★ Cake Time! ★

Beaux entered through the door of Estelle’s Bakery, home of the claimed “best desserts in all of Era!”. A little bell rang out pleasantly above his head, the clear notes echoing around the little shop. A few customers sat at tables in the space, giving him a glance as he entered. The Rune Knight admired the bakery’s interior. A glass case lined one side of the counter. Inside it were shelves filled with desserts of all kinds - platters of brownies, jars of cookies, whole pies. Beaux found himself nearly drooling at the sight.

The angel was a regular at this particular bakery. He definitely vouched for their claim of being the best bakery in town. Coming from Napedia, a culture where baking was cherished almost as much as money, he was a fiend for pastries. The day after he got settled into the Rune Knights, Beaux had gone to explore Era and satisfy his craving for a good macaron. This was the first place he had encountered and loved it from the moment he stepped in.

Behind the counter, a young woman waved enthusiastically. “Hi Beaux!” she cheered as he approached the glass cases she stood behind. “Bonjour, Elisa!” Beaux replied, his signature charming smile crossing his face. The angel loved making connections with locals and he and Elisa had bonded the moment they met. He considered her a friend already.

“Can I get you the usual?” she asked, already grabbing a plate.

“I’m here for a different reason,” Beaux said, putting his hands out to stop her, but changing his mind. “Actually, I will take my usual to go!” he said with a laugh.

“Got it!” Elisa replied, bustling around behind the cases for a moment. She produced a paper bag that Beaux took and stuffed in his jacket pocket. A few jewel were taken from his pocket and handed back to her.

“I accepted a job flyer about a cake delivery, do you know of it?” he queried, leaning an elbow on the glass case.

“I do. The one for the little boy’s birthday?”

“That’s the one!”

“It’s all ready to go. Eeee I’m so excited!” Elisa squealed, wiping her hands on her apron. “This kid is gonna love the cake so much, I just know it.”

“I can’t wait to see it!” Beaux said with a grin. The cake was for a little boy whose 10th birthday was today. His parents had custom ordered a special cake from Estelle’s Bakery. Apparently the boy was a huge fan of the Rune Knights. Thus, the parents had reached out to the headquarters and requested that the cake be delivered by a few of the Knights themselves! As soon as he saw the job notice, Beaux knew it was right up his alley, not to mention an excuse to go get himself a pastry. He had accepted it without hesitation.

“Is it just you doing this job?” Elisa asked, preparing a receipt to go with the cake.

“Non, I’m waiting on another Rune Knight,” Beaux explained. Upon accepting the job, he had decided to invite someone along. Being the socialite he was, Beaux had reached out to a new Knight, Kyra Forte. Only recently had she joined and was part of the Engineering Corps. He hadn’t had the chance to meet her yet and was thrilled at the opportunity. Making friends - or at the least, acquaintances - was something he had always enjoyed.

“Perfect! I’ll go get the cake ready while we wait,” Elisa replied, disappearing into the kitchen. Beaux took a seat at the nearest table. He found himself looking out the window to the street and watching the people go by, letting his mind wander.

Beaux looked up as a young woman entered the bakery. She had long hair that was a similar tone to his own silvery locks. The Rune Knight symbol on her jacket was the first place his eyes went. A smile covered the Major General’s face at the sight of the familiar symbol. This was definitely who he had been waiting for! Only a few minutes had passed since he sat down, but he didn’t mind.

Kyra approached and greeted him with a salute and full formalities. She even called him sir. Beaux was still unused to the respect people addressed him with. While he grew up in a culture that prioritized manners, he had left at a young enough age that he had never experienced being formally addressed until he joined the Rune Knights. Within his own squadron, he insisted that in casual settings they simply call him by his first name.

“B-bonjour,” he stammered, taking a moment to collect himself before standing up and extending his hand for a shake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Private Forte.” The Major General gave his own little bow of acknowledgement.

“You can just call me Beaux,” he added with a pleasant smile. It was clear she was nervous, he wanted to help her feel more comfortable. “No need to apologize, I didn’t mind waiting. This is my favorite bakery anyway.”

“Oh! That reminds me. Would you like something to eat? I’ll buy!” He gestured to the vast collection of sweets contained within the glass. Should Kyra agree, he would wait until she picked something before placing the correct amount of jewel near the register for Elisa.

“I asked you here today to help me with the delivery of a special cake! Today is the 10th birthday of a local little boy. He’s a big fan of the Rune Knights and his parents asked that it be hand delivered by some of us. I also thought it might be a good chance for us to help make his birthday wish and for us to meet!” Beaux explained with an endearing tilt of his head. “I like getting to know new people!”

Their discussion was interrupted moments later as Elisa emerged from the kitchen with a large box. It was made of sturdy white cardboard with some thin wooden braces for extra support. On the top was the last name Wilson with a printed receipt taped next to it.

“Here you go!” Elisa called out to the two, placing the cake box on the countertop and sliding it towards them. Beaux stepped forward and gently lifted it up. Glancing at a cutesy clock on the wall, he realized that they were running a little short on time to make it a few blocks away to the Wilsons’ house. Looking to Kyra, he gestured towards the door with a nod of his head.

“Let’s get going! Au revoir, Elisa, I’ll see you again soon! Thank you for all your help today,” Beaux voiced his appreciation as the Knights headed for the door. Elisa gave him a wave and returned to her duties with a smile on her face.

Beaux’s brow furrowed as Kyra mentioned being surprised by his request for help on today’s job. He often forgot how high his ranking actually was above the recruits. In his own worldview, they were equal, but in the Rune Knights ranking, he was her superior. Slowly he began to understand why she had been nervous. A Major General from another branch was probably the last person she expected to be contacted by. Desperately he hoped that he hadn’t made her too uneasy. That was the last thing he had meant to achieve.

“Oui, we’re heading down Sutton Street, which is what we’re on now,” Beaux explained, using his foot to hold the door open and following Kyra through it. “After 3 blocks we’ll be taking a right on Geranium Lane, then the house will be on our left-...” his merry description trailed off as they made it out to the street. The angel’s jaw dropped. What was an avenue filled with only a few civilians had become a bustling mayhem! People pushed and wove through the space. The noise was quite loud.

“Oh dear,” Beaux fretted, gripping the cake box even tighter. He raised the volume of his voice slightly so his guildmate could hear him over the crowd. “I suppose we’ll have to make our way through.”

Pondering for a second, the Major General raised a finger excitedly as an idea came to his mind. “I have an idea, Mademoiselle Kyra.” The formality came out by instinct, but the silver-haired man hoped she wouldn’t mind too much. “It requires your assistance though.”

From beneath the formal shirt and jacket on his back, a pair of snowy white wings emerged. They slipped through premade slits in the clothing and extended to his sides. The limbs were massive and caught the attention of many people passing by. Some let out oohs and aahs, while others hurried faster on their way. Beaux hoped he hadn’t shocked anyone too much, especially the Engineering recruit at his side.

“I’m going to wrap my wings around in front of me to act as a protective enclosed shield for the cake,” Beaux explained, motioning his wings forward to demonstrate. He pulled them back and continued. “While flying would certainly be easier, there’s no way I can carry both you and the box. I also fear that landing may ruin the cake,” a frown crossed his face for a second. “This way is the best way for me to protect the cake from jostling. However, with my wings in front, I won’t be able to see. That’s where you come in!” The Knight gestured to Kyra, his ever-cheery smile returning to his face. By heart, he was an optimist. He didn’t doubt that the two could make it!

“I’ll need you to guide me along past this crowd! You can do it however you see fit. You have my trust and confidence!” A kindness swirled in his eyes. His words were genuine and he fully had faith in her. She was in the Engineering Corps after all! Engineers were fantastic at solving problems in an efficient and logical way.

Beaux could see the gears working in Kyra’s head instantaneously. There was no doubt that a solution to his unruly plan would come easily. Blue eyes observed her actions curiously as the skirt and boots took leave. A rifle appeared from thin air into her hands. The engineer removed her jacket and hoisted it into the air on the tip of the weapon, a white flag visible above the crowds. Beaux’s expression lit up and he nodded vigorously to her question. This would be an easy way to be guided among the throngs of people on Sutton Street.

Kyra took the lead and Beaux was quick to follow. The large white wings on his back had curled around his front like a giant, feathery cocoon. While he couldn’t see them, he was sure that the bystanders were staring at the two Rune Knights and wondering what the hell was going on. It was surely an odd sight, a woman holding a jacket high in the air and another person walking behind, cloaked in angel wings. Beaux couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh at how absurd the situation was. His idea was unconventional, but it was the first thing that came to mind. Luckily Kyra had gone along with it and he appreciated her quick wit.

The only other thing visible to the angel was the sky above and the ground below. He kept his head tilted up so that the jacket-flag never left his sight. The two wove through the crowd with ease. Occasionally he felt someone bump his wing or brush the feathers as they passed. However, the majority of people kept their distance. No great disturbances affected the cake, which the Major General held snugly against his chest.

The recruit’s voice reached his ears. Just one block left before their turn! Their path took a diagonal trajectory towards the corner of Sutton and Geranium. So far it had been a breeze thanks to Kyra’s guidance. Beaux wondered how much time they had left. Hopefully they would arrive on time!

“It seems to be in one piece still!” Beaux called back. The box hadn’t caved in his grip thanks to the wooden braces. So far he couldn’t hear any loose pieces rattling around. That was a good sign.

Above him, the corner of a building passed into view, then out. Loud voices of the busy Sutton Street faded behind them. It seemed they were out of the madness for now. Beaux felt his shoulders relax. He hadn’t even realized they were tense. Wings pulled apart just a bit and the Knight peeked out from behind them. Very few people were on Geranium Lane. Most of them were already keeping their distance or minding their own business.

Beaux retracted his wings completely and sped up his pace to catch up to Kyra. “I’m so glad we made it through that crowd!” he said with a relieved laugh.

The relief didn’t last long. From a nearby alley that the two Knights had already passed came some barking. A pack of stray street dogs burst from the darkness, flooding out into the street. They were fairly scruffy looking and a variety of breeds. The leaders sniffed around in search of food. A few even lunged at nearby civilians, who retreated swiftly up and down the street away from danger.

The lead dogs seemed to catch a whiff of the delicious cake in Beaux’s hands. Many dogs began to approach, barking and growling. There was no way they could be allowed to steal the cake! Thinking quickly, the Major General handed off the cake box to Kyra.

“Hurry, the Wilsons’ house is just a block more! The number is 244. I’ll hold them off and follow as soon as I can!”

Kyra gave him a salute before she darted off down the street. “Godspeed, Private,” Beaux whispered, the breeze stealing his words away the moment they left his lips. Baby blue eyes watched her retreat woefully. Hopefully she would make it to the Wilsons’ house, and he desperately hoped that he would too. A particularly loud bark made him whirl around to see that the dogs were much closer now. Some had started to run, intending to avoid Beaux and chase after the delicious cake that was now in the engineer’s hands.

The angel had to act quick, or they would pursue his companion! From behind, his wings snapped out once more in a flourish. From wingtip to wingtip, Beaux suddenly took up nearly the whole street. Such an instant and unexpected movement had the chasing dogs skidding to a stop across the cobblestones. Several let out yelps of fear. The tall man had turned into a much larger, more threatening being. Beaux had intended to make himself look more intimidating by appearing to be bigger. It worked for wild animals to defend themselves, so it ought to work similarly for the Knight. Five dogs ran from the scene with their tails between their legs. The remaining ones had flinched at the extension of wings, but now continued forward cautiously, growling as they went. The cake was long forgotten, and now the big bird-looking human before them was the target.

Beaux felt a little relief that the numbers had dwindled. If it came to it, a battle would be much easier now. A lead dog broke the slow approach and lunged at him, jaws open wide with slobbery jowls that dropped spittle everywhere. One wing folded slightly and came forward, the joint using momentum to knock the dog back. Beaux winced as his attack landed and the canine went skidding across the stone road. He didn’t want to hurt any of the dogs, he had a soft spot for animals. There had to be a way to scare them off or something! He backed up a few seconds as his mind raced. The angel wasn’t quite as quick-thinking as Kyra was.

An idea came to mind and his wings were already starting to transform. In a second, the elegant white wings became even larger and turned a stormy gray color. Beaux drew them back behind him until the tips were only a few feet apart. Then, with a sharp exhale, he pumped them forward. From beneath the wings came a powerful gust of wind, fueled and guided by magic. The air whipped towards the dogs and it was too late for them to dodge. Barks of fear came from the pack as they all were sent tumbling backwards down Geranium Lane.

People who had retreated into shops to save themselves now peered from the windows with awe. The sight of so many street dogs rolling down the street like fuzzy tumbleweeds was a shock, hilarious to some. While a few of the onlookers giggled, unheard behind the glass, Beaux wiped a few tears from his eyes and sniffled. He felt awful for having to do that to the dogs and despite how viciously they could have attacked him, he thought about the scrapes and bruises they might have and let out a little sob.

Now that the pack had retreated, he was free to follow after Kyra. Beaux walked up Geranium Lane, wiping away tears as his wings returned to their normal white. Nothing in the street had indicated that the mission was a failure. Hopefully she had made it safely.

The Major General spotted something down the stone road, a brown paper bag with the Estelle’s Bakery logo printed on it. The item was stuck beneath the paw of another street dog, who now raised his head as Beaux approached. The alleyway swallowed the dog as he retreated, licking his jowls contentedly with a spring in his step. Coming to a halt over the bag, the Knight realized just what this meant. Kyra had sacrificed her dessert for the mission. Beaux placed a hand over his heart at the tragedy. An eclair had laid down its life for the sake of a birthday cake. A noble act for a noble cause. He saluted the fallen bag before picking it up and placing it in his pocket. A Rune Knight couldn’t let litter just sit there!

Jogging up the last stretch of street, Beaux heard the party before he saw the house. Kids were shrieking in excitement and running around the house and backyard. A cluster of balloons had been tied to their mailbox, hailing any partygoers to the correct destination. This was definitely the right place!

Beaux slowed himself to a walk to catch his breath and tidy up his hair and clothes. The parents certainly wouldn’t be impressed if a Major General showed up with unruly clothing! One last deep breath and he was heading down the walkway. Kyra stood in the doorway with the cake box in hand, not a scratch could be seen upon it. She must have arrived just a minute or two before him. Two adults stood inside the doorway, talking cheerily with the recruit. Beaux arrived just in time to catch their question.

“Is it just you?” the mother asked, a little disappointment in her voice. “Non, madame,” Beaux answered before his fellow Knight could say anything. The Wilsons looked surprised at his sudden appearance, standing next to her. “I, too, have come to deliver the cake for your son’s birthday! Major General Beaux Phacelia and Private Kyra Forte at your service.” The angel gave a little bow. Both parents looked relieved that there were two Rune Knights now in attendance.

“Mama? Papa? Who’s here?” came the voice of a boy faintly from a room in the house.

“Nobody, son! Now go gather your friends, it’s time for cake!” the father called over his shoulder in reply.

“Okay!”

The parents beckoned the two Knights inside. The house was quaint but well-decorated. While the mother went to go round up the children at the dining table, the father explained what the plan was.

“Our son, Luke, will be so happy. Thank you for coming! When the kids are all settled, I’ll have you enter the dining room and present the cake. Maybe exaggerate a little bit, the kids will love it! Sound good?” Beaux gave a nod. “Great! Oh, and be warned. It might get loud in here.”

“Honey, will you bring the cake in?” the mother called, and that was their cue. The Major General looked to Kyra, then stepped into the dining room. Kids sat all around the table, some climbing all over their chairs while others sat patiently. Plates and silverware covered the tablecloth, ready to be covered with cake.

Twenty young heads turned to stare at the two Rune Knights as they entered, all of their eyes wide in awe. All the noise and movement in the room came to a halt instantly. “Happy Birthday, Luke!” Beaux cheered. “We are from the Celebration Squadron of the Rune Knights, here to spread happiness, fun, and to protect your celebration from evil!” The angel gave a deep bow to the children, then struck some exaggerated poses with a few HIIIYAs and KAPOWs as if he were fighting off an invisible evil with air punches. For a few seconds, nobody said anything. At the head of the table a little boy with a comically large party hat had begun wiggling and shaking, his excitement building up until he couldn’t hold it any longer. The small human leapt from his chair with an ecstatic squeal, running over to the two Knights. He jumped up and down in front of them for a moment, yelling “Rune Knights! Rune Knights! Rune Knights!”. Beaux was starting to wonder if he was breathing among all that shouting.

Other kids started to get out of their chairs. Before any of them reached the Knights, Beaux took the cake box gently from Kyra and placed it in the center of the table. They had worked too hard to get the cake there for it to be destroyed by the very children it was destined to be eaten by! He did it just in time. The birthday boy had latched into his leg with an enthusiastic hug, squeezing and still yelling excitedly. That was all it took for the rest of the kids to ditch their seats and swarm all over the two Knights.

The swarm of children sounded like a nest full of squabbling baby birds. Question after question was hurled at the two Rune Knights. Beaux had started to answer some but gave up quickly as his voice was drowned out. There would be time to hang out with the kids after the cake was served.

Speaking of, the mother had just started to open the cake box as the young ones were settling back into their chairs. As she pulled the sides of the box down, the magnificent confectionary masterpiece would be revealed. It was two tiers tall with sweet colored buttercream frosting coating each layer, one in white and one in blue. The frosting was smoothed to perfection and decorated with little blue stars and Rune Knight symbols. Everyone’s eyes went immediately to the top of the cake. Estelle’s had gone above and beyond, for atop the cake sat a little platform that hosted two lacrima-powered animated figurines of Field Marshall Sinclair and Director Ragnos. The magic surrounding them was intricate, as their movements were realistic and smooth. They bowed, sparred, or stood idly, seemingly on a loop of scheduled motions.

The children oohed and ahhed, their young eyes fixated on the figurines with wonder. Even Beaux was entranced. He’d never seen such fantastic magic used on a dessert before. After a minute and a few pictures with an iLac, the mother placed the figurines to the side and resumed the cake cutting. The inside of the cake mirrored the outside, layered with shades of blue. The slice was given to the birthday boy.

Kyra piped up, challenging Beaux to a race to divvy up cake to the remaining children. They would run pieces to each side of the table, and whoever delivered their last piece of cake first would be the winner. The loser had to consume the mint and cola that she had placed on the table. Beaux didn’t have a clue what exactly that would do, but if it was the loser’s fate it had to be a punishment of sorts. Maybe it just tasted bad together? It wouldn’t be long before he found out.

The children seemed thrilled by the idea of a game. They were already arguing among themselves about who they thought would win. Despite all the arguing, the birthday boy seemed to refrain from picking a side. He just seemed excited to be witnessing such a fun event.

The mother finished putting slices on plates and lined them up at the end of the dining table. Two groupings of plates were separated by a little gap, indicating which was for whom to pass around. Beaux and Kyra were ushered back to the doorway of the room and placed side by side. The Major General could feel his adrenaline kicking in already. This would be a public test of skill for the children to enjoy. Kyra had given him a cheeky grin earlier, which he returned as the whole room started counting down and cheering them on.

“Three!”

“Two!”

“One!”

“GO!”

The race was on! Both Beaux and Kyra darted forth, grabbing plates of cake and placing them before the children. The parents and kids all cheered and hollered, encouraging the two Rune Knights in their game. Excitement filled the room from everyone and the positivity only made the angel push himself to go faster. As he was returning to grab another plate, he noticed Kyra slip out of the corner of his eye. She was at a disadvantage now and he had the lead! In moments the race was over. Kyra returned to his side, defeat on her face. “We both did great!” he cheered. “It was a close race.”

While the kids dug into the cake, Beaux headed outside, but not before giving a longing look at the dessert. He really wanted to taste it after having gone through hell to get it to the party. Perhaps the parents would offer them some, but he would not ask outright. It was a lovely day outside, so Beaux sat on a bench in the yard and waited with Kyra for the kids. The sun warmed his back pleasantly.

Shortly after, the kids flooded out of the house, forming a semi-circle around Kyra. Beaux stood and joined them a small distance away. The Private began to explain how it all worked. Many tiny faces stared at her with wide eyes, paying rapt attention. The Major General had a similar expression as the children. He was always excited to learn new things! She stepped back and Beaux returned the smile she sent his way.

In went the mint, the cola joining a moment later. Instantly the liquid began to foam and spew from Kyra’s mouth as she was still pouring. Beaux’s jaw dropped. He had never seen anything like this before! What was it in the mint that reacted to the cola? Was it similar to the reaction between baking soda and vinegar? Questions bubbled through him. He joined the young ones cheering in awe at the cool experiment. This was turning out to be a fun afternoon!

Soon, the cola ran out and the foaming ceased. Beaux ran to grab some napkins from inside, returning to the yard and handing them to Kyra. She was soaked in cola and froth. The Knight couldn’t keep the smile from his face. “That was fantastique! I’ve never seen anything like it before!”

Beaux felt a tugging on his uniform and looked down to see the birthday boy at his side. “Can you show us your magic and tell us how you take down bad guys? Please? Pleasepleaseplease!” His begging words turned into one jumble as the other kids joined in. Wide, adorable eyes looked at the Knights pleadingly.

“Of course!” It didn’t take much to convince Beaux. He wanted to make sure this birthday party was a blast. “What do you think?” he asked, turning to Kyra.

Beaux watched Kyra’s transformations with interest. She had donned a blue visor over her eyes and her hands were now covered in a set of gauntlets that glowed with a blue light. She began explaining to the young ones about how she took down the bad guys. Of course, he should have guessed her magic could be tech-related seeing as she was in the Engineering Corps. Surely she would become a great asset to the branch.

“My magic isn’t as practical as your tech,” Beaux deflected gently with a smile. His magic tended to be more showy on a surface level. There was a raw, holy power to it, but he would only show the children some of the basic stuff so as not to go overboard or scare anyone. It would be inappropriate of him to use something dangerous at a birthday party.

“I have the ability to take on the features of several angel-like beings,” the Major General began explaining. “However, I have my own set of wings that are around all the time. They don’t go away. They’re really handy to have if I need to fly out of a bad situation.” With that, his massive white wings extended through the slits in his uniform with a flourish. He may have made the movement a little more flashy for the entertainment of the party-goers. The angel wasn’t usually a showoff, but this was a special occasion.

Beaux pumped his wings and launched into the air, hovering for a second above the kids before gently settling back to the ground. He then transformed his wings into a different set, a pair that glowed a fierce gold. These were the wings of the only female angel takeover in his arsenal. She was a glorious sight to behold, as every part glowed with a shimmering golden light. Beaux had decided against doing the full form, so he just did the wings instead. Some of the kids let out squeals of excitement, their faces lit up by the light coming from the Major General. The birthday boy looked so happy he might pass out. The sugary cake wasn’t helping their crazy energy levels either.

“This is the coolest birthday party ever!” he screamed as the kids began to run around and play, acting as if they were Rune Knights battling evildoers.

“I want to play Marshall Sinclair!”

“Whaaat? But I want to play her!”

“I’m Kyra! Look at my cool weapons! Pew pew pew!”

Beaux couldn’t help but be amused by their antics. As the kids got more and more distracted by their playing, the parents made their way over to the two Rune Knights. “Thank you so much for all of this,” the mother said with a relieved smile on her face. “Everyone’s having a great time and you guys were awesome. We’re so grateful!”

A cheerful smile crossed Beaux’s face. “Of course, Madame,” he replied. “We’re both glad we could be here to help celebrate.”