Chapter 144 - Birthday Preparation

~ [Music Recommendation: "Ponyo Comes" by Yasushi Toyoshima (Ponyo OST) - available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in the loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter XD ~

Coming down to Earth, Clavis came upon a sudden realization …

Magi had always been a proud race, thinking themselves as superior to other races in the universe since they hold the greatest powers. Thus, it was normal for them to think that humans were just a lowly race and the best benefit they would serve them was to make pure-blooded offspring, since a human's DNA was way inferior than a Magi's.

But … seeing what he saw today, he realized there wasn't much difference, really. Both races were just trying to live their own lives. Each and everyone was a "person", an individual. Regardless of race, power, or gender - both were just people capable of emotions, hopes, dreams, and passions. If only the situation between the two races were a bit different … maybe, they could have been great allies.

"Well, there's no use thinking about the what-ifs and could-have-beens," Clavis thought. "I'll just go back home now. Mother and sister might need some help with the preparations".

And so, Clavis thanked the man who helped him, parting ways with him. He made sure to go to a desolate area before he used his holy energy to create a black hole. He went back home in the same manner he went outside, only this time, his hands were preoccupied by the too many paper bags he held.

It was already afternoon when Clavis arrived. He destined the black hole to his office in the Grand Palace instead of his bedchamber thinking Selena might be there. He carefully placed the paper bags under his desk and teleported to his bedchamber to check if the coast was clear. He checked all the rooms and there was no sign of Selena, so he took the paper bags again and teleported. Inside his bedchamber was a room that served as his office. And that's where he decided to keep his gifts to Selena since she barely ever went there. Selena had been very considerate not to disturb him while working so he thought it would be the best hiding place.

After leaving the gifts inside, Clavis went out of the office and locked its doors.

"Clavis! You're there!" Selena shouted his name as soon as she saw him.

Clavis jolted in surprise. He was sure he didn't see her before he arrived.

"Hm? You're working?" Selena asked. "But you weren't there when I woke up. I checked every room and didn't see you".

"Ahh, yes, I went out for a bit," Clavis smiled at her. "You were sleeping soundly, I didn't want to wake you up".

"Hmf!" Selena pouted. "But you were supposed to give me a morning kiss before you go!"

Clavis chuckled. "How about I give you one now?"

"Hmf! No, I refuse. Besides, why did you lock your office? You even put magic on it. Am I not allowed to go inside as well?" Selena and her ever curious mind shot questions after another. "Wait a minute! This is suspicious," she squinted. "What could it be that even I, your future wife, is not allowed to see?"

"Huh? T-that's …"

Selena gasped as a thought came through her mind. "Are you perhaps … cheating on me? Are you keeping a mistress in your office?"

Clavis' eyes shot open in disbelief. 'Of all the things she could think of, cheating?'

A little pissed off, Clavis answered her, "The Sortis household is a family that stands for loyalty and devotion, spanning over thousands of generations. We are also a family of the royal priesthood, and the blood of the Great Oracle flows in our veins. Never, I repeat, NEVER, in our history was there any incident of divorce, remarriage, cheating, or any form of disloyalty between a husband and wife. I would never -" noticing he was answering a meaningless argument, he paused and sighed. "Ugh, nevermind. I'm not hiding a woman. There's just something confidential in my office that even you are not allowed to see. Does that answer your question? I'm appalled by the amount of trust you have for me".

"Pft! Ha ha ha ha ha!" Selena burst into laughter seeing Clavis' fumed face."That was refreshing. Hmf! That's your punishment for leaving without saying anything or even writing a note. I was worried about you, you know. And you were gone for so many hours, I didn't know where you were! There was no one to ask, too. Everyone was gone - mother, father, sister - even the servants. Only a few were left who didn't know what was going on".

"Ah … right," Clavis bowed his head. "I'm sorry. It was urgent so I -"

"Yeah, yeah, it's fine. Just don't do it again. I'm glad you're safe, at least".

Clavis grinned so happily, hearing Selena saying she was worried for him. It was funny because who or what could possibly harm him? But at the same time, he felt a warm, fuzzy feeling in his heart. He couldn't help himself but embrace Selena and kiss her soft lips.

The loving couple cuddled for a few hours and had dinner shortly after. Once done, they prepared themselves to bed and Clavis gently tucked Selena in.

"Selena, I need to work on something tonight. Go to sleep before me," Clavis whispered to the half-awake Selena.

Selena barely managed a nod in response before completely dozing off.

Clavis went back to his office and stared at the pile of video games he bought, along with the consoles and controllers. He was happy and excited with what he bought … but before anything else, he should not forget about the most important gift. He recalled the things that his sister told him.

Sitting down on his office chair, he put his hands together and began to concentrate holy energy on it until a black cauldron the size of a palm was formed. He placed it on the desk in front of him and waved his fingers in a circular motion. Suddenly, a magic circle made of luminous blue lights appeared beneath the cauldron - a magic circle that looked like a clock. Then, he cast a barrier around the cauldron and put a certain rock made from his holy energy inside it - small, and dark in color.

"This is gonna be hard …," Clavis mumbled. "Fire is really not my forte".

And so, after preparing all of that, Clavis placed his hands on each side of the cauldron and cast fire inside the barrier, engulfing the cauldron from top to bottom. His eyes remained fixed on the cauldron until the red fire gradually changed to a blue flame. At the same time, he controlled the magic circle and the hands of the clock kept on rotating fast.

CRAAAACKK!

"Hmm … that's one fail already. I wonder how many times I would have to fail before I'm able to create it".

Clavis repeated the process. Whatever he was trying to do, it really seemed rather difficult than normal, considering he was a Judge. Minutes turned to hours and he still wasn't able to perfect it. But he didn't give up. He tried over and over and over. Despite the failures, he remained calm, remembering his mistakes and not doing it again. A few more hours passed and finally, he succeeded! He almost leaped from his chair in joy but the sudden glimpse of the clock pointing to three washed his happiness away.

"Oh no, I still haven't prepared these games and gaming consoles. I should make a room where she could relax while playing".

Clavis thought for a moment and remembered there was a spare bedroom inside his chambers. Mitis was the one who insisted on adding that room before when she was still pestering her son to get a wife. She had always planned for whoever Clavis' fiancée might be, would stay in the same room as he was in for them to get closer. Now that it was already achieved and they're basically sleeping together, there was no need for it anymore.

He quickly teleported to the room and cleared out all the unnecessary furniture in it so he could redecorate. He used magic to clean everything up, change the carpets into a golden one, the wallpaper into a matte black, and the ceiling, enchanted to look like the night sky. At the center, he placed a large mirror-like screen which was to serve as the television. Clavis didn't want to carry something so huge so he decided to just replicate it instead. Across it, he placed an elegant but cozy looking couch, a recliner beside it, a coffee table in the front, vase with a flower on top of it, and stacked the video games on the shelf beneath the table in an orderly manner. For the gaming console and its controller, he put it just below the screen, on top of a small cabinet. As for the plug and the socket, since their mansion was not operated by electricity, he just created a generator inside the cabinet and plugged it there.

Satisfied with how it looked, Clavis moved to the rest of the room. He placed a coffee and snacks corner on one side, bookshelves and another comfy couches on the other, an area where she could paint, in case she wanted, a darts area, some board games, and some other interesting trinkets.

At last, Clavis finished everything and gave himself a pat in the back for a job well done. He felt completely satisfied with everything until … an idea crossed his mind when he stared at the stack of video games.