Chapter 1: Alfie's Special day
"Wait for me, big brother. I can't keep up if you're going this fast."
Elijah struggled to catch his breath as he chased after Alfie, who raced up the hill with an excitement that seemed impossible to contain.
"I just turned ten today," Alfie called back, grinning from ear to ear. "I can't hold all this energy in. I need to let it out."
He continued running toward the cliff.
"You know Father warned us not to go anywhere near there," Elijah protested, slowing down as exhaustion caught up with him. "He'll be mad if he finds out."
He paused to catch his breath before looking pleadingly at his brother.
"Let's just go home. I'm sure Mum and Marcus are already there."
Alfie glanced back at him, walking backward with a mischievous grin.
"Oh, little Eli. You have no idea what it feels like to finally be ten."
He chuckled at his younger brother's exhausted expression.
"You're still eight, so I won't blame you for not understanding."
"Don't worry, big brother. I'll understand when I'm ten too."
Elijah's curiosity quickly overcame his exhaustion.
"But what does it feel like? Tell me."
Alfie turned his gaze toward the sky, a huge smile spreading across his face.
"It feels like I'm floating in the clouds."
He stretched his arms out to either side, as though he could embrace the entire sky.
"Like I can do anything."
Then he pointed proudly at himself.
"Like I could even join the Shinra Academy."
Elijah sighed.
"You know Father will never let you hunt those evil monsters."
"I know, Eli."
Alfie's smile remained, but there was a hint of determination in his eyes.
"But that's exactly why I said I can do anything now."
He puffed out his chest.
"I'm ten. I can make my own decisions."
Then his expression turned serious.
"And they aren't called evil monsters. They're called Darkside Spirits."
Elijah blinked in surprise.
"How do you know that?"
Alfie turned toward him with a proud grin.
"Never underestimate your big brother's knowledge."
---
Home
After a while, the two boys finally returned home, sweaty and exhausted from their run.
"Don't tell me you took him running again, Alfie."
Their father, Falco, sat near the corner of the house, holding his usual herbal shake.
"You need to stop all that running around before you hurt yourself someday."
He shook his head, then glanced at Alfie with a small grin.
"And for heaven's sake, it's your birthday."
Falco took another sip of his shake.
"We might not be able to give you the best gifts in the world, but we've got something special planned for you."
Alfie's face immediately brightened, but the expression didn't last long. He covered his nose and recoiled.
"Ugh, Dad. You stink of sweat."
Elijah burst out laughing.
Alfie pointed accusingly at his father.
"Don't tell me you've been working all day and skipped your bath again. Even on my birthday."
Falco narrowed his eyes.
"Don't change the subject, boy."
He looked from Alfie to Elijah.
"You two didn't go anywhere near the cliff, did you?"
Alfie straightened immediately.
"No, Dad."
He put on his most innocent smile.
"We didn't."
Falco studied him for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Haha. Don't make that face, like you just drank my shake."
He rose to his feet and ruffled Alfie's hair.
"I'm only looking out for my boys."
---
The front door suddenly creaked open, and Marcus hurried inside with Margaret following close behind.
"Happy birthday, big brother."
Marcus ran straight toward Alfie, who caught him before he could stumble.
"Careful, Marcus. Don't trip."
Alfie laughed as he steadied his younger brother.
Margaret watched them with a warm smile before pulling all three of her sons into a hug.
"My little boy is growing into a man."
Falco scoffed from the corner.
"Haha. He's still just a kid. Stop all that motherly whining, Margaret."
Alfie immediately protested.
"I'm not a kid, Dad."
He crossed his arms proudly.
"I'm slowly becoming a teenager."
Falco laughed.
"You've still got a long way to go before that."
He stretched his arms and looked around at his family.
"All right, let your mother rest. It's time to give our birthday boy the best party we can."
Alfie's eyes lit up at the announcement.
---
The Birthday Party
As evening approached, the sky turned a warm golden-orange, and a gentle breeze drifted through the yard.
A small table and several chairs had been arranged in front of Margaret's garden. Flowers from the garden decorated the table, while drinks, shakes, and plates of barbecue beef covered its surface.
Margaret had prepared everything herself.
Alfie stepped outside with Elijah and Marcus. The moment he saw the table, his eyes widened.
"Oh, Mama. This is beautiful."
He hurried toward the food, his attention immediately drawn to the barbecue beef.
"And it smells amazing."
He rubbed his stomach.
"I'm going to eat so much today."
A familiar voice called out from nearby.
"Hey, big mouth. Stop whining and sit down already before you ruin something."
Alfie turned toward the speaker, his eyes narrowing before a grin spread across his face.
"You better hurry up before I eat all the beef, you rock-head."
Margaret sighed.
"Not today, Alfie."
She looked between the two boys.
"You shouldn't fight over everything."
"But he started it, Mama."
Alfie pointed accusingly at the other boy.
"I'm older than him by a whole month. He should respect his elders."
Margaret shook her head.
"Alfie."
She already knew what he was about to say.
"No fighting. It's your birthday, and everything needs to be perfect."
"Okay, Mama."
Alfie turned back toward the other boy, unable to resist one last provocation.
"I just want to give him a welcome punch."
"Alfie."
Margaret called after him, but he was already charging across the yard.
Falco stepped outside and watched with an amused smile.
"There they go again."
He shook his head as his son rushed toward the other boy.
"Alfie, don't trip over your own feet."
A short distance away stood Alfie's friend, Gusto, wearing a cocky grin.
"You'll never land a punch on me."
"Stand still, Gusto. I'm going to smack you right in the nose."
Before Alfie could reach him, Gusto's father quickly caught him and held him back.
"Hey, no fighting."
Alfie struggled against his grip.
"Let go, Gusto's papa. He needs to learn to respect his elders."
Gusto laughed at him.
His father shook his head, still holding Alfie in place.
"Maybe another time, Alfie. Besides, Gusto is already in the Shinra Academy."
He glanced at the boy.
"You can't fight him anymore."
Alfie froze for a moment.
Then his expression hardened with indignation.
"Shinra Academy, my butt."
He pointed at Gusto, who stood with his arms crossed and a smug smile on his face.
"He's no match for me."
Alfie struggled harder, determined to get free.
"Put me down. I can take him."
Everyone around them burst into laughter.
It was supposed to be Alfie's tenth birthday, yet before the party had even properly begun, he had already tried to start a fight.