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It was a quiet, sunny morning at the campsite as the four continued their journey--toward heaven, and toward the friend Sein had yet to find.
As always, Fern is the first one to wake up to prepare for breakfast. Followed then by Stark to assist her for the meals then shortly after Sein awoke.
A long time has passed, and Frieren is still asleep.
“Still can’t believe the great mage can't bring herself to wake up.” Sein said as he was finishing up his last spoonful of breakfast. “Just exactly what Master Heiter told me years ago.”
“Normally she would wake up at this hour, but I guess this is one of the days where she goes past that.” Stark added, receiving the priest's empty bowl to clean it along with the rest of the cooking tools and utensils.
Fern glared at the tent where the sleepy mage peacefully slumbers, “By the time she wakes up, her breakfast would already be cold.” She coldly remarked. “Let that be her punishment for being so sloppy.”
Stark and Sein shuddered at her words.
“Well then,” The priest stood up from the log he sat on. “While waiting for master Frieren to wake up, I’ll be searching around this area for some interesting herbs to study.”
Now all that is left is two of them, and the elf who is still in deep sleep.
“Geez, when is she going to wake up?” Fern sighed, defeated at her own remark, who was also done reheating Frieren’s breakfast.
“I mean, we just defeated a difficult monster last night. I think she deserves a break today,” The red-haired man sharpened his axe. “Plus the weather is really sunny today. I say we all need a nice relaxing break, no?”
Stark was right. It’s rare for the weather to be sunny. Normally where they’re camping right now frequently gets cloudy and drizzles rain. Adding to the difficult monster they encountered last night was a tough experience.
“You’re right, sorry for getting worked up over this.” Fern apologetically smiled. “Ah, I suppose I can read the book I bought from the last town we’ve been to.”
Stark smiled as he watched the newly-peaceful mage pick up the book and walk over to sit across him in the logs. He sighed with relief for her not getting ticked off when he tried to calm her down.
Fern began to open her book. After that, She looked over to see the man in front of her continuing to sharpen his axe. Thankful for him to bring some sense to her. She has almost forgotten that other than valuing time, she should also enjoy things happening at her own pace.
A nice warm feeling passed by her. Both the mage and the warrior enjoying the peaceful silence they share together as they do their own thing.
Until,
“I wonder when Sein will come back.”
“I’m sure Master Frieren will apologize when she finally wakes up.”
“Do you think the reason it has already been sunny in this area is because we defeated the monster?”
“Master Eisen also told me just how sloppy Master Frieren can be at times.”
“Speaking of, should we reheat her meal again when she’s out of the tent?”
Never mind, never mind the peacefulness. How can she read her book when this chatterbox can’t even pause for a moment?
“...Stark.” Fern called out while attempting to read her book.
“Yes?” He looked to read her face, then realized her mood had changed.
“Let me read.” She flatly said with a dark aura circulating around her. “Quietly.”
The timid man replied, “Oh. Sorry.” He adjusted his sitting position and looked down nervously.
Few minutes passed, and now she cannot even properly read anymore than Stark blabbering.
The feeling right now compared to when she first started reading was completely different. It was quiet, too quiet that it’s already uncomfortable.
She peeked over to see Stark silently sharpening his axe, as if he made a slight sound, it would already be the end of the world for him. He was too focused on barely making a noise other than doing what he was supposed to do.
Fern reflected and thought how she handled the situation poorly and made him unsettled. She wanted to let him know to not force himself and never mind what she told him earlier but that would probably make things more uneasy for the both of them.
Even so, she needed to break the barrier. “Can you read me this chapter?”
It took a long pause for Stark to gather his thoughts after she asked a favor before looking up to her. “Huh?”
“I’m starting to have trouble reading because of the sun glaring,” Fern quickly said whilst wincing at her own terrible excuse, hoping he bought her bluff. “If you’re done sharpening your weapon, if you don’t mind.”
Stark showed her with a slightly confused look on his face. Nonetheless, he chuckled as he placed down his weapon and walked over to her. “Sure thing, the sun was also getting into my eyes from the reflection of the blade in my axe before I finished.”
Ack, doesn’t that mean he will actually have trouble reading? “Never mind, it’s fine. I didn’t know your eyes would hurt as well.” She backs her book out away from him.
“It’s okay, really. My vision is seems to be getting back to normal anyways.” He reached out his hand, waiting to hold her book. “Let me read it as an apology for disturbing you earlier.”
Now she feels even more guilty. She can just forcefully wake up Master Frieren so they could do something and forget about this. But it would probably be hard to get out of this and confuse Stark.
“I’m also sorry for what I said earlier.” Fern apologizes.
He acknowledged. “Don’t worry about it,” He reached out his hand again. “Now, what chapter do you want me to read?”
Fern hesitantly opened her book to a page and handed it to the warrior. “Just this chapter, then we can wake up Master Frieren right after.”
“Alright.” Stark agreed and sat down beside her.
Just before he read aloud the chapter’s title, the mage noticed how his hands slightly tremble.
He slowly read aloud his words, followed by a stutter.
“…Chapter 3: The d..dai..daivoolged..? Daivoolgled Identity..?” In a sweat, the troubled reader looked beside Fern to affirm if what he said was correct.
She had never heard such a word before so she read to herself what he was trying to read. “Oh, ‘divulged’ is pronounced as duh-vuhljd.”
“I see. Sorry, these types of words aren’t my strong suit…” Embarrassed, Stark laughed at himself as his finger flinched. “I suppose we can wake Master Frieren to read this. I don’t want to bother you again.”
Her lips were pressed tightly. He was still being careful around her. As if he had to be always careful around her, like he might upset her again. Sure, she could be harsh at times, but that didn't mean he had to hold himself back nor to the point he couldn't even be himself around her.
“Stark, I don’t mind it all. It’s no shame for anyone to not be good at something. I can help you along the way.” She insists, meeting his gaze sincerely.
Stark hesitates but continues anyway. “If you say so..”
He began reading the first paragraph aloud as Fern listened.
Not everyone can read really well around here, but for Stark, he actually reads decently, the only bumps were just the big words.
But Stark did read a lot when the four of the party members were under noble’s home in the north, studying intensively the manners, etiquette, and all about the role he had to impersonate. Probably because of the hellish and crammed studying within those past three months whacked his brain a bit too much.
Despite him having a short childhood of living in his own home, he was still neglected in the family. Except his older brother who sometimes helps him read and write as well but he focused more on training Stark. And all of his teachings were unfortunately short-lived for his home and his family perished. Same goes for when he met Eisen that he had trained him hard but ended when they both had an argument.
Fern sympathized with him. Her early childhood was ruined by a war, dealing with great pain before Heiter adopted her until he passed away, traveling then with the great mage Frieren.
Because of that she doesn’t get a lot of people to talk to. Especially when Frieren can sometimes be straightforward and dense. Conversations like that never came easily to her.
It’s one of the reasons she’s glad to have Stark around her who is the complete opposite. He shows emotions and is selfless to anyone. It’s no wonder why every town they go to, the people would be happy to be around him.
The warrior continues to the chapter when Fern’s trail of thought moves to him instead of the book.
She observes how his voice became much softer, reading in a slow pace as if to make sure the lady beside him understood what he was reading.
How his dark-colored eyes would trail to the words in each page. How his eyebrows would furrow in a confused look, bringing the book closer to his face to read properly as Fern teaches him the correct pronunciation. How his chest goes up and down as he inhales and exhales and takes a breath for every sentence he reads. How his bangs fall down from his eyes and move slightly from the gentle breeze that blows to them. How his rough and strong fingers would delicately flip the pages just as it were made of a fragile butterfly wing.
How his bracelet can be seen around his left wrist, the present Fern gave him shining brightly from the sun.
Fern unconsciously touched her bracelet that Stark has given to her, smiling.
She then remembered how Sein said the bracelet was a symbol of eternal love.
Her heart was suddenly pounding, shaking the thought off her head. Thankfully the man beside her was too focused reading that he didn’t notice her loss of composure at all.
She noticed how his eyes squinted and eyebrows furrowed again, bringing the book closer to his face. She found it cute.
“How do you pronounce this?” Stark pointed to the word on the page.
She couldn’t read what he was pointing at since the book was too close to his face, so she scooched closer to him. “It's ‘conscientious’.” She replied.
“So I was right after all, I was worried I might’ve gotten it wrong.” He sighed with relief.
Fern slightly laughed. “You’re a fast-learner, if only the butler wasn’t too harsh on you for reading when you had to study under the noble’s home before.”
“Thankfully I have you.” He says as he turns his head to her.
With no warning, both were facing towards each other. This time, it was so close that a few inches closer, their lips would meet.
“…Too close.” He softly whispers.
Fern jumped back to her senses again, realizing just how close they were. She quickly turned away and seated back at her original position. “Sorry, sorry.”
Stark followed by turning his head back to the book. “No problem,” He cleared his throat. “It’s alright, my voice was probably not clear enough to be understood.”
He stole a glance at Fern who was facing the other way. “You can come closer if you want.” He offered.
The purple-haired woman quietly obliged his suggestion so she went closer beside him, but not close as they were before.
Stark noticed how she became more hesitant. Did he accidentally make her uncomfortable? But she agreed to what he suggested so he hoped he didn’t make her awfully upset.
He turned back to where he last left off. “I’ll continue.”
He was starting to mindlessly read aloud of the words. His attention shifted, drawn to her beside him. Every few lines, he'd glanced over--just in time to catch her tucking her hair behind her ear.
From what he observed, her aura way before was different than now, he can’t help and wonder just how serene she looks.
Not only is Fern acting different, but so is he and the whole feeling in general, it never felt so peaceful than a few moments ago.
He guessed that this is a hidden magical spell book probably? But Frieren and Sein should know already if it was one when Fern bought it. But this is a story book novel, how can it be one?
Though he was probably overthinking it.
He was already done with the chapter he read and peeked at Fern without turning his head, waiting for her to initiate something. But alas, she did not say anything.
It is almost as if she didn’t want this to end yet, and the feeling is mutual. Neither wanted to say anything so he continued to the next chapter.
After a very long while, he instinctively felt someone was watching them before. He doesn’t know how he can tell, but it felt like it was Sein. How long has that priest been here?
As he was about to think about the missing party member, a voice was called out.
“Good morning...” Frieren rubbed her eyes as she was crouching down to look at her breakfast. “It’s cold.”
Both the warrior and mage flinched in surprise, both awkwardly standing up in unison.
It only took a few seconds for them to cool down. And they both found out it’s already noon. Have they read and sat together that long?
“That’s because Master Frieren woke up late. Later than usual.” Fern pouted.
Sein appeared on the scene. “I’m back—oh, and Master Frieren is finally awake.”
Stark observed the priest if he actually just came back. It felt like he was waiting far behind the scene for something to happen.
After some scolding from Fern to Frieren, all of the members of the party packed up their camp and headed on to their next destination.
As they were walking on the trail, Sein and Frieren took the lead, leaving Stark and Fern were at the back.
The purple-haired mage could hear that the priest was talking about his findings this morning towards the powerful mage, his voice carrying just enough to catch bits of it.
Fern glanced at the warrior beside her who seemed to be also listening to, attentive even from the distance.
Thankfully I have you.
She tried to erase that phrase he said earlier the best she could, but somehow she wants to keep hearing those kinds of words, only from Stark.
There must be no further meaning behind it though. It could just mean he preferred her over the butler on teaching skills. Nothing more.
Wait, why is she thinking so hard about this? Stark is a reliable party member just like how she sees Master Frieren and Sein. That was all.
“Hey, Fern, I just wanted to say I enjoyed the book we’ve read.” Stark suddenly said truthfully, breaking Fern from her thoughts earlier. “I didn’t expect to be hooked by it.”
Right, the book. Actually halfway through his reading earlier, she didn’t actually listen well to what he said. Her attention drifted off to something else than the story.
Maybe she will just read the parts she skipped when she’s alone.
Stark continued. “I wondered if I can borrow the book once you’re done with the whole novel.”
Fern blinked, surprised to hear that permission from him. But waiting that long could take forever.
“...Why don’t we read it together?" She quietly suggested. "I can read you the first chapter until we make it to the chapter we left this morning.”
He starts getting elated by that idea. “And then we will continue to read it to one another alternately in each chapter?”
She nodded. “It would be nice too if we can share our thoughts as the story progresses.”
“Sure! I’m almost getting excited honestly.” He beamed.
His lively aura was getting to her already. “Me too.” She looked fondly, watching him laugh.
“By the way, what do you think of the chapters we’ve read so far?” Stark curiously asked.
Fern let him speak first quickly instead, thinking it would be easier to just go along with his answer.
Back to the older party members, they’ve stopped talking and eavesdropped on the conversation that was happening behind them.
“I wondered what happened earlier this morning.” The elf mage pondered.
Sein closed his eyes as he smoked a cigar. “If only you were awake by then, Master Frieren.” He smirked. “If only you knew.”
“...You’re also scolding me?”
But little did Stark and Fern know as well, is how many more books they’d continue to read together.