In the end, Roxy resigned herself to the fact that she had picked up another wild student.
Rudy's talent was clearly superior to Roxy's, but when it came to teaching, Roxy was obviously the more professional one. She spent the entire afternoon explaining various magical concepts to Sylphie in a way that was easy to understand.
After some discussion before nightfall, they decided that since Roxy would be leaving soon, she would conduct an intensive, high-pressure teaching session for Sylphie over the next few days.
Based on everyone's performance the following day, a preliminary schedule was established:
Morning: The three would gather on the hill to practice magic, with Alan practicing his sword nearby.
Afternoon: Magic theory lessons at home, with Alan practicing his sword nearby.
Evening: In what was formerly Alan's bedroom, but now belonged to Roxy, she would expand Sylphie's knowledge of world magic and folklore—basically, storytelling.
Of course, Alan would still be practicing his sword nearby.
However, with the addition of "lessons" in the evening, Sylphie often wouldn't get home until late at night. So, they all went to see Rolls and successfully convinced him to let Sylphie stay at Rudy's house until Roxy left.
It's worth noting that when Rolls heard the proposal, he agreed almost without a second thought, and Sylphie's mother also stood by, gently encouraging her daughter.
Their child, who had always been bullied in the village, seemed to have finally found good friends.
And so, time flew by amidst Alan's chants of "One more, please." In the blink of an eye, it was the night before Roxy's departure.
—
"Alright, Sylphie, stop crying. You were so brave just a week ago, why are you starting to cry now?"
Sylphie wiped her tears, unmoved by Rudy's awkward head-patting attempts at comfort. She was still young. Two months ago, she had made her first-ever friends, and a week ago, she had gained a beautiful and kind-hearted master. The novel experiences and the lively, happy atmosphere had filled her with anticipation every morning when she woke up. She was filled with joy…
And then, suddenly, departure was upon them.
The moment Roxy announced that the lessons were over, Sylphie, who had been soaring on a cloud of rising expectations, suddenly found the ground give way beneath her.
She immediately burst into tears.
Roxy had been unusually quiet all day, and now she was at a loss, not knowing how to comfort Sylphie.
As for Alan, he was practicing swinging his sword outwards from his elbow in an awkward posture. As the tip of the blade reached the bottom of its arc, the sword shuddered.
He wiped the sweat from his face and looked at the crying Sylphie, his expression grim.
"…Sylphie, a healing spell, please."
Hearing this, Sylphie wiped her tears with one hand and extended the other towards Alan, chanting in broken sobs.
"O benevolent goddess… like a mother's love, please heal this person's… wounds, and restore his healthy body. H-Heal!"
Alan's complexion improved. He drew his sword and was about to practice again.
Rudy, seeing Alan like this, spoke in a calm tone, devoid of his usual joking manner.
"Alan… you're usually so good with words. Teacher is leaving tomorrow, yet you're putting on such an indifferent, calm face? Can't you see Sylphie has been crying this whole time?"
Hearing this, Roxy walked over to Rudy, intending to stop a potential argument, but she hesitated for a moment and ultimately said nothing.
Alan gripped his sword. This time, instead of the slow practice swings of the past few days, he casually twirled it and swung it forcefully into the halo of the candlelight.
"…Rudy, what kind of reaction do you think is appropriate? So what if Sylphie is crying? Are you saying crying isn't allowed? That sadness shouldn't be accepted?"
Rudy was momentarily stunned. Roxy and Sylphie also looked at Alan blankly.
Alan ran his finger along the forged pattern of the blade, all the way to the tip.
"I've always believed that in relationships between people, happy moments should be cherished, but pain shouldn't be deliberately avoided. No matter what emotion you're feeling—happiness or sadness, excitement or sorrow—don't suppress it. Feel it, experience it. That is the proof that this experience existed."
"But… but then…"
Alan flicked the blade with his finger, producing a clear ding.
"Only then will you have the 'strength' to look forward to the next reunion."
He sheathed his sword. With a sharp zheng, a gust of wind emanated from him, messing up everyone's hair. The other three stared at him in shock.
"Don't you think?"
Rudy was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses.
"…What about you? According to your theory, you're not crying or laughing, just calm. Does that mean you feel nothing about Teacher leaving? Weren't you the one who invited her to stay a few more days?"
Roxy flinched, instinctively avoiding the clash between the two, but she couldn't escape their words.
Alan's lazy voice echoed in the room.
"Because I am certain we will meet again in the future, I am calm."
Rudy looked at Roxy. She seemed not to have heard Alan's words, simply turning her head to gaze at the candle flame on the table, blinking.
The flame licked at the air, unmoved.
Seeing this, Rudy suddenly felt discouraged and lost the will to say anything more.
But then, Alan threw an arm around his neck, bringing his smiling face close to Rudy's. Rudy stared at him for a moment before saying resentfully.
"…Get away from me. Trying to flatter me now won't work, you smooth-talker."
Alan chuckled.
"Rudy, what do you say we celebrate with some magic tonight?"
"Huh? What do you mean, celebrate with magic?"
"If you combine a Fireball with something like a shockwave spell, could you create a combination magic that shoots into the sky and explodes into a brilliant, fiery ball? Wouldn't that be beautiful? I bet Roxy and Sylphie would love it."
Rudy was taken aback and instinctively replied.
"Hanabi?"
Alan pretended to be puzzled and smiled.
"What?"
Rudy looked at Roxy and Sylphie, who were both looking at him with curiosity. He scratched his head, then walked to the window and pushed it open. The night breeze from the quiet Buena Village swept into the room, tossing his, Roxy's, Sylphie's, and Alan's hair.
Rudy looked back at the smiling Alan and sighed inwardly.
As a man with the mind of a thirty-something adult, he wouldn't normally get so sentimental about a departure that he would do something as childish as confronting Alan.
His reaction this time was just an excuse to vent his anger at Alan. That was all.
He was the one who met Roxy first.
So why did she clearly have a better impression of Alan?
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