The evening settled quietly over the academy, the sky dimming into soft shades of blue and gold as students returned to their dorms, unaware of the small gathering taking place in one of the unused study rooms.
Inside, the atmosphere was far more serious than usual.
Raiden stood near the table, arms crossed, his expression focused.
Maya, Clare, Alwin, and Isolde were already there.
One person was missing.
Taika.
Maya looked around, then back at Raiden.
Maya: "So… why are we meeting like this?"
Clare narrowed her eyes slightly.
Clare: "And without Taika."
Alwin stayed quiet, but attentive.
Isolde stood near the window, her gaze outside, waiting.
Raiden finally spoke.
Raiden: "Her birthday is in two days."
Silence.
Maya blinked.
Maya: "…Wait. That's it?"
Clare's expression softened just a little.
Clare: "You called a secret meeting… for that?"
Raiden didn't react to their tone.
Raiden: "We're getting her a gift."
A pause.
Then Maya smiled.
Maya: "Oh."
Her mood shifted instantly.
Maya: "Okay, that's actually important."
Alwin gave a small nod.
Alwin: "I agree."
Clare exhaled lightly.
Clare: "Then we should make it meaningful."
Isolde finally spoke, still facing the window.
Isolde: "What does she need?"
Raiden's eyes lowered slightly, thinking.
Raiden: "Not something flashy."
A brief pause.
Raiden: "Something she'll actually keep."
Maya tilted her head.
Maya: "Something personal then."
Clare added,
Clare: "Or something that helps her grow stronger."
Alwin looked between them.
Alwin: "Or both."
Raiden gave a small nod.
Raiden: "We don't have much time."
Isolde turned slightly, her expression calm.
Isolde: "Then we decide tonight."
The room grew quiet again, but this time, the tension was different.
Not from battle.
Not from danger.
But from something simple.
Something human.
Raiden looked at them all once more.
Raiden: "Keep it a secret."
Maya smiled.
Maya: "Of course."
Clare nodded.
Alwin gave a quiet agreement.
Isolde said nothing, but did not object.
Outside, the academy remained peaceful.
But inside that small room, a different kind of plan had begun.
Because in two days..
No matter what was coming next..
They were going to give Taika something she would never forget.
They all decided to buy Taika a present.
Two days passed quickly.
Taika stood outside the library door, a soft cloth tied over her eyes. Her hands were gently held in front of her, fingers slightly curled as she tried to stay still.
The hallway was quiet.
She could hear faint movements inside.
Whispers.
Footsteps.
Something being arranged.
Taika: "How long is this going to take…"
Inside the library, the others moved quickly.
Maya adjusted the decorations on the table.
Maya: "Hurry, hurry."
Clare placed the final item neatly.
Clare: "It's done."
Alwin stepped back, checking everything.
Alwin: "Looks good."
Isolde stood near the side, arms crossed.
Isolde: "Call her in."
Raiden looked at the door for a moment, then walked toward it.
He opened it slightly.
Raiden: "You can come in now."
Taika carefully stepped forward, guided by his voice.
The moment she crossed the doorway, the air felt different.
Warm.
Still.
Raiden reached for the cloth.
Raiden: "Ready?"
Taika nodded slowly.
Taika: "…Yeah."
The blindfold was removed.
Light returned to her eyes.
In front of her, a simple setup.
A table.
Small decorations.
And her friends, all standing there.
Maya smiled brightly.
Maya: "Happy birthday, Taika!"
Clare gave a small nod.
Clare: "Happy birthday."
Alwin smiled gently.
Alwin: "Happy birthday."
Isolde looked at her.
Isolde: "Happy birthday."
Raiden stood closest to her.
Raiden: "…Happy birthday."
Taika blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Her eyes softened.
Taika: "…You guys…"
For a moment, she said nothing more.
Then she smiled.
A real one.
The library slowly filled with laughter.
Bookshelves stood quietly around them while the table became the center of everything. Simple food, small decorations, and a warmth that made the place feel different from its usual silence.
Maya pulled Taika closer, already excited.
Maya: "Open this one first!"
Taika laughed softly, sitting down as she picked up the first gift.
Clare watched from the side, arms crossed but with a faint smile.
Alwin sat nearby, relaxed, while Isolde remained standing at first, observing before eventually taking a seat as well.
Raiden stayed close, quieter than the others, but present.
One by one, Taika opened the presents.
Small things.
Meaningful things.
Each one chosen carefully.
Taika: "…You really thought about these…"
Maya: "Of course we did!"
Clare: "It would be pointless otherwise."
Alwin: "We wanted you to like them."
Isolde said nothing, but her gaze softened slightly.
Taika held the gifts close for a moment, smiling in a way she rarely did.
Taika: "Thank you… all of you."
The night continued with light teasing, small games, and laughter that echoed softly between the shelves.
For a while, there were no dragons.
No missions.
No pressure.
Just them.
Later on, the energy slowly settled.
They began cleaning together, putting everything back in place.
Maya wiped the table while talking.
Maya: "Worth it."
Clare stacked the remaining items neatly.
Clare: "Obviously."
Alwin gathered the leftover decorations.
Alwin: "We should do this again sometime."
Isolde adjusted a chair back into place.
Isolde: "Maybe."
Taika helped quietly, still smiling.
Raiden made sure everything was returned properly, leaving no trace behind.
Soon, the library returned to its usual order.
Silent.
Clean.
Like nothing had happened.
But the warmth remained.
When the night grew deeper, none of them left.
Instead, they settled down where they were.
Using cloaks, bags, and whatever they had, they made space for themselves on the floor between the shelves.
Maya lay down first, already half-asleep.
Maya: "Goodnight…"
Clare rested nearby, closing her eyes.
Clare: "Goodnight."
Alwin followed, quiet as always.
Alwin: "Goodnight."
Isolde leaned against a shelf, eyes slowly closing.
Isolde: "Goodnight."
Taika lay down last, glancing at all of them.
Her expression was peaceful.
Taika: "Goodnight… everyone."
Raiden stayed awake a little longer, watching over them.
Then finally, he closed his eyes as well.
The library fell into silence once more.
But this time, it was filled with something gentle.
They were safe.
They were together.
And for one night, that was enough.