Oasis, a few minutes earlier.
“Yesterday was Priam’s birthday,” Jasmine announced.
“WHAT?!”
“MOOOOOO!”
The simultaneous exclamations of Sphinx and Moonie echoed in reply. While the first was clearly shocked, the second was simply mimicking the reaction, likely without understanding the concept of a birthday.
“I don’t have much ti,” Jasmine continued. “We’re leaving for Proxima in a few minutes. I’d like your help to plan a party for when we get back.”
“Of course!”
“Mooo?”
“It’s what we do for birthdays,” Sphinx explained. “We celebrate with food, drinks, gas, and feasts!”
“Mooo!” the little wyrm exclaid, chasing after her own tail to express her excitent. Like Sphinx and her master, she was very invested in matters of the stomach.
“Out of four items, two involve eating,” Jasmine pointed out.
“It’s the most important part.”
“Wise words,” the young woman acknowledged. “But you’re forgetting sothing…”
Sphinx tilted her head in thought before her eyes lit up. “Oh, right! Do you have it?”
“Not yet…”
“Mooo!”
The little wyrm headbutted Sphinx lightly, expressing her frustration at being left out of the loop.
With an air of mystical authority befitting her species, Sphinx spoke. “You hide it from people even though you know soday you’ll give it away forever. You won’t be sad when it's gone, even though you went out of your way to make it perfect... A gift!”
Jasmine nodded. “Unfortunately, I don’t have ti to handle this myself, and Rose and Alain are busy with their Tribulations. Of everyone left, Blueberry is the only one close enough to Priam to contribute, but he’s already handling the food. That leaves only you two for this mission... if you accept.”
“We accept!” Sphinx cried, her eyes shining.
“Mooo!”
A few seconds later, Jasmine reentered Priam’s shadow, leaving Moonie and Sphinx alone.
“We need an amazing gift,” Sphinx decided, and Moonie squealed her agreent. “But what’s the best gift?” The child frowned, recognizing a riddle to which she didn’t yet have an answer.
The two children brainstord for hours—or rather, Sphinx thought aloud while Moonie chirped and chid in enthusiastically. The session ended when Louis approached, holding two fish.
“Freshly caught,” he grinned, tossing his two catches. The wyrm and the sphinx pounced, devouring scales, bones, and all in a flurry of gluttony. The aquatic prey lacked the nutrients of corrupted beasts but tasted far better—especially once gutted.
“You two scheming sothing? It’s been two hours since you’ve caused any trouble,” Louis teased, his tone light.
“What’s that supposed to an, old man?” Sphinx narrowed her eyes.
“Oh, don’t give that look. I know that behind that cute exterior lies a little feline mischief. I’ve had cats, you know?” Seeing Sphinx bristle at the comparison, he quickly changed the subject. “So, what are you up to?”
“Moooooooooooooooooo.”
“...”
“We’re looking for a gift for Priam’s birthday,” Sphinx translated. “But we can’t think of anything good... Do you think he likes fish?”
“rmaids, maybe—I’ve seen the way he looks at that princess,” Louis chuckled.
“Oh! Can you catch those?”
“I’m a bit too old,” laughed Louis. “How about drawing him sothing? That’s what kids usually do.”
Sphinx flexed her claws, and Moonie flicked her tail. Art was not their forte.
“Yeah, that complicates things,” Louis admitted. “Besides, most drawings are ugly. Parents say it’s pretty to be nice, but if an adult made the sa thing, we’d lock them up in an asylum.” He scratched his beard thoughtfully. “You could always put on a performance.”
“...I think I’d prefer sothing material,” Sphinx mused. “What do people usually give n?”
Louis shrugged. “Shirts or pants? But given Priam’s exhibitionist tendencies, we can scratch that. Perfus or watches might work, but without a mall nearby, good luck. Actually, let’s generalize that.” The old man gestured to the forest around them. “Here, aside from dragon hearts, I’m not sure you’ll find the perfect gift.”
Sphinx’s eyes lit up with a mix of mischief and excitent. “Moonie, follow !”
“Mooo?”
“To find a gift, no ti like the present! With your bloodline and my karmic powers, we’ll pull this off!”
As the two bounded off, Louis felt a sinking feeling in his gut. Still, he made no move to stop them. When kids were set on getting into trouble, they would find a way eventually.
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