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“Haha, of course, they couldn’t be more obvious.” The words quietly whispered underneath his breath, as he gave the blonde angel a smile that acted as a wall that hid his own thoughts.
His hand rested on his chin, the glint in his eyes hidden by the snow white strands of hair. Luke looked down into the bag that Solomon carried as the two of them walked together. The bird feed from the store Solomon frequented was there in surplus, so what he was carrying was more than he normally would for his little friends. The two of them matched their steps as they walked. When they reached the towering shadow of Purgatory Hall, Solomon noticed how the short angel’s light blue eyes darted to and fro as if looking for a way out. The human sorcerer knew very well that his angelic companion was not the best at showcasing lies, despite his best attempts at it. Thus, the supposed run-in the two of them had earlier felt pre-ordained, and knowingly stepping into the trap, he told Luke that he already knew where he was headed. The other could only smile, his exasperation hiding behind his nod and silent chuckle.
“It’s a shame that you couldn’t find what you were looking for, Luke. Are you sure that you can head back without those chocolates that Michael wanted? And can you truly work on it on your own? The kitchen can be quite dark and eerie when you are alone, after all.”
“W-What are you saying, Solomon? I can manage even if I’m alone!”
“Are you sure? Hmm, perhaps I can try to make them instead on your behalf? I found this really good recipe that Michael might like. Hmm? You do agree he’ll like it, yes? Simeon surely will agree to it too, he seemed quite taken to my cooking in the recent centuries.” The palpable panic on Luke’s expression after his suggestion caused Solomon to laugh. His shoulder moved as light as his laughter, making his strands bounce along rhythmically to his movement. He had fun teasing Luke whenever he got the chance to. Oftentimes doing so with Simeon joining in, or stopping him if he went too far. Solomon crossed his arms in front of him, his eyes holding on to their mischief as he pressed on with his questions.
“Speaking of Simeon, I had noticed he was acting quite strange the last few days. Even if I didn’t leave my room much because of my magic studies, the few times I did run into him he didn’t seem fully himself. It was also a bit strange when he brought up the garden I showed Asmo and Beel last time.” Solomon sighed, closing his eyes, his smile turning into a small frown, keeping up the act of not knowing for the sake of his friends. “I hope he’s not overdoing it with his writing again.”
As Luke did his best to divert the topic back to his birds that he kept in his garden, the pair arrived at the doors of Purgatory Hall. “Well, you don’t need to do it soon, now, do you? Would you like to come with me then to feed my little friends in the meantime? I’m sure they’d like to meet you too. You weren’t around the last time I let the others come and visit them. Come with me.” Solomon walked ahead pausing for a moment he motioned for Luke to come along with him, knowingly ignoring the panicked tapping of Luke’s fingers on the D.D.D.
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As Solomon entered the garden space that he had created, a flock of small birds varying in colors from blue to ash grey shades fluttered their wings before resting on the outstretched slender finger he presented to them. Their small beady eyes twinkled under the moonlight with curiosity at the sorcerer who fed them the bird feed he had just purchased. A small smile played on his lips, with a serene expression as his deep grey blue eyes looked on at the small birds with fondness. He was dressed for the occasion, ready to tend his garden and his birds resting his coat full of stars and black shirt nearby, gloves on his hand. A small bird fluttered over to where Luke was standing after the angel had hummed a quiet tune taking his hat and flying off with it. A chuckle escaped the sorcerer's lips as he quietly followed the way that Luke had gone, screaming for his hat. “Off he goes, haha.”
As he wandered into the garden, the memory of the time that special someone had entered it with him the last time came to his thoughts. The way they smiled at him when he showed them the space and spoke of wishing to stay there forever; it was as if the light had shimmered more brightly in that very moment when they confirmed that they shared the same wish. Seeing as it was dark further in, he could hardly see the farther part of the garden, but a small orb of light began floating in a spiral forward. The soft glow floated midair and invited him to go deeper into the parts of the garden hardly visited by the silvery moonlight due to the taller flowering trees that surrounded them.
A few steps into the clearing proved his suspicions half-correct. There was a table acting as a well-lit centerpiece visible due to the generous amount of light emitted by the candles, yet everything else that surrounded them was still shrouded by the darkness. A table full of what he could only guess as Simeon’s famous BLT sandwiches, pancakes, cookies, and Luke’s cloud cake welcomed him and sent longing invitations to his nostrils with their scrumptious smells.
The thought of celebrating another year to add to the years upon years that he has lived seemed insignificant to the point where he had already stopped counting, He has lived more than enough lifetimes to start losing the zest of life. Had it not been for his continuous thirst for knowledge and power to be able to find solutions in helping those he cared for, he might have been a lost cause; far from being the Wise King that he had always been known for. He would be a pitiful sight, far from being aware or ready to meet them at his best. He took a deep breath and was about to continue pondering on such thoughts when a set of energetic voices rang in his ears.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!” Everyone gathered around him cheerfully giving off their birthday greetings. Luke along with Simeon and Asmodeus gazed at him with excitement painted on their faces. The poppers went off raining down confetti and streamers on the four of them, the birds that lived in the garden chirped in unison to the cheerful sounds of celebration. Solomon smiled at the sight, his lashes the same color as snow closing over his eyes that turned to crescent moons. “Hm, so I was right, you were acting strange because you were arranging these for my birthday. It appears that the preparations have gone well. But isn’t it too soon?”
“Well you know we wanted to have you to ourselves for a little while Solomon, before everyone did their own thing for you.” Asmo’s cheerful voice made its way into his ears, the subtle hint of teasing lingering. His fingers brushed against his ear as he placed a hat on his head smiling brightly while meeting his gaze.
“We know that you are most likely going to spend the rest of today with someone else, right? So we thought we could arrange this just for the moment. It was nice that Asmo invited us.” Solomon could only react with an exasperated smile at Simeon’s words, his mind going back to the promise of spending forever together given under the Devildom moon looking down on them at the very place he stood, with the same gentle songs whistled by the birds that he adored caring for.
“That is the plan, yes. There is a lot that we had promised to do together.” He took a seat at the table that had been set up engaging in conversation with the three of them over the day. When asked about his plans for the day he kept a coy smile on his face, eloquently dodging the need to answer them with questions asking them instead of what they planned to do. Luke and Asmo happily fed offered to him servings of the treats that were arranged for him, and he wholeheartedly tried each one. His eyes closed in delight at the dancing flavors of sweet and savory. The cream puffs and the other treats were brought in, as well as a colorful cloud cake that seemed to have been sliced off the heavens during the daytime and where a wondrous array of rainbows danced. Before he blew the candles and made his wish, letters were handed over to him and he thoughtfully read their content.
“Make a wish, Solomon~ Don’t forget to wish for me and my endless beauty too~”
“That’s not how that works, Asmo!”
“Hahaha, settle down you two, let’s not be rowdy now and let Solomon make his wish.”
“You’re no fun, Simeon~!”
“Hahaha.” Solomon chuckled to himself, seeing that there were people who were happy to acknowledge his birth and their friendship put a smile not only on his lips but also in his aged heart. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, wishing the only wish that mattered to him. For their promise together to be fulfilled; for him to find true happiness with them, so he would find himself revitalized and ready to continue on regardless of what life brings him. He quickly opened his eyes and blew on the candles with flames that danced in the soft winds. As soon as they went out, darkness befell all of them.
“Woooow!” Luke and Asmo exclaimed, but Solomon’s focus was not on the angel nor the demon. It was captivated by each flower that bloomed from one part until all that surrounded them were brimming with light. Their petals were surrounded by a gentle glow that further pulled him into a world filled with happiness and hope, especially when they were unexpectedly alluring to his eyes that had always been taken by beauty. Soon after, it seemed as if each bloom in the garden that surrounded him were stars forming a constellation around the vast deep mystery that shrouded his being. Eyes as deep as the dark sky of the Devildom eyed the flowers and the sight that awaited him again before closing with a knowing mischievous expression, but what he saw pierced beyond the gentle lights.
“Ah, how beautiful.” He was imagining a different kind of beauty, and a different kind of light. With every flower blossoming as they bathed in the gentle sparkles amidst the night, he began to be filled with a different kind of joy and anticipation of what else was to come. He may have lost count of the numbers that determine his stay in the realm of the living, but he now knew that he would count the years from hereon as they were the years he felt the happiest—it was the times he had realized happiness from being with the people who care for him, and for the one he cares for the most. He put on the brightest smile he could muster, “Thank you, everyone… I’m truly glad and touched by your gifts.”
End
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