'Tomorrow, I need to train a bit with my sis to really know where my strength lies. There's also something else I need to ask her about,' Orion thought.
A moment later, he went to bed and fell asleep.
---
The next day, Orion woke up, took a bath, and headed straight to his sister's room.
As he opened the door, the aroma of various dishes filled his nose.
"This!"
He was surprised to see a table full of delicacies at the center of the room.
"Big Sis, what is this?" Orion asked, astonished by the sight of so much food.
"Sit down," Emily gestured for him to sit beside her.
Still confused, Orion complied. "Big Sis, what's this all about?" he asked again.
Considering there were only three of them, the amount of food seemed excessive. These weren't just regular dishes; they were specialized delicacies meant for special occasions. He couldn't understand her reasoning.
"Did you forget what day it is today?" Emily asked, seeing the clueless look on Orion's face.
Orion pondered but couldn't come up with anything. "Big Sis, just tell me what this is for," he asked again.
Emily pondered for a moment. "Alright, close your eyes and only open them when I say so."
Orion looked at her suspiciously but closed his eyes. Seconds passed, and he heard the sounds of several footsteps, alarming him. Just as he was about to open his eyes, a loud chorus of voices surprised him.
"Happy Birthday, Orion!"
"What?!"
Shocked by the collective shout, he opened his eyes to see his mother, little sister, and friends—Ryfin, Famir, and Ron—all surrounding him.
"Happy Birthday, Orion!" they shouted again, bringing him back to reality.
"It's my birthday?" he realized. He had completely forgotten amidst the constant flow of trouble he had been dealing with.
At that moment, his mother hugged him tightly. "Son, you are 16 now."
Orion felt a bit embarrassed being hugged by his mother in front of so many people but didn't resist. A moment later, she let him go.
The old man could even disable the entire ship station of Heaven City for a month if he wanted. If Elyn had indeed left, it meant the old man couldn't stop her.
'Does that mean everyone in the platinum rank could leave the same way? Is my speculation wrong?'
Orion pondered deeply, suddenly finding a loophole in his reasoning.
"Orion, eat before you do anything," his mother reprimanded when she saw him staring at his food.
"Yes, mother," Orion replied, embarrassed, and began eating.
As they continued, they laughed, ate, and discussed various topics.
Ryfin talked about their adventures on a newly discovered planet owned by Orion's family, where they hunted monsters to level up.
Famir mentioned their participation in the Stellar Prodigy Tournament.
Ron, meanwhile, devoured all the food as if he hadn't eaten in days.
Orion's mother asked him about various things, and he assured her not to worry.
Eventually, the small party wound down.
Just as Orion thought his mother and sister would return home, they surprised him with another announcement.
"We'll be staying here with you until the Stellar Prodigy Tournament ends," his mother said, smiling.
Orion's eyes lit up with happiness. "Really?"
"Yes," she confirmed. "We would have to come to the Emperor's birthday anyway if we wanted to reach the Emperor Heaven Palace, so we decided to stay."
Orion nodded, feeling a warmth spread through him. He was glad they were staying.
Since Famir, Ryfin, and Ron were also participating in the Stellar Prodigy Tournament, they decided to stay and train with Orion and Emily. They had reached the peak of the iron rank and were just one step away from the silver rank, but that step was challenging due to their mastery of their talents.
After the party and a bit of rest, Orion, Emily, and his friends gathered in the training chamber of the hotel.
The buildings in Heaven City were designed to accommodate experts from all over the world, with each hotel room equipped with a training chamber. All the hotels in the city had these facilities, ensuring everyone could train adequately.
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Also, I was hoping you could leave some comments or reviews to let me know your thoughts!
*Some gifts would be appreciated as well, but up to you.... *