Frilian: This Demon Isn't So Cold

"Frilian? What brings you here today? And isn't it a bit too early?"

On a spring morning, everything comes back to life, and occasionally a small bird flies by in the sky, with the fragrance of flowers and grass in the air.

When Vlame entered the classroom prepared for them by the city lord, he found a silver-haired elf sitting in his seat with his head drooping, looking listless.

"Don't say anymore. I've already gone through the darkest period of my life." Frillie's eyes were lifeless. "I was so stupid, really..."

"Tell me more about it." Vlame became interested, pulled out a chair, and sat down next to Frillie.

"Can you imagine?" Frillie pointed to her little head, "I was forced to sit in a position and be forcibly fed magical knowledge that I should have been slowly absorbing. Master, do you understand how I feel?"

"No wonder you haven't been very energetic these past few days, so that's what happened." Vlamé suppressed a laugh. "So, do you still like magic now?"

"I don't like it at all anymore." Frillie blurted out the words unconsciously, then immediately corrected herself, "I don't like it for now, um."

"I see. So, after they teach you, what are they going to do with you?"

"I don't know," Frilian muttered softly. "I should have known better than to ask her what it feels like to be in love."

"Pfft."

Upon hearing this, Vlame couldn't help but laugh out loud, which made Frilian stare at her with a resentful look.

"I'm so sorry, but you've really gone to a lot of trouble." Vlame straightened her expression and said softly, "This was originally just my business, but I've dragged you all into it."

She felt guilty about it.

"No, it's alright." Frillie shook her head. "Actually, the time I've spent with Master... has been quite enjoyable for me."

"Really?" Vlame smiled and patted her head. Frilian immediately puffed out her cheeks, but it was just a small reaction.

Frillie actually quite liked being treated like this by her master.

"Frilian," Vlame said softly.

"What's wrong?"

"Your life ahead of you must be as long as I can't even imagine."

"Master...?" Frillian was stunned for a moment, not knowing why her master would suddenly say such a thing, but she already sensed that what was about to be said would be very important.

Frillie is no longer the same person she was when she first left the village.

"So, you must take good care of them in my place, especially your grandmaster." Vlamem paused for a moment. "I don't know if you elves consider loneliness the norm or what, but if possible, I hope you can spend as much time with her as possible."

After saying that, she removed her hand from Frillie's head.

"Alright, although this is just my current thought, it shouldn't hurt to say it sooner rather than later." Vlame patted her face vigorously, as if to encourage herself. "After all, you are an elf. If I don't remind you repeatedly, you might forget what I told you."

"I won't forget," Frilian whispered.

"Really? That's good." Vlame turned to look at her. "Now, get your spirits up and get to work."

"Yes, Master!" Frillie recovered from her initial listlessness.

She had never thought about such a thing before, because she had never experienced it.

Frillie never once considered the possibility that her master might be gone.

But her master clearly understood the difference between humans and elves better than she did, which is why she said that to her.

Frillie decided to be a little less lazy, though she was forced to be before, now she was doing it on her own initiative!

Her heart was filled with fighting spirit at this moment.

……

"Should we just run away?" Outside the city, Carlos gained a new understanding of Sylvia's audacity.

Although he had indulged him at the time, he never thought of such a thing!

"Of course not! Didn't I specifically bring Master's book on basic magic theory?" Sylvia said, hands on her hips. "We're fighting for Master's ideals, not sneaking away!"

"Really?" Carlos remained noncommittal. "Then where do you want to go?"

He was carrying the suitcase, a laborer in this clandestine outing.

"I'm not really comfortable going anywhere too far," Sylvia said, as if she were considering this question for the first time. "Let's just go to [Val], isn't that our original destination?"

"She really is an impulsive girl," Carlos thought, troubled. Although he already knew this, he still felt it was a bit exaggerated.

"What if the journey isn't as interesting as I imagined?"

"With you by my side, how could this journey be anything but interesting?" Sylvia said with a smile, then leaned on his shoulder.

"Really?" Carlos said helplessly. "Next question, what method do you plan to use?"

"If it's just the two of us... then let's fly. I want to see the world from high above," Sylvia asked him. "That should be alright, right?"

"No problem. There are so few mages these days, and even fewer who can see through my disguise."

[Flight Magic] is a privilege of the demon race, so Carlos has to use [Hidden Figure] magic in conjunction with it when he is in the air, but this does not pose a problem for him at all.

"It's settled then, let's go!"

Sylvia wrapped her arms around Carlos's neck, climbed onto his back, and pointed her right hand boldly to the sky, like a general commanding his entire army on the battlefield.

"You've pointed in the wrong direction; this isn't the road to Val."

"Is that so?" Sylvia tapped her head and chuckled. "Anyway, you're here, aren't you? Let's go!"

Carlos sighed helplessly. For some reason, he felt as if he were taking a naive young lady on a trip.

...It seems his feeling was right?

"Hold on tight."

Since they were already in a deserted place, they could simply cast a [Conceal] spell on themselves and take off from the spot.

Once you're high in the air, looking down at the ground from above, the houses appear tiny, and even the city behind them seems less enormous.

Below, all you can see is green, tall trees forming a dense forest that stretches as far as the eye can see, and occasionally a traveler passes by on the road, flashing a different color.

"Wow, it feels so good to fly in the sky during the day!"

"Keep your voice down, what if someone hears us?"

"Isn't auditory hallucination a normal thing?"

"..."

Carlos had nothing to say about this.

Nighttime, a corner of the forest.

"That's fast! I saw so many villages below us during the day! But we've passed them in just a few seconds!" Sylvia exclaimed in amazement at Carlos's speed.

"Go and come back soon. After all, we snuck out, and we can't let our master and the others worry too much." Leaning against the big tree, Carlos finally understood why Sylvia wanted to sneak out, because it was indeed... a bit exciting.

In the quiet night, under the vast sky, with no one else around, just the two of them alone, everything was so peaceful, yet they didn't feel lonely.

"Yes, I think that's right too."

Sylvia nodded vigorously, then moved closer to him.

"Um...can I sleep with you tonight?"

Ok? ? ?