36 MASTER LIRIUS: PART II

The girl was in deep thought whilst searching for Fuji.

Unlike the others, I'm quite tiny for my age. I mean, should I be growing? Well, it is not this body's fault since it has been poisoned for a long time affecting its growth and development. I mean, I have the body of a child.

Athena sighs

It's only thanks to Lirius and Gran for finding that enchanting flower last time, that I'm slowly able to restore my body.

Lirius informed Serfred that the flower Gran found has a small restoring effect on the girl. Since then, he, Gran, and Arthur would look for the plant again. But, since it was a food deers eat, they could hardly find any, and it was too dangerous for them to venture deep in the forest. Since, the flower was such a rare, enchanted plant, it became a competition between the three of them. As of this moment, Arthur is leading by three, whilst Gran found one, leaving Serfred with nothing.

Thanks to Gran being such a loudmouth, Lirius found out about the competition and had day by day teased Serfred.

"Fuji, where are you?" Athena called out to him, seeing he was not at his usual spot

It was not long for the puppy to come out of the corner as it ran towards the girl.

"Did you go hunting again?" Athena petted Fuji as he removed the leaves stuck in his fur.

Lirius from time to time would remind the girl that the puppy is a Twilight Wolf. He would always stress about the fact I'm treating Fuji like an ordinary dog when he's not supposed to be treated like one.

Athena started giggling as she reminisced the time Lirius was so furious.

"Are you out of your mind? Why are you training it to sit, play dead, when anytime you can be the one playing dead?"

"Fuji will never hurt me." Athena pointed this out angered by Lirius's words.

"Are you stupid, your mana is not restored, you can't even manifest your aura. If that puppy realized that, he would not have any second thought of killing you. Why would he serve a master who can't dominate over him?"

"I already know that, so can you not jinx."

Lirius sighs as he walks away irritated by the girl's mindset…

Athena ignored what happened since then and looked at Fuji as a creature that would never lay a hand on her. She has been weak since the day Fuji has been given to her, yet, he has not ever shown any threatening signs. "Fuji, let's go visit the village."

When they arrived at the village, the villagers gathered as they checked on Athena's condition.

"Tina, how have you been?"

"Tina have you eaten, we're cooking for the men right now."

It pleased the girl how much the villager has improved. They were much more lively and energetic. Before, they were like lost souls just waiting for their death.

"Everyone, I'm fine... I just came to check on how the crops are doing well?"

Athena bid everyone farewell as she visited Diana's house and the lands near the house as well before.The crops in Diana's place had grown well and were soon to bear some fruit. Since they were blessed plants by an Elementalist, their growth rate was faster compared to regular crops. At the same time, the rest of the crops were sprouting as well.

Next, she headed to where Tycho and the village men are. The girl noticed Tycho was on top of a roof and was fixing it. The men working below greeted her as she called out for the man.

"Tycho."

Tycho was surprised to hear Athena's voice, it has been a while since she moved to the manor and been resting, which means they haven't seen her for a while. "Athena, you're here... Where is Serfred? Does he know you here?"

Athena's expression said it all, she smiled as she felt guilty and forgotten to inform Serfred of her current whereabouts.

"He's gonna yell at you again. Why must you worry him all the time, it's best you head home soon..." Tycho hurriedly informed the girl.

"I will, I just came to check how you're doing?" Athena smiled assuring the man of her true intention. She was indeed on a task to inspect everything...

"No worries, hopefully before winter will be able to restore all the houses. Since Master Lirirus was kind enough to heal everyone. Thanks to him, it will be done in no time. Master Lirius is such a talented man."

Athena thought to herself what a proud smile Lirius would have on his face hearing such words. He'll be showing it off to Serfred.

Indeed, thanks to Lirius, everyone was healed. The church was even surprised to see such a talented man like him hiding all this time in the Northern Region. If the Empire knew about him, they have already sent me to bring him back.

"What are you doing here?"

Athena was surprised to hear the familiar voice. She was just thinking about, as she turned around to face him, she gave him a beaming smile. "Lirius, are you heading home?"

Lirius sighed in disbelief of how ridiculous the girl can be sometimes. He can already imagine how Serfred would react when they get home. "Come on, let's head home before that idiot goes on a rampage again."

"Lirius is right, you better head home Tina." Tycho laughed, supporting Lirius remarks that Serfred can be an idiot and does go on a very crazy rampage for they've seen it too many times already thanks to the girl being the cause.

"Tycho, I'll be going then. Tell Diana I came to visit." Athena then reached her hands as Lirius carried her.

Athena being carried by Serfred or Lirius is something the village is no longer surprised about. Since, they are well aware now of the girl's condition. It bothers them a lot that they can't be any help to the girl, that is why they work harder on their task since that is the only thing they can do for now.

"Lirius, how are the elders?" Athena asked whilst she rests her head on the man's chest.

"They are doing better than you. Did you drink the potion I made you today?" He asked

"I did, I don't feel anything different in my mana." She sighed depressed because of the thought she is never getting better.

"Don't worry, just get some rest." Lirius looked at the girl in his arms who was yawning.

Athena drifted off to sleep in the man's arms as the two of them headed home. Whilst Fuji followed next to him, Lirius looked at the puppy.

"You, you better not do anything to your master, or else…"

Fuji sensed the malicious aura Lirius was emitting, he was trembling in fear as he could sense the man was someone you can't easily trifly with. Even though Fuji is just a beast, he too can understand the world around him, and he finds it foolish every time Serfred threatens the man. For he knows, the man can kill Serfred in just a flick of a finger.

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