Later that day dinner was finally ready.
A sweet, beautifully crafted aroma filled the house, winding through every room like an enchanting spell. It lured everyone toward the table with promises of warmth and celebration.
As the food was laid out on the wooden table, there was a knock on the door. The boy's father stood up to go check, while the mother turned her attention back to the kitchen.
"Hmm, Now who could that be?" The father said, so with a confused look as he walked to the door.
He opened it only a crack at first, peering out cautiously, only to look down, finding a neatly wrapped present covered in purple and black wrapping adding to the fathers growing confusion.
He cracked it open cautiously, peering out only to look down and find a neatly wrapped present resting on the doorstep. It was covered in black and purple wrapping, which only deepened his confusion.
"Wow, look at this," he said as knelt to pick it up. "Somebody left you a present."
"Wait who?" the boy asked, curiosity lighting up his face.
As the father turned it over in his hands. "Hope this makes up for lost time." a small note read.
His smile faded ever so slightly. After a beat, he slid the note into his pocket, tears threatened to fall."
"No clue." He said, trying to keep his tone steady. "But let me open this one later, just in case there's something nasty inside, alright?"
The boy narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure? Because it really feels like you just want to open my presents."
The father chuckled. "Maybe just a tiny bit, but it's for your own good, we don't know where this came from."
The boy squinted at him with mock suspicion but smiled anyway. "Sure."
With the strange present in hand the father stepped to the kitchen back over to the table, putting the present aside for a closer look.
As the father did so the mother returned holding a cake in one hand and a strange mysterious box that was covered with a beautifully woven cloth.
Finally, setting down all the food, and all the gifts the mother let out a deep exhale, before saying. "Who's ready for cake!" in an upbeat tone.
But without warning a familiar voice came out of nowhere. "I am!" The words echoing through the doorway.
And suddenly joyous smiles crept across both the faces of the boy's parents as if they already knew who was waiting on the other side.
"What the hell?" the father said, surprise breaking into a grin as joy crept into his tone with a slight chuckle.
He flung the door open so hard a gust nearly knocked the boy out of his chair. Without missing a beat, the father lunged at the man on the porch, yanking him into a headlock.
"Who in the world is that?" the boy whispered. Then suddenly he felt it long before he truly saw the man's face. An overwhelming strength poured off him, like the sun itself had turned its gaze upon the boy, every ray bearing down with impossible weight. His breath caught in his throat.
In that moment, the boy could mistake the man for a burning star and he wouldn't be the first, as he is the Draconic kingdom's very own Burning Sun.
"Glad to see you, little Ezikel!" the boy's father roared, a deep laughter echoed in his chest as he pinned his younger brother.
Ezikel struggled to get the words out, gasping saying, "I-its go-od to see you elder bro-ther, Leon." As the words left his mouth he sent Leon crashing down to the ground with a thunderous boom, he then gathered himself.
The boy examined Ezikel. He realized the man was about the same height as his father, six foot two with a strong yet lean physique. His armor looked as though it had endured countless battles, crimson in color with a golden trim. It carried a deadly elegance, the kind born on the battlefield.
Then the boy noticed it. On the side of Ezikel's forehead burned a sigil, one he had never seen before.
In the Draconic Kingdom, such markings were sacred, rare. They were symbols of valor, of honor, of raw strength. Some were born with them. Others carved their worth in blood and battle to earn them.
But Ezikel's sigil was different. Higher. Rarer. It was the kind only bestowed once a year upon one dragon alone. Dangerous. Respected. Terrifying.
The boy lost in thought examined the man endlessly, only finding more and more reasons to fear him, until Ezikel shouted, pleasantly breaking the silence. "Hey family, how's it been?" all while giving a wide cheerful smile.
"Ezikel!" The mother shouted with joy, rushing forward to join in giving the man a warm embrace.
Moments later, the three turned back to see the boy staring at them in confusion. Coming back to their senses, the father, his arm still around Ezekiel said.
"This is your uncle, Ezikel. My brother."
"Do you remember him? All though, you were quite young when you last saw him, this guy used to watch you all the time, he played with you, fed you…. and I'm pretty sure he is the reason why you're addicted to reading." Leon said, his voice soft with the weight of simpler times.
The boy's expression was only more confused.
"Nothing? Well that's fine, today's the perfect day to get to know each other anyway. " the father said glee edged in his voice.
"We thought you wouldn't be coming back from deployment until another year, what happened?" asked the mother with a puzzled look, the father wondered the same thing.
"To put it simply, I finished early." Ezikel said with a silly look on his face, making the father chuckle.
"This guy." The father sighed.
"I am The Eye of The Draconic Empire, you know?." as an arrogant smile crept ear to ear.
"That you are." the father said.
Ezekiel turned his attention and looked at the boy and said. "When I left, I didn't know if he'd still be here when I got back."
He looked at the boy for a beat too long.
"But here he is, here you are. Still standing."
Stepping closer to the boy, Ezikel hugged him tight.
"It's so wonderful that you're still here with us, you should be proud of yourself, people who bore your curse were all fated to die within thirteen years after birth but here you are, still standing."
"I want you to keep burning brightly, even after me and your parents grow old and go some place else, you got that?"
"Never let the cold world put your fire out, because that's when you're truly gone." Ezikel said with a solemn look in his eyes.
"Come come, sit with us Ezikel, it's our son's birthday, and we're here to celebrate."
"I thought so, this was around the time he was born, luckily I brought gifts." pointing to a carriage
Then they all gathered around the table, ready to eat.
"Eleven, twelve, and thirteen. Wow, already, what a long way you've come, it felt like you were just starting to walk yesterday." the mother said, placing the final candle in the brightly colored cake.
The boy stared at the cake with pure delight, stars in his eyes.
"Make a wish." the father said.
Quickly the boy closed his eyes and clasped his hands, and whispered silently before realizing the candles weren't even lit.
"Mom the candles." the boy said laughing.
"Oh my," the mother gasped.
"Let me." the father replied.
The father waved his hand and suddenly the candles came to life, burning brightly all at the same time with the two top candles sparkling like stars, and the final candle in the of the cakes spiral spelled out happy birthday.
The boy again closed his eyes and clasped his hands together and whispered, blowing out the candles, everyone cheered.
As everyone cheered Ezikel face turned dark, before slamming down a bag on the table, revealing two luxurious bottles of alcohol, perfectly aged, its brand totally discontinued, it was truly precious.
The father's face turned grim as well, the two's gaze met each other and suddenly a deadly silence washed over the tiny little home of the family, but then Leon broke the silence saying.
"I hope you know, I can't possibly allow you to leave this house without us emptying that whole thing." Holding Ezikel's shoulder.
"I wouldn't want it any other way." Ezikel smirked.
"HEY, HEY, HEY cake first you two." the mother roared, snatching the two bottles from the men and marching on into the kitchen.
As the mother walked away Leon couldn't help but say. "Ezikel… you're actually my other half you know that, I'm certain without you I wouldn't be standing here."
"GULP. GLUP. GLUP."
"SHE' S DRINKING THE HEAVENS MEAD BACK THERE!" Ezikel screamed.
Leon's eyes widened, dread washed over him, quickly they both got up, going straight to the kitchen.
The sight before them left both men frozen in horror.
"SELENE!" shouted the duo.
Now, caught red handed, Selene locked eyes with them and, with no hesitation, downed it faster, forcing the two men to tackle her to the ground.
The mother now pinned could only giggle, the two of them managed to secure the bottle from her tight grip.
Leon, bringing the bottle closer, realized that she meant to down it all without him or his brother getting a lick of it.
"Leon, look! She drank nearly all of it!". He said, grief edged in his voice.
Leon's face darkened. "Selene… you've committed a sin beyond forgiveness, you know that? And there is only one punishment fit for your crime."
Looking up at her husband her smile faded, as he began to wiggle his fingers menacingly at her.
"Wait. Leon. I'm sorry. I'M SORRY!" And with that, her laughter erupted from the kitchen echoing all throughout the house screaming bloody murder.
Leon had her trapped, totally defenseless, and began to tickle her relentlessly, she struggled to free herself, thrashing around and sending fire in all directions to no avail, it was hopeless.
"Leon, I swear I won't ever do it again, just please, wait." she begged but he wouldn't listen.
"No way, this isn't your first time, doing something so gluttenous, this is what you deserve, so suffer."
"My boy, help me! "she cried while laughter took her breath.
The boy got up from his seat walking into the kitchen, and he himself started to laugh at the sight
"Sweetie, help me." she pleaded but his laughter continued just the same.
The mother's laughter rang out like a madwoman's, but when she cried, 'Ow, you're hurting me!' the boy froze. His face darkened.
Without a word, he charged at his father, fist drawn back. The blow came down like thunder caught, easily, in Leon's single hand.
"Nice try." Leon said with a grin. "But you'll never land a hit on me."
Then his grin vanished.
The boy stood in the corner, holding the second bottle of Heavens Mead high above the floor. A dangerous smile spread across his face.
'Father look!"
The boy had taken hostage the second bottle of mead, threatening to break it if the two didn't comply exactly as he stated
The father urged the boy to be reasonable, and not to do anything too crazy.
The boy spoke calmly and quietly, "Leave mom alone." he commanded.
The father followed the instructions perfectly with his precious alcohol.
And Finally, Selene was able to breathe, she took one big breath, before finally thanking the boy, praising him for his quick thinking.
The boy praised his father for following instructions, and rewarded him by throwing the bottle in the air, watching the two men paniced trampling over each other to catch the bottle's descent.
Skipping along with his mother."Now let's open presents." the boy said.
Later things settled, the mother stepped up first along with her gifts, the first present she shared was a small but neatly wrapped in a traditional cloth.
Inside the present there was a set of materials, a sigil needle that held many runes, with writing on its edge, and a luminance liquid that glowed with a faint mythic aura.
However the boy knew exactly what this was, something he always dreamed about.
"Remind me to draw on your Ember Sigils later on tonight, so you can use them when your father starts teaching you about that sword." Selene said with a bright smile on her face.
"REALLY!?" he shouted.
"Will they be as legendary as Ezikel's?" asked the boy, excitement booming with each word.
"One day maybe." Selene said while reaching over for the next round of her gifts.
The present she brought to the table was a box covered in markings and on the box there was a magical scripture. "Ah, here we are."
The boy was ecstatic, almost bursting with joy, "But before you know what it is, you have to be careful, especially with this one. I'm certain he is totally feral, but don't worry I had someone train it."
The two men stared curiously at the box. "Feral? What in the world is in that box?"
pulling off that special cloth, the rune that kept whatever was inside dormant and asleep had faded to a green mythic mist.
As the animal was revealed, shock filled the room yet again, the two men were frightened, Leones was very intrigued by this turn of events. As for the boy, he was jumping with joy.
"The Devils spawn." scoffed Ezikel
"A mage's worst nightmare." Leones smiled
"Aww is it a puppy?" the boy with excitement and wonder edged in his voice.