Arriving at the smith's house, I let out a deep sigh, not because I'm anxious or something like that. It just brings so many memories to be here. As a child, whenever my father was busy hunting, the wife of the Smith would trouble herself with taking care of me in the meantime alongside her daughter. Even if father never mentioned that I had a mother or that the concept was foreign for me entirely, I could still say that this woman, the smith's wife, my friend Clara's Mother was like a mother to me as well.
"Darling, Relwing's here!"
I hear Clara's mother call out, and catch a glance of her through the glass window of the humble home. Only a couple more steps from the door I hear intense shuffling and a running pace. Suddenly the door bursts open.
"Relwing, you're here already? Come in."
There to greet me is Clara. She urges me to walk in sounding a little out of breathe. But more stunningly to me, she was wearing a tight black dress while in matching black heels. Her bosom was...
"Yeah, I just figured I should help with setting up the party."
Last thing I want is to be caught staring at her big tits. How did I even manage to stand living in the same house with her while staying 'friends'. Damn, I didn't expect her to be the one to open the front door to welcome me. It makes all that wholesome thinking earlier borderline dead considering the more pervy stuff I'm thinking now. How soft are they? What size cup is she? I push those thoughts back.
Of course, she would be here now though, we came on the same carriage back to Vitra. Then again, I'm not exactly 'me' today.
Before I can contemplate any further, Clara grabs my arm to pull me in. I look at her face to avoid ogling her body and she responds with a seductive smile back with her emerald color eyes glistening. Smiling back isn't hard given how pretty she is, and how warm that smile of hers makes me feel right now. She closes the door behind us.
"You don't have to worry about that, mom took care of nearly everything now, she's just finishing up in the kitchen. I missed you."
Right as I try to respond, Clara pulls me into a bear hug placing my face right next to her breasts. I'm so shocked all I can think to do is give her a light hug back. She smells sweet, freshly scented with perfume I theorize. My face gets all warm from her chest and all I can hear is her strong heartbeat, I start to hear my heart as well pounding in my ears. Even the slight shuffling tickles my face with her long auburn hair.
"It's nice to see you too. But it's not like we didn't see each other yesterday night too."
Just by a thread I am able to regain composure. Clara loosens up her grip letting me pull my head out of the enjoyable yet sinful embrace it was held in. She's always like this, and right now when I'm at my most vulnerable I can hardly put on the same nonchalant façade I'd held so well in the past.
"I know, but you can't keep a girl waiting."
Clara switches to pushing herself against my chest and beaming up that same sexy smile again with a head tilt.
"I get it, all in due time. Let's just enjoy the moment right now."
Calming my thoughts to respond with a cool face takes an uncanny amount of concentration. The thought of setting another save to right before the door opened creeps in my mind. However, I decide not to for the sole reason that I have to at least know how Clara feels about the "new" me. Gaming it too much would just fuck it all up.
"~Normally you would've pushed me away by now.~ Not that I want you to let go. Did something happen?"
Her smile switches to a look of worry. It makes me feel like I did something wrong, but I can't help but smile back to her cute face.
"Nothing, well nothing bad at least."
I say with a grin plastered to my face. It's enough to get Clara back to her usual look of elation. She does also back away from her invasion of my personal space. Yet I still have my hands on her hips and her hands over my arms.
"That's good. Here you can tell me about it while we get comfortable."
Clara finally leads me past the living room, and stairs to the second floor, into the large dining room. Normally, Clara's mom has all her alchemical materials sprawling around when she's not expecting guests. Today that space is cleared with a small corner of empty space at the far end of the dining room table. Clara motions me to sit at the central seat at the end. She goes to stand next to her mother in the kitchen.
"Welcome, Relwing, how are you? I'm still in the middle of baking the cake and mixing the juice. Are you already hungry or thirsty?"
Clara's mom says to me as she turns to smile at me while still maintaining the stir on the juice in the bowl. Unlike her daughter she has blue eyes and a darker shade of hair.
"I'm quite well, I am just a little thirsty and a bit hungry. But how're you Mrs. Carla?"
In spite of my formal response, my stomach suddenly let out a roar, indicating to everyone in ear shot that I wasn't just a bit hungry. I hear Mrs. Carla chuckle a little.
"I'm fine Relwing, but you're clearly famished. Clara if you would, please go take these to the boy."
"~He's not a boy anymore mom.~ I'm coming, Relwing."
Clara calls out to me as she quickly fixes up and heads with a platter of food and a cup of the mixed juice.
"Ehihi, that's right, you're eighteen now. No longer a boy, but you'll always be one of my darlings too."
Mrs. Carla laughed to herself as Clara gives her a pouty face before reaching me. Clara places the platter in front of me on the table. She also pulls in one of the surrounding chairs to sit next to me.
"You said 'nothing bad'. So, what did happen today?"
"Something happen during your hunt with Japhy, Rel?"
Right as I was about to choke up an answer Seth shows up. I didn't hear Seth's steps as he came from upstairs, but his sudden barging into the conversation actually helps for once.
"Nah, nothing crazy like that. Just this."
Raising my arm to display the glowing sigil, marking me a neurovant, I also make a smug face.
"EEhk!"
Clara shrieks and throws herself onto me with another harassing hug. I don't mind it a single bit, her warm cheek presses against mine with her arms over my shoulders.
"How long ago did you get that?"
Seth immediately has a concerned look on his face to follow his response. I'm not even sure if it's out of skepticism or pure bewilderment.
"Since this morning. I woke up and started brushing my hair when suddenly my arm started glowing like this."
"Oh, I'm just shocked really, no one's ever had it come that late. You planning on heading back to Linktown tonight to get an appraisal?"
"You want to be an adventurer like us? You can join my party after you rank up."
"C, I have a feeling if he did that you'd be retiring sometime soon. Besides you want to go in the vaults with me, right Rel?"
Seth places his arm above Clara's and over my neck pulling me in and rubbing my head. He sure does act like a big bro when he's not being serious.
"Uh—"
As soon as I try to give a proper reply to the bombardment from these two, the roar from my gut sounds out again. I softly chuckle a bit from embarrassment.
"Can you two let him eat? It's going to get cold otherwise."
Mrs. Carla chastises the two with a stern look. Seth lets go and pats my back, while Clara leans back to her seat after adjusting my hair back that Seth messed up. I just smile and pick up the fork and knife to dig in. Seth sits next to Clara and starts talking to her about adventurer stuff.
Meanwhile, in front of me is a delectable assortment of meat with cheese melted on top and a broth to the side of it with a still warm bun next to it. I'm almost tempted to cut the bun in half and stuff the meat in between like a sandwich, or more like a cheeseburger. Instead I just split a piece off the meat to taste.
"Mm, sho gud."
Couldn't resist giving praise where it's due. Mrs. Carla smiles as I continue with tasting the bread and broth, its own heavenly combo. Even the juice had the right balance of sweetness and tartness that made me want to chug it all in one gulp.
As I keep eating more and more people start showing up. Many are just some of the neighbors and a couple of their older children. They're familiar by face only, I very rarely spoke to any of them especially since I moved to Linktown. A couple of them greeted me with a 'hello' and a 'happy birthday', the usual pleasantries. Though I didn't answer most of them with anything other than a head nod as I'm still eating.
Not much time passes before I finish my meal. Everyone else had already begun eating at this point except for Clara and Seth.
"You two already ate?"
I finally interject into their conversation. Though at that point I think they were bickering about something rather than having a decent discussion. I think that only because the crease of frustration Seth had on his forehead disappears when he turns to me.
"Yep. So? About your appraisal you do plan on becoming an adventurer right?"
Seth asks me candidly as if I had been thinking about that the entire time while eating. And honestly thinking of it in this moment. It's not like I'm forced to be an adventurer, and I don't even know if that's the best I can do in this life. Maybe if I have crafting neuros or more 'magic'-based neuros I can do something else instead. Although so far the neuros I share with dad would make me a pretty good adventurer.
"We'll see, hey speaking of which wanna compare sigils?"
"You're a neurovant now!?"
One of the teens shouts. Suddenly, I'm met with a fanfare of 'congratulations', 'it's about time', and 'better late than never.' I'm shocked so many people care, then again, they did come to my birthday party.
"What's all the commotion?"
A man walks in and states coldly. He has a scar across his face from above his left eyebrow to his upper lip, but it's deeply reminiscent of Seth's. Well yeah it's his dad. And he's definitely Clara's father, he's got the same green eyes, though his are much colder. Something of a thousand yard stare one could say.
"Sean, honey, muah. Relwing, has his neurovant mark now."
Mrs. Carla's kiss on her husband immediately removes the coldness from his eyes as he looks at her while putting his hand over the cheek she kissed. Mr. Sean looks quite bashful.
"Ah, that's right. A late bloomer for certain, but even so he's bloomed finally."
Mr.Sean looks at me with a half smile, I match his enthusiasm with a slight nod and half smile of my own. He's always made sure that I don't mistake him for a father figure or an uncle, not that I wanted that from him, I have a dad. Thinking on it a bit more maybe it comes from a past he shares with my father. The two of them seem to always speak in private ever since I was a child. Dad never tells me what it's about.
"You wanted to see my sigil, Rel?"
"Hm? Yea, I just wanted to know how different ours are."
I refocus on what I originally wanted to discuss with Seth.
"Clearly there's not much you can say ''is' the same between ours."
Seth's marking is also a special one, it appears as two hook lines symmetrically across his left arm with another line splitting the two before reaching a spear like tip. And the line that splitting the image turns into a spiral with a cross shape in the center.
"Here check mine out too."
Clara chipperly nudges her arm next to mine so I can see her sigil. Hers is definitively reminiscent of the symbol from those enemies in that videogame with a boy who has big shoes and a key 'sword'. A heart shape symbol overall but looking at the defining lines is a more intricate tapestry. Thorn-like spikes around the curved sides with an open diamond shape in the middle that holds a set of three intersecting circles.
What a quirky system this 'Syneonex' is to give us such oddly tasteful glowing tattoos. Well, I don't even know if mine could be called tasteful. It's a seven pointed star at the top of a converging scaly dual helix.
"You know seeing it up close, Rel, yours is aggressively bold. Hmph, and it looks like all three of us ended up with rare sigils."
Seth states with an air of pompousness.
"What a coincidence."
My sarcasm spills over a little. Despite that, Seth nods in agreement.
"I really like yours, it gives you a bit more character."
Clara compliments while caressing my arm with her soft fingers. I don't even think of stopping her, she has really delicate hands despite her profession.
"I have to agree with Clara, it's a splendid symbol to show you're a man now."
Wearing a silk white blouse, with an ample amount of cleavage, Cordelia shows up and takes a seat next to me. And instantly grips my free arm, and smothers it into her embrace.
"I'm really glad you could make it. I know you must've had a lot of work to get through."
A soft grin marks my face, as I'm praying Cordelia doesn't notice how nervous her gesture makes me. Especially, when I can tell Clara's seething at her forwardness.
"Well of course, since ~you invited me to come.~"
Cordelia must be masking her own shyness through her bold actions, considering her voice went from a self-assured declaration to a meek whisper. She even buries her face in my arm to hide the its reddening pigment.
A couple seconds more and I can calm the thumping in my chest. Cordelia's got her own mature introvert allure. Am really doing this, trying to juggle two women at my own birthday party? My other self couldn't have dreamed this scenario, well maybe I did at some point when I was a teenager and watched like a dozen harem anime.
But the real thing is so much more different. I notice as Clara scoots her chair closer to me.
"Guh."
Sound escapes my throat as I feel an unmistakable feeling on my nether region. A sudden hand gripping right on my...
"Clara! Stop messing about, and help me set this cake on the table."
Mrs. Carla calls out to Clara, the hand disappears from over my crotch. Yeah, that's the one thing about Clara I'm remembering now, she's very handsy if I don't tell her to stop.
"Coming mom. ~We'll talk about this later~ hihi."
Clara giggles as she saunters away, my face felt extremely hot now. I can't help but stare holes into Clara's plump ass accentuated by that tight black dress. I can see that it shakes slightly with each step. The feeling of my dick pressing against my pants causes a chill up my spine as I remember the room isn't empty.
I'm brought back to the moment with a tug from my right arm. Cordelia's trying to get my attention again.
"Hey do you think this was a bit much."
Cordelia says it with a wavering voice that makes me think she's losing confidence with every second of silence.
Well since she asked.
"Your outfit?"
I tease Cordelia pretending not to know what she's asking about. She nods her head to confirm. She's almost puppy-like with her blue eyes craving my answer.
"No it's not too much, you look gorgeous in that."
I put on my charm as I have before with a wide grin, and pull her in with my arm that she's holding. Cordelia returns the smile and readjusts herself to get closer.
"Ahem, so you're not sure if you'll be an adventurer. But did you at least want me to show you around the guild in Linktown, you know a little tour to show you what it's like past the reception desk?"
Seth finally speaks up after all the interruptions.
"Yeah I mean it couldn't hurt."
"Alright, you let me know once you're heading back to Linktown, I'll meet you there."
With a nod and a smile, Seth seems a lot more ecstatic about the tour than I am. Maybe he's gotten nostalgic around all those dudes he normally adventures with, of the days when it was just the five of us messing around the open plains of the village.
Clara and her mother carefully move through the small crowd around the table to place the finished cake in front of me, Seth removes the now empty platter to make space. Strangely enough it doesn't look any different than a birthday cake I'd seen before. It even has frosting and my name written on it.
Barging in panting are Wendall and Japhet. Well, Japhy's the one panting hard, Wendall looks relieved and immediately leaves a package near the sink in the kitchen before he goes around greeting everybody.
"Sorry for being late, we went out by the stream hoping to catch a couple swimmers. Sun went down before we knew it. I'm glad we could make it before the singing. I left a present for you kind Mr. Relwing, though I believe Mrs. Carla would best know what to do with it."
Wendall says all this before gathering around with everyone else, Japhy also makes his way through to stand next to me. He gives me a thumbs up and a wink when he notices Cordelia on my arm. After they got settled, Mrs. Carla begins to speak.
"Thank you everyone for coming, today we thank the Lords once again. Another child of our village comes to be a man. By their grace today as well he now shows to be a Neurovant. Let us rejoice and celebrate, and hope to see one another for many years to come."
As Mrs. Carla ends her speech, she begins to sing our version of a birthday song. It's different enough to warrant me trying to listen to the words themselves. However, I can't bring myself to ignore her pleasant voice along with the women among the guests who match her voice and recite the same words. Even Clara sits herself next to me to sing the song and Cordelia, on my arm still, hums the song.
As soon as the singing ends I feel a press of lips against both of my cheeks, followed by clapping and whistling in the audience. Apparently, both Clara and Cordelia had the idea to give me a birthday kiss in the same moment.
"Let's start on that cake, here Relwing."
Mrs. Carla hands my blushing self a plate of cake with two forks. I place it down next to me and try to grab one of the forks. Instead, Cordelia smacks my hand away and picks up a fork, and then I see Clara do the same.
Now I just feel plain embarrassed because I think I might've skipped a step or two but they're already acting like my girlfriends. Didn't have any of those last go round.
They each take a turn feeding me a piece of cake. I want to speak, but every time I finish the last piece I am fed, I get another piece stuffed into my mouth. No reason for me to complain though. The cake tastes amazing, and I'm looking at two beautiful women right next to me as I enjoy it.
Mrs. Carla continues to hand out drinks and cake, before long someone starts playing a stringed instrument. Sounds and looks like a guitar. Another woman starts singing to the tune, first humming before actually getting to lyrics that seem nonsensical but that carry a nice rhythm.
"Want another piece?"
Clara asks before Cordelia finishes putting the last bit into my mouth. I shake my head, it's decadent enough that they're willing to sit here and feed me, it makes my heart flutter.
"Come on then let's dance."
Cordelia tugs at my arm as she springs out of her seat.
"Yeah, Relwing, let's dance."
I can already see where this is going. They're going to try to make an awkward scene of all three of us dancing before one of them tries to pull me away for a private dance. Well, I'm not my usual self so I'll just have to settle the matter now—and see just how deep the rabbit hole goes.
"Clara can I talk to you for minute?"
"Y-yeah, sure."
She's clearly surprised by me taking the reigns. At first she smiles probably thinking this was my way of getting us alone to dance together. It turns into a look of worry when I have her follow me away from the dance floor, and from most prying eyes.
I stop once we're at the other end of the living room.
"Clara—"
"I went too far again, huh? I just thought maybe you changed your mind o-or that you were okay with it. I'm s—"
Clara interrupts me but I show her that I didn't bring her here to chastise her. I pull her gorgeous body in and give her a deep kiss.
She has to know I'm not the same man. She wraps her arms around my neck.
The kiss lasts for an eternity. Once it ends, she follows up with her own passionate smooches. Clara even begins leaning her hips into me, practically rubbing up against my crotch. There's no way she doesn't feel my rock hard dick at this point, but I couldn't care less.
She finally stops her lips onslaught and moves her hands to feel my face. Her soft fingers caress around the bit of stubble I have and her eyes remain locked onto mine the whole time.
"Clara, I need you to listen to me, and I mean really listen here. If I chose to be with another woman over you—"
"I'd still only love you, and I'd still want you."
Following up with another flurry of kisses from Clara, I'm not given any moment to reply. My attempts at a rational discussion seem silly now that I realize just how lovesick Clara is for me.
I put my forehead next to hers my hair dangling onto hers. She nudges my nose and gives me another quick kiss from the awkward angle.
"Tonight, I'll make you my first—but next, I have to go dance with Cordelia and let her know about us."
"Your first? Hihi, alright ~don't be long.~"
Clara whispers into my ear before leaving another kiss on my cheek where Cordelia originally kissed me.
I return to the dining room to the mopey looking Cordelia who's staring at the floor. She notices my return and immediately lights up, approaching me and putting her hand out for me to join her. I oblige and walk her to the dance floor, placing my right hand on her hip and lift her left hand with mine.
"I didn't know you knew how to dance."
Cordelia says in a flirtatious tone. I wanted to say something cheeky but this is also thanks to my other memories. At some point I took dance lessons, complete waste of money but fuck it might as well show what I learned.
"I don't really know I'm just copying that couple across from us."
"Heh, I don't mind. You move smoothly regardless."
We dance in silence following the smooth strings of the guitar. Cordelia keeps a soft smile the entire time with her eyes closed leaning onto me. She really is cute, it almost feels cruel to speak up and disturb her pleasant resting face.
Even more devilish to do what I'm about to. Clara, I understand, she's always had a thing for me since we were kids and there was never any real question there. But Cordelia? I just showed her a bit of suaveness and she took the leap to be here. I want to know why.
"Cordelia?"
"Hm?"
She opens her eyes to look at me. My nerves rile up a little but I control my breathing to cool off.
"Di—what about me is it you like?"
"Aside from your handsome face?"
Cordelia gives an obvious teasing answer. I can't help but chuckle and smirk at her.
"Yeah."
"You want my honest answer?"
"Of course."
"I've always had a thing for you, like Clara."
"Really."
I say inquisitively, with an eyebrow raised. I know you're not supposed to think about other women when talking to one and much less compare the two. However, I genuinely never noticed anything close to romantic feelings from her, I'm wracking my head thinking of some sign in my memories. Nothing shows up.
"Yeah, a while after you started hunting, around the time you got to be my height. But you never looked at me and hardly even seemed interested. I was afraid to do anything about it, I'm older than you, you know? So, I left it at that until today."
She looks right into my eyes. It seems as if she's confirming something. I don't avert my gaze at all.
"When I started looking at you, and asked you to come here?"
She nods her head before parting her lips to take a breath and keep talking.
"I figured if you were finally willing to give us a try, then I'd give it my best. I love you, Relwing."
My heart could hardly handle Clara's equally bold declarations but this is different. I definitely changed.
"Can I be selfish?"
"You gonna tell me that you changed your mind?"
Hell no. Cordelia gives a bittersweet smile, already accepting a conclusion I never even considered.
"No, never, I just wanted to know—does the fact that I'll be with Clara tonight, that she'll be my first, change how you feel about me. I—"
"Ahaha. You're worried about that? Relwing, I thought the two of you were a done deal. I mean the two of you live together in Linktown. Though, it almost feels like you're just teasing me now. How selfish. But to answer you properly, I don't mind being your mistress, as long as you show me your love just as deeply."
She leans forward, as if demanding I demonstrate right away. I chuckle and proceed to follow through on giving her that kiss. Awkwardly she tries to use her tongue sensually to connect with mine. Why is she so cute? Huh, I guess this is my second kiss across two lives now. Damn.
We hold the kiss for another couple of seconds before splitting. Cordelia gives me her brightest smile yet.
"I'm sorry we couldn't share tonight, but if you're up for it. I can meet you at your place come sunrise."
I offer with a seductive smirk of my own.
"Ooh, that soon, huh? I'll be waiting then, don't be late. ~Hihi~"
Cordelia and I dance for another while but soon the party ramps down, many of the guests start leaving. And soon enough I say goodbye to Cordelia for the night.
***
Clara expectantly waits for me next to the stairs, her parents talking in the kitchen while finishing cleaning up after the party.
"You don't want to help clean up first?"
"Nope."
While shaking her head, Clara grabs onto my hand and leads me to her room. We dash up the stairs and I can tell she's dying to get started from how hard she's pulling on my hand. She throws open the door and pulls me in before slamming and locking it behind her.
Throwing herself onto me, Clara starts making out with me. Save. What can I say? I have to make the most of my first time, have to make up for two lifetimes as least.
[Save 3 Completed.]