The red jewel necklace I was gifted pulsed with a gentle glow as I touched it. According to my parents, it wasn't just any old decoration. It was made by someone they called a "Magic Jewel Maker," and judging by how my mana responded the moment I put it on, this thing was the real deal.
The moment the cool metal touched my neck, I felt a spark run through my body. A warm, fiery aura enveloped my chest, then spread up to my head, before gently sinking into my soul like mist being absorbed into a sponge.
It wasn't just a necklace—it connected to me. As if it recognized me. No… as if it had been waiting for me.
"Whoa…" I muttered under my breath as I looked down at it.
"Pretty neat, huh?" my father said, chuckling. "That necklace is soul-bound now. Even if someone takes it, you'll still sense where it is. And if they try to wear it—well, let's just say it won't end well for them."
"Eh?! It can attack someone?" I asked, blinking in surprise.
My mother nodded while sipping some warm fruit tea. "We had it tailor-made just for you, dear. It's enchanted to boost your fire affinity and increase your magic control. It uses a part of the red dragon's magic crystal, soaked in its blood and reinforced with other rare alchemy materials."
"That's… amazing. Who made it?"
My father's expression softened with nostalgia. "An old friend. They call her the Witch of the Blue Mountain. Lives far to the west. She couldn't come today, but she was happy to craft this for you."
"I want to meet her one day," I said, feeling a bit of a spark in my heart. "And maybe… learn from her?"
Mother smiled knowingly. "Oh, I think she'll love you. You're quite the curious boy."
I looked down at the necklace again. I didn't expect my first real magical item to be something this cool. Not to mention, the feeling of my fire magic growing stronger was already becoming noticeable.
[System Notification: The Fire Magic Affinity has temporarily increased.]
[The Red Dragon's Heart Necklace has synchronized with your soul.]
[Effect: +10% Fire Magic Damage | +15% Fire Magic Control.]
[Warning: System errors prevent permanent stat adjustments. Effects will remain latent.]
"Hey, System, what's that supposed to mean?" I whispered in my mind.
[The accessory enhances your magic output and control. Because the system is glitched, you won't see numerical changes. But your abilities will still improve through practice.]
"Alright then. Got it."
I looked up and saw Aquarina nibbling at her slice of cake across from me. Her face was a mess of frosting and cream, but she was smiling. Her cheeks puffed out as she tried to talk while chewing.
"Cake is good…" she muttered, eyes glittering.
"Heh, you got some right here," I said, pointing to her nose.
Aquarina blinked and wiped it off. "T-Thanks…"
"She's adorable," Nepheline chuckled from across the table. "But such a picky eater. She's barely touched her plate."
"Unlike your son," Shade added, patting my head. "You've already had seconds."
"Thirds," I corrected.
Everyone laughed. Even Aquarina giggled, hiding her mouth behind her small hands.
After the laughter died down, I looked at the second gift I received—a pair of earrings from Aquarina. They shimmered with a soft blue glow, shaped like delicate water droplets.
"They're beautiful…" I whispered.
"You like them?" Aquarina asked, glancing away shyly.
"I love them," I told her. "Where did they come from?"
Nepheline answered before she could speak. "They were made from a Leviathan's core. Your parents, Shade and I fought him together long ago."
"Leviathan? Like… the sea serpent thing from legends?"
"Exactly," Shade said. "Demon General. Ruled the sea between this continent and the Demon King's stronghold. Took us a whole week to kill him."
"So you made earrings out of him?"
"They're enchanted with water magic. You'll be able to use their power—eventually," Nepheline explained. "For now, you'll have to wait until you're a bit older to wear them. No point piercing a baby's ears just yet."
I nodded slowly, still admiring the craftsmanship. The blue mana within them was serene—almost calming.
"I'm not great with water magic," I admitted.
[Potential Attribute Unlock: Water Affinity detected.]
[Error: System cannot currently accept new attributes.]
"Well, maybe not now," I muttered, "but someday…"
"You'll get there," Aquarina said softly.
She was still blushing. Her eyes twinkled with nervousness as she fidgeted with her fingers. For a moment, I saw a small smile escape her lips.
"You're a good friend, Aqua," I said.
Her face turned bright red again.
After the cake and gifts, everyone seemed to relax. My parents and the other adults sat by the fireplace, chatting over drinks while I brought Aquarina upstairs to my room. I wanted to show her something.
"Books?" she asked, eyes widening.
"Yeah. Most of them are fairy tales, but they're good for learning to read. Want me to teach you?"
"You know how to read already?" she asked in amazement.
I nodded. "Picked it up pretty quickly. Want to try?"
She gave a small nod.
We sat together on a cushion by the window, flipping through a storybook about a flower spirit and a sleepy forest. I read slowly, helping her pronounce words. She listened closely, nodding every time she got one right.
"Aqua, you're doing great," I told her.
"Thanks, Leon…" she said, her voice almost a whisper.
The room was quiet except for the sound of pages turning. Outside, the moon began to rise, casting soft blue light through the window. For a long moment, we simply enjoyed the peaceful silence.
My first birthday in this world turned out way better than I ever imagined.
A powerful magical necklace.
Ancient earrings made from a sea serpent.
And a new friend.
Everything about this day was perfect.
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