Chapter 169 - Return (4)

I imagined a restaurant from Silveryn's childhood would have marble tables with high nobles lounging dignifiedly inside.

But looking outside, I saw no buildings fitting for such an upscale restaurant. Sunlight barely reached here, and passersby wore shabby clothes. It was a remote area where only lower classes might live.

"Get out, time to eat."

Silveryn got out first and covered herself with a robe against the rain. With her distinctive long hair and appearance hidden, her outward appearance was unrecognizable. For some reason, she seemed to be trying to conceal her identity. Silveryn sent the carriage away and started walking.

After walking through those streets for a while, I understood why she wanted to hide her appearance.

Street vagrants and thugs stared intently at Silveryn and me. Even with her robe pulled low, her facial features still drew attention to their beauty.

She held out her hand.

"Hold it."

"..."

"You might get kidnapped just walking. Hold it."

"I'm past that age."

Do I really need to say this? Silveryn sometimes tends to treat me like a child.

"No, your current appearance really makes one want to kidnap you. Hurry and hold it."

With her insisting so much, I reluctantly took her hand, and she interlocked our fingers tightly as we walked. Since Silveryn was quite tall and was wearing high-heeled shoes, I ended up looking like a child being led by an adult's hand.

Still, the strange distance between us disappeared completely once we held hands.

After passing through several alleys, we reached a main street that was somewhat sunlit. Then she headed toward a tavern bright with interior lights and noisy chatter.

We entered and found seats at an empty table.

Drunkards' loud voices pierced our ears. Judging by the appearance of other diners, there wasn't anyone of noble status.

The table had strange plant bits and sawdust scattered about, with numerous knife marks. Had Silveryn frequented such a rough place since childhood?

"I didn't know... you were from the Principality."

"I spent most of my youth here."

"Did you live in places like this?"

"Yes, it brings back memories. People here called me Siren."

"Why?"

"When I screamed, people would cover their ears and collapse."

"...Was it magic?"

"I didn't know how to use magic then. People just couldn't handle the magical pressure from my innate mana capacity."

"You were born to be a mage, Teacher."

Contrary to my assumption that she'd been raised privileged, Silveryn seemed to have lived quite a rough life.

"Right. Thanks to that, I survived well even here."

I wanted to ask in detail about how she lived here with her brother, but I couldn't risk freezing the atmosphere that had just thawed.

When a server approached our table, Silveryn ordered immediately as if she'd already decided.

Goat milk cheese, pickled fish, pumpkin pie, venison.

The spread that arrived was too luxurious for commoners but somewhat modest for nobles.

"Go ahead, eat."

"You should eat too, Teacher."

She rested her chin on both hands and waited eagerly with bright eyes for me to eat.

I placed portions of each food on my plate and began eating. Silveryn's gaze remained fixed on me.

The taste itself was excellent beyond reproach.

"How is it? Good, right?"

"It's incredibly delicious."

"Worth the risk coming here, wasn't it?"

Perhaps she wanted to show me a place of her memories. Though it seemed like such a small, insignificant thing, it carved something deep in my heart. It made me wonder if this was how it felt to travel with family.

"Master."

"Yes?"

"Why are you so good to me?"

"Suddenly?"

Though the question came abruptly, I'd been thinking about it for quite a while.

"Yes. I'm curious."

"Because you have something I couldn't have?"

"Is there something you don't have, Master?"

She seemed like someone who could obtain anything she wanted.

Silveryn smiled casually.

"I'm human too."

Though I wasn't sure exactly what she meant by something I had that she didn't, I briefly thanked whatever deity had bestowed this precious thing on me.

"When are you leaving, Teacher?"

"I'll leave tomorrow morning."

"..."

"Too early? I think so too. It's regrettable."

"What matter has caught your ankle this time?"

"A prisoner escaped from the Principality's underground prison. Not a dangerous person, but someone... no, something that has important information is wandering around."

"And after you catch them?"

"Then I must head north."

"Can't I help?"

Silveryn firmly shook her head.

"You still need to grow more. My work is my responsibility, and you must follow your own path."

Though I thought I'd grown a lot in this short time, perhaps I was still lacking in Silveryn's eyes.

We didn't take the carriage but walked instead. Passing through old buildings, we entered a forest with a small path. The sun had already set, and the moon and stars were twinkling. Silveryn held my hand tightly as if afraid of losing me, and summoned something like a will-o'-wisp to light our way.

"Did you walk this path every day?"

"Yes. So few people use it now that it's overgrown with grass."

We were heading to Silveryn's old house.

Following her guidance, we arrived at a log cabin with a grass-covered yard. For an uninhabited place, it seemed quite well maintained.

As we entered the yard, a Plantera emerged from behind the house.

"...!"

"Well, it would be troublesome if someone arbitrarily occupied my villa."

Looking closely, it was holding weeds in its hands. She must have assigned the Plantera to maintain the house.

Silveryn opened the door and went inside. The house's interior had one living room and two bedrooms. Without reciting any particular spell, all the candles and oil lamps in the room lit up.

One room was Silveryn's, and the other was her brother’s.

She casually took off her robe, hung it on a chair, and said, "Could you throw some firewood in the fireplace?"

"Yes."

When I brought firewood from the yard and threw it in, it lit up by itself. Once the fireplace was burning, the long-abandoned house quickly became warm.

"Sit down."

She brought a kettle from somewhere, put tea leaves in it, and placed it in front of the fireplace.

While the water boiled, I looked around the house, turning my head this and that way. The place was thick with traces of life.

A small checkered dress that seemed too small for Silveryn hung on the wall. On another wall were height measurement marks. It felt like her childhood traces remained intact.

Soon after, Silveryn handed me a teacup.

"Drink."

I took the cup and asked, "Did you and your brother spend every day like this, Teacher?"

"No."

She paused, taking a sip of tea before continuing.

"My brother had more sick days than healthy ones. So I have almost no memories of doing things together."

"..."

She smiled weakly.

Clearly, I shouldn't have brought up her brother. I quickly changed the subject.

"Teacher, what's that?"

I pointed to a silver box on the shelf.

"Ah, that?"

Silveryn got up, took it, and held it out to me.

"Open it."

When I opened the box, gentle music flowed out. Three or four instruments seemed to blend together in harmony. I couldn't understand how such rich, diverse sounds could come from something so small.

"It's a magic music box."

"How did you get this?"

"The examiners brought it when they were trying to get me into Eternia."

"Why this?"

"To show me there was a new world out there. I was indifferent to all sorts of magic shows, but I fell completely for this music box."

"I think I would fall for it too."

"You'll hear this music again soon. It's 'Bella and Abel,' Eternia's signature ball dance piece."

"..."

The mention of the ball suddenly made me queasy. Silveryn must have noticed my subtle expression change with her keen senses, as she looked at me with half-closed eyes.

"You'll experience your first ball next month—have you chosen a partner?"

It's terrible that the ball is so close. I haven't even danced once, let alone found a partner.

"I don't like dancing."

Silveryn maintained her suspicious gaze. 

What exactly is she suspicious about?

"Still, shouldn't you learn to dance?"

"...I'll learn when the time comes."

"Haa, how long will you keep putting it off? Stand up."

"What?"

"I'll teach you."

"Now?"

"Didn't you say you'd learn when the time comes? Now is perfect. Who else but your teacher would teach you?"

No, I'm not ready. I was thinking of learning maybe ten years from now.

Unable to wait any longer, Silveryn grabbed my arm and forced me up.

"T-Teacher?"

She put the music box in my hands and pushed me toward the door.

"Take off your shoes!" after shouting that, she took off her shoes and tossed them aside.

Bewildered, I also took off my shoes and stood barefoot on the grass.

Moonlight illuminated the yard.

"Open the music box."

Following her instruction, I opened it and placed it a short distance away.

Gentle music flowed out while insects provided companionship.

I was so nervous my body had completely stiffened. Though I didn't want to show it, I knew I couldn't escape Silveryn's keen eye.

Silveryn moved close to me, leaving just a hand's width between us.

"Put your hand on my waist."

"...Yes."

I placed my hand on her slender waist. I could feel her body move with each breath.

She put her hand on my shoulder and said, "Looking at you like this, you've definitely grown. When I first met you, you came up to my chest."

"...Will I ever be eye-level with you, Teacher?"

"You will. What I worry about is that day coming too soon."

"..."

I wanted to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Silveryn. 

I wanted to be of help to her.

"Ready?"

"Yes."

"Following the rhythm, first step right."

I moved to the side with my stiff body. Silveryn followed my movement smoothly.

"One step left."

Following her instructions as we danced, I stepped on her foot. Having my mistake so clearly exposed was extremely embarrassing.

"It's okay."

"I'm... sorry."

I was anxious about leaving a bruise on Silveryn's delicate foot. She spoke as if trying to comfort me, "There's a line in a famous play: tangled steps are what make it a dance."

"...It's the opposite of swordsmanship."

"Right, I think that's the charm of dancing."

At first, I couldn't meet Silveryn's eyes, but as time passed, I grew accustomed to it and found it no longer difficult to make eye contact.

Though not skilled at dancing, I could now follow the flow of the music.

I looked up at her face.

Soft moonlight illuminated Silveryn's face. A gentle smile adorned her face and her cheeks were tinged with red.

It felt like a night I would remember for the rest of my life.

Morning came, and we moved again.

The time for farewell arrived like an arrow.

Silveryn gave me the carriage and arranged to borrow a horse from the government office.

We stopped the carriage at our parting point and got out.

Silveryn stood facing me and spread her arms.

Without either of us taking the lead, we pulled each other into an embrace. After spending some tender time like that, I spoke first, "When will I see you again?"

"I'll come back during the break."

"Alright."

"But... can't you give me a kiss now?"

"...What?"

Silveryn tightened her grip around my waist. Even when I moved, it wouldn't loosen. I started having trouble breathing.

She looked down at me and said, "A kiss."

"Teacher... I..."

I showed my discomfort while urging her.

Her tone grew slightly cold as she pressed.

"I'm starting to feel a bit hurt."

When I tried to avoid her gaze, Silveryn tilted her head to follow my eyes. There was no escape.

"Come on."

I thought about it seriously.

It was too much to be just an expression of closeness between master and disciple, yet not enough to be something more. It was an action balanced on an ambiguous line. While it wouldn't ruin our master-disciple relationship, it would definitely cross an irreversible boundary.