29th day of January.
The heart of Lootwell pulsed with excitent.
From the mont the sun rose, the city was alive. The streets were glittered with colorful. Laughter rolled like music from every direction. Lootwell was in full festivity mode.
Tomorrow, on the 30th of January, would be Lucien’s birthday.
And the entire territory had chosen to celebrate.
Vivian stood at the center of it all. Her hands were on her hips and her eyes glowed with purpose.
"No delays!" She said at a group of workers trying to set up a massive archway near the main plaza. "That garland’s a little bit crooked. And please make the lights shimr in rhythm with the music when the night cos!"
The subjects followed her instructions wholeheartedly. Everyone knew how seriously she took this. Not because of duty but because it mattered to her deeply.
To Vivian and the others, this wasn’t just a birthday.
It was a thank you to the one who gave them a better future.
Vivian had been working nonstop for days. Planning, organizing, managing invitations and personally inspecting every decoration. Her hair was a little ssy and her eyes carried faint shadows of fatigue... but her smile never dimd.
When Lucien approached from behind, she didn’t even notice him at first.
"You haven’t slept yet," he said softly.
Vivian was startled and nearly dropped her clipboard. "L-Lu! You shouldn’t sneak up like that!"
Lucien smiled. "You’ve done more than enough, sis. Please rest too."
But she shook her head with cheeks puffed. "No, this isn’t enough! You always give us everything. Now it’s our turn to give you the best. Just let handle it, okay? It’s the least I can do."
Lucien chuckled. He could see the spark in her eyes.
"Alright then. I’ll leave it to you."
Initially, he didn’t want a grand celebration. A quiet al with his family and friends would have been enough. But seeing the joy radiating from everyone, he couldn’t bring himself to stop them.
He felt warmth in his chest. It’s a feeling that not even the fragnts of Origin Core could ever replicate.
Across the plaza, Sinep and her now-grown disciple, Anya, were orchestrating what could only be described as a culinary army. Dozens of apprentice cooks moved in formation. They were carrying baskets of glowing fruits, cuts of marbled at and herbs still glistening with dew from the morning harvest.
"Watch your fla control!" Sinep shouted. "We’re not burning the heavens again like last ti!"
Anya laughed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Don’t worry, Master. This ti, I’m in charge."
"You? In charge of ?" Sinep’s eyes narrowed playfully. "Let’s see if you can make the Orcstar Stew without turning the pot into molten glass this ti!"
The disciples giggled while Anya rubbed her head, unable to refute.
Lucien lingered for a mont longer, watching the scene unfold.
’Ah. Peace.’ He had once dread of peace. Now, he was living in it.
And so the day continued.
Lucien smiled faintly. He couldn’t help but think, ’If only our parents could see this...’
•••
The 30th day of January.
The world seed brighter that day.
By dawn, the entire plain extending from Lootwell to Lucien’s expanded territory was alive with celebration. Rows of tables stretched endlessly across the land. They were covered with embroidered cloths that glowed with enchantnts.
The sky itself had joined the celebration. The clouds were painted with hues of gold.
Lucien’s subjects gathered first. Then ca the neighbors, the visiting friends, even the sovereigns of the four nations.
King Midas himself laughed heartily with peasants, sharing a drink like an old friend. Pope Augustus was surrounded by curious children, showing them simple light miracles that drew bright giggles.
That day, titles vanished.
No kings. No popes. No status.
Only people laughing, eating, living.
Lucien stood at the center of it all, quietly taking it in. His heart swelled at the sight. They all gathered not out of command or duty but because they wanted to be there.
Vivian approached. Her dress was speckled with flour and color from helping everyone. "Brother. Isn’t it perfect?"
Lucien turned to her, smiling softly. "It really is. Thank you, sis."
She looked up at him. "Right?!" she said. "I told you we’d pull it off!"
Lucien chuckled. "You did more than pull it off."
The celebration continued. Music played, people danced, fireworks burst in sparks of color and laughter echoed beneath the open sky.
And when the sun began to set, Vivian clapped her hands to gather everyone’s attention.
"Alright everyone!" she called out. "It’s ti for the birthday boy to say sothing!"
Cheers erupted. "Speech! Speech! Speech!"
Lucien blinked, slightly overwheld. He laughed quietly then raised his hand. The crowd slowly quieted.
He stood before them. And he began with a calm voice...
"Today... I see faces from every corner of this world. People who once fought on opposite sides, who once feared what tomorrow might bring... now laughing together under one sky."
He paused, looking at the sea of faces, then smiled.
"This celebration... isn’t just about my birthday. It’s proof of what we’ve all built together. Of how far we’ve co. The enemies may have scarred the world but they couldn’t scar our hearts."
He paused and bowed his head slightly.
"And to those who worked so hard for today... especially my sister. Thank you. You all made sothing so beautiful I almost can’t believe it’s real."
Vivian looked at him with a playful grin. "Brother! You make it sound like we did sothing impossible haha."
Lucien laughed. "You did. You gave sothing no battle ever could. Peace."
He looked back at the crowd.
"I once thought power was everything. That strength alone could change the world. But seeing all of you... I realized, it’s not strength that keeps a world alive. It’s the will to care for one another."
His voice softened.
"So thank you. All of you. For reminding what it ans to live."
The applause that followed wasn’t loud at first. It began small and then swelled into a roar that filled the entire plain. Cheers, laughter, even tears of joy.
Vivian was wiping her eyes and pretending she wasn’t.
Lucien chuckled, shaking his head. "Now then," he said with a grin, "let’s eat before our chefs’ masterpiece turns cold!"
That earned another round of laughter.
The celebration lasted deep into the night. Fireworks blood like galaxies across the sky. The sound of music echoed across the plains.
Lucien stood quietly under the stars, surrounded by his people.
Vivian’s voice rang out, teasing but warm.
"Don’t get sentintal yet! There’s still cake left!"
Lucien laughed, turning toward her and the others.
Lucein Lootwell’s 13th birthday. It was a day he would never forget.
•••
The next day...
Lucien called for Vivian. His expression was unusually serious. The kind that made Vivian instantly sense that sothing important was about to happen.
"Brother," she asked softly. "Is there a problem?"
Lucien took a slow breath.
"Sis," he began, "I want to introduce you to soone."
Vivian blinked in confusion. "Introduce? Who—?"
Before she could finish, Lucien raised his hand. Divine energy wrapped around her like a gentle current of light. The world around them blurred and before Vivian could react, she felt herself being drawn sowhere.
...
Within the Divine Energy Core
Lucien followed soon after. As the light receded, Vivian stood frozen. Her eyes were wide and her breath was caught in wonder.
"Lu..." Her voice trembled with awe. "What is this place?"
"Sis, this is a place that only I... and those I acknowledge, can enter here."
Vivian turned slowly. "It’s beautiful."
Lucien chuckled. He extended his hand and with a blink, they shifted. Two figures of light stood waiting for them.
Vivian instinctively took a step back. "Lu... who are they?"
Lucien’s expression turned tender. There was hesitation in his eyes but he finally revealed... "Sis... these two are my real parents. My father, Luke, and my mother, Cienna."
Vivian’s lips parted in shock. Before she could speak, the two figures raised their hands slightly. Gentle voices resonated directly within her mind.
[Hello, child. Since you were raised together with Lucien, you are my daughter too.]
[Lucien told us about you. May I call you our daughter?]
Vivian froze. Her heart pounded. Not out of fear but from the warmth that suddenly flooded through her.
"Father... Mother..." she finally said. "I am Vivian, Lucien’s sister. We may not share blood, but to ... he will always be my brother."
Lucien blinked, surprised. "Eh? Sis, you already knew?" His eyes widened. "How? When? Why didn’t you tell ?"
Vivian giggled softly at his flustered tone. "Lu," she said warmly, "does it matter? Blood doesn’t define family. You’ve always been my brother... here." She pressed a hand against her chest.
Lucien stood silent for a mont.
The two divine figures exchanged glances and then Cienna stepped forward. Her figure shimred as she embraced Vivian.
[Ah... I always dread of having a daughter. Luke is useless. Can’t even give a daughter.]
[Hey now, honey, I would’ve helped raise one if we weren’t already dead, rember?]
Cienna swatted at him playfully.
For a long while, they simply talked like a family finally reunited after lifetis apart.
At one point, Lucien folded his arms and muttered jokingly, "Well... it looks like I’m being replaced already."
Cienna sent a ssage to their minds. [Oh hush, my little sun. You’ll always be special.]
Everyone burst into laughter again.
’Well... All is well, that ends well, I guess?’
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