Time seem to pass by. Despite him being an adult in a child body, it seem his thought process regressed more to a child the longer he stay in the body.
Thankfully, Ardent's previous knowledge and the likes was not affected, but it did make him wonder if he lose them as well.
'Hopefully not. It could be an an advantage in the future.' introducing changes that could lead to the Industrial Revolution would be impossible, as he did not know how to create some modern equipments or it's primitive counterpart that evolve into the modern one, but he could help push some inventors or researchers or whatever they called and create some substitute that will work like the original.
'In the first place, the key to the Industrial Revolution is the invention of steam engine, which spur the ability to transport resources.' he mused.
"What are you thinking?" a voice broke his musing. Ardent turned before giving the owner of the voice a slight smirk.
"Oh, just wondering if a certain blonde menace will come bother me today." his teasing smile earned him a huff from the 'blonde menace', who sat next to him.
"So, searching for Frank. You don't worry that the accident will repeat itself?" the quip of Catlin get Ardent to glare at her.
"You mean the accident you cause?" he replied. "Because of you the entire village think Frank and I have a thing, for a month." he emphasized on month.
"It is funny to see you two kissing." Catlin giggle, contrasting to Ardent shuddering in horror from having been forcefully reminded of the accident.
'I thought I purge my memory of that time.' he thought glumly. Truly, it was one of the most horrifying thing to have happened to him. And he could only blame the girl next to him.
"Yes, like it is funny seeing you being chase by that wild boar." Ardent returned. This time, it was Catlin turn to shudder, remembering the danger she was in. And the only one she could blame is only herself.
"Who knew a wild boar is so close to the village." she whispered, but Ardent could easily hear her.
"You should know there should be a reason that baby wild boar is near the village." Ardent exclaimed.
Catlin lowered her head, remembering how she was covered with mud and dirt as the boar chase after her and some of the children.
'And he saved us.' she peek at Ardent, remembering how the boy throw a rock at the boar, earning its attention before climbing on the tree.
It tried to knock the tree down but failed to do so, before being shot down by one of the village's hunter. After that, the children receive ton of scolding, and also pieces of the wild boar.
'He can be so cool sometime.' despite the argument she often have with Ardent, Catlin find herself liking the boy.
He is handsome, and his blue eyes can be dreamy, one she find herself easily get lost looking into.
"So, what are we going to play this time?" Ardent asked. Catlin had a mischievous smile on her face before jumping on the back of Ardent.
"Let's play carry the princess!" she said with a smug smile.
"Okay then, where is the princess?" the kick on his rump is well deserved, but so worth it.
-x-
After playing with Catlin, the two of them, Ardent returned to his home. This had been the case for several days now. Very few children get time to play as their parents decided to teach them their work.
Often, children will inherit the occupation of their parents, depending on their gender. For Frank and Curt, both will become a guard and a herbalist, respectively. Unlike being farmer, which require more strength to do the heavier workload, and Mage, which require a certain age, it allow him and Catlin to play with one another more often.
'Wait, are all of those dates?' he suddenly thought of it. Let it be known, Ardent social knowledge is a bit lacking, both current and previous life.
He felt very conflicted. Getting close with Catlin is a goal of his, but he felt like a pedophile as he thought about it.
'I know I should not feel like this but I feel like a creep.' Ardent buried his face into his hands, hoping it will quell the feeling of being a total scum. It did not work as Ardent lied on his bed.
"I like to say we are too young, ... but-" he remembered how young a children can be married to one another. If it was in his previous life, it could go from 12 years old, the youngest, or maybe even 10 during the late thirtieth hundred.
However, here, it can go from 12 to 15. But depending on the status, an earlier engagement can be made.
'And it depends completely on the parents' Catlin's parents might not agree with their daughter engaged to a son of a farmer. It simply did not suit the status of their two children.
One is the child of one of the most important people in the village while the other is a regular commoner.
'But that's why I need to learn about magic. If I can become a capable Mage, my status will be elevated.' he thought. And to do so, he need as much legs up as he can.
Sleeping early and practicing his Mana control is the only way for him to practice at the moment. Hopefully, Catlin will be able to teach him some of the lesson she learned from her father, if the man decided to teach her that is.
-x-
"Hhmm, father might not agree with me marrying Ardent." Catlin said to herself. Despite being only 8 years old, she is smart enough to know the difference in status might lead to an outcome she did not want.
"The only way for us to be together is for Ardent to become a Mage. Then father will not complain." her father had thought her some simple lesson, one she could memorize and teach other.
She could teach Ardent the basic and hope he has talent for magic.
'If not, the only way for us to get married is by running away.' she thought before lying on her bed, letting sleep claim her.