After the conversation with his dad, Lucas felt more at ease, and they decided to spend their time just talking and walking around shops without buying anything. They visited multiple different shops, including those for weapons or armor, each time under the shocked gazes of everyone around them. It especially didn't help how pressured the shopkeepers were under the cold gaze of his father, who scared the hell out of each of them every time.
Just like that, 5 hours passed, and they both arrived back at the indoor fountain. Lucas's mother was already there with Lena, holding her hand. Multiple bodyguards could be seen holding dozens of bags of clothes.
'How can they buy so much, and how are both of them not looking tired yet...'
"Both of you finally made it back. Let's head home now since the sun is already starting to set. I already called William to bring the car out front," his mother said.
"No! Mommy, I wanna stay and go with Fawther and Browther ewcploring!" Lena said, not wanting to leave the center yet, as she hadn't really spent much time with Lucas or her father at all.
'Damn, how energetic,' Lucas thought, gazing at her with his father, a bitter smile forming on both of their faces.
"Lena. Enough. It is already getting late, and it is almost bedtime for you, young lady," their mother said sternly, making Lena pout and turn her head away as tears started forming in her eyes.
Lucas decided to approach her and kneel in front of her, gently patting her head.
"There, there, Lena. How about the both of us go outside another time, doing whatever you want, without Mom and Dad interrupting?" Lucas said with a small smile, damaging the hearts of many maidens who were watching while feeling his mother's angry gaze on him.
"Really!?" She said with sparkling eyes and her vigor returning.
'What happened to those tears...'
"Yes, really. It is a promise between the both of us. So let's head home for now."
"Unn!"
Like that, they finally managed to get back home, even though their mother was angry, saying that Lucas shouldn't spoil her too much.
******
In a huge open field, a beautiful female elf with silver hair that reflected the moonlight and deep blue eyes that looked like the ocean itself could be seen alone, surrounded by frozen grass and huge ice pillars.
Currently, she was training. Her mother, Amara Velariah, Queen of Eldrath, could be seen watching her from a distance, worried yet proud. She was happy since her daughter finally decided to train seriously.
Sylv is currently known as the strongest champion, yet she knows that is temporary. She doesn't care about the title. She never really cared about such things. What she does care about is that she doesn't want to be left behind by Lucas, her best and only friend. She was a High 5-star level mage. She was the princess of elves, yet she didn't care about any of that.
She was always better than her generation; she never really had to try; she never really wanted to try. She always stood above everyone of her generation. She became the champion with almost no effort. No one known was able to rival her. She understood that perhaps there could be people that hid their abilities for reasons unknown, yet even then, she didn't have much hope of anyone being her equal.
She was wrong...
The moment she met Lucas and found out he was Noctis the White Devil, she understood that he was above her. He was better. He was the true champion. It wasn't her who had no rivals; it was him who had none. It wasn't her who had no equal; it was him. And what was worse? He never knew or cared about any of that, just like her.
She didn't resent him for that; she didn't hate him for that. She honestly was only curious about the boy known as the White Devil. Yet that same boy who was her age was loved by spirits. Why does he have such an ominous nickname? Why do the spirits love him? How does he feel the spirits?
She knew she couldn't just ask why he was loved by spirits, how he could feel their presence. She knew he had secrets he didn't want to tell her yet. She understood that when he didn't speak about that scary form of his back when he and her father almost clashed. She honestly thought Lucas was crazy. He didn't care that in front of him was her father. She was glad that her parents respected him as well to not ask questions, for now, at least...
The king of Elves. A saint level being. No, he didn't care if he had to fight such a being if it was for his goals. She respected that. Admired that. To not care, not be afraid at no matter what was in front of your path. Even if her father didn't suppress himself, Lucas didn't care; he would have still fought against him no matter how scary or impossible that was.
She wanted to be closer to the person who saved her life and be friends with him. But it was truly at that moment when she looked into his eyes, unyielding and filled with pride. The way he stood in front of her father without an ounce of fear. Only confidence. She wanted to be closer to him. She wanted to know more about him. To understand him. And that was exactly what she did.
Both of them became close with each other and formed a bond. They spent the last 2 weeks in the castle almost 24/7 together, doing various things. They went outside a few times. They always ate together, and they sparred together. Sylv who always lost shocking everyone watching each time...
Because of all of that, she started training seriously now. She doesn't care about anything else, but she doesn't want to be left behind by her only friend. She wants to stand at Lucas's side as an equal. And perhaps one day, maybe the both of them can love each—
'What! No, bad Sylv! No love! Focus on training!'
She thought as she shook her head, while her ears burned red.
'Argh! I can't concentrate!'
She screamed in her mind as she stomped the ground, and a colossal pillar of ice erupted.
"Why does his face keep appearing in my mind! It's only been a week since he left! How can I already miss him so much! And is he even alright? He looked really hurt because of that seer! Was he scared? Ugh, I can't even contact him since he never bought a phone, saying he would buy one when he was back! I forgot to give him my number! No, no, I can ask mom and dad to contact him, but I don't want that!"
"They will think I am crazy and in love with him! I am not, I am just worried about him..."
'There is no way I am in love with him, right... I mean, he is handsome, yes, no, he is probably one of the most handsome men alive and strong and talented. But he is human, so it is not like we can be together... Wait, no, is he human? Yes, his parents are human, but Father did tell me that he didn't feel like a human, something only Saints could tell... W-wait, why am I even thinking about how we can get together when I don't love him! Right!?'
Her mother, who was watching from afar with an amused expression, did her best to hold back her laughter as she saw how frustrated her daughter was.
'Ah, how smitten my daughter has become~' she thought to herself, enjoying the sight of Sylv's turmoil.
After that, Sylv finally started to calm down and train again. She was planning to get to at least a low 6-star level before the academy starts. She knows she can do it and will, no matter what it takes!