Chapter 312 - Happy Birthday Woldemir

With July arising upon Ignis, in the year 201 of the third Era. More tasks have already risen above the group's shoulders, such as the trip they have to take all the way back to the underground town of Lan Zhe. The two heroes found it best to escort Commander Alia and Ada their selves.

Commander Alia is a very important person in the eyes of these two, they have gone through so much together in this span of 10 months. The last thing they would need is for her to be eaten by a Blue Eagle, although they did handle their selves great alone with no fire at their aid.

As for Ada, she is a child. Only 14 years old, would they want for her to get hurt? No it would hurt their will of kind sense, this little girl has been given under Commander Alia's care as a main topic to talk about. How would anyone face Aatë and say that her daughter has frozen to death or has been eaten by a Blue Eagle?

Obviously it is hard to put in to word for anyone, so Eric and Mogranius didn't hesitate to take all that cold road again and escort them. They could have made their lives easier and send a Calidum Lutum up there who can survive this terrible nature but pride wouldn't let them.

Speaking of feelings of family and unity, since it is specifically the second day of July today. Woldemir has gone under a bit of a sad feeling, odd for someone so strong willed I'm aware. But here the topic is about family, no soul can properly withstand the feeling of missing family members.

Or at this case, missing one family member. Eric is his only bit of family left by blood, they have no one else thanks to the more violent massacres at the Capital and its surrounding villages. He misses Eric, hasn't seen him for months yet.

He is used to having Eric stay close to him at all times, not having him around has indeed damaged his will power the more days passed by. Not to get him wrong, Stefan for example is also considered like a family member due to all the help he offered and sacrifices he made. And it is great that he remained in Gaster Kingdom to help aid sanity.

Mogranius and Commander Alia are considerably great people as well, but admitably he is enjoying the peace and quiet that became more effective once Mogranius left along with his sarcasm.

Today the feelings of missing family have been hitting him at ten fold, and he almost did the unthinkable for a man of his high intellect and manners. He almost grabbed a bottle of ale to spiral down his sorrow, what kept him from doing so was the presence of Isabel in his house.

But what made Woldemir sink almost towards depression? It isn't a usual day, today is his birthday. He has reached a stunning age of 43, and he would rather celebrate this fine day along with who he sees as family but more than half of them aren't here.

You would ask what someone as socially isolated as Isabel would be doing alone in a house with a man she in a way fancies, well nothing but talking. From that day onwards when she had the courage to hold his hand in front of everyone, she has pushed her walls of isolation just a nudge.

Typically, she would never visit anyone gender regardless unless that someone would be Commander Alia. That lady is a tough figure against enemies, but she is the most soft hearted person in front of people she cares for or at least people who she doesn't see as an enemy. It isn't a surprise for Isabel being willing to communicate willingly with Alia on a daily basis.

However now, she has pushed her anti social walls a bit and is visiting Woldemir, but obviously not daily. She only visits once a month or possibly twice, to "borrow" some of the good quality mint tea of which Woldemir hand picks on his free days and to learn the Ignite language better.

She progressed enough in the language to be considered at a level of 2/6 if such a thing was scaled with levels at this time. Today specifically she chose to visit, because the word has spread about Woldemir's birthday.

Alama spread the word to a few Guards, asking if they were going to do anything special for the respected Guard Commander when she was handing and the word just went wild even though Woldemir had no clue. Isabel understands the language enough to figure it out as well, and she didn't want him to spend this day alone.

Her presence in his house, stopped him from grabbing a bottle of Ale. In a way, she didn't want her to see him as an alcoholic. He just sometimes drinks in special occasions, he never does it for fun but he might do it to tame his sorrow.

Trying to connect, she asked. "I hear its birthday for you?" Not the most grammatically correct sentence, but she is trying at least and it is understandable considering the situation.

Forcing a smile on his face, he gave her a little glance and softly answered. "Yes is is." Trying to keep his mind away from Eric and all the family he has lost, he proceeded to ask in hopes of her finally revealing more of her past. "When is your birthday though, I think it never came up?"

Even at the parchments Isabel had to fill, with the aid of Commander Alia as the translator of course. She did not list her day of birth although it was necessary. Considering the life span of a Calidum Lutum and the technology there, Alama didn't make a big fuss over it. They can out work any Ignite after all.

"Ummm." Isabel got in deep thinking, good enough not hesitant to tell him. She just can't remember it right, then she remembered the date 15! Followed by that, she linked it with a childhood memory and found the month 4.

"Yes?" Woldemir insisted to know, finding it adorable how she is glaring at the ceiling thinking of her birthday.

"15 April I think." She answered as she gave it another thought and approved it, "Yes that is."

"Looks like you already had your birthday!" Woldemir felt a bit guilty that he didn't make anything special, but yet again she never told anyone including people the town at Lan Zhe so he can be excused this time. As for next year, Isabel is quite a smacker. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to gift you anything, you never told me!"

As for Gold, it wouldn't exactly be a problem. Considering the months he has worked here and the handsome salary coming with it, he could more than afford one or two gifts. Or at this case he could at least make her an extra large coat, it is cute.

"Let's today." Isabel answered, not remembering how the word "Celebrate" is said in this Ignite language.

Not understanding, he asked. "What do you mean?" In another way hoping he did not misunderstand what she just said.

"The stars beautiful, come look." Here it was made clear, and a sigh of relief was unleashed.

Grabbing his wrist and not asking either if he wants to go out or not, he lifted him off of his chair and dragged him outside. If asked kindly he wouldn't have the motivation to go out, with his shift ending a couple hours ago as part of the excuse.

Luckily Isabel didn't ask, she just said that he needs to look at the stars. Walking out of the Kingdom and letting go of his wrist once he started to cooperate, she instead did a more kind approach and started holding his hand instead.

This at least started softening his heart, the toughest most socially isolated lady she has ever met, makes it obvious that she likes him. It took her months to build up this courage, but she didn't even talk about her feelings to him, ain't that adorable.

There are barely any people out in the street, and the few Guards who take shifts around here wouldn't really mind. The Guard count here has become very scarce, no one would care about love right now with so much friends and family lost.

"How far exactly do you plan to go?" He became curious because it is night time now, this isn't the best time to go alone due to predators walking across fields at night. He didn't even grab his sword, all he is carrying is a little dagger. "This isn't the safest season to go out at night."

"Is Woldemir scared?" She referred to him at third person, but this time with actual aims to tease him.

"I don't have my Sword, I want to protect what family is left." Here he revealed more of what has been bothering him, but it is not like she didn't expect it.

"No worry, we are fine." She answered as she continued to drag him gently across the field, walking nearly 50 meters away from the Kingdom.

"Look at stars." She pointed towards the pitch dark sky, accompanied by the moonlight that shone across Isabel's face, his sight was blessed with beauty.

An entire moon accompanied by so many stars one could glare in admiration towards, yet he found the lava like veins on her face beyond amazing.

"I don't think he is looking at stars anymore." She figured once glancing down, noticing that he has set his gaze towards her cheek. But she didn't want to say anything about it, she doesn't mind it now coming from him.

"Maybe it is time for me to get over her death." Woldemir started thinking of Isabel and about love. His wife died almost 16 years ago and he did not want any other, but Isabel is going through her own nature just for him to feel better.

Neither Isabel or Woldemir were willing to move this quick, nor do they plan to force the pace. For now, they both turned their gaze towards the stars after seeing the spark in both of their eyes.

Although easy to escape, a form of light shone across the sky behind them. Paranoid enough to look back instantly, he saw a Fireball flying towards the sky until it deformed once reaching nearly half a kilometer high.

"What's happening?" He started to panic, recalling that this breaks the usual and isn't any form of an official alarm. "I think something went wrong."

"No. King Michael and Guards have feast for you." Isabel specified, finally gutsy enough to pull him in to a hug. She softly spoke, "Happy Birthday Woldemir."