It was a pleasant afternoon, with wisps of cloud drifting across the sky.
After afternoon training, Rudeus once again flew off to the familiar little cliff in a flash.
Sylphie had arrived early again today. Over the past few months, Rudeus had taught her nearly every spell in the beginner magic book, holding nothing back.
A gentle breeze swept across the cliff, carrying the fresh, sweet scent of grass and wildflowers.
As always, Sylphie sat on the sun-warmed rock, her short emerald hair shining softly in the light like a jewel left behind by a forest spirit.
When she saw Rudeus, her green eyes lit up at once. Her lips curved into a sweet smile, and she gave him a little wave:
"Rudeus! You finally made it~"
Rudeus landed beside her, the magic beneath his feet quietly fading away. For some reason, his heart skipped a beat.
These days, every time he saw her, that pure joy welled up in his heart like a spring.
She was no longer the timid little girl she had once been. She was gradually blossoming into her own radiance-gentle and clever, yet with a touch of natural innocence that made him want to protect her.
"Let's learn something new today."
Rudeus sat down with a smile and took out several sheets of parchment he had prepared in advance.
Simple magic circles had been drawn on them in magic ink, their lines smooth and elegant, like the ancient paths of stars:
"The basics of magic circles. Instead of simply chanting spells, you draw a circle and let magic flow, gather, and be released on its own. That way, even if you get distracted in battle, you can keep the spell stable."
Sylphie nodded earnestly and leaned forward slightly, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows beneath her eyes.
She reached out with a slender, pale finger and gently touched the lines on the parchment, as though feeling the pulse hidden within them:
"You're amazing, Rudeus... I only knew how to use magic directly before. I never knew you could 'write' it down like this."
Rudeus took her hand, and the moment their palms met, warmth quietly passed between them.
He patiently explained the function of each point, the order in which to channel magic into them, and how to avoid backlash.
Sylphie learned as quickly as ever. In less than half an hour, she could already draw a small "Wind's Protection" circle on the parchment by herself.
The lines were still a little rough, but they had a lively beauty to them, light and full of life, just like her.
"Next comes the practical part." Rudeus took one of his old shirts out of his pocket and spread it over the rock:
"Try drawing it on the shirt. You need to let the magic seep evenly into the fibers. If it's too strong, it'll burn the fabric; if it's too weak, the circle won't activate. Imagine it's an extension of your body, as natural as breathing."
Sylphie's cheeks flushed slightly as she took the shirt and carefully channeled magic into her fingertips.
A pale cyan glow flowed over her fingertips as she bit her lower lip and drew with intense concentration.
Magic slowly swirled through the circle, eventually forming a tiny vortex. The edges of the shirt actually fluttered up, as though it had a will of its own.
Rudeus watched the fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead, a tender affection welling up in his heart-she always worked so hard, just so she could stand more confidently by his side.
"It worked!" She looked up in delight, her eyes curving into crescents, and slipped the shirt on to try it.
Once she had it on, she gently channeled magic into it, and a thin film of wind enveloped her body, shielding her from the strong wind on the cliff.
"Rudeus, it feels so light... Can I make circles like this on my own clothes someday? Ones that keep out water or hold in heat, for example..."
"Of course." Rudeus ruffled her hair:
"Once you've gotten the hang of it, we can design more complicated magic circles together."
Time quietly passed as they talked.
The clouds that had looked so gentle at first gradually gathered, and the wind took on a damp chill.
Rudeus looked up to see a bank of lead-gray clouds bearing down on them from not far away:
"Looks like it's going to rain. Let's head back."
Sylphie was reluctant to leave, but she nodded obediently and took Rudeus's hand.
The two rode the wind side by side as raindrops fell behind them as though giving chase. A few scattered drops quickly turned into a downpour.
The rain soaked her hair, plastering it to her cheeks like sparkling dewdrops.
Rudeus quickly grabbed her wrist. Magic surged, lifting both of them higher and higher as they sped through the storm.
"Run!" I pulled her along, picking up speed as we raced toward home.
The maid Lilia was already standing at the door, her long crimson hair perfectly in place and her posture as graceful as a classical painting:
"Young master, welcome home. And this is... Miss Sylphie, I presume? The hot water is ready. Please, both of you, hurry and bathe before you catch cold."
Lilia's gaze lingered on Sylphie for a moment, the faintest hint of a smile on her lips.
That smile held both an elder's affection and a touch of mischief.
Rudeus felt his face heat up and hurriedly led Sylphie toward the bathroom:
"Thanks, Lilia. We can manage on our own."
The bathroom was hazy with steam, the scent of hot water mingling with the freshness of herbs, soothing body and mind.
The tub had already been filled with warm water, and clean towels and a change of clothes were stacked beside it.
"Sylphie, you go first."
"Rudeus... it's raining so hard outside, and you got soaked too."
"It's fine. You go first. I'm sturdy, so I won't catch a cold."
"All right..."
...(Nothing I can do.)
After bathing, we each changed into dry clothes.
Sylphie wore an oversized shirt I had lent her, its hem reaching her knees like a cute little dress.
She spun around, smiling until her eyes narrowed:
"Rudeus's clothes smell so much like you."
In the living room, dinner was already prepared.
Lilia's cooking was as exquisite as ever:
Golden-roasted herb chicken, tender vegetable soup, piping-hot bread, and a plate of colorful salad.
At the table, my father Paul leaned back in his chair, his trademark mischievous grin on his face;
My mother Zenith smiled gently, her eyes full of warmth.
"Well, if it isn't our little elf!" Paul whistled as soon as he saw Sylphie:
"Rudeus, you little rascal, you sure move fast. You even brought a girl home for a bath on a rainy day!"
"You damn old geezer!" Rudeus blushed to the tips of his ears and hurriedly pulled Sylphie down to sit:
"Don't say stuff like that. We were just getting out of the rain."
Zenith chuckled and gracefully served Sylphie a bowl of soup:
"Sylphie, welcome to our home. Don't mind Paul. He just loves to joke."
"Thank you for spending these days practicing with Rudeus. He's always so serious. Come visit more often. We all like you."
Sylphie lowered her head and said softly, "Thank you, ma'am."
But her ears were bright red and almost translucent. Rudeus secretly took her hand beneath the table, and she squeezed his back, her warm palm conveying a steady warmth.
Paul continued teasing them:
"Oh, right, Rudeus, let me tell you something. Teaching magic is one thing, but don't keep sneaking touches of her hand under the pretext of teaching her!"
"You damn old geezer! When did I do that?" At those words, Rudeus loosened his grip slightly.
"Don't think I didn't see you. Yesterday, when you were teaching her to adjust her casting gestures, your hand was pressed against hers for ages, and your face was as red as a ripe tomato. You might be able to hide those little thoughts of yours from your mother, but do you think you can hide them from me?"
"I was helping Sylphie guide the flow of her magic. You're a swordsman, so if you don't understand, don't talk nonsense, okay?"
"Look at you, getting worked up again. If you like her, be open about it. When I was courting your mother, I was a lot bolder than you."
"If you keep dragging your feet like this and some blind knight carries Sylphie off one day, you can go hide under your covers and cry!"
"Hey! She's right here!" Rudeus pointed at Sylphie beside him.
Sylphie was as red with embarrassment as a red-hot iron bar, steam billowing from the top of her head.
When everyone turned to look at her as they talked, Sylphie grew so nervous that she wanted nothing more than to bury her head in Rudeus's arms.
"Don't mind him, Sylphie. Paul just likes to joke around," Zenith said, smoothing things over:
"But Sylphie really is a good girl. Rudeus, you make sure to treat her well."
Rudeus nodded solemnly in response:
"I will."
Dinner went on amid laughter and conversation.
Paul told stories of his adventures when he was young, his exaggerated gestures drawing an occasional giggle from Sylphie;
Zenith occasionally served her food, her gaze as gentle as if she were looking at her own daughter.
Lilia attended to them silently, occasionally giving them a knowing look.
The rain still fell outside the window, but inside it was as warm as spring.
After dinner, Rudeus walked Sylphie back to her home. The rain had lightened, and the air was filled with the fragrance of earth.
They walked shoulder to shoulder along the damp stone path, her hand holding Rudeus's the whole way, their fingers entwined like two vines quietly winding around each other.
"Today... thank you, Rudeus."
She stopped at the door and looked up at Rudeus, her eyes sparkling:
"I learned about magic circles, and ate such a delicious meal, and together..."
"Anyway, I'm so happy."
Rudeus bent his head and gently kissed her forehead:
"There'll be many more days like this. Good night, Sylphie. Sweet dreams."
Sylphie rose onto her tiptoes and kissed Rudeus on the cheek in return, then ran into the house with a smile, looking back to wave before closing the door.
Her emerald hair swayed in the lamplight, like a glimpse of spring that would never fade...