Is that really something to say to a stranger?! Especially to a powerful spirit!

I awkwardly glanced at Sylvia.

See, she was definitely not happy—her entire face had stiffened into a stone slab. With a vacant expression, she said:

"Yes… Adam gave me some strange potion to drink…"

This person was a bit different from my first impression. How complex human nature can be.

Emily began looking at me with dangerous eyes. I hurriedly explained the situation.

"Emily, be polite. I encountered a magical beast in the forest, and she saved me."

"Ah, no wonder your clothes are extra ragged today. Uh… and the blood?"

Emily’s face gradually paled, the laughter fading from her eyes. Damn, I didn’t want to worry her.

She turned to the girl, bowed her head formally, and said:
"Thank you for saving Adam. I’m his sister, Emily. Are you from our town too?"

"Anyone would have helped. My name is Sylvia. I’m a spirit from elsewhere."
"Wow! No wonder you’re so beautiful. So, you came to town with your contractor?"

Emily said the kind of praise I could never bring myself to utter so smoothly. Sylvia looked at me, a smile in her eyes.

"Adam is my contractor."

Emily widened her emerald-green eyes and pulled me aside. She leaned close to my ear and whispered:

"My dear brother, seriously, when did you manage to brew a hypnotic potion? Share some with me."

Objectively, that’s exactly what it looked like. I was painfully aware.

But my dear sister, I wish you wouldn’t keep reminding me.

"A lot of unexpected things happened. Let’s go inside and talk slowly."
"Right. Sister Sylvia, this way! I want to properly welcome you."

Sylvia asked with concern:
"Won’t it interfere with your business?"

"It’s fine, it’s fine. No customers come at this hour anyway. To be honest, this shop barely gets any customers. Brother’s skills are just too poor!"

Saying such provoking words, Emily led Sylvia into the front room.

Sylvia looked around curiously, her focused demeanor making me both nervous and strangely moved. I couldn’t help but scan the room myself, worried if there was anything unsuitable for the girl to see.

The room.
It was called the front room, but it was really just a small space for receiving guests.

Emily had arranged the room. The left wall was lined with shelves full of magic potions, each bottle labeled with tags and little doodles.

Beside the right wall stood a wooden box marked "Today’s Special," containing some potions nearing their expiration date.

At the far end of the room was a door leading to the preparation room and a staircase to the second floor. Next to the staircase stood an old oak table that served as the counter.

Emily sometimes had satisfied customers carve their compliments into the table, claiming it boosted sales. I always suspected she just wanted to deface the table.

Since people were always coming and going, I rarely lingered in the front room. Looking at it closely after so long, it really did feel warm and charming.

Emily led Sylvia to the counter, offered her a seat, said "wait a moment," and then vanished into the preparation room.

Sylvia sat in the chair, as relaxed and at ease as a cat.

Emily placed another chair right next to hers—the distance was undeniably too close.

I pretended not to see the chair, but the girl immediately looked at me and patted the seat.

I had no choice but to go over, pull the chair a bit farther away, and sit down. Sylvia seemed a little annoyed. Sorry.

I have complete confidence in my reserved nature. If I sat too close to her, I’d surely be unable to speak a word and would start conjuring up a series of wild fantasies that would be bad for both of us.

Emily came out with three cups of pitch-black tea.

"Please, have some. It’s tea made from herb remnants."

Sylvia took a sip without hesitation. Was she a bit too trusting?

"It’s wonderful. Refreshing and sweet."

"I’m so glad! By the way, how did you and my brother meet?"

…

"Well—"

Sylvia outlined the events in the forest.

She spoke clearly, on par with a bard. However, because she omitted my moments of foolishness and dazed inaction, the story lacked some dramatic tension. The circumstances of forming the contract were also glossed over.

I should be happy she’s considering my feelings. But being handled with such care inevitably made me feel ashamed.

I know I’m troublesome, and realizing this only makes it worse.

…

I could only continue stealing glances at the girl’s sunny expression as she spoke, using it to drive away the gloom in my heart.

The story concluded in the back-and-forth between Emily and Sylvia. Emily said:

"I’ve been wanting to ask since earlier. Are you an ice-aligned spirit?"

My sister seamlessly changed the topic and began probing into personal matters without the slightest hesitation.

I should have stopped her, but I was also very curious.

"Indeed. Look."

Sylvia picked up her teacup. The liquid inside flowed upward against gravity, solidifying into a dark ice column. The girl twirled her finger, and the ice column danced like a paintbrush at her fingertip, sketching in the air.

In no time at all, a simple sketch of Emily appeared out of thin air.

"Amazing! Can I eat it?"

"Of course."

Emily happily licked the sketch of herself.

She first bit off and ate the eyes. Wait, isn’t that an indirect kiss somehow?

Without realizing it, my gaze was drawn to Sylvia’s faintly smiling lips.

They were soft, almost translucent, glowing with a cherry-like cool light. Even though I promised to forget, their touch was deeply imprinted in my heart.

Sylvia said:
"Would you like one too, Adam?"

Suddenly addressed while thinking such impolite thoughts, I was startled.

"N-no, that’s alright. The tea is all gone anyway."

"I’ll make another cup. When I traveled before, my companions really liked the tea I made."

Sylvia walked into the preparation room with a giggle. She would pick up the glass I usually used, her palm print overlapping where my hand had been…

Was it because I narrowly escaped death, or because I lost my first kiss? I was being disgustingly sentimental today.

In the blink of an eye, Emily had already finished her ice sketch. She said:

"Brother, your expression is really gross."

"I know."

Having my ugliness so clearly pointed out by my sister actually relaxed me a bit. Emily continued:

"You’ve fallen for her at first sight."

Such a nice way to put it. Analyzing it myself, I’m just someone who gets excited after intimate contact and covets the beauty of my savior.

Completely a slave to lust, a despicably foolish human.

Beautiful words like love and affection should be reserved for places where flowers bloom.

I said:
"Sylvia saved my life. I only treat her as a benefactor."

"Hmph, you’re so cowardly. By the way, is Sister Sylvia from another region? How did she get here?"

That was indeed a bit strange. Sylvia could only move in areas dense with magical energy, so she shouldn’t have been able to travel long distances.

"With a merchant caravan."

Sylvia appeared soundlessly behind the counter. She handed me an ice sketch of that plump noble, sat back down, and explained:

"After all, I am a spirit. I know a bit of magic and can serve as a caravan guard.

"At the end of the war, I was in the southern part of the kingdom. Over the following year, I traveled with different caravans and finally reached the area around Silverleaf Town. But the last caravan refused to pay and unilaterally broke the contract, forcing me to stay in the forest.

"…Also, the contracts I used before were all perfectly proper."

I wonder what an improper one would be like.

I silently nibbled on the ice sketch, pretending disinterest.

Emily said in surprise:
"The southern kingdom? That’s almost crossing the entire kingdom, isn’t it?"

Sylvia said:
"I had no choice. There’s someone I really want to see."

At this, the girl pursed her lips slightly, a faint blush spreading across her pale cheeks.

When fighting the magical beast to the death, her demeanor was calm and composed.

When forced to kiss me, she didn’t waver.

But just talking about that person made her show a shy, tender expression.

……That person she crossed the entire kingdom for, prepared a contract that required a kiss to complete, and searched for over a year.

The ice sketch melted, a bitter taste flowing down my throat.

Emily gave me a sympathetic glance and asked:
"Someone you want to see? Is he in our town?"

"Yes, though I’m not certain if he’s in this specific town. During the war, I traveled with him for a while… But he’s definitely forgotten me by now. He’s quite famous—you must know him too. He’s—"

She was about to say the name.

Once I heard that name, I could forget about sleeping peacefully tonight. Reason told me I should get up and run right now, but my reason never wins against my emotions.

I’m completely like a mouse committing suicide.

I bit through the ice sketch and listened with bated breath.

"—Gray Wilson."

Sylvia clearly spoke the name of my savior and mentor.