Chapter 18: Friendship // Timeskip
Zed, Xue Ruolan (Lan'er), Xia Meixiang and Shi Jingfei were all sitting around a small square table.
Zed decided to stay when Xia Meixiang offered them to eat lunch, and now they were sitting around a table with Zed facing Xia Meixiang and Lan'er in front of Shi Jingfei.
Their seats were made of traditional Chinese soft pillows where they needed to kneel to eat properly. Xia Meixiang and Shi Jingfei had a proper and elegant way of sitting upright, showing the mannerisms of a noble.
Meanwhile, Zed and Lan'er were relaxed but not disrespectful to look at. Although their bodies were relaxed, their posture and mannerisms showed their discipline.
Their meal began in silence as they were all awkwardly staring at each other.
However, Lan'er's mood eased when she tasted the meal in front of her. It was incomparable to the foods she had tasted before.
"Mhmmm! Brother, this is so good! You should try it!"
Lan'er proceeded to pick a fried chicken dumpling drizzled in a sauce that Zed didn't recognize.
Initially, Zed didn't want to eat, but with the delicious dishes served in front of him, even he couldn't help but salivate.
Xia Meixiang smirked when she saw Zed's reactions. She felt like she had won against him.
On the other hand, Shi Jingfei was smiling as she watched Lan'er enter her world of food.
Seeing Lan'er eating happily, Shi Jinfei asked. "Wow! You eat so well! Is the food that good?"
Saying so, she began to partake in the meal as well.
Lan'er was brought back from her world when she heard someone speak to her. She swallowed the food she was chewing before answering meekly. "Y-yes."
Shi Jingfei took a bite as well.
"Oh! You're right! This is delicious! Have you tried that one?" She pointed to another dish.
Lan'er shook her head.
"Really?! That's very delicious too! You should try it!"
Soon, the two foodies began sharing food and saying their thoughts about it.
Xia Meixiang tasted the dish but didn't find it particularly good. The food is delicious, yes, but she normally eats dishes with this level of delicacy.
Shi Jingfei should be the same, and yet she acts as if the food was delicious. Xia Meixiang thought her junior sister was planning something.
Zed, on the other hand, was just appreciating the atmosphere of two girls of the same age getting to know each other.
Shi Jingfei was a bright child as she kept conversing with Lan'er, making the latter answer more and more until they could hold a normal conversation.
Zed thought this was a huge improvement compared to how Lan'er was in the beginning.
During the meal, Lan'er and Shi Jingfei became closer and closer, to the point that Lan'er was comfortable with speaking normally to Shi Jingfei.
While the two girls made their world, Zed and Xia Meixiang began to converse.
Zed started. "So, what do you need from us?"
Xia Meixiang answered after swallowing her food. "I would like to become your friend."
"Is that all?" Zed felt like she had something more to say.
"I would also like for the two of you to continue living in this city."
"Can't be done if we're not getting guaranteed protection."
"I have a proposal to make." Xia Meixiang said. "One that won't require you to serve under me."
"I'm listening."
Xia Meixiang explains, "I will tell my father that you two are my study mates. It's a special position that would allow me to talk to you about my studies.
Besides, I also enjoyed that one principle of the Law of Karma, which is why I want to learn from your wisdom. The tutor position isn't available since no one will take you seriously, not when you don't even have a single achievement to show."
Zed considered her idea before asking, "What's the catch?"
Xia Meixiang made a bitter smile, as if she had expected him to ask that question.
"Making you two my study mates will put you on the radar of the nobility. Naturally, they will try to test you and will probably oppress you since you are a commoner."
Xia Meixiang hurriedly added, "B-but! I will give my guarantee that they won't be able to bother you so long as you don't leave my protection."
"I see... basically, we just have to entertain you and we'll receive your protection right? and this is a guarantee from the royal family?" Zed asked.
"Although you explained it in a classless manner, your understanding is correct."
"Hmmmm..." Zed narrowed his eyes as he contemplated this matter.
Frankly speaking, they could still leave and remain anonymous without needing to risk having many people target them.
Lan'er could still make friends like before, but... Zed glanced at Lan'er, who was enjoying her time with Shi Jingfei.
'It seems that she wants to be friends with her.' Zed thought so as Shi Jingfei managed to drag Lan'er out of her shell.
Shi Jingfei was a cheerful and engaging person who was genuinely innocent to the core. She's a person who can lighten the atmosphere as well as make one listen to her without feeling tired.
The evidence of that is that she was able to make Lan'er leave her shell.
That's because Lan'er felt the genuine intentions of Shi Jingfei, unlike the overly affectionate and suspicious feelings they received from Mu Lin.
Eventually, the two conversing girls laughed as Shi Jinfei shared a funny story.
This was the first time Zed saw Lan'er laughing so heartily with someone else, and he couldn't help but appreciate this scene.
"Hey." Xia Meixiang snapped her fingers.
"From the way you are looking at them, one might think you are having intentions about them."
Zed didn't mind her remark as he let out a deep breath.
"Alright."
Xia Meixiang looked at him. "Hm? Alright? What do you mean?"
"I'm saying that I am accepting your proposal," Zed answered.
"Wha- really?! Does that mean you'll become my friend?!" She asked enthusiastically and leaned close to Zed's face.
Zed awkwardly pushed her away and spoke. "That and becoming your study mates, Yes."
Xia Meixiang's smile trembled as she felt happy inside. She wanted to jump around and cheer, but as royalty, she had to control herself.
Still, the emotions were overwhelming, making her mouth constantly tremble weirdly and her hands shake.
Zed couldn't understand her reaction, as the latter was showing clear signs of extreme happiness.
Xia Meixiang saw Zed's confused look and calmed herself.
After she regained her frame of mind, she spoke.
"Kuhum. Forgive me for that shameful display."
Zed shook his head and said, "I don't mind it. Though, I am curious as to why being friends with me made you react like that."
Xia Meixiang cast a sideways glance while thinking of the explanation she would respond with.
Zed let her think for herself, and after a minute, he finally received an explanation.
"You see... I was born with many duties and expectations placed in front of me. Because of the way I was raised, people feared and respected me."
"However, even though I am only a mortal at the moment and can't help but feel isolated. I yearned for many things, such as a companion that wouldn't make me feel desolate."
She glanced at Shi Jingfei and continued, "I'm grateful for being with Fei'er but it is similar to having to guide someone. It's different when you finally find someone you can treat equally without holding judgment towards one another."
"But I'm only a commoner," Zed stated as if to tell her that he wasn't anything special.
Xia Meixiang rolled her eyes as she said. "Oh, please. If you're saying that to make me compliment you, then it worked.
You have a wit that is equal to or greater than mine. Rich wisdom that I admire. Prowess that could contend against Peak Qi Foundation expert, and lastly..." Her voice trailed off.
Zed looked at her, curious about what she was going to say.
"Probably your greatest trait, which is your love for your sister."
Xia Meixiang continued, "After all... the reason you accepted my proposal is because of her, right?"
With closed eyes, Zed nodded as he confirmed her inquiry.
Xiang Meixiang smiled. "And that's why... I wanted you to be my very first friend!"
Taking a cup of tea in her hand, she raised it in front of Zed.
"Here's to a lifetime of friendship!"
A sincere smile made its way to Zed's face as he raised his cup and bumped it with Xia Meixiang's.
"Cheers."
"..."
"...What's wrong?" Zed asked since Xia Meixiang looked dazed.
"Oh? Uh! It's nothing.." Xia Meixiang answered while muttering, "..so you can smile like that."
-
The moon was already up by the time Zed and Lan'er separated from the two. They spent the entire day getting to know each other.
Zed thought the day wasn't wasted since Lan'er made a friend. Lan'er and Shi Jingfei became so close to the point that they called each other sisters.
Now that Zed thought about it, he too, gained a friend. He chuckled when he remembered the times he teased Xia Meixiang and she would always have an interesting reaction.
They arrived at their house where the carriage dropped them off.
Zed sighed as they entered the house and unpacked. They didn't eat dinner anymore since they ate dinner with Xia Meixiang before separating.
The two siblings took a short bath together before heading to bed.
The two lay on the bed, feeling exhausted and yet satisfied at the same time. Zed asked Lan'er about her new friend, and the latter was enthusiastic about talking about it.
Lan'er soon fell asleep as she spent a long time talking about Shi Jingfei.
Looking at Lan'er's sleeping face, Zed couldn't help but feel happy and proud of her. He was glad that she had taken the first step in growing.
Which was stepping out of her comfort zone and exploring the world.
Zed felt a little lonely when he thought that Lan'er would outgrow her reliance on him and soon live a life of her own.
He soon dismissed the depressing thoughts and decided to enjoy the moment while continuing to watch over Lan'er's growth.
Zed fell asleep soon and the two siblings experienced a peaceful and relaxing rest they hadn't felt in a long time.
-
Time flowed quickly and two years have gone by.
Zed and Lan'er had fully integrated into the city. They managed to live peacefully since they had protection from the Royal Family.
Many of the nobles were curious about them, but they were always blocked by the Royal Princess.
Although they were curious, they had to give her face not only as the Royal Princess but as well as an Immortal seedling.
During these past two years, Zed was able to focus on improving his magic circle. As a result, he reached the 3rd stage of his magic circle. This improved his mana reservation by 30%.
As for mana regeneration, it will only improve after reaching the 5th stage and above. Currently, he needed a whole night to recover his full mana reserves.
In his previous life, he managed to lessen that time to 4 hours, but that was because his mana circuit was thin, making his mana capacity low as well.
Aside from improving his mana circle, he also didn't neglect his improvement on his physique.
Even though he was only 13, he could be mistaken for a 16 years old and above youth.
His face was well-defined, but the traces of immaturity made him look like a pretty boy. Coupled with his sword-like eyebrows and piercing gaze. He had the face that would make female teenagers swoon.
Also, although his body was fit and tall, he didn't have exaggerated muscles and maintained a slim yet muscular figure.
His main weapon of choice became the spear. He figured that he liked the sense of distance and range the spear provided. It allowed him to explore more options as a mage while also maintaining a close combat fight.
He was able to train until he reached basic mastery over it. This was only possible because he had splendid sparring partners who kept pointing out what he could improve on.
Xia Meixiang also gave him a handbook that contained basic spear techniques. She gifted it to him for his 12th birthday, for which the latter felt deeply indebted and grateful.
About the relationship between the four of them, Xia Meixiang and Zed became close to the point that Xia Meixiang would often find herself ranting her frustrations to him.
Xia Meixiang felt comfortable with Zed enough to consult him for some of her problems. Meanwhile, Zed was not only a great listener, but he also gave proper advice as someone who had lived for over 100 years.
Xia Meixiang was infinitely grateful that she met Zed since the latter didn't make her feel isolated and she was able to experience the companion that she always longed to have.
Edited By: WorthyAdversary