Chapter 35: Waking up the next day

She, Lylia, woke up from her deep slumber. She had regain her consciousness once again. 

…Sort of.

Her eyes cracked open, she scratched at them lazily and stared at the ceiling for three whole seconds... Then rolled over and went right back to sleep.

A few minutes later, she woke up again. Then she blinked. This time, she managed to sat up halfway through.

“…Five more minutes,” she mumbled.

And promptly collapsed into the pillow.

Waking up. Going back to sleep. Wake. Sleep. Wake again. And sleep. 

It was a cycle that kept repeating so many times she lost count, or more like she didn't even count because why would she even need to, until finally.... FINALLY! She forced herself upright with all the determination of someone climbing a mountain for the first time.

She stretched her arms high above her head, spine popping lightly.

“…Okay. I’m up. For real this time.” she promised to the air that has been watching her actions.

She then fixed the bed neatly, grabbed her staff, and tucked the magic book under her arm. She then recalled that the day has finally come. The awaited day. The third day. Today was the last day of the book's boosted effect. She had to make it count.

Walking down the stairs, she moved slowly… very slowly… mostly because she was thinking. Her hand on her chin while her eyes narrowed. 

'How do I use this last day properly?' she pondered. Then, an idea came, 'Hmmm. Should I hunt a dragon? That sounds... fun?'

She remembers that specific line where God did mention dragons were basically dogs to Him in his letter. But if she thinks about it again, she had no idea where to even find one. And she doubted they were as friendly as normal dogs who'd let her hit them with the book. There's also that possibility she'll burn first before an edge of a book even comes close. Unless they were sleeping and she managed to sneak well. 

She then just sighed mentally. 

'…I guess I’ll just be a diligent mage and hunt more rabbits and slimes... with magic. Until I became strong enough. Stronger than a dragon, yeah.'

She kept walking in a daze. That is, until a voice spoke close behind her.

“Move out of the way. If you’re going to walk that slow, you’ll block the stairs.”

Lylia blinked, turned. Then, her face brightened instantly as she saw a familiar face.

“Oh, it's you, Slade! Good morning!"

Slade nodded once. “Morning.”

“When did you get back?”

“Earlier. Before dawn.”

“Woah… must've been quite a journey you had there outside. Definitely though, it must've been quite lonely too. I told you so, you should've bought me with you to remove any loneliness. Anyways, it seems like I woke up earlier than you again. I win.” She grinned smugly.

Slade looked at her with the expression of a man reconsidering all his life choices. “... Congratulations.”

She ignored the tone entirely.

“So, how was your quest?”

Instead of answering verbally, Slade unhooked the sheath from his waist and slowly drew the sword inside. Light scraped along the blade.

Lylia leaned in and took a closer look.

“…Woah. Is that the sword you got as a reward?”

She stared at it… and looked distinctly unimpressed.

In her mind, she thought, 'This looks like an ordinary sword...' Not that she had seen many swords. But still. Design wise, it seemed like just any other sword. 'Well why am I even getting disappointed anyways?' 

Slade simply nodded and sheathed it again.

After that, they descended the rest of the stairs together.

Reaching the ground floor, Lylia lifted a hand cheerfully.

“Good morning!”

The receptionist smiled. “Good morning to you as well.”

“I’d like breakfast, please!”

Soon enough, she and Slade were seated at a table. Slade didn’t object being in the same table as this piece of kid, as mostly because he knew she’d follow him no matter what.

Breakfast arrived quickly. It was the same as their yesterday's meal. The classic Bread and coffee.

Seeing they have the same food, Lylia pointed at Slade’s drink with a proud nod.

“Oh? Would you look at that? We have the same taste! See, we’d make good partners in crime. Strong like black coffee.”

Slade didn’t miss a beat. “That’s exactly why I won't bring you with me on quests. A team needs diversity.”

“Tsk.” She clicked her tongue, defeated.

They ate quietly for a moment. Slade ate normally. Lylia, on the other hand, held her bread and cup with the formality of a noblewoman at a tea party. And that is for absolutely no reason. She was in her own world again.

Partway through the meal, Slade spoke.

“I heard from the guards there was a pool of blood in an alley last night.”

Lylia froze mid-bite.

“What? woah, that’s scary." Lylia seemed genuinely shocked and interested. Then, she added "Was it a crime?”

“Most likely. Though, I didn't get any deeper details from them yet,” he replied calmly. “All I got is that it is speculated the victims were a group of three. Also, the bodies and belongings seemed to have been cleaned up using black flames.”

“I see. Well, how do they even tell black flames were used?”

“…I don’t know. I’m not a mage.” Slade looked at her flatly. “Shouldn’t you know?”

“…Hehe.” She sipped her coffee.

Then, after a pause, she spoke again, softer this time. “Well, Thanks… for warning me, Slade.”

Slade glanced at her, expression neutral. “It’s normal.”

Lylia chewed the bite she took on the bread that had just been dipped on coffee slowly, thinking. ‘He… sounds like a father worried about his daughter,’ she realized. Then she paused, staring at the bread and coffee on her plate, her mind drifting somewhere far away, as if remembering something from long ago.

"Well, if you really cared about me then you might want to also tag me along in your quests to watch over me~" She pouted sideways. 

Slade stared at her for a moment with tired eyes. Then, he just sighed.

Breakfast continued.

The world outside continued.

And Lylia quietly wondered if she should maybe... 'maybe' avoid alleys for a while.