Scroll 68: Off to the Harbor! Tomorrow…

The midday sun beat down with a gentle warmth over the backyard of the house. It was a tranquil afternoon, lulled by a light breeze that rustled the leaves of the nearby trees and refreshed the air. Sitting on a wooden chair with an inclined backrest, Alaster remained with his legs crossed. In front of him, resting on a rustic table, rested several sheets of paper piled with unfinished diagrams alongside open grimoires.

In his hands, he held a particularly thick tome. Its leather binding was completely lined with a brown, tapestry-patterned cloth meticulously stitched at the corners, obscuring any original title or symbol. With one hand he supported the heavy book, and with the other, suspended right in front of his lips, he held a steaming cup of coffee. His phosphorescent purple irises glowed with a faint, uncanny hue as his eyes scanned the lines of text. He wore a distracted, deeply focused expression.

A few paces away stood Pina. Her small yet well-proportioned figure stood out under the natural light. She wore a long skirt that the gentle wind dragged softly against her legs, outlining her silhouette beneath the fabric. She wore a simple long-sleeved blouse, and her hair, a deep shade of raven black, fell completely loose over her shoulders. Her low boots with small heels pressed firmly into the solid dirt ground.

Pina extended her hands in front of her, attempting to channel mana, but her fingers trembled.

I can't focus… It's impossible, she thought to herself, letting out a frustrated sigh.

She stole a glance sideways toward the elf. Alaster’s presence was overwhelming: smooth, symmetrical features, skin of an almost glowing fair complexion, and an impeccable posture even while relaxing. Suddenly, a stray lock of jet-black hair slipped from his hairstyle and fell right in front of his left eye.

Alaster wrinkled his nose slightly and blew upward to clear it from his face. The strand fluttered in the air for a second before dropping right back into place, obstructing his vision.

Pina placed a hand over her mouth and let out a suppressed giggle, feeling a warm blush spread across her cheeks.

Alaster grunted quietly and muttered to himself:

"Should I cut my hair?" He paused for a second, contemplating the idea with genuine gravity, then added, "Nah, that wouldn't suit me."

Pina smiled broadly as her heart skipped a beat.

I think even if you were bald, you'd still be too handsome, she thought fondly.

For Pina, it wasn't just Alaster's flawless appearance that drew her in. Over the time she had spent with him, it was his subtle contradictions that fascinated her: his casual jokes, his occasionally sharp tone always paired with kind gestures, and the grounded, approachable way he acted despite looking like a divine being.

The elf looked at the rebellious strand again in annoyance and let out a long sigh. The steam from his coffee burst in all directions, completely shrouding his face for a split second. Alaster blinked, shaking his head, and as he turned, he caught Pina's gaze.

The young girl had no time to avert her eyes. She knew that turning away abruptly now would seem far too obvious and awkward. Alaster simply offered her a plain, simple smile—one without any hidden meaning, yet to her, it felt immensely warm and comforting.

The two of us here, practicing magic together, each doing our own thing… It's so romantic! Pina thought, suppressing her excitement while clenching her fists. However, her gaze drifted down toward the magic circle she had been trying to sustain in midair for the last fifteen minutes, which had just collapsed into faint sparks.

Stop daydreaming, Pina! she scolded herself bitterly. Alaster barely even knows you exist.

She looked down at her clothes: a plain linen skirt and an ordinary blouse recently bought in town. Nothing special. Then she looked back at Alaster: his neatly fitted black shirt, his immaculate composure, his natural grace.

The comparison in her mind was inevitable and painful.

I'm so stupid… I'm just a common village girl, and he's… he's a grand elven mage.

Her eyes traced the young man's figure as if her thoughts were fingers outlining the edge of an unattainable gem. She shook her head to cast the thoughts aside. A wave of sadness washed over her all at once.

I shouldn't think about nonsense… Don't look at him. If you look, you get attached, and you won't make progress. Besides, it's impossible. He is Alaster, and I… I only bring misfortune. I only hurt the people who care about me, she thought, her chest tightening as her eyes grew glossy. She released her hold on the mana thread entirely and let her arms fall to her sides.

"Pina, drop that for a moment. Let's take a break," Alaster's calm voice called out.

Pina nodded softly, keeping her eyes glued to the ground so he wouldn't catch sight of her tearful eyes.

"Cookies?" she heard from beside her.

Alaster had approached without making a sound, offering her a small plate. Pina flinched slightly.

"Y-Yes… I mean, yes, that sounds fine," she stammered.

Alaster immediately noticed her demeanor, her flushed cheeks, and the tears threatening to spill over her large, dark eyes. Without hesitating, he crouched down, bending his knees to match Pina's eye level.

With his face so close, Pina was hit by a faint scent of fresh mint mixed with a subtle, clean woody fragrance—Alaster's distinct scent.

"Pina, sweetie, don't be sad," the elf said softly.

His purple eyes locked onto hers. Pina searched his expression for pity or condescension, but she only found genuine concern. The pure worry someone feels for a person they truly care about.

Overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment, the girl turned away abruptly to hide her face. Her slender frame trembled, her heart racing at a thousand beats per minute, completely red to the tips of her ears.

Alaster scratched the back of his neck in silence, bewildered.

What's wrong? Is she okay? Man, this girl's emotions are right on the surface… Though it's understandable. She lost her whole family and was suddenly left alone in the world. She's a bit like I was when I first arrived here, but at least I have Jinneth and Mila treating me with affection, Alaster reflected. He felt a deep urge to reach out, wrap his arms around her, and tell her that she didn't have to feel alone ever again.

However, he checked his own impulses. No, if I approach her out of nowhere like that, I'll scare her. She might think I'm trying to take advantage of her vulnerability. The best thing is to support her however I can without pushing my boundaries.

While Alaster debated internally on how to maintain a respectful distance, the "delicate flower" beside him was burning up inside with a storm of emotions, desires, and fantasies. Her heart wouldn't settle.

If he looks at me with those eyes… Gods, I want to hug him so badly, so tight that he won't let go, just like that night during the storm… To feel that peace and safety again… Pina thought with desperate longing.

"Let's head inside and brew some tea," Alaster interrupted, breaking the mood in a bright, casual tone.

Pina followed him into the house as if she were floating. Alaster kindly guided her toward a chair in the kitchen and set about stoking the embers in the stove, smoothly setting the kettle over the fire.

"Pina, dear, do you want to head out with me today?" Alaster asked offhandedly while searching for the cups.

Pina, watching him from the table, froze completely. The air locked in her lungs.

Alaster continued, unaware of the impact of his words:

"I need to buy a few things in town and coordinate with Norde about the well installation."

Pina let out her trapped breath all at once.

A date! A date! A date! her mind screamed before reality kicked in. No… it's not a date. It's just an errand.

Her heart, exhausted from the constant emotional rollercoaster, settled back to a steadier rhythm.

"W-Why do you want me to come along?" she asked timidly.

Alaster shrugged with an effortless smile as he turned to face her.

"Simply because I enjoy talking with you. But if you're busy or if you'd rather stay…"

"I'm not busy!" Pina blurted out instantly, almost shouting, before hurriedly covering her mouth in embarrassment.

Later that afternoon, the central plaza in the eastern district of Toel was bustling. A large group of villagers had gathered around the main well, surrounding Norde, Alaster, and Pina.

Lying on the dirt ground were various iron tools, pipes, and a reinforced bronze mechanism that the blacksmith Elroin had finished earlier that morning.

The chatter among the crowd was thick with suspicion. Two local craftsmen had just removed the old wooden crank, pulley, and rope, leaving the mouth of the well completely exposed.

"Chief Norde! What kind of madness is this?" an elderly farmer protested, waving his hat. "You're taking away our only way to get water! How are we supposed to fill our buckets now?"

"Everyone, calm down!" Norde ordered, raising his voice authoritatively. "Young Lord Alaster has designed a new method. With this, there won't be any danger of anyone falling in or children breaking their arms on the crank."

Alaster stepped forward calmly. He was holding a thick wooden lid reinforced with iron hoops.

"What we're installing here is called a hand pump," Alaster explained in a clear, straightforward tone. "The well will be completely sealed by this lid. No one can fall inside. The pump sits on top and features an iron lever. By pumping the handle up and down, water will drawn up through the pipe directly into your buckets, effortless and safe."

The villagers exchanged skeptical glances. Some shook their heads while others whispered about how the "elf's weird ideas" wouldn't work in a town built on honest labor.

A bit further back, Pina watched with her arms crossed over her chest. She shared the neighbors' doubts. When she was younger, she had tried to draw a heavy bucket from the well; the handle had slipped from her hands with such force that the impact sent her flying to the ground, scraping her arms and knees. To her, that dry ironContraption of tubes made no sense. How was water supposed to come up without a rope?

Yet, her eyes drifted toward Alaster. The elf had taken off his outer coat, remaining in a lightweight shirt. He was visibly sweating from the physical exertion of tightening threads and guiding the long metal rod down through the center of the shaft toward the deep water below. Seeing such an elegant mage working with hands smeared with carpenter's grease stirred a strange pang of admiration in her chest.

"Alright, it's secured," Alaster announced, wiping his forehead with his forearm.

The elf grabbed the pump's long iron lever. The crowd fell silent, waiting in suspense.

Alaster pushed the lever down. He pulled it up and pushed it down again.

Nothing happened.

A few villagers let out snickers, and the tension in the air thickened.

"Told you, magic doesn't work for honest labor…" a neighbor muttered.

Alaster remained unfazed. He knew the pipe needed to prime and clear out the trapped air first. He continued pumping the handle three more times in a steady, smooth rhythm.

Suddenly, a heavy suction sound echoed from inside the dry pipe: FSSSSS-SPLASH!

On the next stroke of the lever, a thick, clean stream of crystal-clear water erupted powerfully from the pump's spout, pouring straight into the bucket placed below and filling it to the brim in a matter of seconds.

The crowd went dead silent.

Alaster kept pumping the lever effortlessly with one hand while the water continued to flow smoothly and clearly.

"It works! Water's coming out!" a child yelled from the crowd.

Cheers and murmurs of amazement instantly erupted. Pina's eyes went wide with shock. The sheer simplicity and effectiveness of the device left her spellbound. She looked at the elf, who was smiling serenely amid the villagers' applause.

Who are you really, Alaster? she wondered silently, feeling a burning curiosity flare in her chest.

In a matter of minutes, the area around the well turned into a small, impromptu celebration. Several town children, driven by youthful curiosity, ran over laughing to try out the new iron lever. To everyone's surprise, even the youngest could operate the handle with ease, watching the fresh water pour out without any danger. The adults who had been whispering incredulously were now watching in awe, silenced by the overwhelming practicality of the invention.

Alaster watched the scene with satisfaction, dusting off his hands. Norde approached him with a wide smile and a proud posture.

"Lord Alaster… I am speechless," the village chief said in a low voice, watching the mechanism at work. "This solution is simply brilliant, worthy of a wise elf. You've solved a years-old problem in a single afternoon."

Alaster offered a casual smile and extended an open hand to Norde. The old man blinked in confusion, not understanding the gesture.

"It was a pleasure to help, Norde," Alaster said smoothly. "However, there's one small detail. I paid the blacksmith Elroin for the pump's fabrication out of my own pocket. Since this is an improvement for the whole village, it wouldn't be fair for me to bear the cost of something I won't even be using, considering my house is on the other side of town."

Norde froze for a second, but quickly nodded with chuckling resignation.

"Ah, of course, you're absolutely right, Al," Norde said, reaching into his leather pouch. He pulled out the exact 30 silver coins the elf had spent earlier and placed them in his hand. "It's only fair. Thanks again."

As they bade their farewells, a blonde woman with wavy hair pushed through the crowd and wrapped her arms affectionately around Norde's arm. It was Cladis, his wife. She wore a radiantly proud smile, looking at her husband with sweet devotion, thrilled to see how "her husband" had solved the town's biggest issue.

"It's wonderful, dear!" Cladis exclaimed, patting his shoulder. "We must do the same for all the other wells in town!"

Norde smiled for the public, but leaned toward his wife's ear and muttered through gritted teeth:

"Yes, my love… but next time I'll make sure the blacksmith doesn't charge me highway robbery prices."

Alaster held back a chuckle upon hearing them. He turned toward Pina, who was waiting a few paces away, watching the scene with a shy smile.

"Shall we go? I need to pick up a few things from the central market stalls," Alaster told her, gallantly offering his bent arm.

Pina's cheeks flushed red instantly, but she didn't hesitate. She looped her arm through his delicately, feeling like she was floating on air as they walked together along the dirt streets of Toel.

"What do you need to buy, Alaster?" she asked to break the ice as they walked.

"I want to get some gifts and keepsakes to send to my girlfriends," he answered nonchalantly.

Pina felt a slight drop in her stomach. In her mind, she immediately assumed he was referring to Deinderatrix, the stunning and powerful elven mage who was always near him. However, Alaster kept talking casually:

"Detrix is great, but she's actually my second girlfriend. My first is a very sweet girl named Jinneth. You know… now that I think about it, Jiny is a bit like you in how sweet and attentive she is."

Pina froze for a second. Far from feeling upset or discouraged upon learning the elf had two partners, a deep sense of relief washed over her. Alaster didn't seem demanding or distant in his affections. Pina knew full well she could never compete with the breathtaking beauty and status of a knockout like Deinderatrix, but knowing he also appreciated the gentle nature of someone simpler gave her a strange sense of hope.

They strolled through the local market stalls. Following Pina's suggestions, Alaster purchased a beautiful linen dress with native floral embroidery for Jinneth. He also picked up bags of fresh peppermint tea and a delicate carved black stone pendant—a mineral native to the region that Mila would love for her collection.

While Alaster was paying at one of the stands, he noticed Pina staring intently at a small wooden display. On it rested a simple necklace featuring a wild blossom charm carved from polished wood. The girl was gazing at it with starry eyes, but when Alaster approached, she quickly hid her interest and took a step back.

Without saying a word, Alaster picked up the necklace, paid the merchant before Pina could react, and stepped behind her.

"Hold still for a second," Alaster murmured softly.

Pina felt Alaster's hands brush delicately against the skin of her neck as he fastened the clasp.

"You look beautiful wearing it. It fits your style perfectly," the elf said as he stepped back in front of her and smiled.

Pina felt like steam was about to burst from her head. Her face flushed a shade of red so intense she looked ready to faint. She held the small wooden charm between her trembling fingers, her heart pounding like a drum. For a fleeting second, she wondered if he actually liked her, but her low self-esteem quickly resurfaced, convincing her that Alaster was just being kind and gentlemanly as always.

By the time they returned home, dusk was beginning to fall. Pina, still overwhelmed by her emotions and feeling flustered from her deep blush, rushed to her room to change. She traded her long skirt for her comfortable loungewear: khaki shorts and a lightweight, sleeveless white cotton top.

Downstairs in the kitchen, Alaster stood alone by the stove. As he stirred a pot with a wooden ladle, his mind reviewed his magical progress:

I've mastered about 80% of the Disruption spell. I didn't think I'd make progress this quickly. Those few levels I gained in the recent battles really made a difference. And as for telekinesis, my fine control over matter is responding much better, he thought with satisfaction.

He was preparing a barley porridge stew with fresh meat for dinner. However, looking at the simmering chunks of meat, he couldn't help making an ethically conflicted face:

Damn it… knowing this meat came from an orc turns my stomach a bit. Eating something that wore armor and spoke when it was alive feels wrong on so many levels… but damn it, orc meat tastes ridiculously good, he complained internally as he sampled the broth.

At that moment, Pina came down the stairs. Seeing him at the stove with the ladle, she gasped in gentle panic:

"N-No, Alaster! Master! Let me handle that, it's my job to cook!" she blurted out, hurrying over.

The girl hurried toward the kitchen area, but as she stepped near the table, the sole of her shoe caught on a loose floorboard.

"Ah!"

Pina lost her balance and pitched straight forward. Alaster reacted on instinct, extending his arms to catch her in midair, but the momentum of her body colliding with his knocked him off balance. Both ended up crashing onto the kitchen floor with a dull wooden thud.

When they landed, Pina was lying entirely on top of him, her hands resting against the elf's chest while Alaster lay flat on his back.

They were face-to-face, inches apart.

Pina locked eyes with Alaster's mesmerizing violet gaze. She could feel the warmth emanating from his body and the rapid pounding of her own pulse echoing in her ears. She was so close she could count his eyelashes.

Alaster, for his part, gazed at the girl's face. He saw her large, round dark eyes, her pale skin, and that expression of pure innocence that enchanted him. An inexplicable warmth flooded his chest. Unable and unwilling to resist any longer, Alaster wrapped his arms around her waist and pushed up slightly, sealing his lips against hers in a gentle, tender kiss.

Pina froze completely. Alaster's arms held her firmly yet with infinite care. He didn't stop there; he continued to kiss her with soft pauses, caressing her lips with a delicate sweetness that sent shivers down her skin.

The girl could hardly believe it. It felt like stepping into a wonderful dream. Suddenly, the torrent of emotions she had been bottling up for days burst open within her. She brought her small, delicate hands up to Alaster's shoulders, holding onto him tightly, and returned the kiss with deep, desperate passion.

Pina's chest felt warm, overflowing with all the bottled-up love and longing that had been burning inside her. As she kissed him, a few silent tears escaped her eyes from the sheer rush of emotion.

Alaster felt the moisture of her tears and paused the kiss for a second to look into her eyes. With his thumb, he gently wiped her cheek.

"It's alright, sweet Pina… I'm here for you," he whispered in a voice so soft it felt like a caress.

Her tears fell gently onto Alaster's face, but the elf closed the distance between their lips once more, catching her tears in a sequence of warm, comforting kisses while the kitchen fire crackled softly around them.