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Page #26: "Nameday"
Dear diary, I have had the most extraordinary day. I had spent the morning with Astharoshe Aubrenard, my elezen friend from the Nine Ivies, who goes to the same school of magic I recently enrolled to, the Ashen Academy, but my surprise came later. My uncle ferried Asth and I on a journey to Limsa Lominsa, the port city on the southern coast of Vylbrand island. My first ever trip beyond the Twelveswood. I suppose he and my aunt had not since allowed me travel with the Wayfinders, so they would be the ones to escort me on my very first voyage. And what a fun trip it was. Uncle dislikes water or sailing so he remained on the lower decks, but Asth and I basked in the gentle breeze of the ocean from the upper decks, watching the waters and spotting shadows of dolphins and other great sea creatures. It was amazing fun, and yet, the real surprise awaited me yet.
On shore, Asth and I were left to tour the city, to later join my uncle at the local tavern, the Drowning Wench. But as I entered, I spotted quite a crowd of familiar faces. Naih'tan, the Miqo'te from Nine Tails who rescued me from the woods of Galvanth's Spire, Headmaster Jax Stahl, the adorable yet unorthodox Lalafell who leads the school of martial and magical arts, Ashen Academy, Professor Rhiannon Monvoison, our magic and history tutor, and of course, my favourite family, the Silvernails! They had all gathered to give me company on my nameday and so prepared a surprise party, with food and drinks and a towering cake. I could not help but smile, all through the afternoon, I smiled and blushed. T'was all I could do to keep from fainting out of hardly contained happiness.
Astharoshe gifted me with a Gridanian Carnation, one of my favourite flowers, with a scent that brought to the fore memories of the times we first crossed paths at the Nine Ivies, waving and smiling across the meadows to one another. Professor Monvoison gifted me with a brown leatherbound book, titled 'A Realm Empowered: Brief History of the Dawn of Magic in Eorzea, First Edition, by Rhiannon Monvoison' which details the history of magic. It was a perfect present, to aid my learning in the deeper studies of magical history. Headmaster Jax gifted me with a weighty pair of ornamental daggers. From the Silvernails, three gifts in total. First of course was my wand of winds which I learnt to craft the week before, and this time, wrapped inside a lovely little box was a pendant with a delicate strand of silver. The pendant was fashioned after a small, yellow flower with a crystal in the centre, clear but with a shade of the lightest green, which I recognised as a wind shard, from our previous wand-making lesson. Such a beautiful jewel, and with potent magicks, it made a perfect gift. I wear it on a necklace about my neck, closest to my heart.
Last of the three gifts was one Sir Wemrys brought in, albeit hastily wrapped. A stuffed Chocobo toy, sewn by Doctor Silvernail herself, as she did for Maple's and Sindril's own. It was a gift of utmost endearment. To have a toy not only made for cuddling, but one that was in likeness to that of her other children, I took it as a sign of acceptance, and it very nearly brought me again to tears. I prayed to the Twelve as I blew out the sixteen candles on my cake, that I may find a mother in her, Doctor Llinos, and a home in her family. I tried not to show my sadness as I brandished the ceremonial knife and slit the strawberry sponge cake through it's chocolate exterior, but I secretly wished my sweet mother was here to see me mature at last, through my coming of age.
Naih'tan, in all his immature silliness, offered to take me in on his bed for the night as my nameday gift, though a humoured attempt at a joke, my uncle and Doctor Silvernail saw it otherwise and he was told off quite pointedly. Apparently he did have an idea for a gift for me, and skipped outside to find a Chocobo feather to pluck. Ah, I suppose its the thought that matters, bless him. Last of my stack of gifts was a long black mage's robe gifted to me by my aunt, along with a matching pointy hat that filled me with much excitement. It was a fabulous hat, much like Maple's own, which meant of course we could now both wear our pointy hats! We sat together at the table to share a slice of my cake, the first cut which I especially wanted Maple to have. She was my first real friend and I foresee a lasting relationship. Now of adult age, I am to leave home, properly, and so I did ask of my aunt and uncle if I may move in with the Silvernails. I am of a nervous mind, wondering if I would be taken, but the hopeful thought gives me much delight. Imagine it, dear diary, to be a part of a family again.
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Sunflower's Blossom (Tumblr link)
