He went to pick up the other box: this one was a present from his mother. The package was small and rectangular, and, when shaken, it didn't seem to contain anything that moved. Adrien ripped open the wrapping paper: it contained a small case made of pressed cardboard, decorated with a diagonal rainbow strip. He opened it. It was a writing set, containing paper and a pen; looking at the stack of paper from the side, the decorated borders of the sheets formed a rainbow gradient, too. "That's so nice", he commented, excited. He unfolded his mother's letter:
Happy 24th birthday, Adrien!
I hope you're having a great day with a lot of cake!
It was hard to find a present for you this year! It couldn't be anything too big or anything too heavy, and it couldn't be a book because what if it is already in master Valerion's library. What I ended up sending you is something that I'm sure you'll be needing a lot of. If you get what I'm saying!
Love,
Mom
Adrien giggled to himself. "Wow, mom", he commented.
"That looks like a lovely present too", Val smiled, still playing with the kaleidohedron.
"It is", Adrien grinned. He crunched all the discarded wrapping paper into a big ball, which Val disposed of through magical means; he then set his letters and presents on one side of the table. Val looked up at him: "I have a present for you, too", he said.
