Winter in Ursus was as cold as ever, but the fire burning in the fireplace inside warded off the chill.
The firelight should have illuminated the room, but it was completely blocked by the tall figure crowding in front of the table.
"Please, please use..."
The wisps of white mist rose gently, touching the unmelted snow on the bone-like face and causing it to melt into droplets.
Gorth gripped his water glass, looking at the two tense elderly people, and tried to keep his tone gentle.
"Thanks..."
The two elderly people visibly tensed up, exchanged a glance, and began to discuss in hushed tones:
"He just... said 'thank you,' right?"
"I think so, right? I remember Little Tal usually says that..."
Looking at the two elderly people loudly plotting in front of him, Gorth felt helpless.
After startling the other person, Gorth intended to leave immediately, but after a brief moment of panic, the old man inside the window seemed to recognize him.
He pushed open the window and grabbed Gorth's robe.
In the midst of a frantic struggle, a commotion came from the villager's house across the street. In order not to frighten the others, Gorth had no choice but to follow them inside.
Seemingly sensing Gorth's gaze, the two elderly people tensed up again.
"Quickly! Make something to eat. How can we keep our benefactor waiting?"
The old woman immediately got up and went to the kitchen, leaving the two of them awkwardly staring at each other in the living room.
Just as Gorth was pondering how to break the deadlock, the old man suddenly slammed his hands heavily on both sides of the wooden table.
Gorth's body trembled, and the old man suddenly stood up, shouting in a loud voice:
"Thank you so much for saving my life!"
Gorth looked at the other person with suspicion and uncertainty. Was this... a way of thanking him?
Seeing that Gorth didn't react, the old man gestured wildly and said something, to which Gorth could only nod occasionally in response.
After some time, the old man seemed to have grown tired of talking, and the old woman came out of the kitchen with fresh food.
Looking at the food in front of him and the two nervous elderly people across from him, Gorth felt he had to do something.
With his hand reaching behind him, Gorth pulled out his drawing board under the old man's tense gaze.
The atmosphere instantly quieted down. Gorth waved his arm, the charcoal pencil scraping against the paper with a rapid, soft sound.
The two elderly people held their breath, watching in terror as Gorth's hand left behind afterimages.
The old woman gripped her husband's hand tightly, her voice trembling:
"Old man... what... what did you just say to them? Why did you suddenly..."
"I... I just said a few words of thanks..."
The old man was also unsure, so he lowered his voice to answer.
Just then, Gorth suddenly stopped moving.
He gently placed the easel in the center of the wooden table and slowly pushed it toward the two of them.
The charcoal sketch depicts a simple yet captivating profile of a young girl.
With her deer ears drooping slightly and her eyes gentle and serene, it was Alina.
The two elderly people were stunned, staring blankly at the easel, then looked up at Gorth...
"You... you're here to see Alina?"
The old woman's voice suddenly brightened, carrying a hint of confirmation.
Upon hearing the keyword "Alina," Gorth immediately nodded.
"Oh! So you're looking for Alina!"
The old man slapped his thigh, completely relaxing.
"You should have said so earlier! We were so nervous... Alina left early this morning, saying she was going to wait for you at the edge of the forest so she could learn from you!"
When their beloved granddaughter was mentioned, the two elderly people immediately started talking, and their previous restraint and awe vanished completely.
They started rambling on about how Alina was sensible from a young age, how much she loved learning, and what books she liked to read...
They were speaking the authentic Ursus dialect, Gorth could only catch the name "Alina" that kept appearing.
Faced with the two elderly people's fervent emotions, Gorth could only nod occasionally or gaze at them with gentle eyes.
However, his polite, passive response gave the two elderly people a misconception—
This benefactor not only adored their granddaughter, but was also interested in these trivial matters about her life!
As a result, the two elderly people smiled more and more, and talked more and more.
Before they knew it, the old woman had reached Gorth's side, her calloused hands gently grasping Gorth's hands, which were far too large for them.
As she took photos, she recounted amusing anecdotes from Alina's childhood, as if chatting with a close relative.
Gorth's body stiffened.
He wasn't opposed to contact, but this intimate, homely atmosphere, devoid of any barriers, made him feel both familiar and strange... uneasy.
What made him even more uneasy was that the old man opposite him seemed to think the atmosphere was already warm and harmonious enough, and actually walked towards the wooden cabinet.
He fumbled around and pulled out a glass bottle containing a clear liquid.
That couldn't be... vodka, could it!?
Gorth said that Vane 'Ursus Prototype Armor was a Russian bear!
This can't go on!
By now, Gorth could roughly guess that Alina had left to look for him, even though he had clearly said he would come to pick her up...
With a sigh, Gorth gave the order to Shadow Wolf.
A knocking sound came from the window, and the two elderly people looked out the window, where the Shadow Wolf's figure was clearly visible.
Gorth pointed out the window, and the old woman understood, regretfully letting go of his hand.
Gorth breathed a sigh of relief, bowed to the two of them, and turned to walk out the door.
"Etc!"
Gorth froze, turned around, and saw a bottle of wine being handed to him across the table.
After a moment of silence, Gorth reached out and took it.
He whispered his thanks, and without waiting to see if the other person understood, Gorth pushed open the door and left.
When the two elderly people looked out the door, all they saw was endless wind and snow.
"Is my advisor really asleep...?"
At the edge of the Black Forest, Talulah idly built a small snowman out of the snow, and casually stuck two dry branches into it to serve as the snowman's arms.
Ali picked up two dry branches and stuck them on the snowman's head, speaking gently in defense of Gorth.
"Our mentor manages such a large forest all by himself. He must be very tired. It's normal for him to need more rest."
That's what they say...
Talulah sighed; the snowman had been made a bit too round.
"But we've waited so long and there's still no news... Could it be that the professor actually thinks we're too much trouble and is using this method to politely decline?"
She paused, then scratched her hair in frustration.
"I wish I hadn't been in such a rush to invite the professor. Maybe I scared them off...?"
No.
A weary voice sounded against her back, Talulah her tail up and jumped away.
"Professor! When did you arrive?"
"Don't call me mentor..."
Gorth corrected the way he was addressed, pointing to Talulah's shadow.
Just now.
After Talulah jumped away, the snowman that had just been completed on the ground was revealed.
Gorth's gaze fell on the two rather pointed withered branches on the snowman's head, and he hesitated before asking:
"Is... me?"
The two looked embarrassed; clearly, the snowman they had casually sculpted was not aesthetically pleasing.
"Ahem, actually it's Mr. Patriot..."
Talulah's eyes darted around. Gorth glanced at her, then bent down and scooped up the soil from beneath the snowman, holding it in his palm.
"Then let's keep it. If he comes again next time, we can take a look together."
Ignoring Talulah's hesitant expression, Gorth looked at Alina was standing obediently to his side.
There wasn't much snow on him; that must be thanks to some dragon girl.
How long have you been waiting here?
Gorth's voice was gentler than before, Alina bowed slightly:
"We didn't have to wait long, we just..."
"We arrived at dawn!"
Talulah's excited voice instantly drowned out Alina's soft explanation; she puffed out her chest, looking as if to say, "We're absolutely sincere."
"I brought Alina here early this morning so I could start learning from you as soon as possible!"
Gorth's gaze turned to Talulah with a lingering intensity.
I was wondering why Alina wasn't waiting patiently at home; turns out it was you who lured her out early this morning!
Gorth's hands, which were holding the snowman, tightened slightly, and the frozen snow made a soft cracking sound.
He gritted his teeth and said to Talulah, word by word:
"Next time... you can come alone."
Talulah was taken aback, a hint of nervousness appearing on her face. She glanced at Gorth, then at Alina, and cautiously asked:
"Mentor... did Alina do something wrong and unintentionally offend you? If so, I apologize on her behalf."
Gorth stared at Talulah for several seconds, until he confirmed the genuine confusion and worry in her eyes, before finally making up his mind.
This thing is really silly.
Somewhat wearily shifting his gaze, Gorth sighed, his voice softening:
"Alina and I have agreed that I will pick her up every day... so you can go alone, there's no need to bring her along."
Hearing Gorth's obviously tired words, Alina, who was watching from the sidelines, thought for a moment and chuckled softly.
The laughter was soft, like snow falling on pine branches, but it only made Talulah more confused.
Gorth shook his head, said no more, and walked towards the Black Forest with the snowman in his arms.
With a cry of surprise from Alina, the Shadow Wolf rose from the shadows and lifted her up.
The Shadow Wolf bared its teeth at Talulah, who was standing to the side, and trotted after Gorth.
Seeing that Alina was not in danger, Talulah hurriedly caught up with the two.
"Mentor! Wait for me! I have some new ideas about your previous question!"
The vines wove together again to form a simple shelter and a table and chairs, and the three of them took their places.
After posing several dialectical questions to Talulah for her to ponder on her own, Gorth turned to Alina and nodded slightly.
"Please begin, Ms. Alina."
Alina was taken aback by what she heard, then her eyes crinkled into a happy smile.
She did not refuse and carefully took out several books from the cloth bag she carried with her.
"Alright, let's begin today's lesson!"
Time passed...
Whether it was due to Alina's excellent teaching or because this body inherently possessed some kind of talent for language, Gorth's speed in mastering language was astonishing.
During this time, Talulah would occasionally come over to listen or ask questions, sometimes genuinely seeking advice, and sometimes more like trying to escape from the "mind-bending" debate.
Time slipped by unnoticed, and it was almost noon in the blink of an eye.
Gorth paused his teaching and took out some beast meat to make a simple yet substantial roasted meal for the two of them.
During the meal, Gorth seemed to remember something.
Setting down the food in his hand, Gorth summoned the Mandrake Flower.
Its thick leaves unfurled, and the petals at its neck slightly opened and closed, basking in the long-awaited sunshine.
"From now on, you can live in this area, as long as you don't go beyond the forest."
The Mandrake Flower affectionately nuzzled Gorth's hand, then began to familiarize itself with the surroundings of the camp.
"This is..."
Alina and Talulah both looked over curiously. Gorth explained:
"Let's just consider it a special plant life created by Originium Arts. Want to touch it?"
The Mandrake Flower was moved next to Alina.
The girl curiously reached out her hand, Mandrake Flower also extended a slender branch, gently touching her fingertips, causing its leaves to tremble with pleasure.
"So cute~" Alina couldn't help but exclaim softly.
Seeing this, Talulah also eagerly extended her hand:
"Let me touch it too!"
The Mandrake Flower's branches paused for a moment, then quickly retracted under the leaves, as if to say, "Don't touch me."
"..." Talulah on the spot, then began to grumble in dissatisfaction.
"Why?! Why do you treat all your creations differently, Professor?!"
Is it possible that the problem lies with you?
Gorth knew that the Mandrake Flower disliked the high temperature emanating from Talulah, while Alina jokingly teased her.
"Perhaps it's because you're sometimes too 'enthusiastic,' Little Tal?"
"Really, Alina, you say that too!"
Talulah puffed out her cheeks, but quickly calmed down.
Time passed by leisurely...
As the sunlight in the forest gradually turned golden, Gorth was the first to stand up.
"It's getting late, I'll take you home."
The Shadow Wolf emerged from the shadows once more. Talulah chuckled.
"I'll walk back myself..."
Gorth glanced at her silently, then raised his hand again.
"Gah--"
The clear, melodious cawing of crows broke the silence of the forest, and a massive Shadow Crow took flight from the shadows.
It circled twice in the low sky before landing steadily on the open ground in front of the crowd, quietly watching them.
"What a huge Fowlbeast..."
Without explaining to the two, Gorth's mind stirred, and with the enhancement of his skill, the Shadow Crow's size expanded again, transforming in the blink of an eye into a Behemoth that could easily support the three of them.
"Come on up,"
Gorth was the first to mount Shadow Crow's broad back, looking at Talulah.
"This time, I'll take you back with me."
Talulah and Alina exchanged a glance, both seeing barely suppressed excitement on each other's faces.
Talulah scooped up Alina ("Hey! Little Tal!"), took two running steps, and nimbly jumped onto Shadow Crow's back.
"Hold on tight."
The Shadow Crow let out a cry, spread its wings, and flapped them forcefully—
Call--!
Gale swept across the ground, Shadow Crow carried the three of them steadily off the ground, bursting out of the canopy of the Black Forest.
Below, the vast snowfield presents a magnificent yet tranquil outline.
The cold wind was biting high in the sky, but the shadow energy around Shadow Crow Raven formed a barrier that effectively blocked the wind.
Talulah excitedly pointed to the scene rushing past below and shouted something, but most of her voice was carried away by the wind.
Alina leaned against Talulah, gazing intently at the familiar yet unfamiliar Daichi, her eyes reflecting the magnificent sunset on the horizon.
Gorth sat quietly at the front, directing the Shadow Crow to glide smoothly toward the village.
The wind lifted his robes, Talulah laughed and pressed them down.
The rosy light was a little dazzling, Gorth raised his hand to shield his eyes. Alina watched this scene thoughtfully.
In the twilight sky, giant crows soar, carrying the day's harvest and ease, flying homeward.