The moonlight shimmered softly on Keal's blood-streaked cheeks as he walked beside Lina, their small footsteps echoing through the quiet path back to the village.
She glanced at him, cheeks still stained a shade of crimson deeper than embarrassment. Her eyes flicked to his torn shirt, to the drying goblin blood that had painted his arms like warpaint. Yet he walked like it was a summer stroll.
"I can't believe you really… killed it," Lina whispered, her voice barely audible.
Keal tilted his head and smiled. "Yeah, it was ugly. I thought maybe if I complimented it, it'd go away, but it didn't even like my pickup lines."
"You… flirted with the goblin?"
"Hey, I flirt with death all the time. It just didn't get my charm," Keal replied, winking.
Lina blinked, her mouth parting in surprise. Then she giggled.
"Keal, you're... really weird."
"Only weird enough to impress pretty girls who walk into forests alone and scream dramatically."
"Oh shut up!" Lina punched his shoulder, though it was too light to hurt even a rabbit.
They kept walking. Keal could feel the blood drying between his fingers. His knuckles ached, and his heart pounded—not from fear, but from something electric.
When they finally reached the edge of the village, the peaceful quiet was broken by the creak of a wooden door swinging open.
Nylessa stood there.
Her eyes locked on Keal.
Then on the blood.
Then on the girl.
Then back to the blood.
"…Keal Veyr."
Keal winced. "Hi, beautiful gothic mother."
Lina's jaw dropped. "Did you just—"
"Yes, he did," Nylessa said, her voice low and deceptively sweet. "Come. Inside. Now."
Keal took one final breath of outdoor freedom and stepped inside the house like a prisoner entering his trial.
Nylessa crossed her arms. "Would you like to explain why you're covered in blood and why a strange girl is with you?!"
"Well, you see, I went for a walk, tripped on a dog's tail, ran into a forest, heard a scream, saved a beautiful girl from a goblin, flirted a little, killed it cruelly, and now here we are."
Nylessa blinked. "That's either a terrible lie or the truth of someone completely insane."
"It's the truth," Lina offered, stepping forward. "He… saved me. It was terrifying."
Nylessa's expression softened for a moment. She looked at Lina. Then at Keal again.
"…Bath. Now."
"But I was going to explain more!" Keal pleaded.
"Bath. Or I tie you up and scrub you myself."
"…Yes ma'am."
Keal ran for the bathroom.
As soon as the water hit him, Keal sighed. It was warm, clean, and nothing like the iron-scented mess he'd walked in with. He slouched back in the wooden tub, arms spread wide.
"That's the second time a girl's threatened to scrub me today."
From outside, Nylessa called out. "I heard that!"
"Love you too!" Keal called back.
The next hour passed with Keal humming as he bathed, Lina sitting awkwardly with Nylessa at the table.
"So… how long have you known Keal?" Lina asked.
Nylessa arched a brow. "Since birth. I raised him."
"Oh," Lina said. "He's… unique."
"That's a nice word for it."
Eventually, Keal emerged, a towel around his head, steam clinging to his bare arms. He looked ten years lighter, fresh, and only mildly deranged.
"Ready to study magic with me, Lina?" he beamed.
"I… guess? You're really fast at switching moods."
"I'm efficient," Keal said, adjusting his shirt. "Also, I'm really smart. And handsome. And modest."
"Definitely not modest," Nylessa muttered.
"Let's study!" Keal shouted.
They ran to his room, books already scattered across the floor. Keal threw himself into the cushions while Lina carefully sat on the other side of the low table.
Keal flipped open a beginner spellbook. "So, this chapter is about basic mana channeling. You gotta imagine your feelings and pull the power from your belly!"
Lina blinked. "From your… belly?"
"Yup. That's what the book says. You squeeze your tummy, feel warm, and imagine fire or light or a kiss—uh, not the last one."
Lina blushed.
Keal smiled, proud of himself.
"Watch!" he said, holding up a candle. "Light, light, pretty and bright, don't burn my eyebrows off tonight!"
A tiny spark flicked at the tip of his finger.
Then the candle caught.
Lina clapped. "You actually did it!"
Keal grinned. "Of course I did. Magic listens to me. I talk to inanimate objects. I have no friends."
She laughed. "That's really sad, you know."
"I make sad sound sexy."
They continued studying. Keal attempted a levitation spell, only to float a spoon before it stabbed him in the forehead. Lina tried a water spell and accidentally drenched his pants.
"I swear it wasn't pee!" Keal said when Nylessa peeked in.
"Don't care," Nylessa replied, leaving the room.
By the end of the evening, Keal had memorized a fire spell, Lina had memorized a light spell, and they both had memorized how much they enjoyed being near each other.
As they lay on the floor surrounded by books and failed enchantments, Keal turned to Lina and whispered, "You know… I think today was the best day ever."
She smiled, her fingers brushing the edge of his. "Even with all the blood and goblin stuff?"
"Especially because of the blood and goblin stuff."
Nylessa's voice echoed from the kitchen, sweet but commanding, "Keal! Lina! Dinner is ready! Come now before the stew grows cold!"
Keal's ears perked up, and his stomach rumbled like a tiny dragon in protest. "Yes, my beautiful cooking goddess!" he shouted dramatically, grabbing Lina's hand with flair. "Come, milady Lina. Our royal banquet awaits!"
Lina giggled but rolled her eyes. "You talk like you're some prince."
"I am a prince," Keal whispered with a wink. "A prince of romance, magic, and epic stomach growling."
They dashed to the table where a warm meal waited—potatoes, grilled meat, soft bread, and vegetable stew.
Nylessa watched them with a soft smile as they sat. "Eat up. You both look like you've been running from wolves."
"We were running from hunger," Keal said, biting into bread like it owed him money.
Lina tried to eat politely but ended up giggling every time Keal made a dramatic show of munching. "You've got stew on your cheek," she said.
Keal wiped it off with the bread. "Recycling. Saving nature."
Nylessa sighed, amused and mildly horrified. "I'm raising a gentleman. Or a wild forest creature. Not sure which."
Dinner went on with clinks of spoons and lots of laughter. Afterward, Nylessa cleared the plates, humming.
Keal took Lina's hand again. "Let's head to my room. It's magic o'clock."
Lina blushed a little. "Only magic, okay?"
Keal smirked. "Of course! I'm still a mage-in-progress, not a heartbreaker—yet."
Inside Keal's room, books were scattered, and a big open window let in moonlight.
They both sat cross-legged on the floor, spellbooks between them.
"So," Keal said, opening one with flare. "Let's start with basic fire and water magic. If I burn your hair, it's purely educational."
"You'll need water magic to put yourself out," Lina shot back with a smirk.
They focused on simple chants. Keal held out his palm. "Ignis!"
A spark flickered like a tiny firefly and vanished.
Lina clapped sarcastically. "Wow. The room is still intact. Miraculous."
Then it was her turn. "Aqua."
A tiny droplet hovered, then fell on Keal's shirt.
"Was that a tear of joy from the water gods?" he said.
They laughed, practiced, failed, and tried again. After an hour, small flames and tiny splashes danced between them.
"I feel like a baby dragon," Keal said proudly.
Lina stood up and stretched. "This baby dragon needs to head home."
Keal looked disappointed. "Aww. Already?"
"Nylessa said not to stay too late," she reminded him.
Keal walked her to the door. "Goodnight, Lady Lina of the Water Droplets and Fire Sparks."
She smiled back. "Goodnight, Prince Stew-on-Cheek."
As the door closed, Keal looked at his glowing hands and whispered, "One step closer to greatness… and maybe a princess."
He flopped onto his bed, a goofy grin still stuck to his face.
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