Harlyn sits at the table—a sumptuous dinner table, almost enough for the whole village!

  She pressed her palms together, her eyes closed tight.

  Not too long after.

  She opened her eyes again and smiles brightly.

  “I wish our family could be like this every day!”

  Hale leaned over, pinches her cheeks gently.

  “If every day was like this, how would there be a special day, huh?”

  Meryl suddenly tugs his sleeve and whispers, “Harlyn’s gift.”

  Hale jolts. “You haven’t got it yet?!”

  Though whispered, Hale's surprise was as bright as day.

  Meryl quickly hurried inside and returns with a thick, well-worn tome. She wipes the dust gently.

  “Harlyn. Happy birthday!”

  “I think… you’re ready.”

  She stopped a beat, took one last look at the tome before handing it to Harlyn.

  “This book was with me when I was your age.”

  Its cover already faded, full of history and adventure.

  Harlyn’s eyes sparkle.

  “Woaaah…”

  She hugged the book tight but hugs her mother even tighter.

  “Thank you, Mom!”

  Hale clears his throat loudly.

  “Ahem. I have a gift too, and dad sure Harlyn will also like.”

  He pulls out a teddy bear from behind his back.

  It’s lopsided—one ear taller than the other, the stitches crooked.

  The teddy looks a little… deformed.

  “I… made it myself!” Hale declared proudly.

  One of the button eyes immediately popped loose, dangling by a single thread.

  Hale panicked and forcefully shoved it back in before handing it to Harlyn.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Harlyn didn’t care.

  She hugged both gifts with pure joy.

  “I love them. Thank you Mom, Dad!”

  While Meryl was deeply admiring her daughter’s delighted face.

  Hale broke the silence with a loud clap “Let eat!”

  Harlyn quickly glanced through the sumptuous table. She notices her three picked fruits were neatly placed on Killogs’ plate—untouched, uncooked.

  Meryl’s “special cooking” for the fruit was leaving them whole.

  Harlyn picked up the heart-shaped fruit, hesitating.

  Hale noticed, he points and laugh loudly.

  "That one is definitely dad, and mom is the fat one right? Haha!"

  “You’re the fat one! The heart resemble me!” Meryl snaps back instantly.

  Harlyn ignored her parents bickering—already made up her mind long ago.

  She extends the heart-shaped fruit toward her mother with a big smile.

  “This one is for you, Mom!”

  Hale freezes—betrayed.

  “…Heh?”

  Meryl took it, full of excitement.

  “Thank you, Harlyn!”

  She sticks her tongue out at her husband like a child who just won world’s greatest price.

  Hale grumbles and picks up the plump fruit.

  Meryl takes a bite.

  “Mmm! Letting Harlyn picked was the best choice, it’s delicious!”

  Hale took a bite in his fruit too.

  “Mmm! Dad’s is quite delicious.”

  “See, Harlyn clearly understand me. Doesn’t look outstanding, but the taste could never go wrong!”

  Finally, Harlyn grabbed the smallest fruit.

  “I want to keep this one!” She said happily.

  “Of course!” Meryl said, stroking her daughter’s hair. “Then I’ll set it in the kitchen so everyone can see it.”

  “Thank you mom!”

  The clinking of dishes and forks, along with the cheerful laughter of the Grandal family, gradually faded away.

  ****

  Later that night…

  The whole house already went dark, except for the soft glow from Harlyn’s room.

  She lies on her stomach, reading the old book with the handmade teddy bear sitting neatly in front of her chest.

  She slowly ran her eyes across each page.

  Magic is the harmony of heart, soul, and will. Without one, none shall wield.

  …

  Learning and feeling are the paths to conquering magic.

  Another page turned.

  Air is everywhere. Your journey begins here.

  …

  Energy is in everything. Feel and extract it.

  Then a rustle—Harlyn seemed to be searching for something among the pages.

  She stopped—one page had caught her eye.

  Re-Und, a spell that doesn’t take. Giving is why it were created.

  The page was beautifully designed; the patterns were drawn gracefully and eye-catching.

  This doesn’t look like mom’s healing, why it’s yellow? It looks… powerful.

  On one side, a female cleric was hugging the head of a wounded knight to her chest.

  Her heart is painted red, drops of blood-red ink flowing out, blending with the shimmering golden lines radiating around her.

  Re-Und only appears when The Welder truly gives their heart—

  Didn’t know when, her eyelids began to droop.

  The pages blurred gently.

  Her hand rested on the book… and slowly, peacefully…

  Harlyn drifted to sleep, the teddy lying beside her head.