Though Orkney was perpetually rainy, there were still days when the skies would clear.
On such days, Aesc would practice martial arts outdoors with Shiomi. As her training deepened, her spear skills gradually became more proficient, and she started fighting with real skill.
These sessions often attracted curious fairies from the clan who came to watch.
However, practice wasn't a performance, and it didn't hold much entertainment value. Even those who had initially been intrigued lost interest after watching a few times. Only Vivian still stopped by occasionally to check on Aesc.
After all, she, who had always quietly stayed in the library reading, had become more outgoing since Shiomi joined the Rain Clan. She had even begun learning close-quarters combat techniques.
Today was no different.
"Don't hold back. Just strike freely," Shiomi said, holding his spear with most of its length concealed behind him. Aesc found herself somewhat baffled by his intentions.
He had explained before that the hands were the "two stars," the shoulders and chest represented "distant mountains," and the elbows were "peaks and valleys." When facing an armed opponent, one only needed to observe these three points. The slightest movement in these areas concealed almost all lethal intent.
But now, Aesc found herself unable to discern any signs of his movements from these three points.
Especially after she had just boasted to Vivian that today she would definitely land a hit on Shiomi, fulfilling her own wish—now Vivian was tense about the sparring match as well.
"That said…"
Aesc narrowed her eyes.
She didn't wear glasses during training, but while her fairy eyes could pierce through illusions and perceive the essence of Magecraft, they couldn't predict pure skill.
"We could keep this stalemate going indefinitely—consider it a way to cultivate patience under pressure. But then, it would get dark," Shiomi said, slightly tilting his head and gazing at the sky with a touch of regret. "I was planning to take you somewhere special."
Hearing his words, Aesc's thoughts shifted, and she saw the opening as his gaze briefly moved away from her.
"Then I won't hesitate." She flashed a confident smile and, before he could refocus, suddenly stepped back half a pace.
It wasn't to create distance, but to step into the Water Mirror she had just instantly summoned.
Throughout their standoff, she had been ready to deploy the Water Mirror but had hesitated, knowing Shiomi would surely detect it.
Should she attack directly or use Magecraft as support?
Now, the opportunity had finally arrived.
"Oh!" Shiomi exclaimed in surprise.
The spear, still hidden behind her back, rotated with the movement of her hand and blocked the strike from Aesc, who had appeared from behind.
Knowing that a single strike wouldn't suffice, Aesc used the recoil from the weapon's impact to step back again.
When Shiomi glanced back, she had already blended into the Water Mirror for the second time, reappearing directly above him.
She swung her wooden spear with all her might.
A crisp sound rang out, but the blow still missed her body, blocked by his spear.
"It's not over yet—!"
Aesc's planned attack had three parts, yet she hadn't anticipated the second strike would also fail.
In a split second, Aesc decisively chose to retreat again, using the momentum, intending to slip back into the Water Mirror. But her body didn't obey.
Her foot was caught.
"Brilliant idea. That's exactly how it should be done," Shiomi said with a smile, watching her. "The only flaw is the speed isn't fast enough."
With that, Aesc was pulled down from the air.
"Whoa!" She let out a startled cry as her body tumbled downward, landing in Shiomi's arms.
"Let's start over," he said with a reassuring smile.
"Seriously... at least let me finish the third part." Aesc had grown accustomed to being held like this, so she decided to act spoiled in his embrace.
"Can I ask about your approach for the third part?"
"It was to bombard the area from behind you with a torrent of Mana." Aesc looked displeased. "It wouldn't have hit anyway."
"It would have hit eventually." Shiomi was about to set her down when she suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, clearly wanting to linger a little longer.
Shiomi was naturally happy to oblige. "Don't forget, we have a guest here."
Then, a series of light applause rang out. Vivian laughed and said, "Alright, alright! Don't mind me, the spectator! If you want to flirt, go ahead. I won't disturb you."
"Mmm..."
Aesc had indeed forgotten that detail. Vivian's words made her face flush crimson, and she hastily covered her face with both hands.
Refusing to come down, even if it meant burying her head in the sand, Shiomi found her so adorable that he held her a little tighter.
"Don't get yourself into an awkward spot with your own actions," he teased.
"I'm quite surprised too. The usually sensible Aesc always gets flustered by Sage-sama's antics." Vivian glanced at Aesc Shiomi, then back at Aesc covering her face. "Humans really are mysterious creatures."
"Th-that's not—" Aesc hastily lowered her hands to protest.
"Well, I wouldn't know. You seem happier than ever."
Vivian chuckled cheerfully a few times. Before Aesc could reach out to retaliate, she had already skipped away with a light step.
"They're so close," Shiomi remarked with emotion.
In the legends of Proper Human History, there's a tale that "Vivian" and "Morgan" are two sides of the same lake maiden.
But in this history, they are two distinct fairies—yet also close sisters.
"But lately she keeps teasing me with comments like that," Aesc said. "She wasn't this mischievous before."
Then she reached her own conclusion: the responsibility truly lay with Shiomi.
After all, she was the one who, day by day, had grown to like this person who seemed to have descended from the heavens and appeared by her side.
Perhaps from the very first moment she saw him, she had been deeply captivated.
"Alright, don't be angry," Shiomi coaxed with a smile, though she wasn't actually upset. "Didn't I just say I'd take you to a nice place? Before that, could you close your eyes?"
"So mysterious?" Aesc obediently shut her eyes, her heart filled with anticipation.
Following his footsteps, she could hear herself moving away from the clan, gradually reaching the open fields.
She could feel the wind blowing in from the sea and smell the unique freshness of the earth after the spring thaw.
But soon, the scent of earth and wild grass gave way to a fragrance that was both sweet and invigorating.
It didn't come from Shiomi himself, but seemed to permeate the entire surroundings.
Following Shiomi's motion to lower her, Aesc found her footing on the ground but kept her eyes closed.
"Can I open them now?" She was now filled with anticipation for the sight before her.
"Whenever you're ready," Shiomi murmured softly beside her.
Bracing herself against the spring breeze, Aesc opened her eyes. Before her stretched an endless sea of blossoms, a vibrant tapestry of green and gold enveloping her feet.
This was a sight impossible to behold in Orkney, in the Land of Rain.
It felt like a paradise homeland she had known since childhood, yet had never been able to experience its recurrence.