Chapter 270 - 269 - ... Surprise?

A few days passed and Noah was back to living his life normally.

Emma's nausea had subsided without anyone suspecting a possible pregnancy. Noah talked daily with her about it, but she kept denying the pregnancy.

Because of this, the hope of having a brother was diminishing.

"What is it? You look thoughtful." 

At the village training camp, Noah was facing Ciaphia.

"I'm thinking about something about my mother."

"What happened?"

"I don't think she would be happy if I talked to you about it. But if I'm correct, in a while you'll find out what I'm talking about."

'Even have diminished, I still have hopes of having a brother or sister.'

"I see. I won't insist that you speak, it must be something important."

"Yes..."

"But you shouldn't think about it too much, you'll end up hurting yourself." Ciaphia held her sword and swung it toward Noah. 

After swinging it, Ciaphia had her sword blocked.

"Even if I'm distracted I'm still faster and stronger, hehe." After stopping Ciaphia's sword, Noah pushed it away using all his strength. Ciaphia felt her arm go behind and soon Noah's sword was already at her neck.

"That's unfair, you seem to get stronger every day."

"I train hard."

"Me too, but still my evolution is not like yours. Don't tell me you're taking some kind of drug to get stronger?"

"Don't offend me, I would never do that." Noah smiled at Ciaphia and then removed his sword from her neck.

After that, he turned around and looked at Taciane and Eli who were continuously training their magic.

Speaking about magic, their evolution had been quite significant.

[ Status ]

Name: Eli

Level: 8

Race: Human

Age: 15

Strength: 89

Agility: 56

Magic: 1225

Abilities

Earth Magic - Level 3

Water Magic - Level 4

[ End ]

Eli's magic went up a level and her strength and agility went up after she started using a sword to train together with Noah. 

'But Taciane's evolution is even more amazing.'

Noah looked at her to analyze her Status.

[ Status ]

Name: Taciane

Level: 21

Race: Human

Age: 18

Strength: 156

Agility: 102

Magic: 2011

Abilities:

Fire Magic - Level 5

Water Magic - Level 3

[ End ]

In addition to her strength and agility having almost doubled after she started training, her fire magic had risen to level 5.

'Her fire magic level is the same as my mother's, but the strength doesn't compare.' Noah thought as he approached. Surely there was something strange about that.

But that quickly faded from his mind when he realized that Taciane's age had changed.

When he first looked her age was 17, now it had risen to 18. 

As soon as he approached the two, Eli and Taciane were sweating and breathing heavily.

"I think that's enough for today, let's get something to eat," Noah said as he approached.

"Really? Finally!" Taciane celebrated and threw herself on the ground.

Eli did the same thing but in silence.

"Yeah, get some rest so we can go eat. And Taciane, why didn't you tell me that your birthday has already passed?"

"What?" Ciaphia behind Noah exclaimed in surprise.

"You didn't know? She's already turned 18."

"No, she didn't tell me she was having a birthday."

"Really? What a beautiful friendship you two have..." Noah scoffed. Ciaphia looked a little upset and Taciane quickly got up from the floor and approached him.

"Who told you?" She brought her face closer to Noah looking annoyed.

"Was it you, Eli?" Taciane looked at Eli, but her sister just shook her head both ways quickly denying that she had told Noah.

"Calm down."

"I want to know who told you." She asked again.

"No one. And why do you seem so angry? Don't you like your birthday?"

"It's not that... It's just that I don't like that I'm getting older."

"Is it serious?"

"Of course! Every year I get older and I still haven't found a boyfriend, even Ciaphia who is younger than me already has a boyfriend and I... I'm getting old..."

"You're not old, you're still 18."

"You say that because you're not even an adult yet. Wait until you reach adulthood,, I promise you to feel the same way I do. Right, Ciaphia?"

"Hmm, I don't feel anything."

"What about you, Eli?"

"I don't worry about that either."

"So it's just me who worries about getting old?"

"I guess so." Noah gave a small laugh.

Then Taciane filled her eyes with tears and pouted. 

"All right, you can go eat without me." Visibly downcast, Taciane sat back down on the floor. But Noah would not allow this, he approached her and held out his hand to her.

"Come on, we need to celebrate your birthday."

"Are you mocking me?"

"Of course not. It's always important to celebrate a friend's birthday."

"..."

"Come on. Your sister and Ciaphia want this, don't they?" Noah looked at the two and they nodded.

"Okay, I will...."

####

Arriving at Noah's house, he found Emma and Lisandra sitting on the couch having an intimate conversation.

When he and the other girls entered, the two immediately stopped talking and started pretending nothing was happening.

'Is it?' Noah thought as he smiled, but then cleared his throat.

"Listen, Taciane's birthday passed a while ago and I'd like us to have a party to celebrate, what do you guys think?" 

Upon hearing Noah's proposal, Lisandra's eyes lit up.

"You had a birthday? Why didn't you tell me about it before?!" She jumped up from the couch and approached Taciane, giving her a strong hug.

"You should have told me, I would have thrown a party for you!"

"..." Taciane was silent without reaction as she received Lisandra's hug.

"So, mom?"

"Do I need to say something? I think everything is fine. Do you want me to call Dala and Clachel to help? We can get everything ready by tonight."

"Sure, do that. And you, let's go out for a while while while everything gets ready. Do you want to come with us, Lisandra?"

"No, I'll stay and help, you guys can go. What do you think about staying here, Eli?"

"Sure..."

"Okay, then I'll go out together with Taciane and Ciaphia." Noah smiled and then took Ciaphia's hand naturally and left the house.

"And mom, later I want to talk to you again about that matter," Noah said before leaving. His mother smiled bitterly.

####

After a few hours had passed, the evening had already arrived.

Taciane spent some time at her house together with Ciaphia and Noah as she looked forward to her party.

On the way to Noah's house, Taciane seemed extremely nervous. She was sweating and shaking.

"What happened? Haven't you ever had a party before?"

"No... Amazingly enough, I've never had a party."

"You're kidding, right?" Noah exclaimed in surprise as he walked beside Taciane and Ciaphia.

"I'm not kidding. Since I was little our parents never gave us a birthday party because we couldn't afford it."

"I see..."

"I never had one either. How would you feel about throwing a party for me when I turn 18?" Ciaphia looked at Noah and gave a smile.

"Of course, I'll throw a party for you."

"Really?"

"Of course!"

"Yeey~~ I love you." Ciaphia ducked down and suddenly hugged Noah in the middle of the village.

"Hey, you guys are embarrassing me, stop it. And walk faster, I want to get there soon."

"You're not nervous anymore?"

"I am nervous, but I am also very anxious."

"And also happy, right?"

"Hmph..."

Walking to Noah's house, they arrived at the door. All was silent. It wasn't supposed to be a surprise party, so Taciane started to get worried.

'Have they given up?' She thought and began to feel sad.

Noah noticed that Taciane started to feel sick, and then he walked over to the door and opened it.

After he did so, the light in the room came on.

"SURPRISE!!!" And everyone screamed.

Emma, Lucio, Dala, Clachel, Lisandra, Lari, Eli, Rieli, Rose, Sara, everyone was there.

Everyone had a smile on their face as they looked at Taciane.

And at the same time, Noah put his hand over his face as he felt a little embarrassed and sad.

'It wasn't supposed to be a surprise party, why did they yell surprise?' 

Not only him, but Ciaphia also had a bitter smile on her face looking annoyed by that situation.

But the two of them completely ignored that when they noticed that Taciane was almost crying at the 'Surprise'

When they realized this they joined the others and cheerfully congratulated Taciane.

"Thank you very much..." Taciane of that while holding back her tears.

After all this commotion, Taciane's party continued until the early hours of the morning.

Lots of food, the adults drank alcohol, and only Noah drank juice.

It was a little bothersome that he couldn't drink alcohol, especially at the moment he started to get attacked by Lari who started to fight with Ciaphia.

'I wish I was drunk right now just so I wouldn't have to feel so embarrassed.'

Watching the two arguing, Noah continued to eat while waiting for everyone else to go to sleep so that he could go to sleep as well.