"Okay boys, the whining is over. Let's enjoy this perfect birthday party!" Falco, Alfie's father, declared with a grin.
"Okay, Papa," Alfie replied, though his eyes were still locked on Gusto.
"Today we celebrate my son Alfie's first decade of life," Falco continued proudly, shaking hands with Gusto's father. "Thank you for coming, my good friend."
"Next month will be Gusto's turn—his first decade on Earth too. So today, we celebrate for both of them," Gusto's father said, pouring himself a shake.
"Hooray! Hooray! Our brother is ten years old!" Elijah and Marcus sang as they danced around Alfie.
"Don't get cocky! Next month is my turn," Gusto added with a smirk, joining in with his own off-beat song: "Hooray, hooray! Little Alfie is ten years old!"
Everyone laughed, and the evening flowed with joy. They celebrated until midnight, eventually falling asleep in the front yard, exhausted from the fun.
The Morning After
When Alfie woke up, he was in his room, surrounded by his younger brothers. He had no memory of how he got there, but guessed Mama or Papa must have carried them inside. Stepping out, he saw that Gusto and his father were already gone. His father was back at work, and Mama had left for her shop.
"Good morning, Papa," Alfie greeted, yawning as he walked over.
"Good morning, Alfie. How are you feeling? You dozed off before we could give you your gift last night."
"Oh really? I don't remember any of that," Alfie said, rubbing his eyes.
"Haha! Already stressed at your age? Must've been all the running before the party," Falco joked, still focused on his work.
"Where's my gift, Papa?" Alfie asked, eager to change the subject.
Falco smiled and reached down, pulling out a sledgehammer just the right size for Alfie.
"You're my first son, and I'd love for you to follow in my footsteps. I want to teach you the art of blacksmithing."
Alfie's expression changed instantly. "No, Dad. I don't want to be a blacksmith—I want to become a Shinra and protect people from darkside spirits!" he shouted, removing Falco's hand from his head.
Falco froze in disbelief. "Where did you hear about darkside spirits? You don't even know what you're talking about. Gusto's joining the academy doesn't mean you can."
"I'll prove myself to the world. I want to destroy darkside spirits and protect Wuhan!"
"Stop this nonsense," Falco said, his voice rising with anger. "You're too immature. Let me tell you something—I attempted the Knight Academy four times with Gusto's father. We both failed. Being a Shinra isn't just about swinging a sword. It's about mastering Renshi."
Alfie blinked. "Renshi? What's that?"
"It's a spiritual force. Gusto was born with it, so he was accepted into the academy for free. But you, Alfie… It's been 10 years and not a sign of Renshi in you. How do you plan to become a Shinra?"
"But, Papa… you said you tried four times. Does that mean you had Renshi?" Alfie asked, confused.
Falco hesitated. He didn't want to lie, so he changed the subject. "Forget that dream. Pick up your tools—I'll teach you how to forge."
"No, Papa. I don't want to forge. I want to slay!" Alfie insisted.
That was the last straw. Falco snapped, yelling at Alfie to get inside, bathe, and return to work—warning him not to mention Shinras again.
Afraid, Alfie obeyed. That day, Falco began teaching him the basics of forging. Though Alfie had little interest, he struggled through the lessons. Falco could tell his son's heart wasn't in it and warned him to improve or face consequences.
Surprisingly, on the second day, Alfie began to show genuine interest. Unknown to Falco, Alfie was forming a secret plan.
Falco's Departure
A few days later, Falco prepared to deliver reinforcement equipment to a group of Shinras on the far side of the country. It would take him more than a day to return.
He said his farewells and set off on his journey.
"Mama, when will Papa be back?" Marcus and Elijah asked tearfully as they watched him leave.