After the incident with the seer,almost a year passed.Tomorrow was his first birthday.Though nothing interesting happened in the past year,Evan was capable enough to speak a few broken sentences.He still didn't have the capacity to speak full sentences,but he was reaching there slowly.
Funnily enough,his first words weren't something simple like mama or dada.It was a more complicated phrase..."Shut up".
One day,Claire was babysitting him alone.As always she was endlessly talking about random nonsense.At one point,Evan couldn't take it anymore and blurted out,
"Shut up."
This came straight out of his heart.But sadly,it could only make Claire stop for a breif moment.She, perhaps, only stopped to process the shock that her young master's first word was just spoken.After the surprise was over,she became excited and started to speak even more enthusiastically.
When his mother returned,Claire delivered the news of his first speech to her.His mother, became excited too and tried to make Evan say mama.
At first Evan kept quite.Despite that,things got out of hand when his grandmother came from nowhere and joined his mother in the quest to make Evan speak again.Even,quit Ane joined them. Evan ,helpless,could only give up and say "Mama".
After that Evan's mother started to read him many picture books.These picture books had many interesting story.Evan already familiarized himself with most of the words after he was repeatedly read the same story many times.He still couldn't read,but knew which word meant what.
Right now his mother was reading him another story.This story sounded more like a folklore.
According to the story,a human,a fairy,a dawrf and a demon teamed up to search for god.They overcame many difficulties together and devolved a bond of friendship among themselves.After years of journey,the party finally found the land where god resided.God,impressed by their determination and resolve to meet him,told them he would fulfil one wish of each of them.
First,the fairy was given the opportunity to make a wish.The fairy wished for unparalleled magical ability,so the god gifted the fairy a grimoire which had 7 divine spells which the god had created.Then,it was turn for the demon,the demon asked for unparalleled strength,so the god extracted his blood and bestowed to the demon.Then,the God asked the dwarf,what was his wish.The dwarf wished for unparalleled craftsmanship talent,so the god gave the dawrf a book which contained knowledge to make divine artifacts.At last,it was turn for the human.When the god asked,what the human wished for,the greedy human replied,
"I wish for all my desire to come true."
The god laughed at the cunning human and said,
"All right,your every desire will come true as long as you work hard for it."
Then the god disappeared.Hence,the human,for his greed,got nothing.
Evan have listened to this story many times.
After his mother closed the picture book,she said,
"It's time for you to sleep.Tomorrow you will have to wake up before the sunrise."
In this world,people generally counted a new day after sunrise.Unlike his old world where a new day started after midnight.
"Good night." Evan's mother came close to his face and kissed on his cheeks.Then she turned off the magic lamp,which Evan didn't know how worked, and left the room.Evan was given his own room after his first speech.
Soon,Evan fell asleep.
He was woken up by Claire before the dawn.Claire helped him to take a bath and get fresh.This time before Claire could start talking about dresses,Evan randomly pointed at a white garment and said,
"This one."
Claire said excitedly,"Excellent choice young master.The color will make good contrast with your natural black hair and make you stand out more.Your father...I mean Lord Ashword also used to like white color...''
Claire started to prepare him for his birthday.Evan,at this point,was pretty used to her talking.
After,Evan was done,he was taken to his mother's room by Claire.Evan found his mother sitting in front of the dressing table.Beside her,Ane was standing calmly.
Claire brought Evan to his mother and passed him to her.His mother smiled at him and complemented his cuteness.
Then she took Evan to the hallroom where his naming ceremony was held.This time,though,there were not many people present.The hallroom didn't have many tables.He found his grandfather,grandmother and uncle and aunts, who were already waiting for him at the central table.When they noticed Evan's arrival along with his mother, they greeted them warmly.
Aside from,Rebecca,one of his aunt.Rebecca had an annoying look on her face.In her lap was another child who Evan had never seen before.He was physically bigger than Evan.
His grandmother approached them and basically snatched Evan from his mother.
"How are you doing my sweetheart.Can you say granny?Say granny."
As soon as she took Evan,she started teaching Evan how to say granny.Evan could say this word,but stayed silent.
At that time,his grandfather came to them and said,
"Give this little guy some rest,Hana.Everytime you meet him,you are trying to teach him how to call you.Today his first birthday,let him enjoy it."
"Don't be ridiculous.Our Evan can speak more than a few words already.He only needs a small push until he can call granny."
"Alright, but wait until the ceremony is over."
She reluctantly handed over Evan to his mother again and said,
"Okay but Evan have to stay at my place today."
"Alright,mother.I will bring Evan to visit you."
Evan of course could easily say granny but he didn't.
Aside from the family members,there were a few servants too.They were decorating the main table with red carpets instead of table clothes.
After finishing their job,all the servants,including Claire and Ane who never seemed to leave his mother's side, left the hallroom.Only members of Sterling family were present.
His grandfather went to one end of the table.Then,out of thin air,he summoned a book,a sword and a bow.
Then he placed them one by one at the end of the table.At last,he brought out a small pile of gold coins and placed it beside all the other thing.
Evan,meanwhile,was flabbergasted.Where was he bringing the items from?It didn't make any sense.His hands were empty and the next moment,there were the items.
His grandfather said,"Place Evan on the table and let him choose one of the items."
His mother just stepped forward,when his aunt Rebecca interrupted,
"My Orion is older than Evan,so he should be the first one to choose."
"Rebecca,please,not today."
It was his Uncle William,who was Rebecca's husband too.
His aunt for some reason didn't like him.She is always looking for ways to make trouble.
"Am I wrong?They are ignoring our little Orion too much.It's Orion's birthday too.And he is a year older than Evan,so he should be the one to go first."
In truth,she was afraid Evan would go for the shiny sword.He might select the shiny gold coins too,but she didn't want to take any risk.
The sword was a strong artifact of the Sterling family.It's first wielder was their second patriarch.After him,this sword was passed down to every generation's family head.
So when the current family head,his grandfather bought out the sword,everyone could guess the meaning of it.Evan of course didn't know all this.
But even if Evan knew this,he wouldn't select the sword just to stay out of political drama.
His uncle,who was embarrassed at his wife,wanted to say something but Evan's mother,Venessa,spoke first,
"If giving Orion the chance first makes sister happy,then Orion should go first."
"See,sister Venessa have the same thought as me."
His grandfather observed them without saying anything.
"Alright,then Orion will be first one to choose his destiny."
Rebecca happily bought Orion to the table.Orion was sleeping at that moment.Being forcefully woken up,he started to cry.No one came forward to help Rebecca.Everyone was just seeing the scene unfolding itself.
After a while Orion stopped his crying.Rebecca pointed at the sword and whispered something to his ear.Then she left him on the table and joined everyone else.She seemed happy with her performance.
Orion who was left alone on the table,crawled forward a little and fell asleep again.
"Looks like Orion is too tired to continue.Let Evan go."
His grandfather picked Orion up and passed him to his mother.Rebecca's face meanwhile didn't have the happy expression anymore.But she didn't retort either.
Evan was placed on the table.Evan thought,
'The sword and the bow will bring nothing good.I don't want to kill anyone. Let's just select the book and get over with it.I will be a scholars or something similar.'
Evan crawled towards the book,ignoring his aunt's death glare.She was acting as if it was his fault Orion fell asleep on the table.
After reaching the book,Evan took a good look at the strange book.The book was a little worn out.It was decently thick and had some weird symbols on the cover.
'On second thought, choosing the pile of gold seems like a much better option.This book is too strange.'
Evan was scared of this book.He changed his crawling direction,but his feet touched the corner of the book.Before he could crawl another step ahead,he felt his eyes becoming heavy.Last thing he remembered before passing out was a monotonous voice,
[Otherworlder detected.The ownership transfer process will begin now.]