The following morning, sunlight filtered into the room, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. The village outside was silent except for birdsong and the creak of old beams. Ronan sat up, blinking away sleep. His hand instinctively went to the Hero's Sword beside his bed, brushing its leather grip. Caution was now second nature.
He quietly opened the door, his steps light, avoiding creaky floorboards. The house was hushed, the stillness of early dawn. He expected the living room empty, Frieren already studying. Instead, he found her sprawled on the floor, fast asleep in an ungainly position.
He paused, unsure whether to intervene. One leg was crooked, arms flung out, like a broken marionette. Drool glistened at the corner of her mouth. Ronan simply stared, a half-smile playing on his lips. Her usually neat hair was loose, several strands falling across her cheek, and her stomach was exposed.
She looked completely unguarded, a rare vulnerability. Ronan's gaze was drawn to her thick notebook on the table, her notes from the previous night. Even from a distance, he could see precise handwriting and intricate magical diagrams. She'd studied late into the night.
He approached with reverence, admiring her dedication. Her passion for magic was evident. This reminded him of soone from his past, that level of focus was rare. It was easy to forget how young she still seed, despite her long lifespan.
He bent down, gently lifting Frieren to move her to the nearby sofa. She was lighter than he expected. He adjusted his grip carefully, trying not to disturb her. As he moved, she stirred.
A small wrinkle ford on her brow. Her shoulders moved, searching for comfort. Her arms twitched against his chest, and then,
"Mmm..." she murmured sleepily, her eyelids fluttering open. Her voice was soft, like a half-ford thought. She blinked, her pupils dilating. It took a mont for awareness to settle in her gaze.
Her vision was blurry, her mind clouded with sleep. But the mont her eyes focused on Ronan, her hazy brain seed to freeze. She realized she was being held, her stomach exposed.
A beat of mutual stillness. Silence. "...What are you doing...?" she whispered, mortified.
Back in the living room, Frieren hastily adjusted her disheveled clothing, her downcast gaze betraying her embarrassnt. Her movents were quick but uncoordinated. She pulled her robes tighter, cinching the belt with more force than necessary.
Despite her composure, she was still a young girl at heart. This vulnerability surprised her. Her cheeks burned, though she'd later insist it was the morning chill. Her pride was bruised, not because of what happened, but because she'd let it happen.
Even for an elf, her heart quickened. She'd closed herself off from emotional vulnerability, but that wall had cracked.
Seeing her distress, Ronan rubbed his forehead, feeling guilt. He'd only wanted to help, not embarrass her. He'd been trying to prevent her from catching a cold.
He sighed and turned away, deciding not to speak unless she did first. The damage was done, but silence might prevent it from worsening.
He didn't comnt; Frieren quickly regained her composure. After a mont of awkward silence, she squared her shoulders and faced him.
She then learned of Ronan's plan to buy food from the human town, carrying the Hero's Sword only as a precaution. Facing monsters unard would be ssy.
The explanation made sense, a simple supply run. Yet, it stirred sothing in her.
"I'll co too," Frieren declared, her gaze on her notebook. "My understanding of high-temperature magic is almost complete. Further refinent requires practical application. Besides, I have questions for you."
Her tone was calm again. She'd realized the significance of ignition points, sothing she'd witnessed before but ignored. It stung that she'd missed it. To avoid repeating the mistake, she'd pondered what would happen without air, or if an enemy used ice magic. High-temperature magic was indiscriminate.
Ronan smiled, surprised by her thirst for knowledge. "Questions? No problem. Even if you hadn't ntioned it, I would have invited an elf. I don't know the nearby towns. Since you offered, let's go together."
He ant it. Her presence was welco. They prepared and set off.
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