Seventeen

Selene laid staring at her ceiling, counting the silver stars painted against the dark blue of it. She’d already been laying there for the better part of an hour, not ready to face the day. 

Birthdays were rather dismal affairs since her twelfth. Her mother would wish her a happy birthday with about as much warmth as their usual conversation. Their maid and their chef would wish her the same, somehow with more affection, even though she couldn’t consider herself close to either. Her tutor would send her a card and give her a day off from her studies. She’d have cake after dinner. Other than that, she would spend her day holed up in her room, reading or writing or studying some fascinating new bit of history or prose she had recently learned about as she waited for someone to knock on her door and announce that her father, who unfortunately could not make the occasion, had sent her a gift. 

It was the highlight, yet somehow the biggest disappointment of the day. While he always sent a heartfelt letter and something thoughtful, it reminded her painfully of his absence. She had no way to reach him herself, not without knowing where across the country he could be, so she wasn’t ever able to write him back.

She often wondered if he missed her just as much as she missed him. She wasn’t sure that they could leave herself if it were her. She still wasn’t sure about kids, but they certainly could never have had any if they had developed their father’s powers. She’d learned how cruel that is. 

After counting every star twice and identifying as many constellations as she could, Selene decided she had “slept in” long enough. She pulled back the covers and pushed herself out of bed and onto the soft rug on her floor. She took her time picking out a sweater and brushing her hair, and when she was satisfied with grooming herself for the day, she put on her locket, the one her father had given her for her eleventh birthday, one of the last he had been there in person for.

She walked down the stairs and it was just as quiet as usual. She saw their maid, a sturdy middle-aged woman, dusting the portraits in the hall.

“Good morning, Miss Eloise,” Selene greeted her as she walked around the banister. 

Eloise greeted her with a smile. “Good morning, Miss Kizuki. Happy birthday.”

“Thank you.” Selene forced a small smile in return. “My mom’s not in here, you can just call me Selene.”

Eloise’s brows furrowed, but her smile remained as she nodded her head towards the first door on her left. “Mrs. Kizuki is in the parlor, ma’am.”

Selene suppressed a grimace and merely hoped her mother didn’t overhear their conversation. 

Eloise didn’t seem bothered, quite the opposite actually. “She’s waiting for you. She has a surprise.” 

“A surprise?” Selene tilted her head and suddenly lit up at an idea. “Did my father’s package arrive early?”

“Oh, I have already said too much, ma’am,” Eloise chuckled as she turned back to her work. “Don’t keep your mother waiting.” 

Selene nodded and turned to the parlor door. It creaked slightly as it opened, and she could see her mother sitting on the couch, her thin smile illuminated by the light of the fireplace.

“Good morning, mother.”

“Good morning, Selene.”

“Happy birthday!” Selene was startled as she felt two arms wrap around her from behind, but she grinned as she recognized the voice.

He spun her around before setting her back on her feet, and she quickly launched herself at him to return the hug.

“Dad!” Their arms held him as tight as they could as his hands ruffled her hair. “When did you get here?”

“Early this morning. My last adventure brought me right outside the city, and with perfect timing.” 

“I’m so happy you’re here!” It took everything in her to pull away and look at him. He had a new scar running down his face and a few more wrinkles around his eyes when he smiled. She swallowed hard, trying not to let herself get too emotional, but she wondered if he noticed how much she had changed as well. The last time he had been home, she was merely fifteen. Was she still a little girl or did he notice she was becoming a woman? 

“Aw, come on now, no tears.” She had hardly even noticed her eyes were watering until he was wiping them for her. “This is a happy occasion.”

“No, you’re right. They’re happy tears, I promise!” She hugged him again. “Are you staying long?”

“At least a few months, honey.” Issei pressed a kiss to their forehead. “Your mother and I will be discussing the details later, but we’ll have plenty of time together, I promise.”

At the mention of herself, Lana cleared her throat, catching her husband’s attention. He turned to her with a smile and walked over, giving her a kiss.

“Yes, you too, my dear.”

“Happy birthday, Selene.” Lana turned her attention to her daughter. The smile on her lips looked painful.

“Thank you, mother.”

“Were you speaking with Eloise in the hall?”

“Yes, she was wishing me a happy birthday.”

Lana opened her mouth to speak further, but shut it as Issei squeezed her shoulder. 

“I almost forgot! I have a gift for you!” Issei dipped behind the couch coming back up with a wrapped box. He nodded his head toward a nearby armchair. “Well, sit down. Don’t look so uncomfortable in your own home.”

Selene did as she was told and her father placed the box in her lap. The paper was messily folded and tied with an uneven bow, but she could not have cared less. She still unwrapped it carefully as he watched over her shoulder and she looked curiously down at the contents.

Inside the box was a collector’s edition of her favorite novel, Twilight Odyssey.

Her grin widened as she turned it over in her hands. “Aw, thanks dad.”

“Open it.”

She tilted her head, but followed his instruction, turning to that first empty page. A folded piece of parchment fell to the floor as she glanced over the book, noticing the signature in the bottom corner. “It’s signed!”

“And?” Issei leaned over, picking up the fallen parchment and placing it in Selene’s hand.

She put the book to the side and opened the letter. Her eyes grew large as she shot out of her seat. “Oh my gods!” She couldn’t help but stomp her feet in excitement as she hyperventilated. “Oh my gods! Kali Windmoon wrote me?”

She felt her father’s arms wrap around her once more as she squealed, joining in her excitement, so she thought.

“Selene!” He laughed as he spun her. “Selene! Sweetheart! You’re doing magic!”

“What?” She looked away from the letter and up in the air. Little blue-tinged motes of light floated above her head, disappearing just as quickly as her laughter. 

She glanced at her mother, who was staring wide-eyed at the display.

Her father finally put her down, just as giddy as she had been merely moments ago. “The gods have blessed our family once more! I’ve been praying for this moment for years!”

Selene’s heart sunk in her chest. He’d really been that disappointed. 

He didn’t seem to notice her silence, or perhaps he just mistook it for shock. “Oh, there’s so much for me to teach you!”

Lana, finally recovering, added, “I suppose this puts adventuring back on the table.”

“Ah- Adventuring?” Selene stuttered.

“Don’t put too much on the dear girl at once, darling. We’ll get there in due time,” Issei said. “For now, we’ve much to celebrate. Lana, dear, would you please tell Eloise and Percival to take the rest of the day to themselves. We’ll be going out for the evening.”

Lana nodded. “Whatever you say, dear.” 

Selene watched her mother leave the room, and every word her father spoke became background noise as her world shattered around her. Just like that, her future was set. No lofty artistic dreams, no book deals, no quiet hours spent writing at her desk. Everything she had hoped for since her twelfth birthday, since her family’s biggest disappointment, had disappeared. Her path was set out for her. 

How would the gods guide her though this one?