A/N: Hey everyone, author here. Sorry for the late update. I just couldn't think of a good way to type this chp. up for the longest time. Anyways, starting next chp the Rising Star Challenge will finally begin! Get ready for some action as Azrael and Co. take on the most talented students from the continent. Also I'd like to throw a shout out to Wraith for PRing this chp!

Last thing: While I agonized over how to write this chp, I finally lost to my inner urges and started a fic that I had began to plan for about a month ago. This time I chose to write a Sci-Fi story called The Templar's Return. It will be a story that is loosely based on the starcraft story line. If you are a fan of Sci-Fi or played starcraft, give it a try. The link to the fic is below.

http://www.royalroadl.com/fiction/1833

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“”Brother!’”

“Aurora, Azer! Hahaha what are you two doing here?!”

Azrael smiled at the sight of his young siblings. As they approached, he extended his arms outward and caught the two in a large embrace. At the sight of the twins, his eyes softened as he looked at them lovingly.

“Hahaha alright you two, that’s enough. Let your brother up so we can go inside and start the party.”

Azela laughed as she approached the restaurant's entrance and saw the three together. It had been a while since she saw all of her children together. The sight of them laughing together brought up a warm feeling throughout her body.

“Mom! Dad! When did you all get here?!”

At the sight of his family, Azrael felt overjoyed and shocked at the same time. The letter had only arrived that day, after all. How could he have guessed that he would see his family?

With the assistance of Winston, Azrael stood up and walked into the restaurant along with everyone else. As he went in, the sight caused him to widen his eyes.

Inside the restaurant was a long table that sat eight on the left and a set of tables on the right. On the set of tables to the right, there was an assortment of vegetables mixed with some white sauce, a stuffed duck, some kind of beef that was glazed with orange sauce and a large pot of steaming soup. Lastly, there was some type of large roasted avian bird and also a large boar with a fruit in its mouth.

On the roof and walls were numerous strings of various colors and right below the crystal chandelier on the roof was a large banner spread from wall to wall. On it, was a message that said “HAPPY BIRTHDAY AZRAEL!”

When he felt a tap on his shoulder, Azrael turned around. Behind him were Winston, Zer, Byul, the twins and his parents. The sight of them as they laughed and smiled brought a large grin to his own face.

“Don’t just stand there Az, we’re all starving! Let’s go eat.”

At Winston’s insistence, Azrael laughed as he went toward his right. Once everyone picked up servings of the food, they went to the long table. After everyone sat down, Azrael looked at his parents and asked the question that had been nagging him.

“How’d you guys get here anyways? Shouldn’t you be busy with instructing, dad?”

When they heard Azrael’s question, both his parents looked toward Winston before Byrael answered.

“Your friend Winston here sent us a letter a couple of months ago saying that he wanted to set up a birthday party for you and was wondering if we could show up to it. Since we were only three days away, I told Count Lemmenier about you and asked to take time off to see you. He was quite interested in you. When you come home after the Rising Stars Tournament he wants to meet you.”

“You always seemed so happy when you talked about your family Az. I thought you’d like it to spend it with them also so I sent a letter to your parents to see if they could. Who would have thought they were so close haha.”

“Winst!!!”

“Oi! Az get off me!”

“I could just about kiss you right now.”

“OI! HAN BYUL GET HIM OFF ME RIGHT NOW!”

Everyone in the room laughed at the comedic scene that the two of them were making. Azrael laughed as Winston extended his arms outwards and pushed Azrael’s face away. He truly did feel grateful in his heart to his best friend who thought so much about him. With warm eyes, he looked toward everyone at the table.

“Thanks everyone. I really am a lucky guy to have such a loving family and great friends. I really am at a loss for words…”

A hand came to rest on his shoulder. When he turned around, he saw Han Byul with a bright smile on her face. As he brought his hand up and grabbed her hand, a cough came from across the table.

“*cough* So son, why don’t you introduce your friends to us? We know a little about Winston from the exchange of mails, but we’ve never formally met.”

Now that his mom mentioned it, Azrael noticed his blunder. Winston, Zer, and Han Byul chuckled as they saw him scratch his chin with an embarrassed look. After he glared at them for a second, Azrael began the introductions.

“So as you two already know mom and dad, the one on my left is Winston. He’s also my roommate.”

“It is a pleasure to be finally able to see you sir and ma’am. My name is Winston Wozeal from the Sunder Kingdom.”

After his introduction, Winston bowed and then took his seat. Byrael and Azela smiled and nodded their head in acknowledgement. Before Azrael could introduce im, Zer stood up and began to introduce himself.

“How are you doing Mister and Misses Celeste. I am one of your son’s best friends, Zer Aiur from the Rhostaz Kingdom.”

As Zer bowed to them, Byrael showed a confused expression.

“Maybe I’m mistaken but if you’re from the Aiur clan in the Rhostaz Kingdom…”

“I am the son of Prime Minister Renston Aiur.”

Both Byrael’s and Azela’s eyes opened wide in surprise at the news. Even though they knew that Winston’s family was very prominent throughout the continent and held an important position within the Sunder Kingdom, they still couldn’t be considered high noble like the Aiur clan.

As they were about to get up, Zer noticed and waved frantically to stop them.

“Mister and Misses Celeste, please don’t force yourselves. You are the parents of one of my best friends. There is no need. Please stay seated.”

After hanging out for so long together, Azrael had forgotten that Zer was a high noble. While he thought about it, he suddenly remembered Han Byul’s status. As he turned to her, he saw a mischievous smile on her face.

’She…she couldn’t be thinking of doing that right…?’

Once Zer sat down, Han Byul stood up and with a bright smile laid down a bomb.

“How are you doing Mister and Misses Celeste. I am Han Byul from the Rhostaz Kingdom and Azrael’s girlfriend, please treat me well.”

With that, Han Byul bowed toward the stunned Byrael and Azela. Azrael, on the other hand, paled at the bomb that was just released. As he stared at Han Byul in disbelief, a sudden chill ran down his spine. Slowly Azrael turned toward the source. At the sight that greeted him, large beads of sweat began to form on his forehead.

Azela’s face twitched as she smiled. He could have sworn that behind his mom there was a female ghost that wore a hannya mask and held a kitchen knife in her hand. When he saw her look at him, all his instincts screamed at him to flee.

“Ho ho ho….Azrael my dear son… Would you care to explain this situation to mother?”

’Master… why is it that every woman beside you is so scary….’

‘Chunyong, Bonghwang, Samjokko… It was a pleasure knowing you three…’

‘’’We wish Master a safe trip to the Netherworld!’’’

‘….Wait a second, even you too Samjokko?!’

As the three elementals prayed for their Master’s safe journey (?), the unlikely hero Byrael stepped in.

“Um… did you just say your name was Han Byul and you were from the Rhostaz Kingdom?”

“Yes I did Mister Celeste.”

“…If I’m not mistaken, the second princess of the Rhostaz Kingdom was also named Han Byul…”

“That’s me sir.”

“”EH?!””

Both Byrael and Azela let out a sound of surprise. Azela once joked to her son that even a princess wouldn’t be able to escape her inspection but who would have thought he really would date one? Before the two of them could regain their composure, Han Byul began calming them down.

“Please Mister and Misses Celeste, there’s no need for formalities. It’d be much more comfortable for me if you would just act normal.”

Even though they were hesitant at first, both Azela and Byrael relented when they saw Han Byul’s smile. At first, the atmosphere was a little awkward as everyone continued to eat and talk. It didn’t last long though as both Azer and Aurora began to quarrel about whose elemental Azrael would like better shortly after they finished their meal.

“Brother will definitely like Wangso better! He looks so cool and majestic!”

“Hmph, as if brother would like that fat cow of yours. Dooroomi, on the other hand, is much more pretty and elegant looking!”

The scene of the twins as they argued was very cute. While Azrael laughed, he got out of his chair and patted the two in the shoulders.

“Haha alright you two. Enough arguing. Why don’t you both bring out your elementals in ethereal form so that brother can see hm?”

Azer and Aurora nodded their heads. After a few breaths, two smoky substance appeared on the ground. One of them was silver to represent the element steel while the other was white which symbolized light. in just a few moments, the smoky substance solidified into a bull and crane.

Just as his mother wrote, Wangso was an imposing figure to look at with his thick muscles and glistening bronze body armor. He looked as though he was filled with energy and ready to charge through the enemy lines at any moment. Dooroomi was a very beautiful bird to look upon. She exuded elegance and brought to mind an image of a full moon in the dark night sky.

“Waaah! The crane is so pretty Azrael!”

At the appearance of Dooroomi, Han Byul immediately rushed forward and gazed at her with large eyes. Azrael could have sworn he could see her eyes sparkle at the sight. He inwardly chuckled as she looked like a little girl who just saw something really pretty.

“Brother! Whose elemental is cooler? Mine or Aurora’s?”

“Stupid Azer! Of course brother is going to say Dooroomi! Whoever thinks Wangso was cooler is obviously blind!”

“What’d you say?!”

As Aurora and Azer began to argue once more, Azrael kneeled in front of the two and looked at them with loving eyes.

“I think both Wangso and Dooroomi look very cool. Brother announces that this match is a tie!”

“Eh? Again brother?!”

“You always say everything is a tie between us!”

The whole group burst into laughter at the sight of the twin’s shocked faces which turned into pouts. As he stood up, Azrael wrapped his arms around both of them and picked them up as he laughed. At the sudden movement, the two let out a voice of surprise.

For the rest of the evening, the group talked as Azrael played with his siblings. Today really was a very pleasant surprise for him. As he looked toward everyone in the room, he secretly wished that the day would never end. Alas, like it always does at times like that, time seemed to instead quicken and the sun began to set shortly after.

As everyone stood at the entrance and prepared to leave, Azela pulled her son aside. After she hugged him for a long time, she finally pulled herself away and removed a small object from her pocket. It was a necklace.

“My dear lovely child, once again happy thirteenth birthday! You do not know how blessed your father and I feel to have such an amazing child like you. For your gift this year, the two of us gathered our money and decided to buy you this necklace.”

Azela handed the necklace to him. As Azrael brought the necklace in front of his face, he saw that the pendant was shaped like a large tear and made out of a green glass-like material. A message was written in small letters around the perimeter.

No matter how lost you feel, no matter how hopeless a situation seems, always know that you have a home to return to and a family that loves you

Azrael’s eyes began to water as he read the message. With such a loving family, how could he ever feel hopeless or lost?!

“Thank you mom! Thank you dad!”

With that, Azrael rushed forward and hugged his mom and dad who had just arrived behind her. At the sight of their parents and brother hugging, the twins rushed over and joined in. With a laugh, they let the two in and hugged as a family. Winston, Zer, and Han Byul watched the family with a smile and warm feelings in their chests.

On the continent of Xiosu, it was custom for only family members to give gifts on birthdays. The only exception for this was the coming of age birthday at eighteen years old. Those parties tended to be a large festival and friends would also gift the person for good luck to their future endeavours.

After Azrael saw his family to their hotel, he rode the carriage with his best friends and headed back to the academy. Even though he wished for nothing more than to stay with his family, there were many things left to do in preparation for their departure to the Felsia Kingdom the day after tomorrow. Azrael could still picture the look of worry on his mom’s face as she told him to be careful at the tournament. All his father said was to do his best with a slap on his shoulder.

When they reached the dormitories, Azrael and Han Byul split up from Zer and Winston as the two boys went to their beds. The couple walked silently to Han Byul’s residence with their fingers interlocked. There was no need for words between them, their feelings were transmitted through their hands.

In front of the door to Han Byul’s estate, the two faced each other and stared into each other’s eyes.

“Thank you for everything today. It was an amazing birthday.”

“There’s no need for words of thanks between us, you know? Anyways it was Winston’s idea to invite your family. I only reserved the restaurant and the food.”

“Still, you guys didn’t need to go that far. I really did luck out with becoming best friends with you three.”

“*ahem* Best friends?”

“Haha fine. Two best friends and the most amazing girlfriend. Happy?”

“ Hehe you get a passing mark, Mister Celeste.”

“Alright well you should go in, it’s late out. Good night.”

At that moment, he raised both his arms and placed them on the side of Han Byul’s head. He then closed his eyes and leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead. When he brought his arms up, she knew what was to come and closed her eyes. As she felt his lips depart her skin, she opened her eyes to see Azrael smile at her.

“I know that i’m not supposed to give you a birthday present but screw it.”

Han Byul wrapped her arms around Azrael’s neck as she pulled herself forward and kissed him on his lips.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

At the same time, within a Keep in the Rhostaz Kingdom there were eight hooded figures who kneeled behind a man. Without even a glance backward, he gave the hooded figures their mission.

“Go to Felsia Kingdom and await Princess Han Byul’s arrival. She should arrive in three weeks. Follow her as if you were her shadow. Be vigilant though, we don’t know who took care of Kel at the academy and the King most certainly has sent guards to protect his daughter. Look for opportunities when she is alone.

When you get the chance…. kill her.”[/i]