By Zephyria 
Boulder, who had sprung to his feet, had damp clothes. I assumed Mage Boulder was surprised because of that and soothed him in a calm tone.
“Breathing and regulating energy to expel waste through the skin is a natural phenomenon. You just need to wash it off…”
“No! No, no! How is this happening! How!”
“…What?”
“How is the Mana still alive? How!”
“…So it’s dead?”
He should say something that makes sense for me to listen.
As if sensing I was looking at him with utter bewilderment, Boulder, with trembling hands, swept the floor and grabbed a notebook and pen.
“Before I forget, I need to write this down. Don’t talk to me.”
“Who’s the one talking…”
Boulder’s pen flew across the page, scribbling words and drawings that, at a glance, I could tell were identical to the flow of the energy channels I had guided.
Indeed, I mused that mages possessed extraordinary memories, nodding my head. Just then, Douglas Mustang, standing beside me, asked in a trembling voice if he could do it too, if he could receive True Energy.
After briefly examining Douglas Mustang’s body, I took his wrist and felt his pulse.
“It’s sufficient. However, with my current realm, two in one day is too much… How about next week at this time?”
“Of course, of course, that would be great. Is there anything I need to prepare beforehand?”
“Well… Ah.”
I asked an important question.
“Can you sit in the Lotus Position? I mean, like I do.”
After failing to achieve the Lotus Position a few times, Douglas Mustang promised he would manage it by next week, so I cheered him on to try his best.
❖ ❖ ❖
Today, I headed to the stable for Benjamin.
Three people were standing in front of the stable. As I looked closely, I saw Shayden and Benjamin, whom I had arranged to meet, and a small figure attached to them.
It was Marianne Philodendore, the second daughter of the lively and spirited House Philodendore.
We were going to see each other again at the camping class on Friday, but I greeted her warmly nonetheless. When I asked why she was here, she impudently chattered that she couldn’t possibly be left out of such an interesting event, which made me chuckle.
So, today, the four of us entered the stable together.
Marianne pointed at Benjamin’s horse, which was refusing the hay he offered, and burst into laughter.
Marianne said she had her own horse and knew how to care for it. She proudly mentioned how she had raised a magnificent steed from the colt she received as a gift at age ten, feeding and caring for it herself, and her smug expression was endearing.
Benjamin, usually so reserved and quiet, seemed exasperated. He brought out a carrot as his secret weapon, but it was also of little use.
The four of us, just like yesterday, placed piles of hay within the horses’ sight and sat on a comfortable spot.
It was then that I finally understood why Marianne had come to find us.
“Well, I just don’t understand men’s hearts.”
She had been meeting Glotin Tenner Young Master frequently lately, and his attitude and actions seemed both shy and distant, which worried her.
She said that among the men she knew well, Ivan would likely know nothing about such things, and Damian was too friendly with female classmates. She chose Benjamin, who was the most stoic by her standards, and me, because she wanted to understand Glotin’s true feelings. A sigh escaped me at the girl’s words.
After speaking, Marianne demurely tucked her earlobe behind her ear. Only then did I notice a ribbon on her hair that I hadn’t seen before.
I considered what to say but refrained from commenting on the girl’s adornments, as it wasn’t my habit.
Shayden, who had been watching, suddenly asked, “Hey, why am I excluded?”
“Because Shayden, you seem to understand women’s hearts too well. You probably seem like a huge flirt.”
“What?”
“Ah, never mind. So, Mikael, what about Mikael? If a girl you started dating asks you out first, wouldn’t that be too much pressure? Should I wait a bit longer and act more demure? But I want a straightforward relationship!”
I also wanted to help the child, so I thought seriously, but I only had one answer.
“…I’ve never had a lover, so I wouldn’t know about that.”
“That’s why I’m asking. Glotin Tenner Young Master also said he’d never dated anyone before me. But come to think of it, Glee Oppa is calm and gentle, so maybe an active girl like me being forward suits him well.”
“…Glee?”
“It’s a nickname! I made it up. Glotin, so Glee! Your family didn’t even use nicknames when you were young, they called you by your full name. That seems so cold.”
I turned to Benjamin, dumbfounded. The boy also looked bewildered, but Benjamin Claudian, after a moment of thought, gave a surprisingly good answer.
“I… I think it would be good. It’s a joy to see the face of someone you like often. If I were in the same position… I would find it difficult to initiate. I might worry about being a bother. So, if the other person thinks of me often and wants to see me often… I think I would be happy.”
“Right? Oh, he’s so cute when he’s shy. What do I do.”
Marianne still had a dreamy, beautiful expression.
Benjamin was the one who spoke, but she looked as happy as if Glotin had said it, and her adorable expression made me smile involuntarily.
Yes, so I casually asked how often they met, what they talked about, and what they did.
While it was enjoyable, like listening to a granddaughter’s love story, I was prepared to scold her if she was acting promiscuously like that Danbi fellow.
Fortunately, Marianne replied with a shy smile, twisting her shoulders and body.
“Ugh, I haven’t even held his hand yet.”
“You’ve thought well. It’s proper to be cautious even about brushing sleeves before marriage.”
“What? What kind of rule is that!”
“There is such a rule.”
Shayden, hearing my words, chimed in with a loud laugh.
“That seems to be the custom of House Ernhardt. But I also oppose easy physical contact. Marianne, your heart pounds and flutters even at the thought of holding hands… You want that kind of romantic love, don’t you? In fact, when the other person is ready, they give signals that can’t be missed.”
“Signals?”
“Like your fingertips twitching while walking side-by-side, or your eyes meeting often for no reason, or feeling thirsty.”
“Oh my! Oh my, my!”
“So, it’s best to wait until then.”
“Wow, Shayden, are you really a pro? Be honest. You’ve dated a lot of girls, haven’t you!”
“What are you talking about? I just have a lot of female friends.”
However, I found Shayden to be surprisingly insightful as well.
Shayden went on at length, saying he wasn’t that kind of person, that he had studied various theories because he intended to be truly devoted once he found someone to marry, and that love also requires study.
Perhaps because there were few people, or perhaps because she was overwhelmed and desperate to talk to someone, Marianne’s blushing stories were strange and new to me.
Among those around me, the only one who poured out their feelings like this in love was that fellow Jegal Amugae.
Even then, he struggled to maintain a noble and elegant demeanor according to the customs of the Central Plains, or he would ramble nonsensically, claiming I had betrayed him just because I exchanged a word with Moyong Yeonhwa, saying he couldn’t believe anyone.
I had seen him point fingers and squawk like a rooster with its comb raised or a goose guarding a house, and it was always amusing and trivial, no matter how many times I saw it.
Like many scholars of the Central Plains, he would recite love poems comparing himself and Moyong Yeonhwa to the moon and a well, or flowers and butterflies, until my ears were sore, but that was all.
He never described in detail how his beloved appeared in his eyes.
Marianne said that when she looked at Glotin, a halo shone behind his face, making it difficult to remember his features clearly.
When he blinked, it was like watching stars twinkle, and when he slightly parted his lips to answer her, his breath made her dizzy.
Every time they met, the words “he’s so handsome” would involuntarily escape her lips, and she had to constantly try to hold them back. Shayden suddenly asked playfully, “Mika, you’re also famous for being handsome. Aren’t you immune yet?”
“Mikael is younger. I prefer older men. He should be handsome, calm, serious, alluring, and look good in glasses. Besides, Mikael is too strong and solid. If I pushed him, he wouldn’t budge.”
“Well, a man wouldn’t be pushed over by Marianne’s hand.”
“Wouldn’t Glee Oppa let himself be pushed?”
I had never seen that scoundrel’s face, so I had no way of knowing. However, Shayden thought for a moment and nodded.
“…Indeed, if it were Tenner Young Master… he might let Marianne push him.”
“Mikael definitely wouldn’t let himself be pushed.”
“That’s also true.”
Listening to Shayden and Marianne chatter in agreement, I was dumbfounded. I turned to Benjamin, looking for someone to take my side. Benjamin thought for a moment and quickly spoke up.
“I also tend to let myself be pushed.”
“What are you telling me that for?”
“Just, please spread the word to others.”
At Benjamin’s quiet words, Marianne burst into uncontrollable laughter and repeatedly punched his sturdy forearm with her fist.
Seeing the first-rate martial artist Benjamin, who had remained steadfast when Shayden had tapped him before, flinch and stumble back as if hurt by her delicate punches was absurd.
“Hmph.”
“See, Mika? This is how you let yourself be pushed sometimes.”
“I don’t understand at all.”
“Well, Mikael doesn’t need to understand. You’ll be fine if you just grow up as you are.”
Laughter filled the stable.
As the horses ambled and pricked their ears, we sat down and talked for a long time, losing track of time.
It was only when dinner time was approaching that we hurried to get up and moved to eat. On the way back, Marianne’s continued chatter was fascinating.
Love. It was still a difficult subject for me.