Frieren: The Founder and the Elf Who Didn't Understand Love Chapter 3: An Invitation to Be a Partner

If soone were to ask Rhodes what he would do if a beautiful elven girl lay unconscious before him, he would answer with righteous dignity that he would stand guard over her and wait patiently for her to awaken.

And now, that very situation was playing out right in front of him.

Rhodes stared, dumbfounded, at the unconscious Serie he had just blasted off her feet. He quickly snapped out of it and rushed to her side.

"Miss Serie, are you alright?"

Naturally, our young Grand Master couldn't answer him. A hint of disbelief still lingered on her adorable face.

"Well, this is awkward."

He should have realized it sooner. The Serie of this era wasn't the impossibly powerful mage she would beco. She was still young and inexperienced; otherwise, his magic could never have knocked her out. Looking at Serie, so close, Rhodes couldn't resist.

He reached out a tentative hand and gently poked her round cheek. It was soft and smooth, like squeezing a large, fluffy mochi. The texture was surprisingly pleasant. He poked it again, thinking to himself, I must be the first person in history daring enough to poke Serie's cheek like this.

Just then, Serie's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and her eyes snapped open.

Rhodes froze instantly, his hand still resting on her face.

"Ahem." He retracted his hand, feigning nonchalance, and asked with concern, "Miss Serie, are you alright?"

Serie's golden pupils were unfocused for a mont before snapping into a sharp glare fixed on Rhodes. The realization dawned on her—this insufferable man had dared to touch her face. But that wasn't the most important thing. This man's magic was monstrously powerful. Caught off guard, she had actually been knocked unconscious by it.

A mixture of sha and indignation welled up inside her, but she didn't let it show. Still, the question had to be asked.

"What were you just doing?"

Rhodes imdiately held up his hands in a gesture of innocence. "I did nothing at all. I was rely checking to see if you were injured."

"A re basic offensive spell..." Serie stared at him suspiciously. Thanks to the defensive magic she had cast earlier, she wasn't actually hurt, just stunned by the sheer impact of his spell. It was mainly because she hadn't been prepared; otherwise, she would have added another layer of magic to resist the concussive force.

"Your Creation magic is powerful," Serie stated after a mont of silence, getting to her feet. She dusted off her white robes and summoned a wisp of mana to her fingertips, inspecting her own condition.

She muttered to herself, "The mana consumption was much greater than I anticipated."

Not only had this man perfectly replicated her spell, he had made it even stronger. She paused, a sudden, excited smile spreading across her face. "How utterly fascinating! Your magical talent could overturn this entire era!"

In this Age of Myth, all magic was established and fixed. Serie could feel that the appearance of this man would set off a new magical storm, one that perhaps not even the gods would permit.

She eagerly asked, "If I were to teach you more complex magic, could you 'create' new variations based on them?"

Rhodes was taken aback. He had never tried such a thing and couldn't make any promises, but he braced himself. "I can try."

"In that case, you may reside on the outskirts of the Great Elven Forest. I will co to teach you magic every day."

Compared to the perilous world outside, the forest's edge was relatively safe. As long as one didn't wander off into the territory of dangerous magical beasts, their life wouldn't be in danger. Besides, no other elf was idle enough to wander the forest's edge day after day like Serie, who road freely yet never dared to completely leave its sphere of influence.

"Sothing like a master and apprentice?"

"You can think of it that way if you wish."

Serie had never taken on an apprentice before, but she didn't mind making this human her first.

However, the man's ambition seed to extend beyond that.

"On second thought, no thank you, Miss Serie. I want to adventure in this world. Rather than a master and apprentice, I would prefer to invite you to be my partner."

While becoming the apprentice of this young Grand Master held a certain appeal, Rhodes wanted to leave a more lasting impression on her. He was done hiding his intentions. He was laying his cards on the table. He would beco this era's Himl.

Serie laughed.

This human was far more interesting than she had anticipated. Her smile held a hint of amusent as she tilted her head, her soft, golden hair cascading like a silken tassel.

"Partner?" she repeated the word softly.

It was the first ti she had ever received such an invitation. Elves were, in truth, an emotionally reserved race. They felt little affection not only for outsiders, but even for their own kind. The notion of becoming partners with soone was practically unheard of. Serie was no exception.

"Do you know what you are saying, human?"

Rhodes looked her directly in the eye. "Of course I do."

"Interesting." Serie crossed her arms. "Then tell , you, a weak human with such a fleeting lifespan, on what grounds do you propose to beco my 'partner'?"

"On these grounds," Rhodes said, raising his hand. A ball of light condensed at his fingertips. But unlike the potent offensive spell from before, this one rely provided a gentle illumination. It was a new spell he had just created by analyzing Serie's own magic.

"This is a new spell I just created. It can provide light in the darkness. I call it 'Light.'"

"You..." Serie's pupils constricted slightly. "You analyzed my magic?"

This was a light-attribute spell unique to the elves, yet this man had effortlessly deconstructed it and even created sothing new from its foundation. Was this his own personal talent, or was this a talent of the human race?

"I replicate and decipher your magic, then reproduce it in my own hands. By rewriting a portion of its effects, a new spell is born. That is my 'Creation'."

As he spoke, the light in his hand began to transform, eventually taking the shape of a crystalline flower of light that hovered in his palm. It was a form of magic Serie had never seen before.

"Creation," she whispered, her eyes shining with an unprecedented brilliance. "How utterly fascinating."

Rhodes smiled faintly. "So, will you be my partner and journey with ? I can create more spells than you've ever seen, and you—"

He paused, his tone growing serious.

"—can teach how to survive in this world."

Serie was silent for a long ti. Finally, she let out a soft laugh. "Very well."

The outside world was dangerous; even she didn't dare to venture out carelessly. But this man was too interesting. She was already looking forward to seeing what other kinds of magic he could show her.

It would be a fleeting journey, she knew, but a fascinating one. An adventure she would surely recall fondly for the rest of her long, long life.