Rayish
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Chapter 111
🕑 Added 2025-03-08 08:40:26 +0000 UTCA Few Days Ago
The evening began to envelop Orario with a golden light spreading across the sky. The city was still bustling, adventurers coming and going, and some merchants busy tidying up their stalls before closing for the day. Amidst the city's hustle and bustle, a woman with long green hair walked calmly, carrying a large supporter bag that looked heavy on her back.
Riveria Ljos Alf, the Nine Hell of the Loki Familia, wore a green cloak with gold accents along the edges. This cloak was no ordinary cloak—it was one she had purchased specifically because it was inspired by Shirou's temporary projection. Shirou had once said that the color suited her well, and for some reason, that simple compliment had stuck in her mind longer than it should have.
Her long, characteristic elf ears peeked out beautifully from small holes in the hood. This cloak wasn't just a fashion choice; it was also part of her strategy. As a High Elf and the princess of the elf race, Riveria knew full well that walking through the city carrying such a large bag would attract the attention of other elves. They would surely rush to offer her assistance, not just out of respect but also because none of them could imagine a noble elf princess carrying such a burden alone.
"If I wear this cloak, my identity won't be quickly recognized by them," she thought, adjusting the strap of the bag on her shoulder for comfort.
There was another reason why she had chosen this cloak today. Every time she looked at it, she was reminded of her brief journey with Shirou to Rivira. Though she wouldn't say it out loud, in her heart, she considered that trip... a sort of date.
"Ridiculous," she murmured softly, almost inaudibly. She sighed and shook her head. "It was just a trip for magecraft training, nothing more."
Yet, despite her attempts to deny it, that warm feeling remained. After all, those moments felt more comfortable than her usual life filled with responsibilities. Shirou wasn't the type to treat her as a senior or a respected elf princess. He simply saw her as... Riveria.
A small smile almost appeared at the corner of her lips, but she quickly suppressed it and refocused on her destination.
Tonight, she would visit the home of her old friend, Aina, to deliver a stack of ancient books she had collected but hadn't had the time to read. If there was one person in Orario who could understand her literary collection, it was Aina Tulle.
Riveria knocked on the door of a simple yet comfortable house in one corner of Orario. The house wasn't large, but it always had a warm and clean atmosphere, reflecting its neat and attentive owner. It didn't take long before footsteps were heard from inside, and the wooden door slowly opened.
Standing at the threshold was a middle-aged man with hair beginning to gray at the temples. His calm face furrowed slightly as he squinted, trying to see the visitor more clearly under the dim evening light.
"Hmm? Who—"
As soon as his eyes caught sight of the figure standing at his doorstep, his expression immediately changed. The man's eyes widened for a moment, and then he quickly bowed in respect, realizing who had come.
"L-Lady Riveria! My apologies. I didn't recognize you earlier."
Riveria, accustomed to such reactions, simply gave a small nod.
"No need to worry," she replied in a flat yet polite tone.
Without wasting time, the man quickly turned back into the house and called out.
"Aina! You have a guest! Lady Riveria is here!"
The sound of lighter footsteps came from inside, followed by a slightly surprised female voice.
"Eh? Riveria?"
Not long after, Aina appeared from inside the house, still wearing her casual clothes after a day of work. Her usually calm face showed a hint of surprise, but then she smiled broadly.
"Riveria! What a surprise. Please, come in."
Riveria nodded once more before stepping inside the house. As soon as she entered, she immediately felt a much more relaxed atmosphere compared to the noisy halls of the Loki Familia. There was a faint aroma of tea in the air, and the neatly arranged wooden furniture added to the cozy feeling.
Aina pointed to the sofa in the living room.
"Have a seat. I'll make some tea."
Riveria placed the large bag containing ancient books beside the sofa before sitting down gracefully. She observed the interior of the house—simple and tidy, just like Aina. Far from the luxury of an elf palace, but that was precisely what made this place feel so warm.
As she waited for Aina, she allowed herself to sink into a moment of silence, enjoying the tranquility offered by her old friend's home.
Aina returned from the kitchen with a wooden tray holding two cups of warm tea and a small plate of elf-style snacks. The fragrant aroma of tea filled the air, bringing a touch of nostalgia to Riveria. She recognized the snack—light wheat bread with a bit of honey and spices typical of the Alf Royal Forest. This used to be one of her favorite treats back in her homeland.
"I didn't expect you to still have this recipe," Riveria said, taking a piece and biting into it gracefully. The familiar soft and sweet taste immediately greeted her tongue, reminding her of the past.
Aina smiled slightly, placing the tray on the table. "Of course. I was your personal attendant, wasn't I? Remembering your preferences became a habit."
Riveria nodded, her eyes drifting momentarily to the past. So much had changed since they fled the Alf Royal Forest together with Loki and Finn back then. She could see a hint of longing in Aina's eyes as the woman sat across from her, gazing at Riveria with a nostalgic smile.
"It still feels like yesterday when we ran away from there. You were still arguing with Finn, I was panicking like crazy, and Loki kept laughing as if it was all just a game," Aina said with a chuckle.
Riveria smiled faintly, lifting her teacup. "It felt heavy at the time, but after everything that's happened, I don't regret it. The outside world was too fascinating to leave behind."
Aina nodded in agreement. "Yes... We've come a long way, haven't we?"
Aina's eyes then glanced at the large bag lying on the floor beside the sofa. Her eyebrows raised slightly before she looked at Riveria with curiosity.
"So, what brings you here all of a sudden? I'm sure it's not just for nostalgia."
Riveria set her cup down slowly, then looked at Aina with a serious yet calm expression. "I need your help. And I'd like to stay here tonight."
Aina was slightly surprised by the request, but she didn't refuse. Instead, she turned to her husband, who was sitting in a corner of the room reading a book.
"Dear, Riveria wants to stay here tonight," Aina said.
The middle-aged man closed his book calmly, then turned to Riveria with a friendly smile. "Of course, please do. You're always welcome in this house."
Then, in a joking tone, he added, "Coincidentally, I have some business with my friends tonight, so you two can have some privacy. Don't worry, I won't eavesdrop on your secret conversations."
Aina rolled her eyes with a small laugh, while Riveria simply sighed softly.
"Thank you," she said, slightly raising her cup as a gesture of respect.
Tonight, she could relax a little. However, the matter she needed to discuss with Aina was not light.
Aina's husband deftly put on his long coat and then adjusted his hat before heading toward the front door. His movements were efficient, showing the habits of someone accustomed to traveling at night.
As his hand reached for the doorknob, Aina suddenly stood up and approached him. "Wait a moment," she said softly.
The man stopped, turning with a slight confusion, but before he could ask, Aina had already stood on her tiptoes and kissed his forehead.
"Thank you..." she whispered quietly, just enough for her husband to hear.
The man's eyes softened slightly; then he smiled and gently stroked his wife's hair before finally opening the door and stepping out. "I'll be off now," he said before closing the door softly behind him.
Riveria, who had been observing the scene from the sofa, crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Hm... If I didn't know better, I'd think you two were a loving middle-aged man and his affectionate young wife."
Aina returned to the sofa with a flat expression, but the slight blush on her cheeks betrayed her emotions. "Don't tease," she said, though it didn't sound very firm.
Riveria smiled slightly. "But it's true, isn't it? From the outside, you look like a young woman in her twenties married to a much older man. Though we both know who's actually older here."
Aina sighed and sipped her tea before looking at Riveria with a meaningful gaze. "Of course. You and I, we're elves. We're almost a century old, but look at us—our faces haven't changed much since we left our homeland."
Riveria nodded, enjoying that fact. She often forgot that she had lived for nearly a century. "Living a long life with a youthful face is a blessing... or maybe a curse," she murmured, more to herself.
Aina smiled slightly before returning to the previous topic. "By the way, you've changed a lot in how you treat my husband now compared to when I first introduced him to you."
Riveria shrugged casually. "Of course. Back then, I didn't know him, and from my perspective, he was just a man taking advantage of you while you were sick."
Aina chuckled, remembering how protective Riveria had been back then. "You even threatened him at the time, didn't you?"
Riveria smiled faintly but didn't deny it. "At the time, I only saw him as an ordinary man approaching a noble elf like you. But it turned out he truly cared for you."
Aina looked at the door with a soft expression. "Yes... He may just be an ordinary human with a much shorter lifespan than us, but he always makes sure I'm happy."
Riveria looked at her friend for a moment before finally sighing. "It seems I have to admit that he is indeed a good man."
Aina smiled contentedly and teased, "Well, who knows, maybe you'll meet someone who makes you think like this too."
Riveria chuckled softly but didn't respond. She simply sipped her tea slowly, letting the warmth of the drink flow down her throat as she enjoyed this rare moment with her old friend.
Aina suddenly put a hand to her lips, her eyes widening as if she had just remembered something important. "Oh, right! I almost forgot—the last time you visited, you... confided in me about someone."
Riveria, who had been enjoying her tea, suddenly coughed lightly. She quickly set her cup down, slightly turning her face as if to hide her expression. "Ugh... You still remember that?" she asked in a complaining tone, though her cheeks were slightly flushed.
Aina smiled meaningfully, clearly enjoying this rare moment where Riveria—the usually stern and wise High Elf—looked flustered. "Of course I remember. I'm curious about how things have progressed between you two. Any developments?"
Riveria sighed, leaning back on the sofa before finally speaking. "A lot has happened since we last talked about this..." she murmured softly.
She recounted how she and 'him' had danced together, something she rarely did before. How she had once fallen asleep in his lap, enjoying a warmth she had never felt before. Even how the two of them had gone on a 'date' to the Dungeon, though she avoided mentioning that the person she was referring to was Shirou.
Aina listened attentively, her eyes sparkling every time Riveria shared those intimate moments. Then, after Riveria finished her story, Aina looked at her with an expression of disbelief.
"Waaaah..." Aina exclaimed in awe before covering her mouth with both hands. "I never imagined you could get this close to a man! So... who confessed their feelings first?" she asked eagerly.
Riveria immediately flinched and turned sharply. "We're still just friends," she said quickly, as if wanting to end the conversation right there.
"What?!" Aina almost choked on her tea. She stared at Riveria with an expression of disbelief. How could that be? They've done such intimate things, yet they're still just 'friends'? she thought to herself.
She set her cup down, then leaned forward slightly, speaking in a softer tone. "Riveria, you know... many men can be quite dense when it comes to women's feelings. Maybe you should take the first step."
Riveria bit her lip, lowering her gaze. In her heart, she knew she could do it. She could confess her feelings, admit everything honestly. However, whenever she thought about Lefiya—her student who clearly had deep feelings for Shirou—and Aiz, who was like a daughter to her, she hesitated. Both girls were also close to Shirou, and she didn't want to ruin their relationships.
Aina noticed the change in Riveria's expression. She quickly realized that this wasn't just a matter of courage but something more complicated. She didn't want to push her friend to speak further, so she smiled softly and patted Riveria's hand reassuringly.
"We'll talk about this later. We still have plenty of time while you're staying here," she said in a calming tone.
Riveria was slightly surprised but felt relieved. She looked up, seeing Aina's warm smile that always made her feel at ease. In a softer voice, she whispered, "...Thank you, Aina."
Aina smiled, satisfied that her old friend could at least open up a little more to her.
After finishing their snacks, Riveria set her teacup on the table and sighed softly. "Actually, the reason I came here isn't just to chat. I also need your help with something."
Aina, who had been sipping her tea, immediately turned to her friend. "Help?" she asked curiously. Then her eyes glanced to the side of the sofa, where a large supporter bag rested with its obvious weight. "Does this have something to do with that bag you brought?"
Riveria nodded lightly, touching the strap of the large bag as if to emphasize her words. "Inside are stacks of ancient books, mostly High Elf manuscripts that I've collected over time. I requested them directly from my father, King Larfal Ljor Alf, and they were delivered via the Hermes Familia's courier. But..." She sighed. "I haven't had the chance to read them all."
Aina raised her eyebrows, her eyes shining with interest. "In that case, these books must be written in hieroglyphs, right?"
Riveria smiled faintly and nodded. "Exactly."
Aina straightened up, understanding why Riveria had come to her. "Ah... now I see. So because I also understand that ancient script, you came to me."
Riveria looked at her with hope. "Yes, I need someone who can translate and help me understand their contents more quickly. Alone, it would take far too long."
Aina tilted her head, thinking for a moment before asking, "But aren't there others in the Loki Familia who can read hieroglyphs?"
Riveria snorted softly and closed her eyes for a moment as if she had just heard something ridiculous. "Haaah... If you're referring to Loki, she can't focus on reading books like these at all. You know her—she'd rather relax, drink, and bother me than study something serious."
Aina giggled at the resigned tone in Riveria's voice. "True enough. Then... what about Aiz?"
Riveria rolled her eyes before answering, "Aiz? She only reads because I forced her to since she was a child. And trust me, she wouldn't touch these books unless I literally dragged her to them."
Aina finally couldn't hold back her laughter. She covered her mouth with one hand, her shoulders shaking slightly. "Hahaha... So you really had no choice but to come to me, huh?"
Riveria looked at her with a flat expression before finally giving a small nod. "Yes. So... will you help me?" she asked, her voice slightly softer than before.
Aina smiled, happy to be able to help her friend. She nodded with confidence. "Of course. If you've come all this way and even brought all those books, how could I refuse?"
Riveria smiled slightly in relief. "You're a great help, Aina. I truly appreciate it."
Aina nodded again, then gently patted Riveria's hand. "Alright, let's start after dinner tonight. We'll probably be busy reading all night, won't we?"
Riveria nodded, feeling a little more at ease knowing that at least now she wouldn't be reading all those books alone.
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