“Happy birthday Emilia.” Riley placed a single cupcake before me as I sat alone in the dining room. It took a lot of convincing to get her to drop the “Lady” part, but we are getting there.

It’s my 10th birthday now, and from what I know it's an important one. For a noble family like ours it would normally be one's “soft” introduction into society, normally a family would hold a grand ball to introduce their children to the other nearby families of import for the first time and they can get to know one another. This is a precursor to the twelfth birthday where every year a grand ball is held in the capital where every noble child turning twelve is invited so they can be introduced to the royal court as a whole.  

Unless of course, you’re me. Instead, I was given the guest house on my family’s land and… well that’s not important. I’m sure they came up with some great excuse for it, not that I heard it. It's been nearly a year since I have even seen Rineheart and Gabriella. Not since last year on my ninth birthday when they had me move out of the main house. 

But that works just fine for me! More room for myself to work on my magical tools, though I have learned that mana crystals aren’t exactly cheap. I have learned I can avoid breaking them when testing new enchantments if I make an enchantment in something like a wand or staff with a slot for the crystal to slot into instead of enchanting the crystal itself. 

In terms of enchanting, I feel I’m pretty good at it now. I've made quite a few trinkets for Riley in the last year like a tea pot and a magic heating stove. Nothing fancy but she seems happy with them. I’ve also drastically increased my “wand” collection, even made a few staves with larger spells in them. I have learned a lot through trial and error, some things good others… we don’t talk about it. But it’s all progress! 

Riley tells me my “family” has asked her about me a few times over the last year, probably wondering if I am still alive, I guess. It would look bad for the house if I were to suddenly disappear after all… 

“Thank you.” I tried my hardest to smile as she clapped.

Riley always tried so hard to be sure I wasn’t lonely, and as she sang a beautiful rendition of this world’s version of happy birthday, I couldn’t help but actually smile.

This is fine. I thought as I watched the young woman bounce happily around the room. Her long red hair flowed around her as she danced. I have Riley and that’s enough for me.

I ate the cupcake, it was… too sweet. Which wasn’t really a surprise since Riley had quite the sweet tooth, to the point where I was actually worried about her teeth, but it appears dental hygiene isn’t exactly unknown to this world so that’s one less thing to worry about.

As I stood from the table, I found myself wrapped in a tight hug. “You have grown up so much.” Riley muttered as she squeezed me against her. 

I let out a weak chuckle, “Well that’s how it works isn’t it, Riley?” I patted her arm, “people grow as they age.”

“Yes,” she said happily as she let me down. “But I just want you to know how proud I am of you, Emilla.” She knelt so we were eye to eye. Her bright green eyes met mine as she gave me a weak smile. “you’re so strong.”

“Riley,” I shook my head. “Thank you…” I couldn’t help but squeeze her arms as I gave her my thanks. “Really, without you… I would be lost…”

“None of that.” She wiped a tear from my face before hugging me again. “Now, it's not a lot.” She released me and began digging around under her apron, undoing a belt before pulling out a small bag. “But I got you this!”

It was a simple leather pouch with the word “Echo” sewn into the flap in simple hand stitched letters. I couldn’t help but cock an eyebrow as I took the bag, inspecting the nickname that has stuck even after ten years. 

“Open it.” Her bright smile lit up the room as she leaned closer to me.

Hesitantly I lifted the flap and nearly dropped the bag. “Riley! I can’t possibly… how much did you spend on this?” 

“Oh, don’t be like that.” She chuckled with a shake of her head, her long red hair whipping around as she did. “It wasn’t that much, it's not a big one either but… I do hope it’s enough.”

“It’s more than enough!” I threw my arms around the woman. Inside the bag was a medium sized red crystal, the kind pulled from a weaker mana beast but that wasn’t the main part. A crystal that size would have been expensive in and of itself but sewn into a bag like this it is used to power an enchantment of holding. A complex mid-level enchantment that, as its name suggests, increases the storage capacity of a bag. 

Though it’s a relatively common item they are not cheap, I would know since I looked into getting one a few months ago but couldn’t justify it with my monthly allowance. After all, why waste the money on just one bag when I could buy ten small mana crystals and practice with them, I figured eventually I would be able to just make one after all.

“Thank you so much! I will cherish it forever.” I muttered into the crook of her neck as I held onto her.