After relentless coaxing from Reya and Jethru, Lara finally agreed to celebrate her birthday, albeit a bit belatedly—just not two days later, but the very next day.
Over the past two years, it had become an unspoken tradition. Whether it was Jethru's, Reya's, Sandoz's, or her own, birthdays were always marked with good food, laughter, and a cake.
It started with Sandoz's seventh birthday, when Lara introduced the blowing of the candle and the making of a wish tradition.
That day, Lara and Reya spent the entire morning decorating their modest home at the plateau. It wasn't much, but to the wide-eyed boy, it was a kingdom of color and wonder. That day, she also attempted something new—baking a cake using the most traditional oven.
