Happy Memories

A few months after meeting Enzo, Devina already started to get hung up on the new home and new family; she made new friends and has been treated like a princess that she ever wished for. When it comes to behind the scenes — she would learn how to cook, clean, observe how to fight, how to use manners, how to dance, learning a few languages, and more.

Sunako and Devina have been treating each other so closely, like real twins, to mirror each other, and Akumu was the one to keep them in check when they do their studies and not to break any rules, since he is older and their parents would put him in charge of the duo.

Lucius walked into the study room to go ahead to pick Devina up like a puppy and smiled, "Don't mind your daddy-o, just came to pick her up." He then winked at the twins who understood that it was January 11th, Devina's birthday — she had no idea that it was her 5th birthday.

"Daaaaaaad... I want to spend Time with brothers...!"

"It's ok, you'll play and study more with them. They have something to do while you're coming with me to pick up your present!"

"Present...? Isn't the term present for... Christmas?"

Akumu seemed to be amused, he realized Devina didn't fully understand how it worked in here and he knew that she was from a different realm than what Lucius told him. Only Shivani knows Devina's secret and maybe Enzo too.

The king laughed at a question and shook his head no, "No you sweet child, a present can be used in different approaches than just Christmas. You know Valentine, baby shower, wedding, birthday, whether that is with a different purpose."

Devina looks at him cutely. "Wedding? Like that tale where the princess married a prince to live happily ever after?"

"Yeah," Lucius gestured for the twins to leave while carrying Devina to the king's study room to put her down on the chair and there was a gift on the desk. "This one is for you, go ahead and open, I hope you like it!"

Devina's eyes sparkle like a pure innocent child to take a box to open carefully to find the seeds of spider lilies, three keys of Hekatean necklace, and a beginner's witchcraft kit box that includes candles, crystals, tiny jars, essential oils, and tarot. Also, a spell book that requires Anzel's signature magic to activate it.

"Whoa...!" She picks up each one to put on the desk to observe these and purrs, curiously trying to open an ancient spell book.

"Ah, ah, ah! You'll be able to access this unlimited knowledge once you start learning basic magic! Once you are attuned to it, it will know and will unlock for you."

Devina silently picks up the keys necklace and holds it gently if she knew what kind of necklace it was associated with and in less than 15 seconds she felt the sparkling through the third eye and gently puts it back after feeling very strange things going on. How can she be able to pick up so young an age and Lucius seems to know the reaction but chose not to overwork to push the youngest to put herself at risk as long as she will need to understand the mortality and such.

"Can I... bring them to my room? Of course, I love these and I will treasure them!" Devina shyly puts all items back in the present box to hold it closely like she has deeply attached emotionally with a head against the lid.

The king gave her permission to go ahead and Devina happily waddled away straight to her room — A fox spirit appeared, it surprised Lucius that Devina had manifested the vision of her 'soul' self then the wolf and kitsune appeared in spirits also lastly a tiger.

The Alaskan wolf acknowledged Lucius to be able to see them and snorted with a tiny bow to walk off and Kitsune who carries the flowers around happily hoped to follow where Devina went and a tiger stopped the same with the wolf and snarled quietly to scroll away.

"That is... so interesting, a fox soul and three familiars...?" Lucius decided to step out to find those spirits nowhere to be seen. He went to pick Devina up to take her down to meet the family members and friends outside at the garden where the place was full of plants with birthday decorations and a lot of gifts.

Enzo invited his brother young Kieran also his father who is a good friend of Lucius. They were also there and Lucius told her to close her eyes.

The tiny hands covered her eyes even though she couldn't contain her excitement to experience the fifth and best birthday because the truth was she had never had that kind of party before. It was always the mother and servants to sang her happy birthday and served delicious food and played with her. The father had never been there.

"3... 2... 1... you can open your eyes now."

The eyes open once the hands are uncovered to find everyone present while shouting "SURPRISE!"

Devina's eyes sparkle again while holding Lucius closely to look around and when seeing Sunako and Akumu. She reaches her arms, "How can I say— Thank you!" She gestured a thank you in sign language while using her voice.

Finally was put down to play with her adopted siblings and her male childhood friends to celebrate the day, always had to meddle between Phantoms and Shivani, she even spoke to the adults, and she was pleased to be free from being a little servant to get sung and blew a candle to make a wish and slice the cake to have others to eat first before her. It's her tradition to do it just to get praise for being a wonderful child.

Opened those gifts, she loved every piece of it while how silly childhood can be when a kid comes up with a promise like that moment Enzo cleared his throat to get everyone's attention, "May I have attention please?"

He got attention from every single person who was there, "Devina, I know you just moved here not so long time ago and... I would like to make a promise with you if you're willing."

Devina listened, she tilted her head in confusion, and blinked dumbfounded like What the heck is happening? Is the world ending???

"When we grow up, let's get married! That will be our first promise!" Enzo handed out. Everyone was shocked, usually when two kingdoms are allies and when one of their children has proposed either early or young adult age, it becomes their priority in the future to make peace between both kingdoms

"...!?" A birthday girl was... almost surprised and the voice whispers; "Would you accept a false promise because you pity him or will you accept because you like him?"

Devina looks at Lucius as a sign that she heard voices... it sounds like... the future self that knew her.

"I... I..." The uncertain voice of hers began to clear up when she smiled.

"I can promise...!"

The adults awed while the twins looked at each other then at Kieran as Kieran's eyes were glowing red like he secretly knew Devina's secret unbothered. Sunako felt a sense of fear for the first time and Akumu looked stern, he would try to cheat the fates one day as he promised. It's not because he's against the idea. It's just he wanted to protect a girl he sees as a little sister.

Enzo grinned so purely and out of excitement, Devina wasn't responding the same, and looked at Kieran with slightly red eyes when their gaze met.

Kieran smiled with a gesture of shush in a sly way then walked away from the garden. Devina wanted to chase him but she was surrounded by others to say she was being precious, etc.

How attention can be overwhelming but the sense of pride of being a center as a child, every memory she encountered — it becomes her happy memories. When the party was over, Devina had the brothers over in her room to show off the present Lucius gave since she genuinely expressed her loyalty to a king himself. The parents are leaning against the wall to watch the children talking.

Reina looked at Lucius and shook her head, "She really loves you." With her playful rolling eyes. Lucius laughed, "That's a goal. It's ok, I love her too much the same I once loved your best friend when we three were together."

"Oh her...? Yeah, me too. I start to worry that the more Devina walks through, we might... not be here because something big is coming." She held his arm. Lucius sighed, "I know. That's why I am teaching her now, when the day comes, she will take care of us all... and truth is... I am prepared. But I worry that I will be the one who will..." the voice trailed down with a small bitter smile, "will what...?" Reina asked in concern.

"Be the first reason her sweet intelligent brain is going to get twisted." Lucius knew what was up. He watched the smile when Devina got hugged by Sunako while Reina took a picture of the cutest memory of happy kids. In the photo, Devina looks so angelic while Sunako seems to tackle her to hug while Akumu being a "mature" boy tries to pull Sunako not to fall her down but was tripped behind Sunako like he was about to join a guy too.

The sound of the click of the second photo of the three of them piling up laughing. Reina smiled sweetly to find Lucius no longer next to her but she managed to capture the picture of Lucius with three kids.

Time skip to midnight when Devina decided to quietly sneak into the room of Sunako and Akumu's shared bedroom since both are inseparable. She pouts while holding the plush of a crow. "Brothers... c-can I sleep here?"

Akumu groans quietly before waking up sleepily to see Devina looking like she was about to cry. "What's wrong...?" He lazily sits up and rubs his eyes before patting Devina's head.

"I... had a bad scary dream... I'm scared to go back to sleep... alone."

Akumu sighed softly before moving a blanket to have Devina join, "Here... your big brother will guard you when you sleep. Your nightmare is just a nightmare. Nothing can hurt you."

Sunako yawned to look at them, "heeeey... don't forget about me..." Sunako spoke in a sleepy tone. Tiredly getting off his bed to join Akumu since he would rather be close to Devina.

Now Akumu's bed is full of three kids, him, Devina, and Sunako sharing the same blanket. Akumu mumbled, "Sunako... you're not welcome here—"

"Shhhhh, if you guard her, I'll too. I'll invite myself when I want to."

"Hmph!"

Devina giggled, "I want both of you...!" Her eyes feel so heavy and safe with these two. "Good... night..." Drifted off to sleep deeply. Akumu and Sunako stir to the side to face a sleepy girl. Their soft smile is already on their face to hold their crow plush (each one has a matching crow plush.)

They all finally fell asleep in tune.

The fox spirit sits aside on the floor to watch them sleeping, the red Chinese mark with closed eyes; red eyeliner, the kitsune mask on the side as it was carrying a demon eye pendant attached to a red ribbon as a bow around the neck.

"The... Memories..."

As soon as the fox spirit opens its eyes, the whole thing begins to glitch as the same voice that Devina heard earlier said...

"The Happiness doesn't last long but you'll know... Nightmare...? No, it's your sealed destiny that you'll soon stumble into... And it's me who one waiting for you to find me so we can be powerful together..."

The fox tilts its head as its eyes glow in the dark.

"I...

Am...

(Glitch)

Am...

(Glitch)

You... And You...

(Glitch again)

Are...

...

..."

The red font of the last word...