My fascination with magic started when I was six years old, when I first met her after sneaking out of my home into the city...
"Gah!" I yelped.
"Kukuku! What's this? Isn't this kid too well-dressed? You think he's a noble?"
"No doubt about it!"
"Keke... Hey, kid! Do you think you can spare us some coins?"
"We're really poor, you know? We could use a little bit of help..."
The two thugs cornered me in the small alley I previously tried to escape into.
As I cower and made myself look as small as possible, they pounced right at me and took the pouch I was hiding in my waist pocket.
"Keke! Amazing! It's all silver and gold!"
"We're fucking rich!"
They celebrated as soon as they saw the contents of the pouch.
"Wa-Wait a minute...! Please! That's my money! Give it back!"
That's the money I've been saving to buy all kinds of stuff in the city. I was finally able to sneak out, I can't let them steal it away.
"Keh! Don't touch me, brat!"
Pain struck my cheek. I was hit as soon as I tried to steal the pouch back.
Experiencing such pain for the first time, I simply cried and balled myself in the corner. I couldn't do anything to fight back, and I was not smart enough to attempt to run away and try calling for help.
"Let's get out of here."
"Keke! I can't wait to spend all this money!"
Just like that, they were gone.
"Mfu... Mfu..." I sniff and sniff as tears fell down my eyes.
I was so excited to sneak out at first, but now I'm regretting doing it. The pain I was feeling now was simply not worth it.
A few moments passed and footsteps echoed in the alleyway again. I was still crying so I couldn't see who it was approaching, all I know was I shivered in the fear that I might get hit by a stranger again.
"Hey, kid? This is yours, right?"
Along with those words came the sound of a bundle of coins hitting the ground.
"Huh...?"
I looked at the ground and saw the same pouch the thugs stole from me.
When I braved myself and looked up, I saw a goddess.
That was my first meeting with master.
Since then, I began to consistently meet with her in a meeting place we decided beforehand.
She began to teach me magic and she never once asked for any payment. However, she was always happy to receive gifts from me, like the toys I bought from my own money or the jewelry I stole from my family.
Sensei was my first love. I was still a child, but I knew it was true. I was in love with her.
We spent a lot of time together. There was never a time when I was unhappy or bored when I was together with her.
"Ice magic! Icicle Shot!"
The spell I casted accurately hit its target.
"Amazing! You learn so fast!" Master complimented.
I smiled instantly upon receiving her approving words.
"Tha-That's only because you're a good teacher, master!" I stuttered back.
"Hmm? Is that so? I'm not really that great, you know?" she shyly said.
Master's reactions were really so cute and lovely, I can't help but fall in love again.
"But you really are, master!"
"Geez... Do you really think so?"
"Umu!" I nodded quickly to her question.
"Then I guess it must be true..." she admitted in defeat, but then she followed it up and said, "But you know, I also had a master out there somewhere. You know, she's really a much better teacher than me."
"Really...?"
I cannot believe that. Even compared to my private tutors, master was way better.
With that said, even if her teacher really was better, I wouldn't trade her for master. Master is already perfect for me.
"Master! Will you marry me!?"
One day, I gathered up enough courage to ask master to become my bride. I don't care if she was older than me, I don't care if my parents scold me for it, I want to have her as my bride.
"Sure! But only when you get older!"
"R-Really!?"
I understood that she simply said it as a joke, but I still couldn't hide my happiness.
After that, I introduced master to my parents and they officially hired her as my magic teacher. My father even tried to seduce her, but I stopped him from doing it as soon as I caught him.
I continued to train with master for several months after, and then the day when she had to leave came.
After leaving the mansion, we met for the final time at our usual meeting place.
I remember drowning in my own tears as I couldn't stop crying. Snot was even drooping down my nostrils and I was a mess.
"Be a good boy, okay? I'm sure we'll meet again someday."
"Master... I thought you were going to marry me...?"
"T-That's... Umm..." she awkwardly mumbles while scratching her cheek. "Well, you see... I haven't told you about it, but I'm actually a really high ranking adventurer! And as a high-ranking adventurer, I was asked to fight the Dark king alongside the heroes!" she awkwardly explained, deliberately trying to evade my question.
"R-Really...?" I sniffled.
"How about this: once we defeat the Dark king, I'll come back here and we'll meet again?"
"Is... Is the Dark king strong?"
"He sure is! He's even stronger than the hero, that's why he will need all the help he can get."
"Bu-But if he's that strong...! What if you get killed!?"
"But I'm strong as well!" she pouted. "I wouldn't get defeated so easily!"
"Bu-But!"
I'm not so easily convinced.
"Ehh...? Fine... Then how about this: in the chance we get defeated and I get captured, how about you come and rescue me?"
"Rescue you?"
"Of course! That's why, I want you to get stronger! And once you're strong enough, you can defeat the Dark king together with me! Err... I mean, you can rescue me away from him!"
"Bu-But can I really do that...?"
"I'm sure you can do it! And don't worry, you only really need to do it if we indeed get defeated."
"I see... I'll do it! I'll get stronger for you, master!"
"Then, it's a promise!" she held out her pinky finger and pointed it at me.
I thought it was childish, but I did not hesitate to cross fingers with her.
"U-Umm...! Before you leave, master! I always wanted to ask you for it...!" I blushed red and fidgeted. "C-Can we kiss...? Please...?" I asked, deeply embarrassed.
"E-Eh!?"
I jolted at her exagerated response. As I thought... She really won't do it...
"Well, that's a bit, umm... You see, anyone I kiss gets unconditionally charmed, and doing that to a kid is a bit..." she mumbles while looking down at me. "Well, I think that you've already been charmed in a different way anyway..." she quietly said.
I couldn't really understand what she was saying, but I know that she was hesitating. I felt dissapointed, but I couldn't do anything about it. I really wish I was already an adult.
Just when I thought she really won't do it, I suddenly felt a tickling warmth in my cheek.
"This is all you get for now since you're still a kid," she winked at me and said.
It wasn't what I was expecting, but my heart beat so fast anyway that I thought it might come out of my chest.
"Tha-Thank you, master!"
My last memory of master was her staring happily at me, with her crimson red eyes reflecting the light of the sun.
"Sigh... You must've had a pleasant dream... You were not waking up..."
When I opened my eyes again, I saw another pair of eyes staring right at me. They were not the crimson red color from my dream, but they were amythest. For the first time, I saw the similarities of my master, Sophia, from the elf in front of me now.