Chapter 36………………………………………
Evelina blinked and looked at what Arsen was holding in his hand.
“Is this…?”
“Gloves. I put preservation magic on them, so they won’t wear out or tear.”
When Arsen handed her the gloves, she accepted them in surprise. Evelina stammered a little as she spoke.
“W-Why the gloves…?”
“Because you hurt your hand, of course. As Anais said, you should practice with gloves on so the wound doesn’t worsen.”
She toyed with the gloves for a moment, then looked up at Arsen.
“I… I thought you didn’t want to see me anymore.”
“What? That could never happen. Even if I died and came back, that still wouldn’t happen.”
Arsen frowned and firmly denied it. Worried she might misunderstand further, he quickly softened his expression.
“Did you assume that because my expression wasn’t good earlier?”
At his question, she hesitated, then slowly nodded. In a gentle, low voice, he said:
“My expression was like that because I hated myself for not being careful enough and letting you get hurt.”
“T-That wasn’t your fault.”
“It wasn’t yours either. It was nothing more than an accident.”
Arsen met her eyes kindly.
“So don’t blame yourself anymore.”
After a moment of hesitation, Evelina gave a small nod, and only then did Arsen smile brightly.
“Now, try on the gloves I brought you. If they feel uncomfortable, I’ll bring you another pair tomorrow.”
At his words, Evelina carefully slipped on the gloves. They felt a little loose at first, but to her surprise, they shrank perfectly to fit her hands. Her eyes widened, and Arsen explained:
“Oh, aside from preservation magic, they’re also enchanted to automatically adjust their size. How do they feel?”
“They’re… incredibly light and soft. It feels like I’m not wearing anything.”
It wasn’t an exaggeration—it really felt that way. The gloves were soft and smooth, with an amazingly pleasant texture. They fit snugly, not bunching or pulling no matter how she moved her fingers.
Evelina examined them with wide, fascinated eyes. Arsen smiled in satisfaction. He had searched every magic-item shop for something suitable, thinking enchanted gloves would be better than ordinary ones. If she didn’t like them, he had planned to go up to the capital to find a different pair. Thankfully, she seemed pleased.
“I’m glad you like them. Just wear them during practice.”
“Thank you so much, Arsen.”
Evelina said with a shy smile. Seeing that adorable smile, Arsen felt his heart nearly give out.
“It’s only natural; think nothing of it.”
“But you bought them for me because you were thinking of me. I haven’t done anything for you…”
“How can you say that? Just having you here is more than enough. And you already gave me a precious gift.”
She tilted her head, not understanding. Arsen gave a soft smile and took something from his inner pocket.
“This is…”
“I’ve never once taken it off since the moment you gave it to me.”
What he pulled out was the bookmark she had gifted him. Embarrassed, Evelina’s cheeks flushed red.
“I-It isn’t expensive or valuable or anything…”
“To me, it’s more precious than anything. It’s a one-of-a-kind gift. Of course I keep it with me always.”
Arsen put the bookmark back into his pocket as if it were a priceless heirloom. His reverence only made Evelina more embarrassed. She secretly resolved to give him a better gift next time.
Then suddenly remembering something, Evelina asked urgently:
“Arsen, when is your birthday?”
“M-My birthday?”
Evelina nodded, silently praying it hadn’t passed yet. Arsen, puzzled by her urgency, answered:
“December. I was born in winter.”
“That’s still far away.”
“Yes.”
She sighed in relief. It would have been a shame if it had already passed. Arsen glanced at her and asked:
“Could you tell me your birthday as well?”
“Oh, of course. Mine is in May. I was born in spring.”
“Spring… A season that suits you well.”
Arsen gently lifted a strand of her hair and pressed a kiss to it.
Hair shouldn’t have any sensation at all, yet Evelina felt her chest flutter as if it had been tickled.
She stammered:
“Y-You suit winter too, Arsen.”
“Thank you.”
For some reason, Evelina couldn’t meet his eyes. She didn’t want to show him her bright red face. Pretending not to notice, Arsen stood and extended his hand to her.
“It’s almost dinner time. Let’s go to the dining hall.”
“O-Okay.”
When Evelina took his hand and stood, her earlier anxieties had long vanished. Smiling softly, she walked out with him.
✦ ✦ ✦
A few days later, Leonard visited the mansion for lessons and noticed the gloves on her hands. He blinked.
“Why are you wearing gloves?”
“Oh, I hurt my hand a bit.”
Evelina gave an awkward smile. Leonard examined her gloved hand and said:
“Come to think of it, I haven’t taught you the most practical type of magic.”
“What kind of magic?”
“Healing magic that can treat a wound like that in the blink of an eye.”
Evelina’s eyes widened.
“May I see the injury?”
“Ah… yes.”
She slipped off her gloves and held out her hand.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Leonard immediately took her hand. The sudden contact made Evelina twitch, but she didn’t pull away. While unwinding the bandage, he explained calmly:
“Healing magic isn’t difficult. You just place your hand on the injured area and infuse mana. The required amount of mana varies depending on the severity of the wound.”
Once the bandage was removed, the thin slice-like cut was revealed. Leonard examined it closely.
“Did you get this while practicing archery?”
“…Yes.”
Evelina bowed her head in embarrassment.
“You’re very diligent. It’s admirable. You’re much more passionate than the students I teach at the Academy.”
Startled at his unexpected praise, Evelina snapped her head up. Leonard continued:
“But don’t overdo it. Hard work is good, but too much can be harmful.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
His tone was mild, but the concern hidden in his words didn’t escape her notice. Evelina smiled faintly in response.
Mana began flowing from Leonard’s hand into her wound. Slowly, the injury closed up and soon her hand was completely healed. Evelina looked at it in amazement.
“Magic really is incredible. A wound that would’ve taken weeks to disappear…”
“Magic isn’t omnipotent, though. For example… a torn ligament or a broken bone can’t be fully restored. Only cuts, scrapes, and similar injuries can be healed.”
She nodded slowly.
“Don’t just pour mana in—imagine the wound being covered or mended. You can try it later, but there’s no need to injure yourself on purpose just for practice.”
“I understand.”
Leonard released her hand and stepped back. Although her wound was healed, Evelina put her gloves back on—she was already used to practicing with them.
His eyes gleamed sharply.
“Well then… let’s begin today’s lesson. Time to see the results of your practice.”
Evelina exhaled nervously.
“Recall the feeling from last time and try creating a bow.”
She inhaled deeply and gathered her mana. Silvery mana shimmered at her fingertips, gathering and solidifying into a large bow. Evelina focused to keep it stable.
Leonard observed, then nodded with a satisfied smile.
“Excellent. Let’s move to the next stage.”
He created a bow of his own and an arrow, then drew the bowstring. When he released it, the arrow flew with a sharp sound, struck the target, and vanished—leaving behind only a blackened scorch mark.
“This is the most basic form. The power is similar to an ordinary arrow, but it changes once you add an element.”
Another arrow formed in his hand. He placed it on the string again.
“I’ll show you fire attribute first.”
His eyes glinted behind his glasses. Within seconds, the arrow glowed red and burst into flames. Leonard released it. The arrow struck the target—and with a boom, the entire target went up in flames, reduced to ashes.
Evelina stared, wide-eyed.
“It’s… amazing.”
“The four main attributes used for arrows are water, fire, wind, and lightning.”
“I understand water, fire, and lightning… but what happens when wind is used?”
“The arrow pierces deeper and travels much faster.”
Evelina nodded seriously.
“Then let’s try it yourself.”
