As I am weighing Elisa's reaction to screen time restrictions, I reach the Guild.

My favorite attendant is obviously free, perfectly timed as always. "Good day, Attendant Ania."

"Hello, Lucius. What can I help you with today?" She has a few dried flowers strewn behind the counter, accompanied by pages of angrily scribbled over designs. That one looks nice. Too bad.

"Is the hall master in?"

"Yes, he is. Would you like me to call him over?"

"No, that's fine. I can go to his office. Thank you." As I am walking away, I add, "I'll be right back. Warm up some dungeons for me!"

I take out a coin and start flipping it between my knuckles. The little metal circle is flowing from one side of my hand to the other. I knock on his door and get a distracted answer back. I enter.

Ren immediately perks up. "Kiddo!"

"Hi, Ren." I approach the desk, still flipping the coin. His eyes move to the oddity, and I smirk. I flick the coin in the air with my thumb and freeze it in place with my control.

Before I can start gloating, I am wrapped in a tight hug, disengaged almost immediately. He gives me a few weak slaps on the shoulder.

I almost need to strain to hear him. "Looks like it worked." He seems to be intrigued by an unknown fascination concerning one of the walls in his office. "I owe my buddy a lot of drinks." I hug him, tears of sadness timely masquerading as ones of happiness escaping my eyes. "I knew you could do it, Lucius." You are not helping.

After I've collected myself, and we've incorporated magical combat in our training sessions, I return to Attendant Ania. With two missions picked up, I head out of the city. The delves are spent studying my newest acquisitions, both tempering and spellcasting. While the mechanisms are fascinating, my performance is simply unsatisfactory. Frustrating.

I return to the Guild to report my success and head home. On the way, I check for any messages, probably for the millionth time. I am definitely not disappointed because she didn't text me. Definitely not.

***

As I approach Elisa's house, I see that the door is already open and waiting for me. I snicker and head in. I enter her office and find a meticulously organized space, with a prim and proper elf awaiting expectantly.

She looks at me, unblinking, and in a mishmash of English and Common says, "{Cotton} candy."

"Is there a question..."

"Cotton candy."

"You really need to give me some more to work off of, Elisa."

"Gimme." Oh, no. I broke her.

With a reluctant wave, I constitute the confection and present it to her. She takes the sweet with trepidation and immediately buries her head inside the pink cloud of sucrose. After a few seconds of labored chewing, Elisa detaches, flicking her hair back with her hand and trying to regain some dignity. She is even partially successful, as there is no trace of any sugary mess. That was the cutest thing I have ever—

Oh, man. I am so done. Best to offload that whole realization before I burn out my core.

"So? How was it?" I ask.

After a goodbye bite, the candy is stored away for later consumption. "As payment for my services, you are to supply me with this delectable invention whenever I please."

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

I make an exaggerated bow. "Very well, my illustrious Teacher. But you best remember,"—I straighten up—"I see all. I know all." She snorts.

"Have a seat already." I oblige.

"You look well rested today. Did my curation fail to keep your attention?"

Elisa's smile fades, replaced with a deadly serious expression. "No. It was... captivating. But I have time. Missing even a single detail due to carelessness would be disastrous." The expression softens a touch. "I appreciate how forthcoming you've been with what you have shared. Learning of Earth's history has given me a lot to think about." She shudders. While well-hidden, she knows I sensed it.

"Do you still trust me, Elisa? I am their creation."

The smile returns with full force, accompanied by a chuckle. "Would I have let you put stuff in my head if I didn't trust you?"

"Well..."

"Alright, smartass." Her eyes move a bit, unfocused, and I receive a message containing an emoji of a pine tree. "Not that one." Fence? "No, I wanted this one." Pillow. I think. Is that a sleeping pillow or a throw pillow? Maybe a cushion? "I give up..."

I can only burst out laughing. "And here I though you just ran out of questions for me."

There is a small blush on her face. "It's hard, okay. And don't let me get started on text."

"Indeed. Maybe I underestimated how much control would be needed for more complex tasks. You are the first user, after all."

She huffs. "Obviously. We can't all be Mr. Perfect over here."

"I'm sure you'll get the hang of it."

Elisa sighs, and changes the subject, "How was your spellcasting against an actual foe?"

It's my turn to sigh. "Subpar."

A smirk. "I'm sure you'll get the hang of it."

"Ha. Ha. Moving on, we need to address our meetings."

"What do you mean?" she asks.

"Well, to an outside observer, I have successfully unlocked my mana abilities, and you have gained your data. There wouldn't be any more reasons for us to meet this frequently. I suggest you write an uninspired paper, revealing as little as possible without drawing any undue scrutiny. We can still meet a couple of times in the next, let's say, month, under the guise of tracking my progress. From then, we can continue on as before. No reason to meet again. But you can message me with any questions and requests. And in the later stages of the plan, you can start acting in a more diplomatic role, if you so wish."

"That's it?"

"Do you have any suggestions? Maybe we could do a few more meetings, depending on how thorough you want to appear."

"Did I do something wrong?" Elisa stops herself. "Wait." She narrows her eyes at me. "You're doing something."

"I don't like what you are implying, Elisa. You know how important my concealment is."

"Don't try to bullshit me again." Why? Why do you want to keep...

"Why do you want to keep seeing me?"

"Don't you want to keep seeing me too?"

"I... I do." Her features soften once more. She still expects an explanation. "But I don't feel like I deserve to. I don't deserve good things happening to me."

She smiles. "I am a good thing, then?"

"You are."

"From plotting to straightforward in a snap. This is also classified as stupid, so our promise still stands. And you are not one to break promises, correct?" I nod my head. "Now, tell me how we'll actually handle our meetings."

"You took an interest in me and offered to personally teach me, seeing great magical potential."

"And where's the lie in that?"

"I'm sorry, Elisa, I know I'm being difficult. This is all new to me. You are the first person I've talked to as myself since..."

"It's okay. I've built up an immunity to convoluted interactions." She stands up and approaches me. "I'm also a real stickler for perfection, so we'll be meeting quite regularly. Can't have you embarrassing me, I have a reputation to uphold."

"I would like that."

"I rather prefer it when you are straightforward." She offers me a hand, and I curiously take it, standing up. "And you look like you need a hug."

"Elisa—" My protests are cut off by an embrace.

"Don't break the streak." I oblige, returning the gesture.

A fully filled-out notebook drops down on her desk with a smack, startling me out of a trance. She definitely did that on purpose.

Elisa grabs my shoulders and pushes off, smiling.

In a deadpan voice, I say, "Actually, let's go with the first option."

Utterly ignoring me, she pats my arm a few times and grabs the notebook. "Let's begin."

When we finish going over every question Elisa had prepared, the sun has long set. Though, one would think no time has passed, as the elf seems even more energetic than when we first started, as if the very action of acquiring knowledge is fueling her. And not like I can't relate. Every moment spent with her is more enjoyable than the last. Is this how a real connection feels like? One not propped up with lie after lie. A true relationship.

We are both somewhat unwilling to stop our discussion, but unfortunately, my biological companion needs her sleep. So, we bid our goodbyes. After I warn her that stimulant abuse is still bad even if you can fix all the damage.

As I am walking home, I project a few trillion outcomes concerning a rowdy hall master and my two closest friends. I can't tell if my negative bias is poisoning the predictions or not, but either way, I want to throw myself in a black hole.

Nothing a good sleep can't fix. Hopefully.

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