I decided to write some happy non-angst stuff. Many thanks to Daidairo for being my beta, as always.

Chapter 1

Everything had been perfect.

It was Sophie's first birthday party, celebrated with friends and family. Everyone had turned up- Richard, Hubert, Pascal, the Captain… even Poisson and President Paradine had appeared. The party had been held out in the garden in front of Lhant manor, with the sopherias in full bloom. Throughout the day, there had been plenty of food and entertainment, with crablettes for everyone. She had been surrounded by friends the entire day- and as dusk fell, she was buoyed by a joy that wouldn't go away.

Still, after all the hectic activity of the day, Sophie was grateful for the comfortable quiet of the night. Now, she sat in Asbel's study with her parents, opening her gifts. The study- normally austere- was piled with all sorts of presents. New clothes from Cheria, board games from Hubert, a strange doll crafted by Pascal- and those were only the ones she'd opened.

"There're so many," Cheria marveled as she placed another doll off to the side.

"Is it too much?" Sophie frowned. It did seem like a lot to put into her small room.

Asbel chuckled. "We'll figure something out," he said, clapping her on the shoulder. "People give you presents because they want to wish you well. It'd be rude to throw them away."

"I see." Sophie smiled. "It's ok even if they didn't give me presents- just seeing everyone was good enough for me."

"That's sweet, Sophie," Cheria said. "But I think sometimes presents convey feelings that the person might not say, you know?"

"So does Asbel get you presents, Cheria?"

Asbel sputtered and blushed, and Cheria ended up hiding her laughter in her hands.

And behind her, there was a soft 'hmph'.

Sophie had forgotten he was there. Peering over her shoulder, her eyes met piercing red ones. Leaning against a bookshelf, half-hidden in the shadows, a small, humanoid boy surveyed her. But despite the slight smile he wore, he looked strange and out of place in her home. Not for the first time, she felt a prickling sensation at the base of her neck.

She always felt uncomfortable when Lambda was around.

Noticing her stare, the smile on her nemesis's face disappeared.

She turned away, ignoring Lambda. He had been living with them for months, ever since Pascal built a humanoid hull for him. And though they were cordial with one another, things between them were still awkward. He must have felt similarly as she did- he hadn't been at the party, after all. They always made a point to avoid each other unless it was absolutely necessary.

Not like that mattered to her parents.

"Come join us, Lambda," Asbel called.

There was a brief hesitation. Then, Lambda's voice, haughty and bold, echoed through the room. "I must decline," he said. "I see no point in my presence here."

Sophie didn't turn to look as he strode past her and out of the room.

She heard her father sigh. Asbel had an apologetic smile on his face. With an awkward chuckle, he said, "Sorry, Sophie. I asked him to help. I thought-"

"No, it's okay." She turned back to her presents, hoping her relief didn't show.

Asbel frowned, but before he could say anything, Cheria's soft gasp interrupted them.

Her mother held a small box in her hand. From where she sat, Sophie could make out her name, printed on the cover. Catching her eye, Cheria turned the box towards her, her face lit up in excitement. "Look at this!"

Inside was a single, elegant brooch. Three purple cryas sopherias lay over one another, lifelike petals resting delicately as if they were real. A thin, vine-like filigree of cryas wove the flowers onto its silver clasp. In the light, the brooch was iridescent, sparkling with a magical allure. Underneath it, there was a single note. The words, "Happy Birthday", were printed in the same handwriting as was on the lid.

"Woah." Asbel gaped.

"It's pretty," Sophie agreed. Gently, she plucked the brooch from the box. In her hand, the cryas felt comfortingly warm. Small, glittering eleth particles danced whimsically under the surface. It looked so lifelike- nothing she had ever seen before.

"Who sent it?" Sophie asked.

"I don't know," Cheria replied. She turned the box in her hand. Apart from her name, there was nothing defining about it. "There's no note."

"That's strange," Asbel muttered. He picked up the box and studied it intensely, but eventually shook his head in defeat.

Sophie turned to her mother. "You said people send gifts to convey their feelings, right, Cheria?"

"Yes, that's right." Cheria smiled knowingly. "Do you feel something, Sophie?"

Sophie bit her lip, then nodded. "I feel… happy," she said at last. Looking up, she added, "I want to find whoever made this. I want to thank them in person."

"Sophie-" Asbel began. "Is that even possible? There could be a million and one other brooches like this. Someone could have bought this in Fendel, for all you know."

"I don't think so," Cheria murmured. "I've never seen sopheria brooches before- they're not common flowers. And it feels kinda… personal."

Sophie nodded. "It does," she whispered. Looking at her parents, she bit her lip. "Whoever made this- I must have met them before. I want to find them. I want them to know that I treasure their feelings."

Asbel sighed. "You'd try even if I told you no, right?" He let out a chuckle. "Well, it's a good thing the guests haven't left town yet. You could probably find whoever sent this tomorrow, if you're lucky."

"Really?" Sophie couldn't keep the smile from her face.

Her father laughed. "Really. But for now-" He glanced at the pile of presents beside him. "What say you we finish tackling the rest of these first?"

Sophie laughed, and set the brooch aside. As it was, the rest of the presents were nowhere as mysterious as the little black box, even if some of them were strange.

Yet it was the little black box that she left open on her nightstand. In the moonlight, the brooch shimmered brightly, a comforting spectacle in the darkness of the night. The sopheria blossoms looked as if they were swaying to a non-existent wind, their presence warding off the shadows as they danced in a soundless lullaby.

As she drifted off to sleep, Sophie vowed she'd find the person who sent her this gift.