6: The Birthday Party
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The Kramer Household is a household that could be traced back ever since the beginning of time, before the God of youth Hibis himself came to be. Alongside the God of beginnings, Azura, they shaped the world the way it is now. 

One could say that the very first Kramer was originally born to be the helping hand of the Gods.

In the entire bloodline of the Kramers, no one is faulty. Every single one is just, gallant, dauntless, capable, and brilliant. No one knows if it's because of their upbringing, or if it's naturally passed down their blood—either way, they are natural-born leaders.

The Kramers are almost perfect. The family's history was enough for more than a few groups to form and worship them.

It's just a shame that they weren't real Gods.

The Kramer Household is known to be just, gallant, dauntless, capable, and brilliant to everyone else.

But only the Jangs and their father, Hibis, knows of their ambition.

To create an offspring that exceeds the limits of a Kleimann.

The direct descendants of a God, also known as Deiustroi, are the only ones who could use the holy power— the ability to go from one place to another immediately, the ability to breathe in water and in the grey area, the ability to understand and converse in all languages and sounds, and the ability to fly— all without the use of magic tools and equipment. They also have a boundless supply of mana, even if their Yothagou was just like everyone else's.

To have a being born as a Dieustroi and a Kramer.

Wouldn't that be the greatest threat to the peace and balance of the world?

•••

"Birthday party?"

"Yes, Nayun." The young adult continued to pin small strands of blue hair of the little girl sitting on a stool in front of her. "There'd be lots of children your age attending the party."

Yun stared at the reflection of her sister Nancy on the mirror in front of them, and as if feeling her gaze, the eldest looks up and meets her eyes.

"What do you think?"

Yun's hair was stylized into two round buns, making her look like a little bear. At the sight, Nancy couldn't help but sigh in admiration of her own work.

"It kind of hurts. But I like it."

"It hurts?" Nancy's brows instantly furrowed in worry, before she leaned forward and proceeded to loosen some pins on the other's head.

"How about now?"

"Mmm."

Yun's small hand reached for Nancy's bigger one in assurance. Combined with a lovely smile, Nancy couldn't help but melt, and immediately swoop over to hug the girl into her arms.

"Nayun, my sister, it physically hurts to part from you. But a chick will eventually leave its nest,"

Yun could only roll her eyes secretly. It's as if I'm going to be away for a long time.

"You could always go home immediately if you feel uncomfortable. Or would it be better for you to use your Yothagou on attending?"

"I will personally attend," Yun was determined to avoid using Hanse as a body double in a setting where he could actually be harmed. At least not when he still doesn't have the means to defend himself.

Seeing the girl's little face all serious— but still as round and chubby like that of a freshly-steamed dumpling— Nancy could only give up and indulge.

"I apologize. It seems that this old lady worries too much," She wasn't even that old— she was only 24, but because her motherly instinct was in an all-time high at this age, she couldn't avoid being protective of her sister.

"Young misses," A muffled voice sounded from the door, followed by a series of knocks.

"Young master Damian requests for young miss Nayun to get changed."

"He just can't wait, can he?" Nancy stands up from her crouching position, before opening the huge doors of her room to let the servant maids enter.

With them came four different dresses varying of color, length, and design—but all equally adorned with gold crystal brooches that shone once hit by the light.

It was a relief that the clothing in this world was simple, only accompanied by extravagant accessories if wanted. She was used to only wearing a plain hospital gown on her previous life, it'd be an extreme culture shock if she were to wear the same aristocratic dresses from the fantasy novels she had read.

In the end, she was dressed in a puffy white knee-length dress made out of soft cotton. Whenever she moved, it bounced along, like a peony being swayed by the wind.

Nancy and the five servantmaids were almost moved to tears at the sight of a little flower.

"Nayun, you are the prettiest child I've ever laid my eyes on." Nancy cooed, voice full of doting.

"Thank you, sister," Yun grabbed her sister's hand, and together, they teleported to the house's front gates.

Damian was waiting for the two outside the house for the past hour. While he was known to be a man of patience, dressing up a child for almost an hour is unusual, he almost went inside himself to inquire about the youngest.

"Brother,"

"Nancy," he greets back and looks down on the girl beside her, who was holding her hand.

Nayun only stared back at him, before letting go of her elder sister's hand and walking towards the carriage with her head down.

Before he could even ask what was wrong with the kid, he heard Nancy snicker behind her palm.

"She's shy," The woman with thick, curly hair says, "Don't stare at her too much."

"..." What's there to be shy about.

Assuming that there were no words left to be uttered, Damian turned to enter the carriage, but was stopped by a hand grabbing his arm.

"What?" he raises a brow on his sister, who now has a worried expression.

"If...If Nayun wants to go home, don't hesitate and immediately send her back. Don't let her be bullied, outcasted—"

"Do you really think a Dieustroi would be wronged?" He supressed the strong urge to face-palm at her useless concern.

Nancy pouts, crossing her arms to her chest as she watched him climb in the carriage. She watched closely until the bright carriage flew away—further and further—'til it was out of sight, before heading back inside.

Inside the carriage, Nayun was having a staredown with Damian.

The two inspected each other carefully in silence—like two enemies, sizing up the other's appearance. But the air wasn't tense at all. If anything, it was just awkward.

Damian was old enough to outgrow children. After how many siblings, he had stopped caring about getting to know each and every one of them well, treating newer siblings like a distant family member that just so happens to live in the same house.

This was the first time he had been alone with the youngest of the family. And if it wasn't for the business he also had with the Kramers, he probably wouldn't have the chance to accompany Nayun.

The problem was, he doesn't know what to say to a six year old.

And neither did she knew what to say to an old guy like him.

It was a bit uncomfortable for Nayun. Ever since she reincarnated, she was used to people coddling her, flocking to her like a bee would to a flower—but now she was faced by a sibling who doesn't even seem to be atleast amused by her presence. 

He had a fox-like face, with curved eyes, high cheekbones, and thin lips that looked like it was always pursued. While he is indeed still good-looking, one cannot deny the sense of alienation they get after seeing his intimidating blank expression.

He looks like he's about to scold me any minute now, Nayun has made a point to straighten her posture. This didn't go unnoticed, and to Damian's eyes, it looked like she was tensed.

"...do you know where you're headed?"

A poor attempt at a first conversation, Damian could only feign a cough with it.

With wide, surprised eyes at his initiation on conversing, Nayun immediately responds. "Y-Yes, a birthday party."

"Do you know whose?"

"No," she shakes her head vigorously.

Damian could only sigh. As expected, Nancy was as unreliable as usual.

"The birthday boy is someone as tall as you," He starts to describe. "With fiery red hair and blue eyes."

Damian refreshes his memory, and seems to remember the conspicuous look. In the Kramer family, the seven-year-old was the only one who has bright red hair, so the boy would definitely be hard to miss despite the ambiguous description.

Looking at the little girl across him listening intently, it prompted him to give a few more pointers. Afterall, this child is too alone, she would make do for new friends.

"Don't cry, yell, or make a fuss."

"Don't talk about yourself too much, don't be arrogant."

"Don't try hurting other children."

After his final advice, he finally sits better on his seat—a barely visible smile appearing on his lips. How is it, Nancy? You no longer need to worry.

They were simple instructions, but he knew that Nayun was a child that listened well—at least that's what he observed from afar, but he's willing to bet. If she behaved well and accordingly, he was sure that both of them will be leaving the Kramer household with light spirits.

Unfortunately for him however, his good intentions were interpreted as scolding by Nayun.

Already thinking that I'll cause trouble? Nayun subtly narrows her eyes at him. Do I really look like a hooligan to him?

"Yes, brother," she says in a small voice, which seems to make the man before her pleased for the first time.

"..." Seriously, it was never her intention to wreck havoc on her very first social event.

It was almost thirty minutes. Nayun was sure, because every minute with this brother of hers is agonozingly slow. She had been looking out the carriage's window for quite a while now, and there's not much else to see other than the ocassional flying creatures, fluffy clouds, and the blue sky.

—Until a dark mountain entered her vision.

A mountain this tall? She was about to stand up on her seat to take a good look on the view outside she wasn't able to see because of her height, but stopped herself the last minute after remembering who she was with at this moment.

She decided to just wait patiently until the carriage comes down eventually, allowing her to get a glimpse on the view outside.

The mountain slowly covered every single corner of the window beside her, until it grew so large it covered all of the windows on their left side, obscuring the sun.

—and countless of mountains followed after.

Such a party, does it really need to be held in this kind of place? She wasn't informed that they'd go hiking as part of the birthday activities.

"What are you thinking about?" Damian asks. The face of the girl was crumpled, looking as if she was in deep thought. He assumed that she was probably worried on making new friends, so he readied himself to give further advice.

Without looking at him, she opens her mouth. "I don't have shoes,"

"...?"

"Climbing shoes," she says, finally looking at him. As if finding him confused was incredulous, she points at her feet that was wearing shoes similar to Mary Janes.

Luckily enough, I chose the shortest dress. The only problem was, I might probably lose my footing throughout the rockclimbing activity.

"Why would you need climbing shoes?" Damian asks, baffled. Surely, she doesn't think of climbing the Kramers' trees like a wild monkey?

"Aren't we going to climb?"

"Climb?" By now, Damian was at a loss for words.

He knew that children had a very active imagination, but he never knew the extent. Climbing? At a party? What on earth was she thinking?

"...aren't we?" Yun repeated in a much more smaller voice, nervous at his even blanker expression.

"No. Where did you even get that idea?"

"There are mountains," she says, pointing her finger towards the window displaying a huge amount of tall rock.

Damian looks at it, and nods inwardly in understanding. Right, she's just a little girl. It's her first time heading out, she probably couldn't differentiate between mountains and buildings yet.

"Those are not mountains. They are houses."

Nayun gaped. No way?

But now that she looks at it closely, there are unnatural grooves that ran throughout said "mountains", had several holes, and some where even oddly brighter than others.

Hey, doesn't this look like their own? The Jangs' buildings were also pointing towards the sky, like a pyramid. Only, theirs were ivory white, and these were a shade of the darkest brown and black.

She was about to wonder if all buildings in this world were supposed to be triangular-shaped, but she then remembered the Padoka Market and its normally stacked buildings.

Maybe it's something[exterior] only rich people want. Yun had assumed that her family was part of the high society in this world, since they had lots of servants at home. Their pyramid-shaped mansion only adds on to that theory of hers.

Sensing that they were about to land, Damian calls for her attention.

"?"

Damian pauses, looking at the child before him staring back ignorantly. He could only sigh.

"The first thing you'll do once we get off is to find the birthday boy."

"Alright." She'll try her best.

"Fiery red hair. Blue eyes."

"Fiery red hair, blue eyes." Yun repeated closely.

"His name is Yoseph Kramer."

Yoseph Kramer? She almost busted out laughing, but had to hold her oddness in. Yun could only twitch on her seat in response.

There's someone out here who's really named after a fictional character. She recalls the last series she had read in her previous life before dying. "Yoseph Kramer and the March".

With Yoseph Kramer as one of the main protagonists, it is a dark fantasy novel about four friends—growing up together and eventually unravelling dark secrets buried, meeting allies, and fighting to the death with the Guila for their loved ones.

A novel that was too good to put down. It was a shame that she had to die before she even got to read the ninth book of the series, which is the final installment.

But even though she hasn't, that was the least of her worries. Who cares now, she has a new life to live—and it seems like she herself has reincarnated into a fantasy world!

Nayun has never been this eager to leave the carriage, knowing that what lies on the other side was a whole new adventure.

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