Rayish
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Chapter 89
🕑 Added 2025-01-16 15:47:27 +0000 UTCThe alarm blared loudly, disturbing the quiet morning in the still-dark room. Elfy, a human with short dark brown hair, groaned in annoyance from the top bunk. She squirmed, trying to cover her ears with a pillow, but the sound was too persistent to ignore. Half-opening her eyes, she called out to her roommate in a weary tone.
"Lefiya! Lefiya, turn off your alarm!" she shouted, her voice raspy from just waking up.
But her call went unanswered at first. Lefiya, still asleep on the lower bunk, only mumbled incoherently in her slumber. Elfy peered down with an expression of mixed irritation and despair. "Why did you set an alarm this early? The sun isn't even up yet!" she complained, leaning over the edge of the bed to ensure Lefiya heard her.
Finally, Lefiya began to stir, rubbing her still-heavy eyes. Groggily, she reached for the alarm blaring on the small table beside her bed and switched it off. "Sorry, sorry, Elfy," she murmured softly, her voice still thick with sleep.
Elfy huffed before letting her head fall back onto her pillow, trying to reclaim the sleep that had been disrupted. Meanwhile, Lefiya yawned widely, trying to gather her wits. She sat up in bed, her body feeling sluggish from the early hour, but her resolve to start the day early was firm.
After stretching briefly, Lefiya began removing her pajamas, replacing them with a towel draped over her shoulder. With light yet still drowsy steps, she headed toward the bathroom. Once the bathroom door clicked shut, the sound of running water filled the quiet room again.
While showering, Lefiya began to hum softly, her tone cheerful despite its gentleness. Excitement bubbled within her as she imagined what the day held. "Today, I'll be accompanying Shirou again..." she murmured between verses, a faint smile gracing her lips. In her mind, she replayed images of Shirou concentrating on forging, his serious expression, and their warm conversations.
Her day had barely begun, but Lefiya already felt her heart brimming with anticipation. Even though it was still dark outside, she knew this would be a wonderful day.
As she lathered herself with warm water, Lefiya continued her happy humming, her smile never fading. She recalled last night's conversation with Shirou. The two of them had been chatting casually in the common room when Shirou mentioned his habit of waking up before dawn.
"I usually use the early hours to teach magecraft to Riveria," Shirou had said, sipping warm tea. "But since Riveria is staying with her friend for a few days, I still wake up early to keep my routine. It's not good to abandon good habits just because of a small change."
Hearing that, Lefiya had eagerly volunteered. "In that case, how about I join you at the forge earlier? We can start sooner!" she had said with enthusiasm.
Shirou had looked surprised at first but then smiled warmly. "If you don't mind waking up that early, sure. I wouldn't mind the company," he had replied.
Recalling that conversation, Lefiya couldn't suppress her happiness. Her heart felt light and buoyant. "I won't miss this chance," she murmured while turning off the water and grabbing her towel.
After drying off, Lefiya stood in front of the small mirror mounted in the bathroom. She dressed in a simple tee with the elegant yet comfortable style typical of Elves. Her light brown hair was tied into a high ponytail, as was her usual habit.
Before leaving, she applied a touch of light makeup, just enough to make her face look refreshed. "I have to look good for Shirou," she thought, blushing slightly at her reflection. Once satisfied with her appearance, Lefiya exited the bathroom.
Heading downstairs, she went straight to the kitchen, where Shirou was already present. Wearing an apron, he was slicing bread for the Loki Familia's breakfast. Lefiya's face lit up at the sight of him. "Shirou, I'm done with my shower. What can I help with?" she asked brightly, eager to assist with their usual kitchen duties.
Shirou turned to her, slightly surprised to see her so fresh and ready. "Oh, morning, Lefiya. You seem... enthusiastic today," he said warmly.
"Since we're heading to the forge early today, I didn't want to waste time," Lefiya replied, picking up a knife to slice fruit. Deep down, she felt a small delight at Shirou's attention, even if it was just a casual comment.
With a warm and cheerful atmosphere, the two of them worked together to prepare breakfast for the Loki Familia members, making their early morning more meaningful.
The still-quiet morning enveloped the Loki Familia Manor, with only the sounds of knives slicing ingredients and pots clinking in the kitchen breaking the silence. Shirou and Lefiya were busy working side by side, preparing breakfast for their Familia.
"Lefiya, is there anything else you'd like to add to the menu today?" Shirou asked as he stirred a pot of warm soup.
Lefiya, slicing fruit, shook her head slightly. "I think it's enough. With bread, soup, steak, and fruit, everyone should be satisfied," she replied with a smile.
Once all the dishes were ready, Lefiya grabbed a piece of paper and a pen to write a note. "I think we should leave a message asking someone to heat up the food and clean up the kitchen afterward," she said as she started writing. But she paused, her expression uncertain.
Noticing her hesitation, Shirou asked, "What's wrong? Why did you stop writing?"
Lefiya sighed softly. "I'm not sure who to address this to. It feels rude to ask anyone for help so early in the morning."
Shirou shrugged as he folded his apron. "Why not ask your roommate, Elfy? Doesn't she usually help you?"
Lefiya quickly shook her head. "I already bothered her earlier when my alarm went off. She'd definitely be annoyed if I asked her again." Her face showed a twinge of guilt.
After pondering for a moment, Lefiya smiled broadly. "I know! I can ask Alicia, Melina, or someone else in the Fairy Force. They wouldn't mind." With renewed enthusiasm, Lefiya finished writing the note, ensuring every word was neatly and politely arranged.
"Alright, I'll leave this note in the middle of the dining table so they can see it right away," she said, placing the paper strategically.
"Okay, that's done. Let's go to the forge now, Shirou," Lefiya urged excitedly, tugging on Shirou's arm to get him moving.
However, Shirou paused, his face thoughtful. "Wait a moment. I think we should prepare a lunchbox first. Also, it's better to have breakfast now rather than coming back here later," he said wisely.
Lefiya nodded slightly, agreeing with Shirou's suggestion. "You're right. Let's eat first, then," she replied, grabbing two plates and filling them with the food they had prepared.
They sat side by side at the dining table, enjoying the warm breakfast they had cooked together. The morning felt peaceful, filled with light conversation and small laughter, before they continued with their day at the forge.
After finishing breakfast, Shirou and Lefiya began preparing their lunch. Lefiya deftly packed some bread and fruits into a lunchbox, while Shirou stood in a corner of the kitchen, seemingly preoccupied with something else.
"What are you doing, Shirou?" Lefiya asked curiously, glancing at his hands, which were starting to project a cylindrical object.
Shirou gave a faint smile and showed her the result of his projection. "This is a thermos. It's useful for keeping water either hot or cold," he explained briefly. He then brought the thermos to the sink and began filling it with water.
Lefiya placed the last piece of bread into the lunchbox and approached to get a closer look. "I've never seen something like this before. So the water stays cold even after a long time?" she asked, her curiosity piqued, before resuming her task.
"Yes, but I have an additional trick," Shirou said, taking a short breath. With skilled hands, he projected a small magic sword imbued with ice elements. The sword was just the size of his palm, small enough to fit inside the thermos.
Lefiya, who was squeezing oranges nearby, paused for a moment to watch. Her eyes sparkled with admiration as she saw the ice sword begin to chill the water in the thermos. "You can even use magecraft like this for everyday things, Shirou. That's amazing," she said sincerely.
"It's just about using what I can do," Shirou replied humbly. After the water inside the thermos froze, he dissipated the ice sword back into prana. Then, glancing at Lefiya, who was holding a small bowl of orange juice, he asked, "Can I have the orange juice now?"
"Oh, of course!" Lefiya carefully poured the juice into the thermos, ensuring none spilled. When she finished, she smiled broadly. "So later, we'll have chilled orange juice at the forge, right? That'll be so refreshing!"
Shirou nodded as he tightly sealed the thermos. "That's the plan. We need to stay hydrated throughout the day," he said, placing the thermos and their lunchbox into a small bag he had prepared.
Lefiya nodded contentedly, smoothing her slightly messy hair. "I like your plan, Shirou. With this, we're ready for a whole day of forging!" she exclaimed enthusiastically.
Shirou gave a small smile at Lefiya's excitement. "Let's head out before we spend too much time praising this chilled orange juice," he joked, making Lefiya chuckle before they walked out of the kitchen together.
As the sun began to peek over the horizon, Shirou and Lefiya walked side by side toward the forge located behind the Loki Familia Manor. Lefiya, her morning energy seemingly boundless, occasionally skipped alongside Shirou, making their steps feel lighter.
"This morning feels so wonderful, doesn't it, Shirou? I feel like today will be a great day," Lefiya said with a wide smile, glancing at Shirou, who walked calmly beside her.
Shirou simply nodded, observing Lefiya's infectious cheerfulness. "Let's hope so," he replied succinctly, though the corners of his lips lifted slightly at her joy.
Upon arriving at the forge, Shirou opened the thick wooden door, letting Lefiya enter first before following her. Once inside, he immediately placed the small bag he carried onto a table in the corner of the room. The forge was still quiet, with the furnace unlit and the tools neatly arranged in their places.
Lefiya, who had been watching Shirou intently, finally spoke. "So, Shirou, do you already have a plan for what you want to forge today?" she asked, tilting her head, her curious expression clear.
Shirou exhaled softly, leaning his hands on the table. "Honestly, I'm still thinking about it. There are too many ideas in my head," he admitted, his tone sounding slightly uncertain.
In truth, Shirou was grappling with the overwhelming number of choices flooding his mind. Unlike most beginners in forging who often struggled due to a lack of knowledge, he faced the opposite dilemma. With Unlimited Blade Works, he had access to countless blueprints of weapons and equipment from across various worlds. The problem wasn't a lack of ideas but the abundance of options, making it difficult to decide what to create.
Unaware of Shirou's internal struggle, Lefiya tilted her head again and looked at him. "Hmm, in that case… are you going to change clothes first? If so, I'll step out for a bit," she said, pretending to act nonchalant, though deep down, a small part of her hoped to sneak a glance at Shirou's muscles like before.
Shirou gave a small smile at Lefiya's comment, which still seemed influenced by the earlier incident. "No, this time the clothes I'm wearing are projections, so it doesn't matter if they get damaged. I won't make you feel uncomfortable," he explained calmly.
"Oh…" Lefiya looked relieved, though a slight blush appeared on her cheeks, which she tried to hide by quickly turning away. "Alright then. I'll help with anything you need," she said enthusiastically, attempting to shift the focus away from herself.
"Thank you, Lefiya," Shirou replied as he began preparing the tools on the table. With Lefiya by his side, he felt a bit more confident that today would yield something worthwhile.
Shirou looked at the workbench where he had laid out his forging tools, his eyes slowly scanning the neatly arranged items. Even though everything was ready, he still seemed hesitant to begin. With a small sigh, he finally turned to Lefiya. "Lefiya, I need your advice. After successfully forging the bow yesterday, my plan was to gradually try crafting stronger weapons. But now I'm unsure where to start."
Lefiya nodded, fully supporting Shirou's plan. "That's a great idea. With more experience, you'll definitely become more skilled." But then she remembered something—her own words from yesterday about her belief that Shirou would create something unique. An idea struck her, and with a small smile, she looked at Shirou. "How about… you try forging a weapon from your original world?"
Shirou furrowed his brow, looking slightly surprised. "My original world?" he murmured as if the thought had only just occurred to him.
"Yes!" Lefiya answered with enthusiasm. "Your world is more advanced in terms of technology, right? I'm curious—what kind of weapons do people there usually use? Wouldn't it be fascinating to try?"
Shirou scratched his head, looking both puzzled and hesitant. "Huh… It could be an interesting idea, but it might also cause big problems."
Lefiya tilted her head, her curiosity growing. "Big problems? What do you mean, Shirou?"
Shirou sighed, seeming conflicted for a moment before finally smiling faintly. "Alright, follow me for a bit. I'll show you something," he said briefly, stepping out of the forge and motioning for Lefiya to follow.
Without hesitation, Lefiya trailed closely behind Shirou, her curiosity mounting. "What do you want to show me, Shirou?" she asked, quickening her pace to walk beside him.
Shirou only gave a faint smile, not answering directly. "You'll see soon. But I hope you won't be too surprised," he said as he led the way to a spot that would reveal more of the world unfamiliar to Lefiya.
They walked toward a small grassy clearing in front of the forge. At the center of the clearing stood a large, sturdy tree, its thick foliage gently swaying in the morning breeze. Lefiya glanced at Shirou, eager to know what he intended to show her.
"Alright, watch this," Shirou said, raising his hand and murmuring something in a low voice. "Trace on."
Before Lefiya's eyes, a strange object materialized in Shirou's hand, shimmering momentarily before solidifying. It was unlike anything Lefiya had ever seen—sleek and streamlined, black and white, yet appearing heavy. Shirou examined the object briefly, his brown eyes narrowing slightly.
The weapon was not just any ordinary tool. It was a Desert Eagle—a design from his world. The projection came from the blueprints embedded in his Unlimited Blade Works, a fragment of Archer's memories from the life he had once lived. Now, with the power passed down to him, Shirou could recreate the weapon almost flawlessly.
Lefiya stepped closer, her eyes wide with fascination. "Shirou… what is that thing?" she asked, her elf ears twitching slightly, a sign of her genuine interest.
Shirou raised the weapon slightly, showing it to Lefiya. "This is a weapon from my original world. We call it a pistol," he explained, then took a one-handed firing stance. "But this isn't an ordinary weapon. Let me show you how it works."
Before Lefiya could ask further, Shirou aimed the pistol at the large tree in front of them and pulled the trigger.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The sharp, deafening sound echoed across the clearing, startling birds perched on the tree into a frantic flight. The three shots landed perfectly, leaving small but deep holes in the tree's trunk.
Shirou lowered the pistol, his eyes scanning the result of his shots. His hand remained steady, not trembling in the slightest, even though he used only one hand. This is different from Archer in his past life, Shirou thought. Back then, he had to reinforce his body with magic just to shoot this Desert Eagle without wavering. But I... thanks to Falna, my body is far stronger than his.
Feeling satisfied, he turned to Lefiya, eager to hear her thoughts. However, he was startled to see Lefiya looking pale, her small hands tightly covering her ears.
"Lefiya!" Shirou called out with concern, dissipating the pistol back into prana. "Are you okay?"
Lefiya slowly opened her eyes, her ears still ringing. "Is… is it always that loud?!" she asked in a trembling voice, looking at Shirou with a mix of confusion and worry.
"Ah… sorry, I forgot the sound might startle you," Shirou admitted, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "This weapon is really loud. I should have warned you beforehand."
Lefiya could only nod slowly, still processing what had just happened. "Weapons from your world… are truly terrifying", she muttered softly.
Even though her ears still buzzed, her curiosity overcame her fear. She rubbed her eyes gently and walked closer to the large tree Shirou had just shot. There, she saw gaping holes in the trunk and a small metal object lying nearby. She bent down, picking it up with her slender fingers.
"This…" Lefiya stared at the cold metal in her hand, her eyes wide. Her voice shook slightly as she asked, "This tiny thing… was what pierced a tree this big?"
Shirou nodded, offering a faint smile. "Yes, that's the bullet. When I pull the trigger, this bullet is propelled out at high speed with immense force. That's why it can penetrate the tree like that," he explained, keeping his explanation simple.
Lefiya swallowed hard, still shocked that something so small could cause such destruction. Her face was tense, but her gaze remained fixed on the bullet in her hand. "This weapon… is scary", she whispered.
Shirou gave a small smile. "It might seem terrifying, but if used properly, weapons like this can be very effective tools. How about I teach you how to use it?" he asked, projecting the pistol from his prana again.
"Eh? No, no! I don't want to touch something that scary!" Lefiya quickly shook her head, her face turning red. However, a mischievous idea suddenly crossed her mind, making her blush even more. In a voice barely audible, she murmured, "But… if you held my hand while I shot, maybe… I'd give it a try."
Shirou raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that response. "Really? Then let's give it a shot," he said with a small smile, handing the Desert Eagle to Lefiya.
Lefiya carefully took the pistol, feeling slightly awkward. "This weapon… is so heavy," she commented as she tried to lift it with both hands.
"It is. That's why you need to hold it correctly," Shirou replied. He walked behind Lefiya and gently placed his hands over hers as she gripped the pistol. "Okay, now follow my lead."
Lefiya felt the warmth of Shirou's hands as they touched hers. Her heart began to race, but she tried her best to focus. Deep inside, she felt an inexplicable joy at being this close to him.
"Now, position your hands like this," Shirou guided her patiently, ensuring her grip was stable. Once Lefiya was properly positioned, he said, "Wait a moment."
Shirou projected a pair of earmuffs for Lefiya and carefully placed them over her ears. The fit was a bit tricky due to her elf-like ears, but Shirou adjusted them gently, ensuring her comfort.
"Alright, now it's safe. Let's begin," Shirou said, returning to his position behind Lefiya. He placed his hands over hers again, helping her aim the pistol at the tree. "I'll help you pull the trigger. Don't be afraid."
Lefiya nodded softly, and together they pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The loud sound echoed again, but this time it wasn't as jarring thanks to the earmuffs. The shot hit the tree dead center. Lefiya looked at the result with shining eyes.
"I did it!" she exclaimed excitedly, though she knew she wouldn't have managed it without Shirou's help.
Shirou smiled. "You did great, Lefiya. So, are you still afraid?"
Lefiya turned to him, her face slightly flushed. Maybe… if you always helped me like this, I wouldn't be afraid anymore, she replied inwardly.
Comments
Sikul
Lefiya and Shirou (and me lol) didn't know about that
Shekels DeOreo
The have guns in the danmachi world
striker James
Great chapter
