Chapter 42 Birthday Gift
——Chirp, chirp.
I woke up to the sound of birds chirping, it was a refreshing morning. Although I didn't check the clock, I could tell it was still early from the fresh air flowing in through the window.
It's a holiday, maybe I should go back to sleep.
I thought about it and tried to roll over, but my eyes were wide awake and I couldn't fall back asleep. So, I decided to go for a morning walk instead, after getting ready casually.
As I strolled through the village where no one was around yet, I remembered last night's party.
——Happy Birthday!
As soon as I arrived at Emme Village, the villagers greeted me like that, and then my birthday party was held at home. However, I had just returned from a long carriage trip and was completely exhausted. The party itself ended in a short time.
As a birthday present, my parents gave me a cute dress.
From Petra and the others, I got a handmade trinket box.
The weapons shop owner gave me a small shield for self-defense.
It seems like other people in village also prepared gifts, so my room is now filled with a small mountain of presents. However, among them, there's no gift from Lukas. He mentioned something cute about wanting to give it to me when we're alone.
Taking a deep breath of fresh air, I stretch. Perhaps it's from the long carriage ride yesterday, my shoulders made an unpleasant dull sound, making me chuckle. As I look around, I spot a figure. The figure seems too familiar.
With golden hair and the familiar clothes of this village, I couldn't help but run towards that figure――
"Lukas?"
"Laura, good morning. You're up early."
Lukas, who turned around, had sweat on his forehead. He was holding a slender sword in his right hand.
Judging from his appearance, he must have woken up early to practice swordplay.
"Lukas, huh? Training early in the morning?"
"Huh? Yeah. Haven't I gotten a bit stronger?"
With a joking tone, Lukas deliberately puffs out his chest. It seems like his chest has indeed gained some thickness, and most importantly, his arms have become solidly muscular.
Chuckling, I approach Lukas. Suddenly, my gaze shifts to his right hand away from the sword. That's because the base of his fingers looked red and swollen. That is――
"You have a blister. Doesn't it hurt?"
Approaching, I take the hand of my childhood friend.
The oozing blood looks painful. Just looking at it made me furrow my brows, but the person in question doesn't seem to mind. Wide-eyed, he suddenly leans in close. He has a look as if he's come up with something, probably something fun.
"Oh, right, Laura. I want to try the healing potion you made."
In response to my childhood friend's words, I blinked my eyelashes a few times. Just as I thought he was about to grab my shoulders, he continued.
"Will a wound like this heal quickly?"
He looked at me with hopeful eyes. His cheeks were slightly flushed.
By "a wound like this," he meant the callus floating on his palm. What Lukas said was true. For a callus on the hand, it could be healed with a basic and simple healing potion without needing to mix in any potent herbs.
Come to think of it, I realized I had never given Lukas the healing potion I made. If he wished for it, I had a strong desire to make it for him, but there was one problem.
"Well... that's true. But without the synthesis tools..."
"In that case, let's go to Berta-san's place."
It was a quick decision. Without a chance to interject, Lukas took my hand and started walking.
Early in the morning, I called out to my childhood friend who had grown strong, but he just smiled and said "It's okay" much more amicably with my mentor than I had expected.
* * *
My mentor, who appeared before us after opening the door, was wearing loose pajamas and her eyes were barely open. She seemed like she had been sleeping until now.
"Berta-san, good morning."
"Sorry for coming so early. Long time no see, Mentor."
Peeking out from behind Lukas, My mentor's eyes slightly opened.
"Oh, you're back..."
"Yesterday evening. I was actually planning to visit around noon today, but... I wanted to make a healing potion for Lukas."
After a brief explanation, my mentor let out a big yawn as if to respond. However, despite that, she didn't show any displeasure at the sudden visit.
"Feel free to use it as you like. I'm going to take a nap."
With a casual wave of hierhand, my mentor returned to the back of the room. Watching her with a sense of apology, I stepped into the nostalgic mountain hut.
I glanced around the room. It hadn't been that long since I left the village, so it was natural that nothing had changed in the location of the synthesis tools or the storage of medicinal herbs. In that familiar room, I began my preparations.
Although I say preparations, it was just a simple synthesis that would be over in no time. Standing beside me, Lukas peeked curiously at my hands as I started the synthesis.
"You're quick at this, impressive."
"It's just a matter of practice."
When someone compliments me face to face, I can't help but feel more embarrassed than happy. I smiled and accepted the praise Lukas gave me with a laugh, but I didn't stop working on the synthesis.
I brewed it with pure water, transferred it to a container, and lightly mixed it. In no time, the healing potion was ready. I feel like I'm getting faster at this process little by little.
"Here, please try it."
"...It's bitter."
As Lukas frowned after tasting the healing potion, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Of course, even though it's called a healing potion, it's actually made from wild herbs brewed in pure water.
Sometimes, sweet nuts are added to mask the bitterness for children who dislike it, but I didn't do that this time.
"Of course, it's medicine."
"But it's tasty."
Not understanding Lukas's words, I couldn't help but look puzzled.
Even though he frowned and grumbled bitterly at first, it was too contradictory for him to then praise it as delicious.
Lukas, upon seeing my expression, awkwardly chuckled and spoke a bit faster than usual.
"It's not so much delicious as... it makes me happy. Laura made it for me."
His straightforward words, tinged with a hint of innocence, struck a chord in my heart.
My childhood friend, blushing cheeks and squinting eyes as if looking at something dazzling, had a smile on his face that only appeared when he was truly happy.
"If it's for Lukas, I'll make it anytime. It's what childhood friends do."
Those words naturally slipped out of my mouth.
Making a healing potion was one of the few things I could do for Lukas and in this world. I never thought he would be so delighted with something so simple, and now I even feel a hint of pride, thinking I should have made it for him sooner.
In a ticklish feeling, unable to find the right words, Lukas rummaged through his pocket as if to cover up the awkward silence. And then,
"I couldn't give this to you yesterday..."
What was offered was a cloth bag. It had a gradient from deep blue to light blue.
Suddenly presented with it, I instantly realized it was probably a birthday present, but still looked up at Lukas, urging him to speak. Lukas, with cheeks even redder than before, traced them with his fingertips and spoke in a less clear tone than usual.
"Berta-san prepared the item, and I dyed the color myself. ...I'm not very good at it, though."
Surprised by Lukas's words, I accepted the cloth bag from him. As I tried to walk away, Lukas's hand grabbed mine from above with unexpectedly strong force.
I glanced up from the cloth bag to my childhood friend. Then, our eyes met with unexpectedly strong blue eyes filled with light.
"Happy birthday. Thank you for becoming my childhood friend."
Lukas said shyly, smiling modestly.
――Oh, how cute and lovely my childhood friend is! Just thinking about how he prepared this and handed it to me makes my heart race with excitement.
"Thank you, Lukas!"
As I was about to embrace him in joy, Petra's face flashed in my mind, causing me to stop. Being overly clingy would be unfair to Petra as a friend. She had confided her feelings to me after much deliberation.
Instead of hugging him, I tightly squeezed Lukas's hand. There was no sign that my childhood friend doubted my actions.
As I gaze at the present I received and savor the overflowing joy, Lukas suddenly muttered.
"But, 15 years old, huh. We're already an adult."
Already an adult.
Those words make my heart skip a beat.
That's right. Before long, Lukas will also celebrate his 15th birthday. That day is approaching much faster than I imagined, stealthily drawing near with the sound of footsteps.
"That's not true, you're still a kid. You have three more years until you're an adult."
"Those years will fly by in no time."
The words I blurted out like a struggle were easily dismissed by Lukas's innocent words.
Perhaps he wants to become an adult quickly. I remember Hero Lukas, whom "I" know, expressing his wish to become an adult quickly and protect everyone. ――Although the person he confided in was not a childhood friend but a girl of an ancient species.
"Hey, what does Lukas want for the birthday present?"
"Oh, Laura should choose that."
We laughed together. Lukas was the only one who could laugh so naturally and warmly without any pretense. He was more like a family member than a friend at this point.
Since I received such a wonderful gift, I have to think of something that would make him happy too. An eye for an eye, or rather, a handmade gift for a handmade gift, perhaps. I may not be exceptionally skilled with my hands, but I'm not clumsy either.
When I return to the capital, I'll consult with Chelsea.
With that decision in my heart, I hugged the cloth doll that Lukas gave me tightly to my chest.
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