In the end, Lokkishi reluctantly accepted the fact that she had picked up another wild disciple.
Rudy's talent was clearly greater than Lokkishi's, but when it came to teaching, she was obviously the more professional one. She spent the entire afternoon explaining all kinds of magical knowledge to Sylphy in simple, accessible terms.
That evening, they discussed things and, since Lokkishi would be leaving soon, she decided to put Sylphy through intensive training over the next few days.
Based on everyone's performance on the second day, they roughly settled on a schedule:
Morning: The three of them gathered on the hill to practice magic, while Allen practiced swordsmanship nearby.
Afternoon: They held magic theory lessons at home, while Allen practiced swordsmanship nearby.
Evening: In the bedroom that had once belonged to Allen but now belonged to Lokkishi, she expanded on strange tales related to magic around the world for Sylphy. Uh, really, she was just reading stories.
Of course, Allen still practiced swordsmanship nearby.
But with lessons at night as well, Sylphy often did not return home until late at night. So they went to Rolls together and successfully talked Sylphy into staying at Rudy's house until Lokkishi left.
It was worth mentioning that when Rolls heard the suggestion, he agreed almost without hesitation. Sylphy's mother also gently encouraged her from the side.
The child who had always been bullied in the village seemed to have truly found some good friends.
And so time flew by amid Allen's cries of, "One more time, please!" In the blink of an eye, it was the night before Lokkishi's departure.
--
"All right, Sylphy, stop crying. You were so composed just a week ago. Why are you crying now?"
Sylphy wiped away her tears, completely unmoved by Rudy's head-scratching, idiot-style attempts at consolation. She was still young. Two months ago, she had made her first friends in life, and then a week ago, she had gained a kind and beautiful teacher for practically nothing. Those novel experiences and that lively, joyful atmosphere had made her wake up every day filled with anticipation, brimming with excitement.
Then, suddenly, parting arrived.
The moment Lokkishi announced that the lessons were over, Sylphy stumbled off the rising peak of anticipation.
She immediately burst into tears.
Lokkishi had already seemed unusually quiet today, and now she was so flustered that she did not know how to comfort Sylphy.
As for Allen, he was flicking his sword outward from beside his elbow in an awkward stance. When the sword tip reached the bottom of its swing, the blade trembled.
He wiped the sweat from his face. Looking at Sylphy crying, he said with an ugly expression,
".Sylphy, give me a Healing Spell."
Hearing that, Sylphy wiped away tears with one hand and stretched the other toward Allen. Between sobs, she chanted in broken intervals,
"Goddess of merciful love, like a mother... Please heal this person's wounds... Let him regain a healthy body... Hea... Healing Spell!"
Allen's expression improved, and he drew his sword again, about to swing it through the air.
Watching Allen, Rudy no longer spoke in his usual joking tone. He looked at Allen and slowly said in a calm voice,
"Allen... Aren't you usually full of pretty words? Why are you putting on such an indifferent, calm face when Teacher is leaving tomorrow? Can't you see Sylphy has been crying this whole time?"
Hearing that, Lokkishi walked over to Rudy, wanting to stop a possible argument from breaking out. But after her lips moved for a moment, she ultimately said nothing.
Allen gripped his sword. This time, instead of slowly swinging it through the air as he had been practicing these past few days, he casually spun the blade and slashed hard into the halo of candlelight beside his face.
".Rudy, what reaction do you think would be appropriate? So what if Sylphy is crying? Do you think crying should not be allowed? That sadness should not be accepted?"
Rudy froze for a moment. Lokkishi and Sylphy also stared blankly at Allen.
Allen ran his fingertips along the blade's forged patterns, all the way to its tip.
"I have always felt that in relationships between people, happiness should certainly be remembered, but pain should not be deliberately avoided. No matter what emotions you are feeling in the moment—happiness or sadness, excitement or sorrow—do not suppress them. Feel them. Experience them. That is proof that this experience truly existed."
"B-but... if that's the case..."
Allen flicked the blade with a finger, producing a clear ding.
"If that's the case, you'll have even more strength to look forward to the next reunion."
He sheathed the sword with a clang. Wind surged around him, scattering everyone's hair. The three of them stared at him in astonishment.
"Isn't that right?"
After being stunned for a moment, Rudy came back to his senses.
".Then what about you? According to your theory, you're neither crying nor smiling, with that calm face of yours. Does that mean you feel nothing about Teacher leaving? Weren't you the one who invited her to stay a few more days?"
Lokkishi paused, instinctively shifting her gaze away from the confrontation between them, but she could not avoid hearing their voices.
Then Allen's lazy voice echoed through the room.
"Because I am certain we will meet again in the future, I am calm."
Rudy looked at Lokkishi. She acted as though she had not heard Allen's words at all, merely tilting her head to look at the candle on the table and blinking.
The candle flame licked at the air, utterly unmoved.
Seeing this, Rudy suddenly felt somewhat discouraged and no longer wanted to speak.
Then Allen suddenly hooked an arm around his neck and shoved his smiling face in front of Rudy. Rudy stared at him for a moment before saying irritably,
".Get away from me. Trying to sweet-talk me now is useless, you guy who only knows how to say pretty things."
Allen chuckled.
"Rudy, how about we celebrate with magic tonight?"
"Huh? What do you mean, celebrate with magic?"
"Could you use magic like a Fireball Spell mixed with a shockwave to create Mixed Magic, then shoot it into the sky so it explodes into a brilliant ball of flaming light? Wouldn't that look amazing? I'm sure Lokkishi and Sylphy would both like it."
Rudy froze and instinctively said,
"HANABI?"
Allen smiled in mock confusion.
"What?"
Rudy looked at Lokkishi and Sylphy beside him, both of whom had curious expressions. He scratched his head, then walked to the window and pushed it open. The night wind swept in from the quiet Buena Village outside, tossing Lokkishi's, Sylphy's, Allen's, and his own hair into disarray.
Rudy turned back to look at the smiling Allen and sighed inwardly.
As an adult with the mental age of someone in his thirties, he certainly would not become sentimental over a separation and do something as childish as confronting Allen.
His reaction this time had only been an excuse to vent his anger at Allen. Nothing more.
He had clearly met Lokkishi first.
Why did she so obviously have a better impression of Allen?
Looking back at these two chapters, they might seem sweet to someone like me who is restrained with emotions, but the sweetness probably is not obvious enough. Still, I guarantee real sweetness tomorrow!
Speaking of sweetness, this struggling author recommends a book: "My Childhood Sweetheart Next Door": Reborn in childhood, destined to be by her side.
It gave me the feeling of watching 5 Centimeters Per Second, of the moment when adult Takaki and her passed each other by the train tracks, turned back, and somehow traveled through time—returning to childhood to begin another Cherry Blossom Chapter.
If you like everyday romance stories, do not miss it.
Before you continue