BAB3 -Chapter 5

# Chapter 5: The Gifts

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The shark maid staff aggressively cleared the table, flashing sharp teeth and predatory grins the entire time.

“I’m first,” Lexi said, sliding a small silvery box in front of Xay.

She loved his birthdays—mostly because they were the only times he’d accept a gift from her without protest.

She gave him a nose ring last year that acted as dimensional storage, and this year, she was upgrading it.

Grinning, Xay flipped the lid on the hard-shell box—and immediately burst out laughing.

“What is it?!” Tyra asked impatiently, trying to peek.

Xay held up the top half of a diamond-studded grill.

It had six gleaming teeth with overlapping dragon-like fangs for canines. The bottom half held six more, the canines were slightly shorter but just as fierce.

He slipped them both onto his teeth, and a spark of mana clicked them snugly into place.

“They’re pure palladium with crushed Auric Diamonds,” Lexi explained happily. “They’ll expand your dimensional storage—and hold a little extra mana in case you’re ever in a pinch.”

Xay flashed an absolutely blinding grin. “I love them,” he said, leaning over to kiss Lexi.

“How do I look?” he asked, chomping the air and dazzling the entire table.

“Sexy,” Kimi murmured.

“So cool,” Tyra swooned.

Rox laughed, but everyone at the table was clearly a fan—and Peanut looked just a little jealous.

Xay gave Lexi another kiss just as Kimi stood and walked around the table. She placed a uniquely shaped gift box in front of him.

Wrapped in matte black paper with a shiny black bow, the box was spherical with a flat bottom to keep it from rolling.

“I’m already liking it,” Xay said, smiling as he pulled the ribbon loose.

Beneath the wrapping was a velvet-lined box that was soft to the touch.

Glancing up at a softly smiling Kimi, Xay lifted the surprisingly weighty lid. Inside, resting on a plush silk pillow, were two flawlessly dark orbs.

Each one was about two and a half inches in diameter, perfectly smooth, and gleaming like finely polished obsidian.

Xay’s grin widened. “You replaced my orbs!” he cheered, lifting them both with *Psychokinesis*.

They were much heavier than his original set—about twenty-five pounds each.

“Yes,” Kimi said, her voice warm. “A reward for acceptance by the Divine Flame is a weapon forged in that very flame.”

Xay had completed every one of the Vermilion family’s trials—and Dragon had technically eaten the Divine Flame itself. That still counted though, somehow.

Kimi gave Xay a meaningful look. “These were forged in Divine Flame from a rare and powerful ore, gifted by Auntie Leah. It’s called Jetnir.”

As she spoke, Xay activated *Orbital Array* for the first time. The small strain of holding the orbs vanished instantly as they drifted into a slow, graceful spiral around him.

***Orbital Array (Caster Sphere)** - Express intent, instinct, and emotion with a dynamically orbiting array through psychic force.*

Xay could still control them like normal, but with the technique, it was as if the orbs were a direct extension of his mind.

“She discovered it in a high-ranked dungeon out in the Wilds,” Kimi continued, her crimson eyes gleaming.

“It’s incredibly dense, nearly indestructible, and an exceptional elemental conductor,” Kimi said excitedly. “But when you channel mana through it—something very special happens.”

With a flicker of intent, Xay brought both orbs hovering in front of him. He tapped a finger to one and channeled a trickle of mana into it.

Instantly, two exact copies of the orb spilled out of the original and hit the floor with a heavy clunk.

Xay gasped and jerked his hand back, sitting up straighter in his seat.

As soon as he stopped channeling mana, the duplicates flickered—and vanished into thin air.

“Woah,” Tyra breathed, leaning forward on the edge of her seat.

Even Dragon had jumped down to investigate where the extra orbs had gone.

Kimi giggled. “When pure mana is channeled in, the metal perfectly replicates itself—retaining the same weight, density, and durability. Once the mana stops, the replications vanish.”

She smiled softly. “Happy Birthday.”

Xay chuckled. Then laughed. Then laughed louder, nearly falling out of his chair.

Kimi glanced nervously at Lexi for reassurance.

“He likes it,” Lexi mouthed with a grin.

“This is fucking awesome!” Xay shouted, springing up to hug and kiss Kimi.

He would’ve been thrilled just to have the two. Now? He didn’t even know how many he could have. He’d have to train just to find the limit.

“Jetnir,” Xay said, savoring the name on his lips. “Thank you, Kimi.. for my Jetnir Orbs.”

As he spoke, the two orbs spun joyfully around him, dipping and swooping in wide, dramatic spirals perfectly expressing his excitement.

They even reflected his dazzling Auric Diamond grin right back at him.

It was a little unfortunate Lexi had paid for it before they could get more from the dungeon—but he knew she wouldn’t regret it.

That was just who she was.

So Xay didn’t let the thought linger.

Once he and Kimi sat back down, Tyra stepped forward, moving almost shyly.

“It’s kind of hard to go after that,” she giggled nervously, brushing a teal lock of hair behind her ear.

Xay chuckled, his voice gentle. “You didn’t have to get me anything, Tyra. I’ll love it, no matter what it is—because it’s from you.”

A beautiful smile bloomed on Tyra’s face as she gently placed an opaque glass cylinder with a domed top in front of him.

“Chad helped me with the display case,” she said softly, sending a command that shifted the glass completely transparent.

Inside was the most breathtaking flower Xay had ever seen.

Sparkling white leaves spilled over the edges of a small black pot.

Each one was shaped like a butterfly wing, with delicate teal rings at the tips that reminded Xay of the watchful eyes of an owl.

From the center, a sturdy, vine-like stem rose in a slow, elegant twist. Along its length bloomed seven large, orchid-shaped buds.

The lowest flower was a deep, inky black, and as the blossoms spiraled upward, their colors gradually shifted—black, to blue, to teal, to crystal-clear, to green, to red, and finally, at the very top, a radiant white.

Each bud pulsed with a different elemental energy, but the plant as a whole radiated a singular, calm harmony.

“When I first got the Life Seed from our cultivation package, I was thrilled by everything I could grow,” Tyra explained with a soft laugh. “But then—I was overwhelmed by choice.”

She paused, her eyes locking onto Xay’s. “After our first rift closure, Lexi told us your birthday was coming up. Inspired, I decided to create something completely new.”

“Something that embodies all us together—our differences, and our harmony.” Tyra took a steadying breath. “I call it a concord.”

Xay was speechless for a moment, lost in the slow, steady spiral of multi-hued energy emanating from the flower.

“Well?” Tyra asked in a small voice. “What do you think?”

“Tyra, this is breathtaking,” Xay said sincerely. “I can’t even begin to imagine how you did this. It’s incredible. Thank you.”

Kimi patted Tyra on the back as several astonished murmurs of agreement echoed around the table.

Even a few of the shark maids paused in their tasks to stare in wonder.

Tyra sat back down while Xay remained mesmerized.

Then Ezra stood. “Well, I don’t have anything as flashy or quite as interesting, unfortunately. But I have noticed your braids have come unbound a time or two.”

She handed Xay a small rectangular box. He opened it to reveal a braided black cord surrounded by small, translucent hoops.

“It’s a Life Weave cord,” Ezra explained. “It’s slightly attracted to itself, so it won’t easily come undone. It can also store vital energy—essentially making it a vitality battery.”

Xay blinked in surprise. He’d never heard of such a thing.

“Thank you. This sounds amazing,” he said, running his fingers over the cool, leather-like texture.

He moved to replace the regular tie he was wearing, but Ezra stopped him. “Please, allow me,” she said with a warm smile.

She gently gathered his braids and tied them into a loose ponytail with the new cord. Then she activated *Life Chime* over Xay’s head.

***Life Chime (Mender Sphere)** - Restorative chime that gradually restores vitality.*

“Now it’s my turn!” Rox shouted, jumping to her feet.

She tossed Xay a simple black case. Inside was a new set of gravity bands.

Rox had Xay and the ladies wearing weight-adjustable bands constantly since they first started trading with her.

“Really?” he asked, utterly unamused.

Rox just laughed. “Those are specially made with elevation detection. The higher you go with your Air Walking abilities, the heavier they make you feel.”

Xay sighed and shook his head. “Thanks, I guess.”

“And don’t you ladies feel left out,” Rox added, grinning as she dropped packages in front of Lexi, Kimi, and Tyra.

She even had new bands ready for Dragon and Willow.

Though later, when no one was paying attention, Rox slyly handed Xay a small stuffed mako shark pup—forcing him to put it in his dimensional storage immediately.

The party continued with more gifts, including some dangerously overpowered alcohol that Peanut cooked up in his lab, and a new Dream Totem from the twins—featuring a unicorn, a bicorn, and a dragon.

But as things began winding down, Sasha and Sophia quietly pulled Xay aside.

Seeing the look on their faces, Xay frowned, his new Jetnir Orbs slowing to a crawl. “What’s going on?” he asked, concerned.

The twins exchanged a glance before their words tumbled out in a rush.

“Our family might know it was us that helped you learn about psionics,” they said in perfect unison. “They’ve been asking questions and..”

“And what?” Xay pressed gently.

“We think they might come to take us from our apartment.”

Seeing the fear in their eyes, Xay stepped forward and hugged them both. They were trembling.

This was his fault. He’d talked them into sharing their family’s secrets.

Now he had to protect them.

Stepping back, he spoke carefully. “We’re leaving this Sunday—heading to a monastery outside the city for about two months.”

As he spoke, their eyes widened, and they gripped his hands more tightly.

“I want you both to come with us,” Xay continued. “It’s far enough that your family won’t find you easily, and it’ll give us time to come up with a better plan.”

The twins exchanged another look and exhaled a breath they’d clearly been holding.

While it was on his mind, Xay extended the invitation to the rest of his friends as well.

Ezra accepted, but Peanut, Bev, Winnie, and Juniper chose to stick to their original plans and continue training at the academy.

Amy didn’t respond—she still had responsibilities at the boutique—but Xay was sure Aunt Gwen would give her the time off if he asked.

Xay and the others explored the park for a few more hours before finally heading home.

He thanked everyone profusely. Honestly, it had been one of the best birthdays he’d ever had.

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Later that night, Xay sat in his room meditating.

Four Jetnir Orbs floated around him in a crisscrossing pattern as he practiced remotely channeling mana.

It was actually harder than he’d expected.

Manipulating mana outside his body was already difficult, but maintaining a precise, steady flow into what he was now calling the Origin Orbs required an even higher level of control.

It demanded a finesse he didn’t yet possess.

As he practiced, a soft knock echoed at his door—and then it slid open.

Lexi and Kimi entered slowly, wearing a color-swapped remix of their lingerie from the night before—this time styled with the frilled accents of maid uniforms.

Xay’s breath caught, and his orbs froze in midair. Before the door slid shut, Dragon padded out silently, shaking her head in resignation.

“We have one more gift for you,” Lexi said, shimmying her large, barely contained breasts in his direction.

“Two, actually,” Kimi added, flexing her taut abs with a teasing smile.

“Yay, me,” Xay said with an Auric Diamond grin.

He stood and started to remove them, but Lexi stepped in close, stopping him. “No—keep them in,” she murmured, heat smoldering in her eyes.

Before he could reply, Lexi kissed him, slipping her cool tongue into his mouth and gently fondling his dragon canine.

Kimi approached from the side, pressing her warm lips to his neck as her hands roamed over his back and shoulders.

Xay was in utter bliss. While making out with Lexi, he reached around and grabbed Kimi’s firm ass.

Lexi sank to her knees in front of him, dragging his joggers down with her teeth. The fabric bunched at his ankles as his thick, hard shaft sprang free, plopping against her face.

She let out a low, hungry moan, nuzzling the base before dragging her tongue slowly along the underside, then dipping lower to suck his balls into her mouth.

Kimi’s lips traced a heated path up his neck to his jaw. Her hands roamed over his chest and abs, her nails scraping him lightly.

He growled softly and pulled her around, their mouths meeting in a deep, hungry kiss.

Lexi wrapped one hand around the base of his dick, stroking him slowly while her mouth worked his balls with messy, devoted affection.

Kimi ran her tongue down his chest, her teeth grazing over his abs as she lowered herself to her knees beside Lexi.

With Lexi still working the base of his shaft, Kimi leaned back and took his swollen head into her mouth, wrapping her pouty lips around it and sucking eagerly.

The two gorgeous women moved in concert, their mouths full and their eyes looking up at him—one pair a piercing ice-blue, the other a smoldering crimson.

The unrelenting pleasure was nearly too much for Xay.

Their tongues danced along his length, and they began to switch places, sharing him like a treat.

Xay spread his legs, gripping the backs of their heads to steady himself.

Lexi and Kimi only grew hungrier, pressing their lips to either side of his shaft as they took turns sliding their mouths up and down.

After only a moment more, Xay erupted—powerful ropes of cum shooting from deep in his core.

The women moved instantly, pressing their cheeks together to share every drop equally.

“Holy shit,” Xay breathed, his heart pounding in his chest.

Lexi giggled, then rose to her feet and pushed him back onto the bed. She climbed up his body, straddling his face with a smirk that demanded more.

Xay chuckled and gave her exactly what she wanted. Her white lingerie was crotchless, leaving nothing in his way as he leaned in and began nibbling at her clit.

She moaned immediately—the cool touch of his iced-out grill on her sensitive flesh only turned her on more.

At the same time, Kimi slipped off her thong and straddled his hips, guiding his still-hard cock into her soaked pussy. She gasped, trembling, and came the moment he filled her.

Her walls clamped down around him, massaging him, as she started to grind her hips in earnest, riding him hard.

The two powerful women took Xay for a ride unlike anything he’d ever experienced—Lexi grinding on his face, kneading her heavy breasts, while Kimi rolled her hips in slow figure eights, cumming over and over on his dick.

Their moans and screams blended into an erotic chorus.

Lexi leaned back and Kimi leaned forward, their bodies trembling as they held onto each other, bracing against the overwhelming waves of pleasure ripping through them both.

Lexi came twice. Kimi lost count after ten.

The numbers blurred even more when they switched positions—Kimi sat on Xay’s face while Lexi impaled herself on his throbbing dick.

After a few more rounds of sweaty, breathless pleasure, Xay let out a long, satisfied sigh.

“Happy Birthday to me.”

He loved both these women, and refused to go a single day without them.