Chapter 440: Christmas Special: Nyala’s Birthday [II] Esme clutched her Christmas package and entered the living room, her cheeks puffed out from the cold as she pushed the door shut with her hip. Like she noticed when she was outside, the room was fully occupied, absolutely overflowing with women... couches were crowded, chairs were taken and some seated neatly while others were squeezed up beside each other. The Sword Saint and Alvinus were the only men in here. The warm smell of cinnamon, pine wood from the giant Light Tree, and the faint scent of enchanted candles filled the air. Christmas ribbons and ornaments were scattered around, but what drew Esme’s attention instantly were the gift wrappers on the ground. They were everywhere. Seeing the gift wrappers on the ground, she could surmise that they had already begun the celebration without her. Her eye twitched once then twice. She slowly turned to Azel, her big breasts shaking as she pouted. "You told me you would start once I was here." Esme said, her voice carrying the tone of a betrayed lover... well she was his lover, but they hadn’t gone past handholding. She looked around the room again and frowned deeper. There was no place for her to sit... as much as she hated to admit it, she had a curvy figure so she wouldn’t fit trying to squirm into another chair. Azel opened his mouth to respond, but Lucius beat him to it. "Feng!" Lucius called out and from upstairs came a young man with long hair holding a singular chair, he was wearing glasses and looked more like a scholar. A few girls blinked at him, surprised. Esme watched him descend, the chair held carefully as if it were ancient scripture. He dropped the chair for Esme and bowed as she sat down. "Stay here, we have to be together during Christmas after all." Azel said. But Feng shook his head, adjusting his glasses, clearly excited and anxious at the same time. "Master... I’m currently re... researching and analyzing the gift you gave me earlier in the day." Feng said and Azel gave him a nod, allowing him to leave. Esme watched Feng disappear upstairs like a scholar ascending a holy mountain. She then turned back to Azel, her pout melting just slightly. He really had thought of everything. "Oh right, let’s continue." He said however he nodded to Nyala, and a golden glow carried the young girl, Isolde over to Edna who caught her daughter... she had been worried for a while and Edna gave him a thankful smile. The room softened, a warm hush falling over everyone. Isolde giggled, pressing her forehead to Edna’s chest as if relieved to be back with her mother. "Esther, you’re up next." He said and everyone focused as the girl rose up and walked over to Azel confidently. Her smaller shoes clicked on the floor as she marched like a knight presenting tribute to her king. "Brother-in-law... I did my part of the job." Esther said and Azel nodded as well, it made everyone in the room curious about what they were talking about. Brows raised across the room. "Why... why’re you calling him Brother-in-law?" Charlotte asked, she had to cast an illusion that her face was blank so that she would avoid everyone seeing her blush as if she was a fool. "Brother-in-law gave me a very important mission and I fulfilled it." Esther replied as Azel put a package in her hand. "Merry Christmas!" The package was nearly as big as her torso, and she used both arms to carry it back to her seat. She went to her seat and tore it open, revealing several pairs of dressing... these were very expensive dressed and they were about twenty of them with amazing designs too. It made her heart thump as she bowed thankfully to Azel. "Thank you boss..." Charlotte grabbed her sister by the shoulder, her eyes shaking. "What did you mean by Brother-in-law?" Esther stuck out her tongue. "I’m not telling~" Charlotte immediately bonked her head, making her hold it. "Ouch~" Azel turned to the next people, which were the elves. The atmosphere shifted instantly and he cleared his throat. "Alvninus, you’re first." He said and Alvinus stood up and walked over to Azel, he didn’t walk like royalty but like a servant that wasn’t too confident in front of his Master. The room expected a gift box. A small magical artifact. Maybe a bottle of rare elven wine. But Alvinus instead pulled out certificates from his pocket and extended it to Azel while Azel took them. He looked through the certificates, the first one was for Lillia and she was graded an SSS, she had also mastered 30 more spells this month. He put that one in Nyala’s hands and she helped him hold it. The next one was for Raphael and he was really showing off, unlike Lillia who had a lot of different affinities... Raphael had about five or so, He had Holy magic, Ice magic, Life magic, Gravity magic and Lightning magic. The first three were from the three goddesses in the room as they had blessed his children the moment that they were born so they had a natural talent for that, as for Gravity and Lightning... Raphael was given scrolls and upon guidance from the Elf, he had managed to harness control over his elements and despite being a few months old, he already mastered about ten spells which gave him an S rank result. He put that one in Nyala’s hands as well and then opened Lysandra’s certificate. Compared to her brother, she only had four Elements. The three blessed by the goddess but her final element was even more special... It was Star. And so far, she only managed to learn one star spell but that was enough for SSS, Star spells were very hard... even the weakest ones were very destructive. He kept the last certificate on Nyala and she smiled. He retrieved a heavy pouch of coins and threw it at him. He caught it and Azel swore that he could see the man’s eyes light up like gold ares. "Merry Christmas Boss~" He said as he walked back to his seat confidently and without being called on, Sylvia stood up and walked over to him before curtseying once more. The rustle of her dress quieted the room. "Merry Christmas once again Azel and I’ll be giving you my gifts now... I understand if you don’t give me any." She said while she bit her lip, she was annoyed at herself for using him but at that point in time... It was what needed to be done though she hated herself for it. Azel’s calm gaze met hers, and Sylvia felt her heartbeat skip. The guilt she’d carried weighed heavily on her shoulders, but she had come here anyway... because she wanted to and because she needed to. Her storage ring glowed as different large packages appeared in the room. In the whole gifting event, she was officially the one that had brought the most gifts. The princess of the elves had truly gone all-out. ... "I brought gifts for you and had to put them in different packages because they’re so important." Sylvia said as she slowly knelt beside the small mountain of gifts. Her voice trembled slightly, betraying the hint of vulnerability buried beneath her usual dignified posture. The elf princess... someone who always maintained a calm, cold beauty was actually blushing. Just a faint pink dusting across her cheeks, but enough that every woman in the room noticed. She wouldn’t even let Azel unravel the first package. Her pride, her nervousness, her desire to redeem herself... all of it surged at once. So she picked it up herself, flicked her wrist, and in a flash of precise mana, the wrapping perfectly dissolved into shimmering light. A crystal hovered within a small orb... glowing softly, brightness pulsing like the heartbeat of an ancient tree. "This is a Living Elf Mana Crystal... It’s created when several elves from the royal family condense their magic together and create a crystal of pure mana. It can be used as a power source, and you can use it to recharge when you’re very low on mana." Sylvia explained, lowering her head in a rare bow, extending both hands forward for him to take it. But before his fingers even moved... A tiny shadow swept through the air. "Mine." Elarielle... the loli goddess floated right up to Sylvia’s offering and plucked it from her hands as if she were confiscating contraband. She turned it over, unimpressed and mildly offended. "This is filled with a very considerable amount of life energy..." she muttered. "I’ll be taking it." She said it with a sigh, but the flash in her eyes revealed exactly why: she still hadn’t forgiven Sylvia for using Azel in the past. This was her own petty divine revenge... small, but effective. To Sylvia’s horror, Azel nodded. He actually allowed the goddess to take it. Sylvia’s fingers froze, they were stiff in midair. Her chest tightened as she bit her lip. ’I expected it but... it hurts too. Of all days... it really hurts... But regardless, I’ll give him the rest. I prepared these for him...’ She reached for the next package, tearing it open herself again before she could dwell on the ache. Out came a crimson cloak... it was of a rich, royal fabric embroidered with ancient elven sigils. "This is a Royal Cloak worn by royalty of the Elven Empire," Sylvia continued, her voice shakier now. "It was created from very soft enchanted fabric that can defend from some spells while also granting you maximum comfort." She held it toward him with both hands. Again, he didn’t take it. Elarielle swooped in, snatching it with a snort. "I’ll be holding these... in case you’re poisoning it again." Sylvia’s lips quivered. The entire room could see her shoulders stiffen and her gaze drop for a split second. She kept her face composed, but the humiliation stung sharply enough to redden her ears. She looked at Azel, searching his expression for something... anger, forgiveness, acknowledgment, anything. He said nothing. And the pattern continued... package three, four, five, all taken by Elarielle before Azel could even reach out. Soon the small goddess had a comically large pile of elven treasures clutched to her chest while Sylvia stood empty-handed. Azel had not accepted a single one. Finally, Sylvia bowed, forcing her voice steady. "Thank you." She turned stiffly, preparing to walk back to her seat with quiet dignity but halfway through her first step, Azel rose from his throne of Merek. He reached forward and gently pinned something into her hair. A small, glowing hairpin. It was simple and elegant... but most importantly, a gift. "Grudges... no matter how rough they are, shouldn’t be brought to Christmas," Azel said softly. "Especially since it’s Nyala’s birthday. I got a gift for you too." Sylvia froze. Her face bloomed red instantly... the kind of red that spread from her cheeks to her ears to her neck. She touched the hairpin with trembling fingers, bowed deeply, and hurried back to her seat before her emotions betrayed her. Once seated, she immediately pulled out a mirror from her inventory and looked. The hairpin fit her perfectly. Even she couldn’t deny it... Azel had chosen well. "Alright, Rain... you’re next." Azel said. All eyes shifted to the Saintess. Rain stood slowly. Months ago, she had been grumpy, prickly, emotionally closed off and deeply committed to her belief that she was into women only. Somewhere along the journey, she had abandoned the idea entirely... mostly due to Azel’s existence. She stepped forward with a calm, gentle expression very unlike her old self, holding a small neatly wrapped package. Azel accepted it and tore it open. Inside was a single glowing feather. "That’s the feather of Tyran," Rain explained. "My phoenix. Phoenix feathers are a sign of good luck and can save you even in the most dire moments. There’s a legend that says it allows rebirth, but... you don’t believe that, right?" Azel held the feather reverently. "Thank you. I’ll cherish it." His gift appeared in his hand next... wrapped not in a box, but a tight cover. Rain tore it open instantly, revealing a staff embedded with a radiant golden gem. "Since you’re the Saintess," he said, "you’ll need a powerful tool to channel your holy magic. I made that from scratch." "With help from me!" Nyala announced proudly. "Be thankful." Rain chuckled softly, then reached into her own pocket. "I have a gift for you, my goddess." She took out a bracelet made of colorful beads. Carefully, she slipped it onto Nyala’s wrist. "Thank you... for everything. From the moment I came into this world and even now." Nyala froze... then immediately lunged forward and hugged her. Both women gasped when their breasts pressed together with a wet squish, causing the entire room to tense awkwardly before pretending not to notice. Nyala pulled back, admiring the bracelet. "I’ll cherish it!" she declared before flitting back to her seat. Rain sat down, her breath slightly unsteady and now it was Emilia’s turn. The blue-haired girl stood eagerly and approached Azel with a bright and hopeful smile. She stopped just in front of him. "Big brother..." Emilia said softly. "Let’s exchange gifts." They presented them at the same time. Emilia opened hers first revealing a slightly cracked, old sword but it was cleaned. Her breath hitched. "Is this what I think it... is?" "It’s the first sword the old man let me hold." Azel nodded. "You said you wanted it, so I figured it would be a good gift." "Thank you so much." She swung it lightly. "This is the perfect gift." Then Azel opened her gift. A box filled with tea powder and two handmade cups. "Father doesn’t want to give me an allowance... so I had to improvise and make tea powder," Emilia said proudly. "Don’t worry... you’ll like it very much." Azel chuckled and patted her head warmly. She glowed. ... Next was Steven practically and Azel beckoned to Lillia who floated next to him. "Lillia... come here." Lillia’s small form drifted down with effortless grace, her purple hair glowing like stardust. Azel leaned his head slightly, and she tilted closer so that his whisper ghosted into her ear. He whispered something in her ear and Nyala’s ears perked as she heard it before smiling even more. Lillia gave him a salute, tiny hand pressed enthusiastically to her forehead, her eyes were bright with excitement. "It will be done, papa." She said and then floated to Rene who was still half asleep on his side of the couch. The boy’s eyelids drooped lazily as if he hadn’t fully processed the atmosphere around him, his messy black hair sticking out like soft feathers. Lillia leaned down and perked up his ear and whispered something there... Rene perked up immediately, his sleepy face snapping awake with childlike alertness. And then Lillia floated to the front of Medusa and whispered something into Raphael as well as Lysandra’s ears and they perked up as well. The twins straightened at the same time... Raphael with the confidence of someone who believed he already ruled the world, Lysandra with the innocent pride of a starry-eyed little girl eager to please her father. Their expressions brightened almost instantly, like tiny lanterns being lit. And finally she floated out to Edna and held her hands out. "Mama... can I borrow little sis for a bit?" Edna guessed it had something to do with Steven’s Christmas gift so she surrendered Isolde to Lillia who held the silver-haired baby gently. Isolde blinked once, confused for only a heartbeat, then giggled softly as Lillia balanced her in the air, her tiny hands grabbing the air like she was discovering flight. "As for you, Old man." Azel said with a smile. "You don’t need to give me a Christmas gift... the fact that you’re here right now is plenty enough for me, but I still have to give you one." Ralph and Lysa got off from Medusa and were at his feet, their steps were small and eager. While Lillia extended Isolde to him who received her gently with shaky hands... Steven’s fingers trembled the moment he touched her, the Sword Saint who had cut down armies now looking like a man who feared breaking something infinitely precious and then Lillia cleared her throat as Rene joined in too. "Merry Christmas, Grandpa!" The children shouted out in a chorus, their voices slightly mismatched in tone but unified in joy. Steven’s entire face grew red with joy as he looked at them, overwhelmed, stunned, softened all at once. And Isolde raised up her hands to grab his beard as she looked into his eyes. "Grandpa!" She let out with a giggle. The Sword Saint... one of the most powerful people in the world felt the tears gather in the corner of his eyes. The mighty warrior who people trembled beneath was now trembling himself. His throat bobbed and the corners of his lips pulling up shakily. Lillia looked back at Azel and he gave a small nod which Edna noticed, the smallest affirmation between father and daughter. And immediately Lillia leaned forward and grabbed Steven by his free hand, making him stand up. "Come on Grandpa, let’s play upstairs." She said, tugging his large calloused hand with surprising strength. Steven followed as if entranced. Within a minute or two, Steven and the children were upstairs... their laughter already echoing faintly and Azel sighed with a smile, leaning back on the throne as the warmth of the scene settled into his chest. Now it was time for the final parts of the Gift exchange. Naelia stood up and walked toward Azel’s front, her long blond hair flowing with each elegant step. She moved like royalty even without intention. "I’m presenting my gift on the behalf of all three of us." Naelia said as she brought out a present box and extended it to him. "Please... take a look at it." He opened it and saw a singular paper inside. He opened it and read through it. His brows twitched the moment he reached the first line. "After much consideration, Father has decided to let the three of us move in with you to increase our bond." Naelia flashed a very warm smile which was radiant in a way that softened the entire room. "He said that if there’s not enough space for us... then we can all move to a bigger household within the town." Azel looked at her. ’Damn that Emperor...’ It wasn’t that he disliked the idea of her moving in... he didn’t hate it but then again... wasn’t the Emperor supposed to be very protective? 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮 The man who could practically launch armies to protect his daughters was now handing them over with a bow and a smile? "I see." Azel smiled at her. "I’ll prepare some rooms for you. Merry Christmas... Let me get a gif—" Naelia moved closer to him and whispered something in his ear and he nodded while turning to Edna. Her breath was warm against his ear, and though he didn’t react outwardly, Nyala subtly narrowed her eyes in curiosity. "Please lead them to the restroom." He said and Edna nodded while standing up. Naelia, Elizabeth and Ira followed, their steps quick but also a little nervous. And Azel looked at the rest of them. "Why don’t we continue? We just have two people remaining." ... They stepped into Azel’s room and all three girls looked at Edna. She was even more motherly and had bigger breasts than Naelia remembered and even though she couldn’t recognize this woman compared to her gloomy mother... It was clear that she knew Edna was her mother. Elizabeth slowly walked to her mother and then jumped into her arms, wrapping her leg around the woman’s waist as she cried into her chest. Edna’s hands instantly embraced her, her fingers trembling as she stroked her daughter’s hair. "Mama... I really... I really thought you were dead." Elizabeth said, her tears staining Edna’s dress and her voice cracked on the edges like she had been holding that fear in for years. "No." Edna said as she patted Elizabeth’s head, pressing her cheek gently onto the girl’s crown. "Azel has been taking care of me... and I’ve become his wife." She looked to the ground, unable to meet Naelia’s eyes. "I know I should be disgraced for falling in love with the boy that my daughter has feelings for but..." Edna couldn’t finish talking as Naelia pressed her from the other side, her hug was comforting, not jealous. Ira slowly walked, before going to her other side as well and hugging her. The four women hugged. "I’m just glad..." Naelia said as tears streamed down her eyes. "That you’re happy and you have a smile on your face. Merry Christmas Mom." ... "Ooh? A pair of special vials?" He asked while looking at the gift Esme gave him. The woman stood with her arms behind her back with her cheeks pink and eyes shifting shyly like she regretted her own boldness. As for the gift that Selene had given him... it was a hat made of straw and he wore it on his head. It somehow fit him absurdly well. "Yes." Esme said as she blinked shyly. "You do all these things with a lot of women... This will help make you more vigorous in bed." All of them in the room blushed, including the goddess. ’She’s even more shameless than me!’ Sybil thought inwardly. "Thank you Esme." He smiled at her and gave her a package. "Open it when you get home... it’s special." Esme nodded repeatedly, clutching the gift like it contained divine prophecy. And then all of them stood up, it was finally time for dinner where they would pray until Gwendolyn faded through the door and into the room, startling many people. Several girls flinched and Rain almost unleashed holy magic on instinct. "Stop looking at me like sick fucks and come outside before it wears off." Gwendolyn said and everyone went outside. The sun... it was gone, a wave of darkness filled the whole town and even though some of the people were screaming, Azel found that this was the perfect opportunity for the last gift. He pressed two hands against his ear. "There’ll be a change of plans Lillia... do it." They wondered what he was saying and soon it was revealed as a crackle filled the air and soon several fireworks shot into the air, exploding in the darkness and leaving words in the air. Not only that but the town’s huge radio at the Mayor’s place had began playing a Christmas song... He had hired the mayor just for this. "Come on, let’s dance." He said and took Nyala into a dancing motion, the christmas music was soothing and with the fireworks crackling, even the screaming townsfolk began moving to the tune as well. And soon enough, everyone was dancing along with the music. Azel on the other hand was dancing with Nyala and they moved through the snowy ground as he placed one hand on her waist and guided her like she was a princess. "I love fireworks..." She looked at the sky and watched them crackle even more. He suddenly pulled her close to him in a way where her back pressed against his front and then he leaned her back for the final crackle just as the music came to a stop. It was written clearly in the light left from the crackle. [Happy Birthday Nyala, I love you] The goddess looked at Azel and then at the words that were now fading though they were burned into her mind. "Y-you..." She muttered under her breath as she immediately pushed him down and sat on his crotch while kissing him crazily. "You’re a bad boy." And after she said that, the both of them started laughing. "Merry Christmas." [THE END!]