Several days had passed since Ren’s return to Clausel.
Waking in his room in the Old Wing, Ren approached the window to bask in the morning sun. His gaze drifted to the desk nearby, where Selakia's Azure Orb remained. Today, as always, a blue mist and flickers of lightning-like light writhed within its depths. He instinctively reached out to touch it.
There was no verbal response, but the mist inside surged as if acknowledging him. Simultaneously, he felt that familiar, faint tug of his mana being siphoned away.
"I know you're hungry," he murmured apologetically, "but I still haven't figured out how to make you hatch."
The orb trembled slightly, almost as if it were sighing in disappointment. Ren pulled his hand away.
A moment later, a knock came from the other side of the door. "Master Ren, it is Yuno."
Ren tidied himself quickly and went to greet her. Yuno apologized for the early hour but informed him that several shipments were arriving at the manor for Lady Licia's birthday party.
"The luggage... Ah! Is it for the party?" Ren asked.
"Your intuition is correct. The ingredients and all the necessary materials are being brought in at once. We are to move them into the entrance of the Old Wing."
"Understood. I'll help with that."
After a quick breakfast brought by Yuno, Ren spent the morning hauling crates and organizing supplies. Around noon, while the knights were away on their break, Licia burst into the entrance hall, looking utterly frantic.
"D-did you... see it!?" she stammered, out of breath as she faced Ren.
"See what, exactly?"
"Specifically... a securely packed box? Something that looks like a weapon?"
It was a narrow question. Ren hadn't seen anything matching that description, but before he could answer, Licia spotted what she was looking for. She snatched up a carved box made of white wood and hid it behind her back, eyeing him suspiciously.
"Did you see it?" she repeated.
Ren had caught a glimpse of the ornate box, but he knew better than to pry. "No, I didn't see anything clearly."
"Good! I just remembered I have errands to run! See you later!"
Ren watched her dash away, her behavior increasingly bizarre. Still, he had his own problems to solve. While he continued moving crates, his mind was occupied solely with a gift for Licia.
Clothes were a safe bet, but he had already given her an outfit. A ring felt too heavy with implication—almost scandalous. He settled on a hair ornament. Looking out the window at the sky, he saw a flock of White Hawks soaring past.
A Platinum Wing.
He remembered the lore from his past life. These rare, mana-rich feathers glittered like polished silver but were nearly impossible to obtain. If a hawk sensed danger or was killed, the mana would drain instantly, turning the precious material into an ordinary, dull feather.
A few hours later, Ren was slumped over a table at the Adventurer Guild, dejected. He had checked every shop in town; none had what he needed. The sun was already beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of deep madder.
The Werewolf adventurer approached him. "What's the matter, Great Hero? You look like you've lost your best friend."
"I'm looking for a Platinum Wing," Ren admitted.
The Werewolf whistled. "Platinum Wing? You're chasing a myth. You can't get those unless you’re blessed by the gods of luck."
Ren knew a secret method from the game: you had to feed the hawk until it was satisfied and its mana was stable, then knock it out without it ever sensing your presence.
"Well," the Werewolf said, pointing to a map on the wall, "I can at least tell you where they migrate. They pass through the East Forest before noon, near the Great Rift. I’d help you, but the Baron has me delivering winter supplies to the outlying villages. He’s moving fast to prepare for the frost."
"Thank you. This is more than enough."
The next morning, Ren set out before dawn on his horse, Io. He reached the East Forest and found the tall trees laden with the red, grape-like fruits that White Hawks loved. He masked his scent with perfume and used the Wooden Magic Sword to blend into the foliage.
Eventually, a flock arrived. Ren watched intently, checking every bird. Just as he was about to give up, a flash of reflected sunlight blinded him. There it was—a hawk with a tail feather that shimmered like a mirror.
He didn't risk a throw. Instead, he summoned the Thief's Magic Sword. As the bird took flight, Ren leaped from his branch. His arm swung in a blur, and a gust of wind from the magic sword snatched the feather mid-air. He plummeted toward the forest floor, using the Wooden Magic Sword to grow a bed of vines to cushion his fall.
He opened his palm. Amidst a few common feathers lay a single, metallic quill that glowed with a soft, silver light.
"I might have just used up a lifetime of luck," he whispered, his heart racing with triumph.
The following days were a blur of preparation. Ren had the feather processed into a hair ornament and spent his evenings learning etiquette from Yuno. On the night before the party, Licia caught him in the kitchen. She looked exhausted, her mana depleted.
"You're always hiding in here lately," she pouted. "I wanted to be the one to teach you manners!"
"You've been so tired lately, Lady Licia. I didn't want to bother you."
"I recover at night! Besides, I wanted to talk to you." She looked away, her cheeks pink. "It’s still a secret what I've been working on, though."
Ren brewed a pot of tea to show off his progress. Licia took a sip and smiled. "It's delicious. But... maybe a little bitter."
The night of the birthday party arrived. Ren dressed in the formal black-and-grey suit Licia had gifted him. He looked like a proper noble—so much so that Weiss compared his dignity to that of the legendary Hero Ruin.
The Great Hall was a spectacle of flowers and light. Licia entered on the arm of her father, Baron Lezard, looking every bit the princess. After the toasts, the gift-giving began. Weiss presented her with high-quality training equipment, which she received with genuine, unbridled joy.
Finally, it was Ren's turn. The hall fell into a hushed silence as he stepped forward. He presented the white wood box.
Licia opened it and froze. The Platinum Feather Hair Ornament glittered under the chandeliers. Tears welled in her eyes and traced down her cheeks.
"I'm so happy," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I feel like I might die."
"Please don't die," Ren joked weakly, trying to mask his own embarrassment. "I'd have to find a replacement gift."
"No! I'm never giving this back!" She laughed through her tears, looking more like a young girl than a Saintess. "Ren... will you put it in for me?"
Ren carefully pinned the ornament into her silken hair. The room erupted in hushed whispers. Even Lezard was stunned, wondering how a commoner boy had secured a treasure that rarely even reached the Imperial Capital.
As the party wound down, Licia pulled on Ren's sleeve. "Can we talk? Somewhere private?"
She led him to the moonlit terrace. She was carrying the carved box he had seen her hiding days earlier.
"I used too much mana because I was working on this," she confessed, pushing the box toward him. "I couldn't wait until your birthday next year. I wanted to give it to you tonight."
Ren opened the box to find a crystal dagger with gold laurel carvings. The blade was transparent, but a dazzling flash of light pulsed within the core.
"It’s an amulet," she explained, her face bright red. "I spent weeks pouring my mana into it. It’s infused with holy magic to protect you."
Ren was speechless. "It's beautiful. Thank you, Licia."
"I was so worried you'd hate it..."
"I don't. I was just thinking how cool it would look at my side."
Licia giggled, the tension finally breaking. They sat together in the cool night air, the awkwardness of the party replaced by a comfortable warmth.
"I look forward to our future together," Ren said softly.
Licia looked at him, her eyes wide, before they filled with fresh tears—this time, tears of pure joy.
"I've got your word now," she said, wiping her eyes with a radiant smile. "I'm holding you to that, Ren."