As soon as I arrived, I felt a weight on my shoulder being lifted, knowing that someone powerful enough to ignore anything I could do had pressed on my mind more than I thought it would, I need to move my ass and start grinding for real.
" Dad, I made you a cake," Mary shouted when she saw me walk out of the portal and towards her.
'I think my heart just failed and when restarted, because it doesn't want to make Mary sad.'
" A cake? Who taught you?"
" I was helped by Grandpa."
Having received his cue, The Ancient One appeared from behind the corner with a smile, warmer than usual; he almost always had a smile on his face, a calm smile, but now? Now it feels warm for some reason.
" And what is the occasion?" I ask Mary while going down on one knee to hug her.
" You don't know? Dad is stupid."
" I might be stupid sometimes, but that's the reason you are here; you are the smart one."
She giggled and then turned to "Grandpa" and nodded.
Before I could react, dozens of people around us jumped out. I recognised most of them, some were the kids I rescued, others were sorcerers who had practised with me or taught me the basics, what surprised me wasn't their presence, which had gotten hidden by a powerful spell, what surprised me the most was the letters made with magic written in the sky.
" HAPPY BIRTHDAY."
Mary rushed up to me, and the same did Obsidian, Ivy, and Zephir; they had senses that something joyous was happening and they wanted to be part of it.
" DOGGY", Mary shouted when seeing Zephir, who answered by changing his form to a green, very cute, and flying shiba inu.
Mary hugged me once more, this time putting all her strength she had regained through physical therapy and constant use of healing spells, and rushed to play with Zephir.
" I can see you are surprised." The Ancient One walked up to me, his smile warmer when looking at the scene enacted by Zephir and Mary.
" I might have forgotten today was my birthday."
" Yes, that was something I had predicted would happen from the moment you began studying under me, your focus while admirable causes you to lose track of the time, by a lot."
" Isn't today the 5th of February?" I genuinely asked.
" It's the 3rd of March."
" Ah... I might have lost track of time by just a few days."
" Keep saying that, and it might become reality. Regardless, today is your birthday, and I decided to ask the help of my granddaughter to throw you a little party. She was ecstatic when she discovered she could do something for you."
I stayed silent while imagining Mary jumping all around Kamar-Taj to make sure to invite everyone and make sure everything was perfect.
" Yeah, I can see that."
" Usually, I would wait until the end of the party to give you my gift, but I think this is something you will need a lot of time to think about how to use it."
Appearing seemingly out of nowhere, a fial appeared on his palm, containing a liquid seemingly constantly shifting in color like a rainbow, wondering what it was I took it when he gave it to me, and a window explaining the item to me appeared, and let me tell you, this things is some good shit.
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Phial of Elemental Infusion (Mythic)
Description: A phial made by the strongest sorcerer ever recorded in history, his name unknown and better kept hidden in the lost library of Alexandria, this phial was made purely to help magicless learn how to use magic, previously a very common object is now something unique that very few people can say to have even ever seen.
Durability: 1/1
Effects:
Elemental Infusion: When drunk, if you were to think of a precise element, you will be able to gain a connection with said element. If the element deems you worthy of wielding it, you will gain a connection to it.
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" I can accept this, why don't you use it? I would have been fine with 10 bucks, this is worth more than anything I could ever ac-"
" Oh shut you stupid child, I have seen you grow more than anyone else, I have seen your heart, how you care, but are unable to show it because you're scared to get hurt and not meet some parameters you placed yourself."
I didn't talk, still shocked about what he had just given me.
"... I like being called Grandpa. When I was younger, I had a son, but he never got old enough to marry and be happy, so I never experienced being a grandfather, a paternal figure. I had already lost hope the older I got, but then you arrived, with your stupidity and creativity, breaking rules about the world I thought unbreakable, you made me wonder if I could break the rule I had set myself."
The silence became heavier, my heart pounding in my chest as my mind pondered each of his words.
" Could you ever see me as your f-"
He didn't get to finish his words, as I directly hugged him, a single tear falling from my eye as I felt accepted by someone for who I am, was, and will be.
" GRANDPA MADE DADDY CRY, DOGGY, ATTAAAAACK," Mary shouted, and following her orders, Zehpir landed on The Ancient One's head and began biting his head, doing no damage.
We both laughed, the previous sad/happy silence that we had created broken by the bundle of joy known as Mary.
He turns towards me, his smile now having more significance in my mind and soul.
" Yao, my name is Yao."
" You got a name? I thought your parents' surname was One."
He sighed but still smiled.
I think this year might have brought more growth than any other year ever has.
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Thanks for the support from everyone, the list is getting quite long, so sorry if I can't keep up with it
AN: Any guesses on how he will use it?
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