“Senior Tia is asking me out?”
Bell was stunned for a moment.
Tia's face was as red as a ripe apple.
She kept her head down, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes.
“It’s just... I heard a new dessert shop opened in the east...”
Her voice grew smaller and smaller.
“If Junior Bell doesn't want to go...”
“I'll go.”
Bell interrupted her.
Tia snapped her head up.
Her eyes were filled with surprise.
“Really?!”
Bell nodded.
“It is an honor to be invited by you, Senior.”
Tia's eyes instantly lit up.
“That’s great!”
She was like a child who had just found candy.
She hopped twice in place.
Bell watched her.
A wave of warmth rose in his heart.
Over the past few months.
The five of them had been completing missions as a team.
Their copper badges had already been replaced with silver ones.
The reputation of “Bell’s Team” was gradually spreading through the adventurer's guild.
However, Bell rarely spent time alone with his teammates.
Especially Tia.
This girl who always smiled so gently.
“Then let’s go now!”
Tia grabbed Bell’s hand.
She started running toward the academy gates.
Bell was pulled into a stumble.
“Senior, slow down...”
“I can't!”
Tia looked back.
The smile on her face was blindingly bright.
“I heard the cakes at that shop sell out very quickly!”
The two of them ran out of the academy gates.
The streets were bustling with people.
The setting sun dyed the sky a deep orange-red.
Tia let go of Bell’s hand.
She walked ahead of him.
Her steps were light and brisk.
Bell followed behind her.
He watched her back.
Her long golden hair shimmered under the sunset.
“Junior Bell!”
Tia suddenly stopped.
She turned around.
“Look over there!”
She pointed to a shop on the street corner.
The storefront wasn't large.
The sign read “Sweet Time.”
Various cakes were displayed in the window.
Strawberry, chocolate, cream.
They looked very tempting.
“This is it!”
Tia pulled Bell inside.
There weren't many customers in the shop.
Only three or four tables were occupied.
The air was filled with a sweet fragrance.
“Welcome!”
A middle-aged woman wearing an apron walked over.
“What can I get for you two?”
Tia looked at the menu.
Her eyes sparkled.
“This strawberry cake! And this chocolate mousse!”
She turned her head.
“Junior Bell, what do you want?”
Bell looked at the menu.
“Just a cup of black tea is fine.”
Tia’s smile stiffened for a moment.
“Just... just that?”
Bell nodded.
“I’m not very fond of sweets.”
Tia bit her lip.
“Then... then I’ll order a tiramisu as well.”
She looked at Bell.
“Junior Bell can try a bit of it.”
The middle-aged woman smiled.
“Certainly, please wait a moment.”
She turned and walked toward the kitchen.
Tia pulled Bell to a seat by the window.
Outside, the sun was gradually sinking.
The magical streetlights began to glow.
Emitting a soft light.
“Junior Bell.”
Tia suddenly spoke.
Bell looked up.
“Yes?”
Tia kept her head down.
Her finger traced circles on the table.
“How... how have you been lately?”
Bell was stunned for a moment.
“I’m doing fine.”
Tia looked up.
“Really?”
Her gaze was very earnest.
“You’re training, doing missions, and studying every single day...”
She paused.
“Aren't you exhausted?”
Bell shook his head.
“I’m not.”
Tia’s eyes turned slightly red.
“But... but you clearly...”
Her voice choked up.
“You clearly only sleep four hours a day...”
Bell’s throat felt tight.
“Senior, I’m fine.”
His voice was very soft.
“I just want to get stronger.”
Tia wiped the corners of her eyes.
“Why?”
Her voice carried a sob.
“Why do you have to push yourself so hard?”
Bell was silent for a few seconds.
“Because I need money.”
His voice was calm.
“A lot of money.”
Tia was stunned.
“Money...”
She opened her mouth.
“Is it to buy Mithril?”
Bell nodded.
Tia lowered her head.
“If... if I had money...”
Her voice was very quiet.
“I would definitely give it all to you.”
Bell’s heart clenched suddenly.
“Senior...”
“Your cakes are here.”
The middle-aged woman walked over with a tray.
She placed the cakes and the black tea on the table.
“Please enjoy.”
Tia wiped away her tears.
She picked up a fork.
She cut a piece of the strawberry cake.
She put it in her mouth.
“Delicious...”
Her eyes curved into crescents.
Bell watched her.
A trace of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“Eat up, Senior.”
Tia nodded.
She cut another piece.
She held it out to Bell.
“Junior Bell, you try some too.”
Bell looked at the piece of cake.
He hesitated for a few seconds.
Then he opened his mouth.
Tia fed the cake to him.
The overly sweet flavor melted on his tongue.
Bell frowned slightly.
“How is it?”
Tia’s eyes were sparkling.
“Is it good?”
Bell nodded.
“It’s good.”
Tia laughed.
That smile was radiant.
As warm as the setting sun.
The two continued eating.
Tia talked about interesting things happening at the academy.
How Kyle had blown up another classroom.
How Leon had defeated an upperclassman at the training grounds.
How Antinoia had been researching new magic arrays lately.
Bell spent most of the time listening.
Occasionally he would smile.
Occasionally he would nod.
Time passed quickly.
The cakes were finished.
The black tea had gone cold.
“Let’s go.”
Tia stood up.
Bell nodded.
The two walked out of the dessert shop.
The pedestrians on the street were gradually thinning out.
Night had fallen.
The moon rose.
Casting a cold light on the ground.
“Junior Bell.”
Tia suddenly stopped.
Bell turned around.
“Yes?”
Tia pointed to the shopping street ahead.
“Let’s take a walk over there.”
Bell nodded.
The two walked into the shopping street side by side.
Shops lined both sides of the street.
Some sold magical tools.
Some sold weapons.
Some sold clothes.
Tia walked very slowly.
She stopped in front of a jewelry store.
Various necklaces were displayed in the window.
Some were gold.
Some were silver.
Some were embedded with gemstones.
“So pretty...”
Tia’s eyes lit up.
Bell took a look.
“Do you like them, Senior?”
Tia nodded.
“I do.”
She turned her head.
“But they’re too expensive.”
Bell looked at the price tags.
Even the cheapest one was fifty silver coins.
He reached into his pocket.
He felt his money pouch.
There were still over three hundred silver coins inside.
But this money.
Was meant for buying Mithril.
“Senior, when I have the money...”
Bell’s voice was very soft.
“I’ll give you one.”
Tia was stunned for a moment.
Then, she smiled.
“Okay.”
Her voice was very gentle.
“I’ll wait for you.”
The two continued walking.
They reached the end of the shopping street.
There was a bench there.
Tia sat down.
She patted the spot next to her.
“Junior Bell, sit.”
Bell sat down.
The night breeze blew past.
Carrying a hint of chill.
Tia suddenly leaned over.
Her head.
She rested it gently on Bell’s shoulder.
“Junior Bell...”
Her voice was very faint.
“Let me lean on you for a while...”
Bell’s body stiffened.
He didn't push her away.
He just sat there.
Motionless.
“Junior Bell.”
Tia’s voice rang out again.
“If one day...”
She paused.
“If one day, we are separated...”
Her voice carried a tremble.
“Would you be sad?”
Bell’s throat tightened.
“I would.”
His voice was serious.
“If Senior weren't here...”
He paused.
“I would definitely go crazy.”
Tia’s body shuddered.
She looked up.
She stared at Bell.
Those eyes were filled with tears.
“Pfft.”
She suddenly laughed.
She wiped the corners of her eyes.
“Junior Bell, you really have a way with words.”
She stood up.
She held out her arms.
“Finally...”
Her voice was very soft.
“Give me a hug.”
Bell’s body suddenly jolted.
A reflex-like fear surged into his heart.
The one who used to demand hugs from him...
Was Cecilia.
That suffocating existence.
Bell stood up abruptly.
He grabbed Tia’s hands.
“Senior...”
His voice was a bit hurried.
“Come with me to look at some magic materials.”
Tia’s eyes dimmed for a moment.
Her hands dropped.
“Okay... sure.”
Her voice was very small.
The two turned around.
They headed toward the magic material shop.
Tia walked in front.
Her steps were slow.
Bell followed behind her.
An indescribable emotion welled up in his heart.
Was it guilt?
Self-reproach?
Or... fear.
The lights of the magic material shop were still on.
Bell pushed open the door.
Various materials were displayed inside.
Scales of magical beasts.
Stems and roots of magical plants.
And some rare ores.
Tia followed behind him.
She didn't speak.
She just quietly watched Bell select materials.
Bell picked up a mana stone.
He looked at it.
Then he put it back.
“Junior Bell.”
Tia suddenly spoke.
Bell turned around.
“Yes?”
Tia walked over.
She pointed to a bottle of potion on the shelf.
“What is this?”
Bell took a look.
“A mana recovery potion.”
He paused.
“Drinking it allows for rapid mana recovery.”
Tia nodded.
“Then... then I’ll buy a bottle.”
She turned her head.
“As a gift for Junior Bell.”
Bell was stunned.
“Senior, there's no need...”
“I want to give it to you.”
Tia interrupted him.
Her voice was very serious.
“Junior Bell is always pushing himself so hard...”
She paused.
“At least let me do something.”
Bell’s throat felt tight.
“Thank you.”
His voice was very soft.
Tia smiled.
She picked up the potion.
She walked to the counter.
She paid for it.
Then she handed the potion to Bell.
“Here.”
Bell took the potion.
It felt heavy in his hand.
The two walked out of the magic material shop.
The night was already very deep.
There were almost no pedestrians on the street.
Only the light emitted by the magical streetlights remained.
“Let’s go back.”
Tia’s voice was very soft.
Bell nodded.
The two walked side by side on the way back to the academy.
The night breeze blew past.
Carrying a hint of chill.
Tia suddenly spoke.
“Junior Bell.”
Bell turned around.
“Yes?”
Tia lowered her head.
“Today... was really happy.”
Her voice was very soft.
“Thank you.”
Bell shook his head.
“It’s me who should thank you, Senior.”
Tia looked up.
She stared at Bell.
Those eyes were filled with tenderness.
“Junior Bell...”
She paused.
“You have to study hard, okay?”
Her voice was like a nagging mother.
“Your daily routine is too irregular...”
She paused.
“Even if it’s for the sake of becoming strong, you can't be like this.”
Bell smiled.
“I know.”
Tia continued.
“And also, every time Junior Bell chooses a mission, they're too risky...”
Her voice was very serious.
“And another thing, the meals Junior Bell eats are too simple...”
She paused.
“And and, Junior Bell’s clothes should be washed frequently...”
She said a lot.
Bell listened throughout.
Occasionally he would nod.
Occasionally he would smile.
When they reached the academy gates.
Bell let out a yawn.
Tia’s voice stopped.
Bell rubbed his eyes.
“Senior, anything else?”
Tia was silent for a few seconds.
“And one more thing...”
Her voice was very soft.
“Goodnight.”
She took a small box out of her pocket.
She handed it to Bell.
“This... is for you.”
Bell took the box.
“What is this?”
Tia smiled.
“You’ll know once you open it.”
She turned around.
She walked toward the girls' dormitory.
“I’m heading back to my dorm.”
Her voice drifted from a distance.
Bell stood in place.
He watched her back disappear into the night.
He lowered his head.
He opened the box.
Inside.
Was an exquisite small cake.
Strawberry flavored.
He looked up.
He stared at the night sky.
The moon was very round.
A cold light was cast on the ground.
Bell turned around.
He walked toward his dormitory.
His steps were slow.
When he returned to the dormitory.
Lilian was sitting by the bed.
When she saw Bell enter.
She immediately stood up.
“Master.”
Bell nodded.
“Yes.”
He placed the box on the table.
He took off his coat.
He collapsed onto the bed.
His mind was a mess.
The money for the Mithril.
He was finally almost there.
A few more missions.
And he could buy it.
Bell closed his eyes.
He gradually fell asleep.
The next day.
Sunlight pierced through.
Bell opened his eyes.
He washed up.
He changed his clothes.
He walked out of the dormitory.
The corridor was very quiet.
Bell walked toward the classroom.
He pushed open the door.
Kyle was slumped over his desk.
When he saw Bell enter.
He looked up.
“Bell!”
His expression was a bit off.
Bell walked over.
“What’s wrong?”
Kyle opened his mouth.
“Senior Tia...”
His voice was trembling slightly.
“She withdrew from the academy.”
Bell’s body suddenly stiffened.
“What?”
Kyle stood up.
“Senior Antinoia told me...”
His voice carried a sob.
“Senior Tia left the academy this morning...”
Bell’s mind went blank.
Withdrew?
Tia withdrew from the academy?
“Why?”
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