Watching Misu being spoiled by all those mouthwatering Kéké baked goods that Karollus had displayed on his family’s stall such as sliced honeyberry bread, walnut-cinnamon loafs and Eskanii, maple butter cookies sprinkled with sea-salt – Alvalar’s absolute favorite – made the birthday boy feel a mixture of shame and anxiety as he was reminded of his size. The disgusting, burning taste of acid rose from his stomach as though it was anticipating being purged once again today, though Alvalar forced the thing down. And guess who did much of this spoiling? Karollus Eren Rudas.

Dressed in clothes resembling a commoner – long linen sleeves rolled up at the elbows and poked out of the armscyes of his dyed hip-length jerkin that adorned his torso, proudly showing his parents’ business logo at the breast and the golden Ul’dalir beads that bound themselves tightly around his wrist; light trousers shielded his long legs from any wondering vampire mosquitoes while the sky-blue piedra de enfriamiento fragments that encrusted his leather sandals kept his ebony skin cool in this humid, summerlike heat – Karollus was feeding the caliber the fruits of his labor as he petted her chocolate fur and spoke to her like a father doting on his only daughter. In his eyes, she could do no wrong.

Misu settled her giant leonine head on Karollus’s lap while she munched on another kanii. She enjoyed the cookie’s high quality so much that she let out a fury of high-pitched, cub-like wheeks while rubbing her forehead against the baker’s son’s thigh affectionately, enough to push him out of his seat. “Misu,” Alvalar called sharply against the loud, festival crowd. “Stop that and stop eating those treats too. You’ll get fat.”

“But she’ll be happy,” Karollus replied, scratching the calibress’ neck. He cupped those big cheeks of hers and squished them affectionately like he used to do back when she was a youngster and couldn’t size-shift yet. “Isn’t that right, mi niñita?”

Misu might’ve purred in agreement, but her owner certainly didn’t. “Yeah, she’ll be happy when I have to pay for her veterinary bills,” he grumbled sarcastically. “Now, quit it, Misu.”

Despite obeying her owner, calibress still grumbled out small growls like an angry child as she wondered back to Alvalar’s side. As Karollus watched Misu go, his downturn teal eyes shifted to the birthday boy and had a healthy sparkle to them. “You look like one of those old legendary knights with that cloak on,” he told, gesturing.

Alvalar smiled, taking in the compliment with his head held high. “I know.” He twirled about, holding the edges of his cloak to make him appear more dashing and heroic. “It makes me look distinguished, huh?”

“Perhaps if we lived in those old times but since we don’t, it doesn’t,” Karollus replied. “If anything, it makes you look stupid. People that are walking about today who maybe are from the village of Ram Head, trying to sell some of their wares after making it all this way, are going to think you’re un hombre loco who wears capes in the heat.”

His attempt to appear dashing in front of Karollus had crashed and burned, leaving him dejected. “You can’t let me have this, Karo?” he pleaded. “Come on.”

The young man of partial noble lineage simply gave a shrug and crossed his arms. “Sorry. It’s the truth. A truth I’m going to have to hear about.”

Misu trilled in agreement, leaving Alvalar with a sour frown. Not only was his attempt to flirt with Karollus was going horrible, but also his own caliber was joining in. Just brilliant. “w-w-Well, you look like a commoner and you’re a-a-a-a major buzzkill, so now your plebeyo Buzzkill. How do you like that?”

The baker’s son let out his usual hiss-like chuckle. “I much prefer that than Sennor Buzzkill. It has a humble, hardworking ring to it.” Then he uncrossed his arms and pointed a finger at his former-lover, eyebrows raised. “But if I’m plebeyo Buzzkill, what does that make you?”

Without thinking and with a proud ring in his voice, Alvalar blurted out, “Sennor Delusional.”

Before he could take back what he said and come up with something more attractive-sounding, Karollus simply exploded with mirth just like his mother Ekmear and slammed his hand against the stall; his shoulders shook uncontrollably as he hunched over the table, resembling a strong mountain, and hid his face between his strong, stocky arms. Resembling a cave, both whistle-like hisses and much louder laughter spouted from deep within as his back shook.

All in all, it sounded like his former lover was laughing at him, but instead of getting upset or stone-faced embarrassed, Alvalar simply laughed along. Seeing Karollus’ laugh up close and personal again made him realize how much he missed it. His heart was filled with much warmth and giddy, making the urge to purge his stomach and the anxiety surrounding his size dissipate for the time being.

It was like his soul was taken by Anáruu – Patron Ancestor to swordsmen, judges, bounty hunters, executioners, peace-seekers and warriors; overseer to both sides of the afterlife due to his life being a three sword-wielding bounty hunter who, according to religious texts, choose his next victim based on the viciousness of their crimes or relatively lack thereof, Anáruu diligently tried his best to maintain peace and order in the Agni region during the tumultuous, civil war torn era of the 46th Weapon Wielder of Navasar, Princess Inanna – and was granted a glimpse into the Jungle of Eternal Paradise by the man’s meteorite blade of judgement…

After a few more moments, the laughter between the two had settled, though Alvalar could still its influence over him. He opened his mouth, but he felt that buzz suddenly fade away, leaving him frozen and at a loss for words. What if I say something stupid? He thought. What if I’m not rekindling what we had? Or am I doing it right, mámá? I don’t know. Even if his confidence waned like the orange moon, he took a deep gulp of air and pressed forward anyway. “H-hey, Karollus. i-i-i-i-i-i-I was w-wondering if you want to come back to my place after the whole Coronation festivities are over?” Besides his trembling, hesitant words, he could also feel his hands shake with nervousness; Karollus was just so handsome. “O-or, you c-c-can pass by Smoke’s stall later o-on when maybe you ran out of treats to sell. I’ll be there like always.”

Supporting his head against his semi-clenched fist, Karollus looked at up at his former lover with an attractive grin and said, “What makes you think I’ll want to come over?”

Alvalar’s lips curled upward despite trying his damndest to keep a tight-laced expression. He didn’t expect the baker’s son to have such a reply… Ultimately feeling unsure in himself, his chances and how he should respond next, the birthday boy gave an honest shrug.

“What?” Karollus replied. The once attractive grin that graced his lips contorted like the response that he got wasn’t one that he expected. An eyebrow raised itself high in confusion while he stopped supporting his head and leaned forward against the stall. “And what if I said, “no”, Al?”

Alvalar lowered his gaze while he rubbed his palm against the shaved down sides of his hair, carefully as to not touch his topknot. With a touch of sadness in his voice, he said, “I sort of hoped you wouldn’t.”

Using the tip of his hard-worked, venous fingers, Karollus nudged Alvalar’s face upward. When both of their eyes met, the birthday boy noticed that his former lover’s expression had softened. “Well don’t worry. Although I was teasing you, I won’t say no.”

Despite feeling overjoyed and relived, Alvalar still pursed his lips and crossed his arms. He didn’t like having his feelings played with. “S-so, you had fun seeing me all flustered? Is that it?”

Unabashedly like the honest man he was, Karollus nodded. “Yes. Very much.” Then, much in line with his personality, his honesty transformed into a somewhat sad smile, his eyes downcast for a moment. “However, once I noticed you got all sad, I didn’t have fun anymore. Sorry.”

With a quick click of his tongue, Alvalar grumbled out, “you’re lucky your cute and you’re lucky I love your honesty.”

Seemingly having heard what the birthday boy said, the baker’s son let out his usual hiss like chuckle again; it sounded like he was making a quick s-sound almost resembling a snake’s.

Alvalar thought of Karollus’ chuckle as weird when he heard it for the first time ever back in the Academy, but now that he’s been used to it for years, he considered the once odd quirk to be endearing. Just hearing the quick ophidian inwardly laugh caused the birthday boy’s heart to bloom with nostalgic warmth. “So, you’re going to come to my house, or visit me at Smoke’s stall?” he asked, his voice thick with excitement.

Resting his back against his chair, Karollus’s laughter style receded as he was deep in thought for a moment as he ran his fingers through the facial hair he had grown around his chin since their break-up, however Alvalar noticed it wasn’t being cared for properly; the kinky hair that added volume to his beard looked dry and more than a few gray hairs had sprouted.

Perhaps he’s stressed out at work? the birthday boy speculated. Or maybe he regrets breaking up?

Before his heart had a chance to leap for joy at the possibility, Karollus finally spoke, “Well… I can’t promise anything since today is very busy at the bakery. Dad told everyone to be all hands-on deck in this morning’s briefing due to today being Coronation Day, while Granny Kini is the only one who gets to relax, like always. She’s probably upstairs in the living room right now, enjoying her books while periodically going downstairs into the bakery to nibble on sweets and breads.” For a moment, his voice had mild sprinklings of jealousy for his adopted parental grandmother’s carefree lifestyle. “However, since today is your birthday, I’ll try my hardest to attend, since you’ve attended my eighteenth birthday party back in Fall, but like I said before, I’m not quite sure if I can keep my promise.”

Even if there was a possibility of Karollus being unable to attend, there was also a simultaneous chance that he could. Even if that possibility was slim, it was still on the table of likely events to happen tonight, and with that, Alvalar was content. As though sharing his sentiments, Misu threw back her head and let out a mighty trill. Alvalar gave the calibress a smile, and patted her large head, sending the calibress into a melodic purr. “That’s fine. I’ll take it.” Alvalar turned back to his former lover. “So, how’s your mama doing? Is her pregnancy being kind to her?”

“Well, recently yes,” Karollus confirmed with a reassuring smile on his face. His face always became somewhat gentler whenever he spoke of his family. “She hasn’t been puking as much as she did in beginning, though she has been gorging herself on freshly baked sweets despite Elé trying to ease her away from that, being that the sweets are merchandise and all. Granny Kini has been feeding her some old Navi-Kéké dishes that are said to soothe the pains of pregnancy and strengthen the unborn child, but they’re mostly soup made from kelp that’s collected from the nearby lake topped with various things like boiled fish eyes or chopped up pig’s brain. According to Óroya Leona, the baby is strong and is due in the beginning of Summer, so it seems like the soup is actually working. Though, Aureliano got a bit queasy when he asked Elá what she’s been eating to strengthen the baby.”

Alvalar chuckled at the thought of their friend’s disgusted face. “Yup, that sounds like him. But that’s great to hear, Karo. Her pregnancy with the twins was quite a serious one, if I remember right. Hopefully, she doesn’t suffer from the same complications,” Alvalar replied. “And the twins? How are they? Annoying yet cute as ever?”

“That’s all they ever are, Al,” Karollus sighed deeply. “Even though we broke up half a season ago, they still won’t stop pestering me about you. When I go and pick the two of ‘em up from the Academy, they ask about you the entire way home. Every single day without fail. They don’t talk about things that they should concern them as children – homework, tests, recess games, classmates they “like-like”, teachers they think of as “mean” – just you. I know they miss you, but it’s driving me nuts! Sometimes, I pray to Panirah that I had the ability to seal their mouths shut.”

Alvalar laughed at the baker’s son’s twining. Even if his words said otherwise, Alvalar knew that Karollus cared deeply for his younger siblings. Whenever his parents, Ezeki and Ekmear, couldn’t attend certain functions at the Academy due to busy work at the bakery, Alvalar and Karollus would always stand in their place along with Granny Kini, supporting the twins in whatever it is that they do. “That’s all fine and well. It’s cute that Keian and Kyrah miss me, but what about you?” The birthday boy stared at Karollus with a surprising amount of confidence. He didn’t know where it all came from, but he did know one thing for certain: he wanted to get his attention. “Do you miss me too, Karo?”