Fern

"Knock, knock, knock~"

Down on the ground, a dull knocking sounded against the heavy gates of Dugu Castle.

Dugu Qing flew down from the blue sky and opened the gates.

There stood Frieren, accompanied by a cute purple-haired girl.

Her purple hair fell to her shoulders, and she wore a white dress beneath a black cloak. She was pouting slightly, as if she were a little unhappy, and had a distinctly aloof air.

"Frieren, we meet again. What a coincidence!"

Dugu Qing felt deeply honored that Frieren had come to visit him again.

"It wasn't a coincidence. I came to pay you back. Here."

Frieren took twenty copper coins from her pocket and pressed them into Dugu Qing's hand.

Dugu Qing accepted the coins and stepped slightly aside, clearing the way.

"My home is pretty big. Would you like to rest for a bit?"

Frieren walked in and sat down on the sofa on the east side of the hall.

Dugu Qing and Fern followed close behind.

Fern tilted her head up and looked at Dugu Qing curiously.

This guy has such delicate features and an elegant air, and his ears are pointed. Is he an elf too?

I really want to touch him. His skin must be so smooth...

"Dugu Qing, it's only been three years, and you've grown so much taller! Just how old are you?"

Frieren knew a great deal about how elves developed physically.

In just three years, Dugu Qing had grown a good deal taller. The change was so great that it went beyond her understanding of elves.

"I'm... fourteen this year."

Dugu Qing had never treated his age as a secret, so he answered readily.

"Fourteen! How is that possible? Elves have always developed slowly. When I was fourteen, I was still a little thing!"

Frieren got up from the sofa and circled Dugu Qing, her eyes full of curiosity.

Fourteen! He's one year older than me, so I suppose we can just about be called peers!

Looking at Dugu Qing's handsome face, Fern felt her anger at having been carried two thousand meters by her belt by Frieren scatter into the air like the wind.

"I'm descended from elves and humans, and I inherited the strengths of both races."

Dugu Qing patted his chest confidently.

"Hmm? Something's not right."

Frieren narrowed her eyes and used mana detection.

A vast amount of mana could be seen swirling around Dugu Qing's body, surging skyward like an upside-down waterfall and reaching straight into the clouds.

Such powerful mana far surpassed that of an ordinary first-class mage from the Continental Magic Association. It was already enough to place him above the crowd, and it was by no means something a teenage boy could have cultivated.

"Dugu Qing, you have a lot of mana!"

"Frieren, that's my secret."

Dugu Qing poured tea with elegance.

A secret was something one didn't want others to know.

Frieren had plenty of secrets she didn't want others prying into, either.

She nodded, respecting Dugu Qing's wishes, and changed the subject.

"All right! I've been staying at Heiter's home these past three years, researching immortality magic and resurrection magic. It's just over two thousand meters north of your home. I've also been teaching Fern magic."

As Frieren spoke, she walked over to Fern.

"Oh, right, let me introduce her. This is Fern, the adopted daughter of Himmel's teammate Heiter. She's thirteen this year, and although she hasn't learned flight magic yet, she's a little genius!"

Dugu Qing looked at Fern: purple eyes, a serene air, delicate features, and soft curves.

What a refined and graceful beauty. She'll surely become a remarkable great mage someday!

"Hello, my name is Dugu Qing."

Dugu Qing set down the teapot and extended a hand eager for friendship.

Fern looked at Dugu Qing. The boy was handsome and beautiful, dignified and elegant, as ethereal as an immortal.

Such incomparable beauty had descended from the sky without warning, just like that.

Cold sweat beaded on Fern's palm. She was so nervous that she couldn't get a single word out.

"Now that we've met, come over and visit whenever you have time."

Dugu Qing thought Fern was shy around strangers. He waved and considerately withdrew his arm.

It's gone.

Dugu Qing's figure receded, ethereal as mist. Fern clenched her teeth as a powerful wave of regret welled up in her heart.

Dugu Qing's slender, graceful hand was fair and delicate, its skin seemingly breakable at a touch. She... had really wanted to touch it!

"Dugu Qing, since you're only a teenager, why don't you practice magic with Fern?"

Whether she was looking after one child or two, she would be looking after children either way.

With that in mind, Frieren looked at Dugu Qing, eager to act.

When teaching Fern magic, she had to worry that Fern would soon die, leaving her to say goodbye to another old friend and grieve for a long time.

Dugu Qing was different.

He was a true elf, and he already possessed enormous mana at such a young age. She didn't have to worry about him dying after a mere few decades.

He was definitely worth befriending.

"Sure! I'd be honored."

"In that case, we're friends now. Stay for lunch. I'll make a few dishes so we can celebrate."

Dugu Qing walked out of the hall and looked up at the sun.

The sun was currently a little east of center.

Dugu Qing estimated that it was about ten o'clock.

Dugu Qing hadn't entertained guests in a long time. Frieren and Fern were both charming, refined girls.

Just looking at them from afar put him in a wonderful mood.

Under the circumstances, Dugu Qing had to put all his culinary skills to use in entertaining his honored guests.

"Children can't drink alcohol."

Frieren gave him a serious reminder.

Dugu Qing nodded, went to the ice room, took out plenty of ingredients, and headed into the kitchen.

Fern watched Dugu Qing bustling around in the kitchen and thought of her own life at Heiter's home.

Although Heiter was Himmel's teammate and a bishop of the church, he had loved wine and meat in his younger years and had saved no money, much less had any to spare for servants.

After Heiter adopted Fern, she had borne the burden of the whole household despite her young age.

Every morning, she had to get up, wash clothes, cook, buy groceries, and do housework.

Dugu Qing cooked happily without a care, lived freely in a large villa, and cultivated however he pleased.

In Fern's eyes, he was so handsome and so cool that words couldn't describe him.

It must feel wonderful! I'm so envious!

An hour later.

Wisps of cooking smoke drifted out of the kitchen, carrying a faint aroma of savory, spicy meat.

Golden and crispy finger-licking original-recipe chicken came fresh out of the kitchen.

New Orleans-style roasted wings, their color enticing, were brought to the table.

Chicken drumettes coated in hot sauce were arranged on a clean plate.

A heaping platter of chicken carcasses, covered in sesame seeds and chili peppers, was placed in the middle of the table.

Fresh sweet corn lay steaming on a plate.

Like a magnificent symphony, it stirred the appetite and set hearts racing before it had even begun.

Dugu Qing also brought out egg tarts and fries he had made earlier.

Delicious food filled the space before the three of them, fragrant and enticingly colorful.

Frieren picked up a drumette and chewed gently.

The spicy, savory drumette filled her with endless strength and drove away the troubles in her heart.

She nodded vigorously, her eyes shining, and quickly dug in, turning into a foodie as she immersed herself in happiness and joy.

Fern took a bite of the chicken carcass and blinked excitedly.

Delicious.

I didn't expect Dugu Qing to be beautiful and know how to cook, let alone cook so well.

Heavens! So not all elves are lazy gluttons who idle their days away... like Frieren!

That's good, that's good.

"How does it taste? Isn't it especially delicious?"

Dugu Qing came through the doorway carrying rice and clear soup.

"It's especially delicious. Dugu Qing, you're amazing."

Frieren gave Dugu Qing a greasy thumbs-up.