Two years had already passed since our lives first intertwined.
During his apprenticeship under Sir Ector, Elius had finally succeeded in awakening his inner circuits, manifesting his own Magical Energy.
From what I had observed over these past two years, he treated everyone with unwavering kindness.
He was a remarkable soul. Despite possessing swordsmanship of such caliber, he never once indulged in vanity. He remained humble, never losing the posture of a diligent seeker of the blade.
Wishing to follow his example, I put my strength into swinging my sword again today.
"Greetings, Artoria."
Turning toward the voice, I saw him standing there, holding a cloth-wrapped bundle that appeared to be a basket.
"You have arrived, Eli."
"I told you, there is no need for such formalities between us."
"I find this manner of speech more comfortable; it is quite fine as it is."
Having used this formal tone since my earliest years, it had become deeply rooted within me. Altering it was no simple task.
Though I had attempted to speak casually to him several times, the words never left my lips with the ease I desired.
"Hmph... If that is the case, I suppose I cannot force you. By the way, where is Sir Kay?"
"He fled, claiming he wished to avoid Sir Ector's training for the day."
"Again? If he skips once more, he'll surely be the death of the old man."
Having heard similar sentiments before, I nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. Sir Ector stated he would 'educate' him thoroughly upon his return."
"Oh dear..."
His face clouded with a look of genuine pity. Watching his expression, my curiosity turned to the bundle in his hands.
"So, Eli. What is the meaning of that bundle?"
"Ah, right. I tried my hand at cooking today. I brought some for you. Would you like to try?"
"...Something you prepared yourself, Eli?"
Suddenly, a flicker of apprehension crossed my mind. Whenever Brother Kay offered his 'hand-crafted' meals, they were rarely identifiable as food.
Even Elius, with all his humility and patience, had once been forced to spit out Kay's cooking. That alone spoke volumes.
Because my experiences with 'homemade' meals were limited to things that didn't resemble food at all, a brief moment of anxiety took hold of me.
My face must have betrayed my thoughts, for he chuckled as he unfurled the cloth.
The rich, savory scent of butter drifted into the air.
"I am not Sir Kay, you know."
"...*Gulp*."
Revealed within the bundle were potatoes. Small, round potatoes, coated in butter, presented an incredibly appetizing sight.
"I originally packed enough for Kay as well, but since he's run off to play truant, we might as well eat it all ourselves."
"I accept that proposal."
At my words, he served the potatoes into a bowl he had brought along. I prodded a potato with a fork; it was still warm, releasing faint tendrils of steam.
Without delay, I brought it to my lips.
"...!!!"
My eyes widened as the savory richness of butter and the subtle sweetness of sugar spread across my tongue.
Was everything I had eaten up until now truly food?!
In all my years, this was the most delicious thing I had ever tasted.
The flavor was so divine that comparing it to my usual fare felt like an insult. I began to devour the potatoes on the plate with newfound urgency.
I felt as if I could die content at this very moment.
As I basked in the blissful afterglow of the meal, a sudden warmth touched me.
He was stroking my head.
"—Eh...?"
I looked up at him.
He was gently patting my hair.
Heat traveled through me from the point where his warmth touched my crown.
As I stared blankly at him, my face began to burn. My heart beat with a frantic rhythm.
"—Ah."
Realizing what he was doing, he quickly withdrew his hand.
For a fleeting second, a sense of loss washed over me as his hand retreated.
'...Wait?'
Did I just feel... disappointed?
My face deepened to a darker shade of crimson. What was this unseemly behavior? To lament the loss of a hand upon my head...
However, he was not finished.
"—Apologies. You looked so cute for a moment that I simply found myself reaching out to pat your head."
Cu-Cute...?
Cu-cu-cu-cute!!!
My racing heart felt as though it might explode. My face was impossibly hot.
"Ugh, uuuuh..."
"Are you alright?"
Speaking with genuine concern, he placed his hand against my forehead. It was a normal gesture to check for a fever.
Yes. Under normal circumstances, I would have let it pass without a second thought—had his face not been so close to mine.
"Ka."
"...Ka?"
"K-Kyaaaaah!"
"—GAH!"
A fist laden with Magical Energy struck him squarely in the solar plexus. Though it seemed he had instinctively shielded himself with his own Prana, it was a direct hit; the impact could not be entirely negated.
"Wh-why, so suddenly..."
"....Ah."
*Thud.*
From the shock of the blow to his vitals, he collapsed into unconsciousness.
Watching him fall with his eyes rolled back, I finally regained my senses.
"...Eli? Pull yourself together, Eli! Eli!"
"...."
I shook his body in a panic, but it was a long while before he woke again.
***
When I finally regained consciousness, I saw the sky painted with the colors of the setting sun. My head felt heavy, a lingering haze from my sudden blackout.
"Why am I lying here?"
"What else? You were knocked senseless by Artoria's fist and passed out cold."
"...Who are you?"
Clutching my aching head, I was suddenly struck by the scent of fresh flowers. I turned my head toward the source of the voice.
There stood a woman holding a wooden staff.
The woman smiled at my question, speaking with an elegant, dignified voice.
Or rather, she *tried* to speak.
"I am the Magus of Flowers, Merlin—"
"Die, Merlin! Fouuuuuuuu!!!"
"Urgh!?"
A small animal suddenly flew through the air like a high-speed projectile, delivering a flying kick to the face of the woman who called herself Merlin.
Toppled backward by the force of the kick, Merlin frantically shielded herself with her hands from the animal's relentless, chaotic assault.
"Ack! What are you doing, you harmful creature?! Is this how you repay the grace of being cared for all this time? You! You! Because of you, my elegant and majestic greeting has been ruined!"
"Fouuuuuuu!!"
*Thwack! Thwack!*
"Ow! Ow! Grrr, come to think of it, I should never have taken in such a foul-tempered beast! Cath Palug!! You terrifying Cat of Calamity!!"
"Fou! Fouuuuu!!"
*Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!*
"Agggh!! You use that adorable appearance to toy with so many cat-lovers! To think you get loved by men just for being cute—it makes all my usual hard work look foolish! Don't you feel any pity for me, who has to use every trick in the book just to get by?!"
I looked on with a pathetic gaze at the creature beating the woman named Merlin, and the woman who was fighting back on that animal's level.