kid's fifteenth birthday is a special one. It's the age when you start to learn to hunt, which is crucial given we live in one of the most dangerous areas of the country. I could step out of my front door and either be beaten to death by a skull-sized chunk of hail, or the fiery fist of a tempest bear.

"Okay... ready! Come one out dear!" my mother shouted. I burst through my closet, my eyes not yet adjusting to my brightly lit bedroom. Oh, wow. Shiny tinsel decorations hung from the ceiling, with hundreds of tiny baubels drooping down. The window was painted with a glimmering aurora. A faint smell of perfectly cooked food lingered through the air.

I admired my bedroom before approaching the hallway. Already, I could spot white vines sprawling through the hallyway. Only the luckiest of children get white vines on their birthday.

My mother stood at the top of the stairs, eyes glowing, a bright smile permamently fixed on her face. She held her hands out while patiently waiting for me.
"This is beautiful, mum. You're the best!" I exclaimed as I ran to her for a hug. We held hands walking down the stairs, and she directed me to the kitchen. The smell of food only grew stronger as I entered the kitchen. A waft of hot air hit me as my father pulled out the largest chunk of meat I had ever laid my eyes on.

"Here we go! One freshly killed swordhead for my special baby! Happy birthday." My dad may have been focused on preparing the biggest meal I had ever eaten, but he stopped to hug me for a few seconds.
"After we have eaten, we will go in town to buy you your first ever icecaster! Are you excited to finally learn to use magic?"