After a passionate kiss, Leylin and Vereesa stared at each other.
"Is this your confession?" Vereesa's fair hands gently stroked Leylin's cheek.
"The most affectionate confession." Leylin placed his left hand on Vereesa's back, feeling her slender back. He held her in his arms.
Vereesa's forehead was pressed against Leylin's chest, and she listened quietly to Leylin's heartbeat.
"When a ranger goes out to fight, the most forbidden thing is a confession of love, which will only make the ranger more worried." Vereesa's fingers drew circles on Leylin's chest.
"I admit that I am selfish, but I still have to say that your life does not only belong to this kingdom." Leylin said.
Vereesa's heart warmed, and a layer of mist rose in her moist eyes again: "Silly boy, if my second sister heard this, she would definitely drive you out of the kingdom!"
"Whatever she wants, but don't forget it." Leylin said seriously.
"Selfish rascal, I'll take note." Vereesa nodded obediently.
They were immersed in their own time together, blissful and sweet. Such a harmonious scene was always interrupted by some unwelcoming jerk, and now it was happening.
A high-level magister fulfilled that role. He stood at the end of the path and coughed softly.
Leylin turned his head naturally, but Vereesa remained in Leylin's arms, making no other move.
"Would you two mind speaking?" Dar'Khan Drathir invited, reached out his hand.
Vereesa took Leylin's hand and walked out of the path. She smiled, "Peeping, especially peeping at the tenderness of a couple, is extremely rude, you know that, Dar'Khan."
Vereesa didn't change her tone just because he was a high-level magister, and the smile on her face didn't hide the blame in her words.
Dar'Khan shook his head and pulled out a blue crystal from a magic bag. A crystal that was a blend of magic dust and arcane dust. Leylin knew these enchanting ingredients.
"You know what I mean, but it seems I don't stand a chance now. Isn't that right, Leylin?" Dar'Khan glared coldly at the low-ranking mage behind Vereesa.
If Dar'Khan hadn't stayed in Deatholme as a necromancer, Leylin might have addressed him differently.
"As a member of the Silvermoon Council, isn't it unseemly for you to threaten me in this way?" Leylin remained calm. Similar to Grand Magister Belo'vir, he maintained a composed demeanor no matter the situation.
Dar'Khan's facial muscles stiffened, tired of the smug look. He forced a smile and said, "Don't misunderstand, I don't mean to threaten you. Of course, as a high-ranking mage, I still want to wish you both a happy marriage."
A blessing from a high-ranking magister? Leylin ignored it, but the emphasis at the end of the sentence etched itself in his memory.
He took the magic crystal from Dar'Khan's hand for Vereesa, and the couple bid farewell to the high-ranking magister.
Walking down the street, my younger sister, clutching her sweaty hands, asked, "I don't want anything from this mage. I hate his methods."
"I don't like it either, but have you ever heard a saying?"
She pressed. "What is it?"
"When life gives you oranges, take them. Free stuff is cool."
"Pfft, you look just like Gintoki. So cocky and shameless!" she recalled the time this fool in front of her told her the story of "Gintama". His personality truly resembled the protagonist of that story, a man named Gintoki Sakata.
Leylin thought in defeat: I've always considered myself like Shanks, but I don't have red hair, speaking of red hair that guy's probably still alive somewhere. Instead of going back to the Farstrider's Retreat, Leylin went with her to her home.
Both rangers, Sylvanas and Alleria probably had finished their business and returned home. Leylin hadn't wanted to visit, but my younger sister insisted, so he followed.
Lirath and Alleria were extremely enthusiastic about Leylin's arrival. The Windrunner's rarely had guests, and Leylin was special; he was one of them.
"Please take a seat. This isn't your first time here. By the way, were these enchanted arrows made by Leylin?" Alleria took the quiver from Vereesa's back, stroked the slender arrows, and asked admiringly.
Vereesa nodded happily and said, "Leylin made them."
Sylvanas was busy in the kitchen, and when she came out, she saw this scene. Her eyes were fixed on the quiver, her face was cold, but her eyes were gentle.
Leylin glanced at Sylvanas, but was forced back by the sudden change in her cold expression.
Alleria handed the quiver to Vereesa, motioning her to pack it up and take it with her when she went on the mission tomorrow.
"I have to say, you are very good at making girls happy. You even know how to make enchanted arrows. No wonder my little sister seems like she is possessed." Alleria watched her little sister happily enter her room with the quiver, shook her head and smiled.
Leylin nodded in acquiescence and asked, "How dangerous is this first mission?" It was a silly question, but Leylin wanted to ask it from the bottom of his heart.
Alleria turned serious, "This is a ranger's mission. No matter how dangerous, you must go. I understand your concern for my sister, but this is what a ranger of the Windrunner family, a ranger of Silvermoon City, must do. We don't reject the threat of death, and our opponents are trolls, mortal enemies."
Leylin understood and fell silent.
"Don't worry so much. I believe in my sister. She's excellent. She's number one in both shooting and physical fitness among this class of rangers, and a pillar of strength among the new generation. You should have the same confidence in her as I do." Alleria patted Leylin's shoulder, a gesture only an elder could make to a younger one.
A surprised Leylin looked into Alleria's eyes. Alleria patted her hand a few times before quickly withdrawing it.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Alleria sat down in her seat.
"No, I'm just curious about the way you acted. So there's no need to feel guilty."
"Do I feel guilty?" Alleria whispered.
Dinner began. Today was a special day, and the dishes were sumptuous. Lirath treated Leylin like he wasn't an outsider at all, swallowing the food on the table without hesitation.
The four siblings were filled with a common happiness, and as a bystander, Leylin also felt the harmony.
After dinner, the four siblings and Leylin sat on a bench. An idea suddenly struck Lirath.
"Brother-in-law, why don't you draw a sketch for us? I've seen the ones you drew for my sisters. They're beautiful." Leylin pulled his tools from his magic bag, found a sheet of magic ink paper, and pinned it to the wooden table.
In ten minutes, a cartoon depicting the four siblings was complete, each elf possessing their own unique smile. Alleria's smile was calm, Sylvanas's was a touch of sorrow, Vereesa's upturned lips were filled with happiness, and Lirath's was pure innocence.
"Add yourself too," Vereesa suggested.
With a few strokes, Leylin added a human to the cartoon. The black and white lines and simple shading became a lasting memory.
"It'll be a family portrait. Very heartwarming," Leylin said heartfeltly.
"Yes, I'll draw more when I get a chance." Vereesa hung the magic ink paper in a prominent spot in the room, smiling with satisfaction.