Chapter 31: How do you, a magician, know so much?

Sairi noticed that the two wild rabbits didn’t have wounds or blood all over their bodies; instead, each only had a single cut on the neck.

It looked like Autelanz had easily dealt with the two rabbits and let them bleed out.

Autelanz moved swiftly, and in a flash, he placed the two rabbits down beside Sairi.

“Can we start the fire now?”

“Yes.”

Hilvia instructed Sairi and Autelanz to quickly handle the two rabbits. They soon finished separating the meat and cleaning the innards.

Hilvia, meanwhile, used the Holy Sword to casually cut down a tree for firewood and carved a few wooden skewers.

“Yay! Time to roast the meat!”

Sairi quickly perked up, raising her right hand in a cheer.

With everyone working together, they quickly skewered the meat and set up the fire. Hilvia gave a flick of her hand, and the firewood ignited.

After roasting for a while, the three of them sat around the fire, tending to the meat as it cooked. Sairi remained curious about Autelanz.

“Hey, Autelanz big brother, you seem so refined, but you stoop so low to hunt and eat roasted meat with us. Don’t you feel like you’re losing face?”

“Why would you say that?”

“Uh… because I feel like Autelanz is pretty proud and pursues art with such elegance. I didn’t think you’d get along with rough folks like us.”

“Hahaha.”

Autelanz chuckled at Sairi’s words.

“That’s not true. Mindless pride is just foolishness. Besides, you two aren’t ordinary people, so I have no reason to act arrogantly around you.”

“Arrogance isn’t in my nature. Sharing this unique experience with everyone is a wonderful thing.”

“Wow, I didn’t expect Mr. Autelanz to be so self-aware.”

“Well then, Miss Caili, how do you see me?”

“This…” Sairi didn’t expect Autelanz to turn the question on her.

Hilvia also tilted her ear, listening attentively and ready to interrupt if needed.

“Actually… so far, Mr. Autelanz has left a pretty good impression on me. You can perform magic tricks and handle things efficiently.”

“Hahaha, I didn’t expect Miss Caili’s evaluation to be so high.”

“Uh… it’s just how I feel.”

For some reason, watching Sairi and Autelanz chat so freely made Hilvia a bit uncomfortable.

“Alright, enough chatting. The meat’s almost done. Come try some.”

“Yay!”

Sairi happily took two large skewers of meat, holding one in each hand, and began eating heartily.

Thanks to the preparation, Hilvia had Sairi take some seasonings from her hairpin, making the roast even more flavorful.

“Mmm~”

Sairi ate with great focus, her mouth messy with grease, but her pace never slowed.

“How’s the taste? Good?”

“Mmm! It’s top-notch, definitely better than those street snacks. Delicious, I love it!”

Receiving Sairi’s affirmation, Hilvia felt much happier eating as well. However, compared to Sairi, Hilvia ate more ladylike—taking small bites slowly, and she didn’t have as big an appetite.

Autelanz, although male, had only a slightly larger appetite than Hilvia and nowhere near Sairi’s.

Not only did Sairi have a big appetite, but she ate fast too. By the time Hilvia and Autelanz finished less than three skewers combined, Sairi was already on her tenth.

“Didn’t expect Miss Caili to have such a good appetite. If I’d known, I would have caught two more rabbits.”

“Ah, it’s fine. I’m not picky about food. I don’t have to eat much.”

“That won’t do. How can I let two beautiful ladies starve here in the wilderness?”

“Really, it’s fine. I can eat anything. Waiting a bit longer won’t matter.”

Hilvia handed Sairi two more skewers.

“Enough talking. Don’t choke. Just enjoy your meat.”

At the same time, Hilvia gave Autelanz a warning look, and he wisely kept quiet.

Lunch ended quickly, mostly because Hilvia and Autelanz ate little while Sairi devoured most of it.

Afterwards, the three continued their journey toward the Bloodspirit Empire.

Leaving the Windspring Forest’s border, they entered an endless vast grassland.

Sairi reached down to touch a wild grass by her foot, and it suddenly emitted a lively “ding-ling” sound. She crouched to inspect but found no bell.

This grassland indeed held some mysterious things waiting to be explored.

“Hey, Hilvia sister, how big is this grassland? When will we reach the Bloodspirit Empire?”

“Oh?”

Hilvia responded upon hearing the question.

“It won’t be soon. This grassland, as a gray zone between many countries, will take us until around noon tomorrow to enter the Bloodspirit Empire’s territory.”

“So?”

“So we have to camp here overnight.”

“Yay!” Hearing this, Sairi happily jumped up, as she had been curious about this grassland all along.

Besides, she found lying here very comfortable. A gentle breeze blew continuously, and with no lights around, camping by the fire under the starry sky sounded like a beautiful thing.

Sairi was blind before and had often heard others talk about watching stars and wishing on shooting stars, so she had always looked forward to that.

Now she could see, and with good friends around, she wasn’t going to miss such an opportunity.

“Let’s hurry up! At night, we’ll watch stars and the moon together!”

“You’re quite excited. Remember to consider others’ feelings.”

“Oh, the two ladies don’t need to worry about me. My stamina and abilities are just fine.”

Autelanz knew Hilvia was referring to him and replied willingly.

“That’s good. Let’s keep moving.”

“Mm!”

Sairi happily grabbed Hilvia’s hand and ran ahead, laughter filling the air.

The two young ladies held hands, soaking in this beautiful moment. Sairi’s golden hair rippled like the Golden Inscriptions engraved on the Holy Temple, gorgeous and lively.

Autelanz wisely didn’t rush to catch up but stayed behind, maintaining some distance.

Watching Hilvia and Sairi’s backs, Autelanz felt sincere admiration for this friendship. Although their paths were different, he couldn’t help but praise the beauty of this unfolding scene.

Still, Autelanz didn’t forget his task. He slipped his right hand into his collar; soon, a magical device glowed briefly. After a miniature magic array completed a rotation, everything returned to normal.

“They should reach here by tomorrow morning.”

Hilvia and Sairi were still running ahead, while Autelanz didn’t know what would happen when the army arrived tomorrow.

Honestly, he thought the girl named Sairi was wonderful, bringing him much joy despite their short acquaintance.

Just then, Sairi glanced back, seeing Autelanz far behind, and called out as she ran.

“Keep up, Mr. Autelanz! Don’t fall behind~”

Her voice snapped Autelanz out of his thoughts and back to reality.

“Oh! Got it. Watch me catch up to you two!”

Autelanz abandoned his dignified Grand Magician demeanor and sprinted after them.

At this moment, Autelanz cherished the time spent with Hilvia and Sairi. Unknowingly, a wish against his vow rose in his heart—wishing Hilvia and Sairi a safe departure tomorrow.

***

That night, after traveling all afternoon, the three found a place to set up camp.

Hilvia easily summoned a lot of firewood with magic to keep warm. Sairi took the tent and some food from her hairpin.

Sairi sneaked a glance at Hilvia, who was tidying the tent and bedding, then at Autelanz.

Autelanz seemed relaxed and casual, sitting by the fire, blankly staring into the flames, as if lost in thought.

“Um… Mr. Autelanz, sorry we only brought one tent, so you might have to sleep outside tonight.”

“That’s fine. Besides, I’m a magician of profound skill; camping one night has no effect on me. I actually enjoy it.”

Autelanz showed no concern and occasionally rotated the food he was roasting.

Though Sairi knew it was unrealistic for Autelanz to share their tent, she still wanted to be polite.

“Should I ask Hilvia to prepare an extra blanket for you?”

“No need.”

“But…”

“No, thank you for your kindness, but it won’t affect me. I like it this way.”

“Alright then.”

Once everything was ready, they gathered around the fire to enjoy dinner.

Night had fallen; dazzling sunlight was replaced by gentle moonlight. Countless silver threads scattered across the earth.

Nebulae drifted like ink stains in the night sky. The breeze stirred hanging bells, softly singing as if the night was reciting a silent poem written by the stars.

The three were wrapped in this peaceful and serene atmosphere.

Sairi ate the meat Autelanz had grilled—unexpectedly, his skills were pretty good—while admiring the rare starry sky.

Far from towns with no light pollution, the sky was clear, occasionally streaked by shooting stars.

Sairi realized this might be the first time in this world she seriously appreciated the starry sky.

She looked up, studying the twinkling stars.

Hilvia noticed Sairi’s gaze lingering upward, slowing her eating.

“What are you looking at, Sairi?”

“Uh, I’m looking at the stars and the moon!”

“Are they pretty?”

“Why do you ask? Of course, they’re beautiful!”

“How do you feel now?”

“Very happy! Why do you ask? Hilvia, what’s with the strange questions today?”

“Hahaha, Miss Caili, you’re so innocent and adorable.”

Suddenly, Autelanz, who had been quietly eating, spoke up, catching Sairi off guard.

“Hey! Why do you guys always say things like this? You just want to call me dumb!”

“No, no, Miss Caili. I mean that for humans, feelings influence moods.”

“???“

Sairi grew a bit annoyed. Autelanz always acted like he understood everything and did everything effortlessly, which irritated her a bit.

“Miss Caili feels happy now because someone is with her. But if she were alone on this vast grassland, I imagine she’d feel lonely.”

“Is that so?”

Sairi wasn’t sure how to respond, so she just said, “I see,” to appear understanding.

“To take it further, if one day Miss Caili and Miss Hilvia parted ways, and I had already passed away, when Miss Caili came here alone again, sitting by this fire, what kind of feelings would that be?”

Sairi thought about it and found the idea quite different.

“Probably… very sad.”

“Yes. Humans are complex beings. Different environments, times, and experiences bring different feelings.”

“Got it, got it. Mr. Autelanz, you’re really the King of Understanding!”

“Ahem!”

Hilvia’s cough broke the awkward conversation.

“Alright, Mr. Autelanz, stop teasing the child and keep eating. We need to continue early tomorrow.”

After Hilvia’s interruption, the three returned to their meal in calm silence.