[Third Person PoV]
"Come… On… Stop struggling already!" Arthur grunted, his voice strained as he wrestled on the bed with the furry, furious creature beneath him. The sound of flailing limbs, hissing, and sharp meowing filled the room like a miniature battlefield. "You're going to look extraordinarily handsome, just trust me for once!" he insisted, though his optimism was clearly misplaced.
With one final tug and a small victorious cheer, Arthur stood upright, his chest puffed out and hands resting triumphantly on his hips. His proud expression contrasted sharply with the state he was in—his face, neck, and arms were covered in a constellation of fresh scratch marks, his hair sticking out wildly from the scuffle.
"There! Finally done!" he declared.
On the bed sat Cosmo, trembling with indignation. The poor cat was now dressed in a small purple hoodie made of soft fleece, the kind that looked far too adorable to be taken seriously. Two little holes were neatly cut on the top for his twitching ears, and his name—Cosmo—was embroidered across the back in elegant black letters.
Arthur clasped his hands together and leaned closer, eyes gleaming with delight. "So cute…" he whispered in awe, a grin tugging at his lips. "All those scratches were so worth it."
Sylvia walked over with a confident strut. She was wearing her own little outfit—a sleek dark tunic with custom-made slits along the back for her delicate wings. The moment she spotted Cosmo's embarrassed state, she began circling him like a runway model, striking exaggerated poses just to rub it in. Cosmo hissed lowly, his tail puffed up, which only made her smirk wider.
Before Arthur could comment, there was a knock at the door. Merlin entered, her long braid bouncing against her shoulder as she stepped in holding Mercury, their horned owl. The bird was perched unhappily on her arm, glaring daggers at Arthur. He was dressed in a thick black-and-brown wool turtleneck sweater that folded snugly around his neck—far too snugly, judging by the look of sheer misery on his face.
"Arthur," Merlin began with a soft chuckle, "I don't think Mercury here really appreciates your thoughtful gift." She raised her arm slightly so the owl could be seen in his full knitted misery.
"Nonsense!" Arthur waved off her teasing with exaggerated flair. "He just hasn't had the chance to stretch it out yet. It's very fashionable, very warm—he'll love it eventually." He then clasped his hands and smiled confidently. "Speaking of gifts, I do hope the others enjoy what I sent them."
Merlin smirked, shaking her head. "Oh, I'm sure they will. They'll notice the effort and thought you put behind them"
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Later that evening – Ardene Residence
"Gwenth, dear," called her mother, Gretel, from the entryway, holding several small packages stacked neatly in her arms. "It seems you've made quite a few friends lately! Look at this—these all came for you!"
Gwenth's eyes lit up immediately as she hurried over, nearly tripping over the rug in her excitement. "Really? All of these?" She set the packages down on the kitchen table, her hands already itching to unwrap them.
Boris, her brother, leaned against the counter, watching with a teasing grin. "Okay, be honest with us," he said slyly, "did you put something in their food using what you know from potion class? Because I can't, for the life of me, figure out how you managed to get people to like you this much."
Without missing a beat, Gwenth shot him a sharp glare from the corner of her eye. "Keep talking and I'll hit you," she warned flatly.
Boris immediately mimed zipping his lips and taking a sip of his tea, though his grin didn't fade.
Gwenth focused back on the gifts, carefully unwrapping the one from Arthur. Inside were two neatly bound books, a small potted plant with glossy green leaves, and a soft white wool beanie small enough for an animal. She picked up the accompanying note, unfolding it with interest.
Her eyes scanned the letter as she read aloud, her voice softening:
> "Since you seemed interested in fencing when I showed you, I managed to secure a book on it so you can read about it in your own time. Also, since it's no mystery that you like collecting plants, I found an encyclopedia of exotic and unique magical flora—with a bonus. The potted plant that came with it is one of the species from the book.
Supposedly, it can put on a little performance if it's in a good mood. Lastly, the beret is for Leona, your cat—so you can dress her up to match your impeccable taste. I know it isn't much, but I hope you like it. —Sincerely, Arthur King."
Gwenth smiled warmly as she finished, holding the small plant up for inspection. "A performance?" she repeated curiously.
As if on cue, the plant gave a small twitch. Then another. Suddenly, it shook violently, the soil scattering as it popped free of its pot and landed upright on the table. Everyone froze in shock as it began to… dance.
Its little leaves flapped rhythmically, its stem bent and swayed in tune to an invisible beat. Then, with startling agility, the plant twisted and spun—attempting a breakdance!
Gwenth burst out laughing, clutching her stomach as the animated plant spun like a tiny green tornado across the tabletop. Boris nearly spat out his drink from laughing so hard, and even Gretel had to hold her hand over her mouth to hide her amused smile.
Gwenth reached for the next package, the wrapping paper a soft green decorated with gold stars. She carefully untied the ribbon and opened it, finding—once again—a small potted plant nestled inside, this one with delicate heart-shaped leaves that shimmered faintly under the kitchen light. There was also a folded note tucked neatly between the leaves.
Unfolding it, she read aloud, "'The leaves are tasty, don't overindulge — Mer-lynn.'"
Gwenth blinked, then let out a light giggle. "How straightforward of her," she said, amused. Curious, she reached down, plucked one of the small leaves, and eyed it suspiciously for a moment before popping it into her mouth. Her eyes instantly widened. "W-WOAH! It tastes so good! It's like chocolate!" she exclaimed, covering her mouth in disbelief.
"Really? Give me some!" Boris said eagerly, reaching for the pot.
Gwenth smacked his hand away with lightning reflexes, hugging the plant to her chest like a precious treasure. "Get your own!" she said defensively.
"Dad!!" Boris called toward the living room dramatically, "Gwenth's hoarding snacks again!"
Gwenth huffed in victory and turned her attention to the final gift. "Let's see who this one's from…" she murmured as she began unwrapping it. The tag caught her eye. "Lance."
Boris leaned in with a knowing grin. "Oho, Lance, huh?"
"Don't," she warned immediately, giving him a deadly side-eye before continuing to open it. Inside was—unsurprisingly—another plant. This one, however, was distinct. Its petals were shaped like little teardrops, with a faint silvery hue that almost seemed to glow. Attached to the pot was a folded letter.
She began reading aloud softly, "It's no secret how much you love plants. Herbology's probably the only class you're always excited for. So I got you a plant that matches you perfectly. Especially since they're so short."
Her eyes twitched. "I'm not short!" she barked, glaring at the letter as though Lance himself were standing there laughing. Her cheeks puffed up as she muttered, "What is it with them and my height? They're the abnormal freaks, not me…" She grumbled, though her ears burned a shade of pink.
She continued reading, "But while they're short, they shine brighter than all the rest, making them stand out above all the others. They're nocturnal plants that glow like stars when bathed in moonlight. I hope you enjoy them since they reminded me of you. Merry Christmas — Sincerely, Lance Demere."
Gwenth froze, staring at the paper. Her face turned crimson, her heart skipping a beat. She pressed the letter against her face, trying to hide how flustered she was. "W-What does he think he's saying with something like that?" she whispered frantically. "Does he even realize how that sounds?"
But her embarrassment was quickly overtaken by something else. Her eyes drifted across the table—the dancing plant from Arthur, the chocolate-flavored one from Merlin, and now the glowing one from Lance.
Each of them had chosen something special for her. Something personal. Something thoughtful.
Her lips quivered slightly as the realization sank in. "They all… went out of their way to get me something," she murmured, her voice trembling. "They actually thought about what I'd like…"
The warmth building in her chest quickly grew overwhelming. Her vision blurred. Her lips started to tremble.
She started sniffling before she hiccups and started wiping her eyes as she started to cry. Her suddenly crying startled everyone, causing them to grow panicked.
Boris looked at her with concern as he softly asked, "Are you okay?" He said reaching over and placing a supporting hand over her shoulder.
Gwenth shook her head, "They all went out of their way to get me something, Hic Hic, I didn't know they were going to do that so I didn't get them anything either! Hic. If I knew, I would have gotten them something too! They must think I think I hate them or that I'm a terrible friend for not getting them anything"
"Oh, honey…" Gretel murmured, stepping forward and rubbing her daughter's back in slow, comforting circles. "That's not true at all, sweetheart. You simply didn't know they were planning to give you something. It's not your fault."
Gwenth sniffled and nodded, though her tears kept falling in quiet streams.
Gretel smiled softly. "Tell you what," she said gently, brushing a strand of hair from Gwenth's face, "why don't we go out later this evening? You can pick out something nice for each of them. That way, when you see them at school next time, you'll be ready. Sounds good?"
Gwenth hiccupped again, then gave a small, tearful nod. "O-Okay…" she mumbled, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand.
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