Chapter 172: An Unreachable Ending
Flamme quickly stood up. Although still weak, she tried her best to straighten her back. "Hello, Lord Baling, it's my honor to be of assistance."
The words came easier than expected. Flamme was very happy to receive someone's thanks in person; even the physical exhaustion she felt was somewhat alleviated.
Baling's gaze focused on Serie again, and he cautiously asked: "Esteemed Mage, please forgive my presumption, but may I ask for your name?"
Serie glanced indifferently at the excited Dwarf Lord, seemingly finding it a bit troublesome, but eventually spoke:
"Serie."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it exploded like thunder in the ears of Baling and the Dwarf warriors behind him.
"Se-Serie!?" The expression on Baling's face instantly froze, and the warriors behind him gasped.
This name!
This name that only existed in legends, sung by countless bards, and regarded as the supreme idol by all mages!
The grandmaster of modern magic, known as the strongest mage alongside that Godslayer, the legendary being who ended the Age of Mythology!
After several hundred years, she had actually reappeared and stood before him, saving their city!?
Baling trembled with excitement, almost incoherent: "It's you, the great Serie! Then these two beside you must be..."
Baling's gaze fell on Kurtz and Flamme again.
Could those who accompanied this great mage be her servants?
Following Baling's gaze, Serie also looked at Kurtz. A rare mischievous glint flashed in her clear, cold eyes.
In response to Baling's question, Serie replied in a flat tone: "He is Ada, and like Ayla, they are both my disciples."
Everyone fell silent.
The expression on Baling's face was as if a pause button had been pressed; it completely froze.
He looked incredulously at Serie, then at Kurtz standing beside her.
Disciples???
This seemingly ordinary human before him was actually the disciple of this legendary grandmaster of magic???
This... this is too astonishing, isn't it?
He remembered that Serie did have disciples, seemingly an elf female named Ayla, who had quite a reputation on this continent.
And these two humans before him, could they be Serie's newly taken disciples?
This human girl looked like one, and coupled with the magic she used earlier, it seemed reasonable to call her a disciple. But this human male...
He didn't look like one at all.
Kurtz, upon hearing Serie's sudden introduction, was slightly taken aback, then shook his head helplessly.
He knew Serie too well.
His name was indeed a legend, but surely she didn't need to change his name when introducing him to others, did she?
Perhaps these dwarves, like Flamme, would mistake him for someone with the same name as the historical Godslayer.
Probably?
Actually, Kurtz wasn't so confident.
After all, a human walking with Serie, who also happened to be named Kurtz, would probably make anyone immediately think of the historical Godslayer.
Now it seemed, this elf Miss occasionally had a bit of, well, a mischievous streak?
Especially when she had just satisfied her desire for battle, and seemed to be in a good mood.
Watching Baling's incredulous expression, Kurtz found it somewhat amusing. Not only did he not expose Serie's prank, but he cooperated fully, turning to Serie and, in an extremely natural tone, calling out: "Teacher Serie."
That "Teacher Serie," though not loud, was like a huge rock thrown into a lake, instantly unsettling Serie's calm.
A change appeared on her cold, small face.
Her long eyelashes seemed to tremble slightly, and a faint, faint blush appeared at the base of her pale ears, visible to the naked eye.
Although she still maintained her calm expression, Kurtz knew her too well and immediately noticed this hint of shyness.
Clearly, Miss Elf hadn't expected Kurtz to be so cooperative, and to cooperate so perfectly.
That "Teacher Serie" was called out too smoothly and naturally, which caught her a bit off guard.
She glared at Kurtz, her eyes carrying a warning mixed with a hint of annoyance, as if saying: "You did that on purpose, didn't you!"
Kurtz met her gaze, the smile on his face deepening, an expression that said, "Yes, I did it on purpose."
This silent eye contact between them was filled with an unspoken understanding that only they shared.
However, this scene, falling into Flamme's eyes, instantly made the joy she had just felt from receiving the Dwarf Lord's thanks vanish.
It was replaced by an extremely uncomfortable feeling, like a tiny thorn, unexpectedly pricking her heart.
She saw Teacher Kurtz so naturally call Serie "Teacher," with a tone she had never heard before, almost bordering on teasing intimacy.
She also saw that on Teacher Serie's usually placid face, there seemed to be a hint of a blush?
And the way they exchanged glances, as if no one else was around...
An inexplicable, strange feeling, without warning, surged into Flamme's heart.
This feeling was unfamiliar, making her feel flustered and confused.
Why?
Why were Teacher Kurtz and Teacher Serie so close?
Why?
Why was Teacher Kurtz's demeanor towards me different from his demeanor towards Teacher Serie?
Flamme was already fifteen years old this year, an age when a girl's feelings begin to blossom.
But unfortunately, no one was there to guide her through these feelings.
Her two teachers, one a human who didn't understand a girl's emotions, and the other an elf who didn't understand human emotions, were quite different.
Without guidance, the bud in Flamme's heart would grow like wild grass, ultimately leading to an unreachable ending.
Flamme looked at the smile on Kurtz's face, a smile she had never seen before, a doting expression unique to Serie alone.
The inexplicable feeling in her heart deepened.
She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her magic robe, trying to suppress this inexplicable emotion.
But that inexplicable feeling was already entwined around her heart, refusing to dissipate.
Baling was completely bewildered at this moment.
He looked at the silent Serie, then at the smiling Kurtz, and then at Flamme, who was looking down, lost in thought. The air itself felt heavy with something he couldn't name. He just felt that the relationship between these powerful individuals seemed very complex.
He wisely decided not to delve deeper into the authenticity of the title "disciple"; this was clearly something he couldn't understand or participate in.
He coughed loudly, his booming voice breaking the delicate atmosphere: "Esteemed sirs and madams, please do come into the city with me so that I may express my gratitude."
Serie, having returned to her previous cool demeanor, merely nodded slightly: "Lead the way."
Her words were concise and clear.
Kurtz also put away his smile and said, "Thank you, Baling." He glanced at Flamme, who was still looking down. "Flamme, let's go. You need a good rest."
Flamme suddenly looked up, meeting Kurtz's gentle gaze, and the inexplicable feeling in her heart instantly faded a little.
She quickly nodded: "Yes, Master Kurtz."
[End of Chapter]
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