The Rivers Merge

Damian had spent time with Frieren; it was easier to talk to her because he could ignore how she expressed herself without attaching much importance to what she wanted to convey. That is, if she got angry with his presence, he could be ignorant about it, and she wouldn't say anything.

Moreover, he knew that after several months of talking and getting to know each other, they had become somewhat closer. At least now Frieren was not suspicious of him, and that alone was significant in a friendship.

"Have you finished reading the books I gave you a few days ago?" Damian looked in horror at his friend while fishing without using any magic.

Frieren looked at the huge fish Damian had effortlessly caught and touched them to see if they had any magic in their bodies. "That's impressive..."

"For fishing?" Damian was about to show an arrogant smile, but the next moment, he remained stoic.

"No, human mages are usually so useless that they don't care about magic and only think about winning the war." Frieren was very clear with her words, not thinking much about Damian's feelings.

Damian had memories of many years ago in the tower where he woke up, those mages who had intimidated him at some point, and a broad smile formed on his face.

"I thought that would bother you, but I see I was mistaken." Frieren knew that understanding Damian was more complex than any other spell she had learned.

"I have suffered a lot to be here right now; I may not be the strongest, but I can surely defend myself against any living being in this world and not die at their hands without putting up a fight. Getting offended by something like that is not at all characteristic of me. Do you often get angry?"

"Most things don't matter to me in the slightest."

Damian waved his hand, and an artificial black shadow formed under his feet. He put his hand inside and pulled out a crystal ball with Saturn inside. Its color was yellow, and the interior of this crystal ball moved. To be honest, this was the invention that had taken him the longest to create.

This time, he wanted to give it to Frieren as a gift. It may not sound logical, but she had somehow served as therapy for him to reconnect with reality.

"What is this?" Frieren took the crystal ball and scanned it with great interest.

"My gift." Damian was taking small steps in his friendship with Frieren; at least he wanted her to stop seeing him as a stranger who would disappear in a few years.

For elves, the perception of time runs differently: if a human becomes friends with another in a few hours, for someone like Frieren, it must take at least five years.

"His name is Saturn; not only will you be able to manipulate the lighting in the surroundings, but it will also be a source of warmth when we are in the north." Damian took certain liberties in his conversations with Frieren; he forgot all his heavy thoughts when he was with her.

"I'm not going to the north." Frieren stood up and walked away upon realizing that Damian's stories were about to begin.

But without waiting for Frieren to escape, Damian stood up and said, "First, we have to find a good mount that can take us all over the continent without having to walk. I've seen huge green pigs not far from here, and maybe we could tame one."

"It's impossible to tame a monstrous beast."

"I love it."

Frieren, of course, did not notice Damian's intentions, but Flamme did, and she observed them in silence whenever she could. "Their paths have merged; at least I'm glad she won't be alone when I leave."

...

Damian had spent a good time talking to Frieren, although she only responded with a few words. But after he started to become annoying, she distanced herself, as she always did.

"What were you telling Frieren this time?" Flamme appeared in front of Damian, who was floating over a small artificial lagoon he had made out of boredom.

"The story of dwarves taking care of a princess who was poisoned, and only a prince's kiss could wake her up... Doesn't that sound interesting?" Damian didn't feel the same way as he did with Frieren this time, and it bothered him.

Flamme noticed but didn't mention anything; she went straight to what mattered to her: "Frieren struggles to differentiate the time she has with others; she doesn't understand her own emotions, and it will be difficult for her to know what she wants."

"What are you trying to say?" Damian spoke seriously this time.

"You're a good guy; you know very well that deep down, this is not what you were looking for in your future, and yet here you are... If you plan to get close to Frieren, make sure not to hurt her later on. If she gets attached to someone like you, you must also be aware of the damage you can cause her."

Damian understood that this woman was protecting her student. He wasn't upset; on the contrary, he responded, "Maybe that makes me feel more comfortable with her. I promise I will never harm her, and I will take care of her better than a gardener cares for a rose. This time, no... From now on, I will first take care of all my loved ones with my life in hand; she shouldn't worry."

"Thank you..." Flamme walked away to later meet with her student.

Damian felt this conversation was different, and after a while, he understood that it would be the last they would have. Knowing this, he prepared to resume his journey and pass by the mage tower shortly after.