Strength In Our Bonds (The Strength in Generations Accompanying Book)

Happy, Happy Birthday!

"All right, you little adorable shits, I've called you all here for an important reason. A very important reason. Perhaps the most important reason!"

Kazel turned to everyone, a huge smile on his face.

"I'm gonna be 21!"

"That's the news?" asked Leviesse incredulously. "We already knew that, Kazel. Your birthday is exactly a week before Gale's; I know I remembered it, at least."

"But, Levi, you don't understand. It's not just about me finally become of age in this ass-backward country that had to make the legal age three years older than everywhere else for no good reason; no offense to the Balambese in the room..."

An awkward silence followed.

"This is about the amazing party I have planned. And I want it to be not just a celebration of my life- I want it to be a celebration of all the lives I've had an opportunity to connect with in this short 21 years. So, in other words, I won't be just celebrating me, I'll be celebrating all of you!"

Another silence.

"That is very nice of you, since you haven't known a lot of us very long," Leiria said, smiling.

"Of course, Leiria! Plus, you know any friend of Rainey's is a friend of mine! Well, unless it's one of those muscle-bound meatheads she knows from Garden..."

"Kazel." Raine frowned. "A few of them are very nice."

"Everyone there is nice to you, Raine. They know they'd wake up dead courtesy of Commander Leonhart if they even thought of hurting you somehow." Kazel folded his arms. "But let's not worry about that right now. We have important things to discuss!"

"I'd be pleased to help you with planning, if you have such a need," volunteered Aurelie. "I'm told that I'm an extremely organized planner."

"I'm so glad you brought that up!" Kazel pulled out a small notebook. "If you're all willing to help with organization, I have a list of things that need to be done! If you don't wanna be included, speak now or forever hold your peace," he said the last part in a menacing voice.

No one spoke.

"Excellent! So, I was hoping my party could have a cosplay theme. I know, I know, it's June and no one is in costume mode until around October, but I enjoy making and wearing costumes more than anything, and I want to share that love with you guys!" He turned a page.

"Nora, I want you to work with Raine and find a place to have my party. It won't need to be too big of a place, somewhere to comfortably fit... I'd say about thirty people, but up it to fifty if you think you guys' parents will want to pop in."

"On it." Nora stood, and walked out of the door with Raine.

"Gale and Linna, you guys are in charge of finding catering. I chose you two because I'm sure Gale knows the best places to eat, but Linna should be able to keep him from actually eating the food. Right?"

Linna laughed. "Yep."

"But I still get to taste-test, right?" asked Gale hopefully.

Kazel smiled at him. "Get your eating pants on, Gale."

"All right!" Gale and Linna high-fived before starting to leave.

"Wait." Linna turned around. "You didn't say what kind of food you want."

"Hmm..." Kazel thought, sitting in a nearby chair. "I was thinking, nothing too heavy or messy. Is that enough criteria?"

"We'll work with it." Gale nodded, and began to pull Linna after himself.