A Start of Slow Pace living

The evening sky blanketed the city, and both residents and tourists continued to liven up its streets, the merchants, who were beginning to pack away their goods. Amid the buildings and houses lining the roads, stood a two-story library. From within, Adam, Grace, and Galiene emerged, with Grace carrying a thick book and wearing a delighted expression.

“...You look happy, Grace,” Adam said.

“Of course! This is like finding a long-lost ancient artifact,” Grace replied.

“You might not know this, Adam, but many research books on magic aren’t widely printed or distributed across the kingdom. Some are indeed rare, like the one Grace is holding,” Galiene explained.

“Ah, I see...”

“Wow, Galiene, it seems you know quite a bit about the magical world. Have you studied it too?” Grace asked.

“Yes, though unfortunately I haven’t gone very deep into it.”

“That’s alright, maybe I can teach you more about magic in greater detail,” Grace said with enthusiasm. Her energy overwhelmed Galiene, who glanced at Adam as if asking for help.

“Grace, I think your excitement is making Galiene a little uneasy. How about giving her some space?” Adam suggested.

Hearing that, Grace stopped talking and scratched her head sheepishly. “Sorry, I got carried away...”

“It’s fine, I understand that feeling.”

“By the way, Grace, with the sky getting darker, inns around the city will likely get crowded. Wouldn’t it be better if you started looking for one now?” Adam asked.

“Oh my, you’re right, Adam. I’d better hurry and find one.” Grace tucked the book into the large pocket of her robe.

“Goodbye, Adam. You too, Galiene,” Grace said as she dashed off, waving her hand. Adam waved back.

“She’s a cheerful girl,” Galiene remarked.

“I agree. Though before you met her, she was actually quite reserved.”

“So, what now?” Galiene asked Adam.

“...There’s a place I’d like to visit. Do you mind?”

“Lead the way. After all, I’m bound to you by our pact.”

Adam smiled and began walking, with Galiene following behind. After several minutes, they arrived at an open field where a merchant was selling bundles of flowers nearby. Adam bought one and continued on toward the clearing. They walked until Galiene noticed a carved sign.

“...A cemetery...”

Galiene stopped, watching Adam as he walked deeper among the gravestones until he halted between two of them. He placed the bundle of flowers there and took a glass vial from his pocket, pouring its contents onto the graves, releasing a fragrant aroma.

“Sorry I haven’t visited you guys often...” Adam stroked the gravestone before standing again. Galiene joined him between the markers, while Adam’s face carried a nostalgic smile.

Osbert Stonebrand

Lina Cormier

The names were engraved upon the gravestones.

-

After a few minutes of walking, Adam and Galiene arrived at a building that offered housing property services. There weren’t many people insideonly one person on duty. They entered, and theres a man wearing a wool vest and a long trousers.

“Ah, Master Adam, glad to see you again.”

“Good to see you too, Mister Rolf. So, how’s the progress on the construction?” Adam asked.

“So far, smooth. A wooden house with a living room, dining room, fully equipped kitchen, two bathrooms, and bedrooms that can accommodate two people. Also, a storage shed outside the house with some modifications, and the necessary furnishings for each room, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But you never once checked on the progress of your house’s construction. Are you sure about everything?”

“Well, I like surprises. Besides, I trust your company’s reputation.”

Rolf shook his head in mild disbelief, smiling at how someone could place such trust in matters tied to their very life.

“Alright then.” Rolf took a key from a drawer, along with a small scroll from the reception desk, and handed them to Adam. “Here is the key to your house, and this scroll will guide you to its location. Your home is ready to be lived in, though the garden is still in the process of being arranged.”

“That’s no problem. Thank you for your hard work,” Adam said as he took his key.

“You’re welcome.”

“So, I assume everything’s finished?” Galiene asked.

“For this part, yes. Next, I just need to pick up my belongings from the inn beside this building.”

“Alright.”

Adam and Galiene exited the building and approached the two-story inn next door.

“Wait for me outside, I won’t be long,” Adam told Galiene, who responded with a simple nod.

A few minutes passed as Galiene waited by the roadside, drawing glances from passersby. Soon, Adam emerged from the inn, carrying a large leather suitcase in each hand and a camping bag on his back. He set both suitcases down on the ground.

“...That’s quite a lot of luggage,” Galiene remarked, looking him up and down, especially at what he carried.

“Well, we’re moving to a new place, so I figured it’s only natural to bring everything with me at once.”

As Adam reached to pick up the suitcase again, Galiene extended her hand toward him.

“Let me carry one of your suitcases.”

Though Adam didn’t mind handling both himself, he would’ve felt more uncomfortable refusing her offer.

“Thank you.” Adam handed her one of the leather suitcases, which she accepted without hesitation.

“You’re welcome,” Galiene replied with a smile. “Should we also buy ingredients for tonight’s dinner? Of course, the decision is still yours.”

“Of course. Do you have any food preferences?”

“...Nothing specific. I’ll just go along with whatever you buy.”

“Alright.” Adam picked up his suitcase again and began walking. “Let’s head to the market before it gets too dark.”

Galiene nodded and followed Adam beneath the evening sky, with night drawing near.

-

The night sky blanketed the city as the evening breeze swept through. Many people flocked to places of rest, like restaurants and pubs to enjoy warm food and drinks, accompanied by the dim glow of street lamps. Yet, there were also those who chose to head straight home, carrying light snacks bought from small vendors.

“So? Tastes better than the ones near the arena, doesn’t it?” Adam asked Galiene, who was sitting on a bench by the roadside, holding a skewer of roasted meat in one hand and taking a bite.

“Hmph…hmph…” Galiene nodded while chewing the meat. “I didn’t expect I’d been missing out on this all this time.”

“Even if you don’t want to draw attention, you should at least try dropping by the marketplace. I can’t believe you never did that.”

“Yeah, and I’m starting to regret it.” Galiene swallowed the last piece of roasted meat, a satisfied look spreading across her face. “What about that scroll? You should use it now, before the streets get crowded.”

“You’re right.” Adam finished his skewer, pulled a scroll from his coat pocket, then took out a magic energy stone engraved with a sun-like symbol. Bringing them close together, the scroll flared to life, summoning a glowing orb that floated between them.

“Alright, let’s get going,” Adam said as he grabbed the paper bag of groceries from the bench.

“Let’s do it.” Galiene licked the sauce off her fingers, and the sight was so cute that Adam quickly turned his gaze away.

Galiene picked up her suitcase and Adam’s, then started walking, following the glowing orb, with Adam trailing behind.

After several minutes, they left the city behind, the orb’s glow growing brighter as the surroundings turned darker, making it their only source of light.

“I hope this orb doesn’t lead us too far from the city. The farther we go, the higher the chance of being attacked by wild beasts,” Galiene muttered while leading the way through the dim path. “Didn’t Mr. Rolf tell you the exact location?”

“…………”

“Adam?”

“Ah, yes. I just rechecked the scroll and found some info on the back of it about my new home.”

“Oh? So we’re almost there?”

“Yup, just a little further. I asked Mr. Rolf to build it not too far from the city.”

Galiene suddenly stopped, sensing something among the trees ahead.

“…Magic energy?” she said, her posture immediately on guard.

“Ah, looks like Mr. Rolf also set up a magic barrier around the house. That’s just what he always do to safeguard his project.”

“…I see.” Galiene relaxed again, letting out a sigh of relief.

They continued walking, and sure enough, beyond the trees stood a fairly spacious wooden house, complete with a chimney and wooden fence around it. To its right was a smaller wooden building with a door.

“…Nice house, Adam. Seems you were right to entrust everything to Mr. Rolf.”

“…Go ahead inside first, Adam.” Galiene turned around to look at him, only to see Adam with his hand pressed against his face, as if he had just remembered something.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Better if we go inside first.”

Not understanding what Adam was thinking, Galiene simply followed his lead and walked toward the house.

-

As Adam opened the door, he was greeted by complete darkness, unable to see anything inside. Galiene took the initiative, closing her eyes as her palms lit up, revealing part of the room. Adam ran his hand along the nearby wall until he found a wooden box inscribed with runes, its markings stretching across the room.

Adam pulled out a magic energy stone patterned like lightning and placed it inside. In an instant, the room was filled with a warm orange glow, illuminating the entire space. The house’s interior came into view: the living room and dining area were combined without partitions. The living room had two long sofas with a table in the center, and between the living and dining areas stood a hearth. The dining space held a wooden table with four chairs, and beyond it was a kitchen, fully equipped with utensils and a stove, separated by a wooden partition with a square opening so the dining area was still visible. Each wall was fitted with glass windows and curtains to let in natural light.

“…Wow.” Adam and Galiene said in unison, both in awe of what lay before them.

“Mr. Rolf really did his job well, don’t you think?” Galiene asked.

“Yeah… about that…”

“What is it? Since earlier, you’ve looked like someone who forgot something.”

“…I think it’ll be easier if you see it for yourself.”

“Um?” Galiene tilted her head in confusion.

-

“…………” Galiene’s face flushed slightly with embarrassment on her face.

“…As you can see… Mr. Rolf seems to have interpreted my request for a house that could accommodate two people a little differently,” Adam said, his face tinged with red.

Before them was a bedroom furnished with two wooden wardrobes, a mirror with a chair before it, and one large bed, complete with two pillows and a blanket.

“Forgive me, I didn’t expect ordering a house in such high spirits would end up backfiring like this.”

“Hey, it’s fine.” Galiene stepped into the bedroom. “What’s done is done, no point dwelling on it.” But she stopped midway across the room. “Though in this case, I suppose it could be changed… if you really wanted.”

“Rather than worrying about that, how about we prepare dinner?” Galiene suggested.

“…Yeah, that’s probably for the best,” Adam replied, setting down his travel bag.

-

Plates with crumbs of bread, slices of smoked meat, and bits of egg yolk decorated the table before them. Adam wiped his mouth with a napkin, while Galiene picked up the last piece of egg from her plate.

“Luckily, you know fire magic. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy a warm meal tonight,” Adam said to Galiene.

“It’s no problem. Besides, you’ve got some decent cooking skills yourself,” Galiene replied as she set her fork down. “But it would be better if you started stocking up on fire energy stones for the future.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Give me your plate, I’ll wash it.”

“Thanks.”

While Galiene was washing the dishes, Adam placed a red apple near her.

“So, now that you’re free from the arena, what’s your plan?” Adam asked as he bit into the apple.

“…Honestly, I’m not so sure. I thought I’d just go with the flow, wherever the current takes me, I’ll do it, while waiting out the one-year pact.”

“Doesn’t that principle go against your desire for freedom?”

“Maybe. But all this time, my only real goal was to escape that arena. And I achieved that… thanks to you.”

Hearing that, Adam turned his face away from Galiene and walked off a bit.

“…Tonight, I’ll sleep in the living room. Go ahead and use the bedroom if you want,” Adam told her.

“No way. You’re the homeowner, how could you sleep in the living room while I get the bed?” Galiene said as she took a bite of the apple Adam had given her.

“Well, what else can we do? The bedroom didn’t turn out as I planned, and you’d probabl—”

“I don’t mind. It’s your first night in your new home, you should enjoy it fully.”

“Good grief…” Adam sighed, wiping his face with his hand. “Looks like I won’t be able to win against you.”

The two of them laughed together, even though a lingering awkwardness remained from their earlier conversation.

-

Moonlight streamed through the glass windows and the gaps in the curtains, filling the bedroom. It wasn’t as bright as the other rooms, but enough to see around. Adam and Galiene lay on the bed, their backs turned to each other. Thanks to the bed’s size, they could avoid brushing against one another.

Even so, Adam still felt nervous about sharing a bed with someone, especially a woman. He tugged at his shirt collar to make sure he didn’t smell bad and tried not to move too much so as not to disturb Galiene.

Has Galiene already fallen asleep?

The thought ran through Adam’s mind, making him want to check. Slowly, he turned his body so he could see her. Sure enough, Galiene appeared to be asleep, her back facing him. Relieved that he hadn’t disturbed her and that she could rest peacefully, Adam turned back around and tried to sleep without letting his thoughts wander further.

On the other side, however, Galiene was still awake, lying on her side, trying not to move even a little. Not only because she didn’t want Adam to feel uncomfortable, but also because she hoped he couldn’t hear the sound of her racing heartbeat.