Spring, 1076.
Early morning.
The sun, long absent, finally shone over Kexiqie, warming even the perennially cold Ursus.
Yelena opened her front door, welcoming this delightful moment.
She lowered her head to avoid her horns hitting the doorframe as she stepped outside.
A small package lay silently on the snow-covered ground outside her door.
Who could have sent this?
She wondered, walking forward to pick it up and examine it closely.
The package was only palm-sized, wrapped tightly in a layer of dried animal hide, through which she could faintly feel something hard and angular inside.
Yelena stroked it, speculating about its origin.
Flipping it over, she discovered a small white card attached, bearing unfamiliar writing for this land, but she recognized it:
To little Yelena, congratulations on your good life. Inside is the birthday gift I promised you.
The sender was now obvious.
Curious, Yelena brought it back inside and placed it on the table.
The animal hide was wrapped so tightly that Yelena had to use a knife to cut it open, revealing the contents.
It was a pure white, seamless small box.
How was she supposed to open it?
Yelena pondered, unconsciously placing her hand on it.
As if triggering a mechanism, it opened.
The lid slid to both sides.
Yelena looked inside, where, in an unremarkable space, black and white lay silently.
On top was a black equilateral triangle, only the size of a pupil, like an Originium, but it was not translucent, so its internal structure was unclear.
Beneath it lay a small piece of silk.
Yelena pulled it out, and the silk unfurled.
It was a pair of gloves, each with a small, rhomboid gem set in the center of the back of the hand.
The gems reflected the sunlight, casting a clear blue light, very beautiful.
Below the gloves was another line of text:
My mark. Use it if you need help.
And your birthday gift, one I made myself: a high-quality Staff.
Yelena slowly finished reading the text and put on the gloves.
The fabric glided over her fingers and caressed her palms.
"It fits perfectly, it's very comfortable," was Yelena's first thought.
Then, she felt the gentle energy contained within the gloves.
Yelena had never before encountered knowledge of magic, nor had she had the opportunity to use a Staff.
But...
A small lightning bolt appeared in her hand, intertwining between her palms.
At this moment, the gems on the gloves were shining brightly.
The air crackled, and a smell of burning permeated the room.
"Yelena? What's burning?"
Agata's voice came from the room.
"Nothing, Mama. Probably some clumsy fellow burnt his breakfast again." Yelena quickly put her hands behind her back, and the lightning dissipated.
"Oh, oh, it must be that clumsy Petrov; he always messes up cooking."
The door opened, and Agata stepped out.
Time had left only pallor and wrinkles on this mother.
Even though Yelena had taken on most of the housework,
the 59-year-old woman still liked to get up early to see her daughter.
She looked at Yelena, then her gaze fell upon the table.
"My sweet little Yelena, who sent you this gift now?"
Agata picked up the box, examining it carefully.
"This looks quite expensive. Did the Earl's youngest son send you something again?"
"I don't know, it doesn't have a name on it. Besides, Mama, I'm almost an adult now," Yelena looked at her mother, complaining calmly.
"Alright, alright, I know. These young men, they really are something, always liking to do this, putting things at the door secretly without a name, to see who you'll go looking for."
The old woman put down the box, straightened Yelena's clothes, and said solemnly, "Today is your first day at the Duke's Mansion, and they're just causing trouble. Let me see..."
She took Yelena's hand from behind her back, gently caressing the texture and feel of the gloves.
"It's a good pair of gloves," she looked at the two blue gems, "Look, how beautiful, like my daughter's eyes, but my daughter's eyes are even prettier."
"Mama..." Yelena looked at her, a pang of sadness welling up.
"What's wrong, already sad? I'm not in the grave yet, the little Yelena I know isn't a crybaby. We've already arranged everything for you; you'll stay there, and we'll both be at ease," Agata said to Yelena with a smile.
"And also, keep these gloves. Remember to thank whoever sent them later." The old woman released Yelena's hand and turned back into the house to wake her husband.
"Yes, I will," Yelena said loudly, watching her back.
Duke's Mansion.
"Yelena, is that right?" The tall and slender Fidia said, holding a list.
Yelena stood before him, dressed in brand new clothes.
"Yes, sir," Yelena bowed to him.
"Hmm, very proper," the old man commented, then continued, "You are Valery's daughter. As I recall, he is an honest man."
"Yes, sir," Yelena said, lowering her head.
"He used many connections to get you here to me. I admire his dedication to his family. Therefore, I hope you will adapt to life here. Please do not let his efforts be in vain, Yelena."
"I believe I won't, Mister Butler," Yelena raised her head, her clear blue eyes shining, which made the old butler exclaim, "You have beautiful eyes, Yelena. I'm already starting to envy Valery for having such a good daughter like you. Go on."
"Alright, goodbye, sir."
In 1076, Yelena moved into the Duke's Mansion. This was an extremely important year in her life, and the next year would be too.
