Another Day

When he arrived in front of his room, he silently opened the door since Alicia might already be asleep at this time. But he was shocked. When he opened the door, Alicia was still practicing her magic. She still hadn't noticed him.

She tried to improve her control over her Ice Magic. Sometimes the ice burst out, sometimes it melted, and sometimes the ice did not even form. She tried it again and again.

Alex, who was standing on the side, was smiling bitterly. He was happy and moved by her action but at the same time, he felt bitter for not noticing this faster. He admitted when he trained Firia in Alchemy, he somehow neglected her at that time. He walked to her.

Hearing the footsteps, Alicia turned her head to the side. Alex was approaching her, she said embarrassedly while scratching her cheek, "Al-Alex, this... this is... I just don't want to be outdone. When I know that Firia is practicing Alchemy, I don't want to lose to her. I don't know what I can do. I can't practice Alchemy like her because of my element. The only thing I can think of is improving my magic."

"I'm sorry," Alex said.

"Why."

Before Alicia finished her words, he hugged her. Alicia who was still in shock with the sudden hug, couldn't think of anything. After a moment, she backed to her senses and hugged him back.

After hugging for a while, they were letting go of each other. Alex then took out two books and gave them to Alicia.

"This is?" Alicia took the two books from Alex. The title for the first book was 'Frozen World' and the second was 'Sky Movement'. When she looked at the second book, she knew this must be some kind of Movement Art. But she was confused with the first one with the title of 'Frozen World'. Was this some kind of storybook for ice users? She said, "Is this a storybook?"

Alex's eyes widened, he was shocked, how could she come to that conclusion. He hurriedly corrected her, "No!"

Alicia giggled, "Of course it is not. I'm just joking."

Alex sighed, "This is an Ice Art. You can try to look at the content. Your element is ice so I thought this art will suit you very well. While the other is a movement technique. It is my current movement technique. There are five types of steps in that book, they are Immovable Step, Fleeting Step, Heavy Step, Flash Step, and Sky Step. Although the Immovable Step and Heavy Step won't be that much useful for you, the Fleeting Step and Flash Step might be very useful since they are used for dodging and speed, especially the Flash Step, which can boost your speed a few times faster. You can bombard your enemy when you can master this technique. And the last is the Sky Step, you can step on the air or in the water just like how you are stepping on the ground."

Alicia was very shocked by Alex's explanation, she never heard this kind of powerful technique. This kind of technique might very well become a national treasure level. Then she picked the second one, the 'Frozen World'. She skimmed it quickly. 

She was surprised by the technique if what was written there was really true. It was basically a step-by-step guide improvement for Ice Mage along with its magic. In the last section, they even could unleash the power of ice like those with a high rank (7-9) while they were still in the middle rank (4-6). Of course, she needed to master this technique first. After she finished skimming it, she looked at Alex with an astonished face.

"Do you like it?" Alex smiled.

"Are you sure to give me these two techniques?"

"Yes, is there any problem with that?" Alex was still clueless about what she implied.

"Do you not know what kind of outrageous techniques these two books are?"

Alex tilted his head in confusion. But he suddenly looked down, a bit sad, "Why? Is there something wrong with the content of these two books?"

"Something wrong with the content, you say?" Alicia's face became dark.

Alex was surprised by Alicia's exaggerated reaction. He now started to doubt the books. He looked down.

"These two techniques are very powerful. They might be regarded as a national treasure level technique... no, even the palace doesn't have this kind of powerful technique, and you give it to me just like that."

"Oh!" He was then relieved, he thought there was some mistake in the contents. After all, the techniques were originally from the system, not this world (?), probably. But the problems all this time were something insignificant like that. "I don't mind that. If these books can help you reach what you want, I am satisfied with that. Even If I get something more powerful than those two books, I will also give it to you if they can help you with your goal."

Alicia's eyes widened, she blushed. She muttered in low voice because of the embarrassment, "Thank you."

"That's right, how about you rest first? You can try to learn them tomorrow."

"Okay. Don't worry about the techniques, I will protect its secret with my life," she said as she walked to the bed.

"Oi! It's fine to let out the secret if it can save your life!"

"Yes, yes," she casually said. She didn't pay attention to Alex's last remark. She laid down on her bed while still hugging the two books that Alex gave just now with a big smile on her face.

Alex could only shake his head and sat on the sofa again.

"Oh right, I haven't checked all the techniques I got from System. I was too focused on 'Frozen World'. Let me check it first. System, are there any logs for the reward before?"

The system didn't say anything. It only showed him a list of the techniques he got before.

[Basic Sword Art x2]

[Fencing x3]

***

[Archery Manual]

The techniques lists were long. But there was one thing that caught his eyes.

[Luminous Spear Techinque]

Now he had a close-ranged spear technique. He already had a long-ranged spear technique which was the 'Spear Throwing Art', but he still needed a close-ranged one. After all, there would be no use to have the spear in his hand if he didn't utilize it and only waited to throw it. The enemy wouldn't let you do that. With this Luminous Spear Technique, he would get a balance for combat.

There were techniques for other elements, like the 'Gushing Wind Art' or 'Shadow Drive'. But he didn't care about them, after all, he didn't have any use of those techniques. There were no people around him with wind or shadow elements. Wait... the grand duke had a wind element. When he remembered that, he shook his head. The grand duke must have a greater technique. He came to that conclusion because the system said that this technique was only a Common Rank Technique.

After looking at the list for the last time, Alex then took out the 'Luminous Spear Technique'.

This 'Luminous Spear Technique' was emphasized in its speed. Contrary to his Sanguin Sword Art that focused on power, this spear technique target was to catch the enemy off guard with its speed and movement.

He put off the book for a bit. He checked at Alicia, he sat down at the edge of the bed. He looked at Alicia who was sleeping while hugging the two books he gave earlier. He let out a little smile. He looked at her cute sleeping face for a moment. When he wanted to go back to cultivate, he hesitated.

'Maybe a little longer,' he thought.

He looked at Alicia's cute face, he would never be bored with this cute calm face.

"Mmm, Alex... I will get stronger, I want to stay together with you, Firia, and Sherry until the end of time," maybe because she noticed Alex's presence by her side, she muttered those words.

Alex looked at her with a surprised look. He sensed that Alicia was still sleeping. He smiled gently, "Yes, I promised."

He continued looking at her and unknowingly fell asleep too.

***

The next morning, Alex slowly opened his eyes. He was still fuzzy about what happened yesterday. He seemed to doze off when he was watching Alicia. His eyes immediately opened wide. 

He looked around him and found himself on the bed. After realizing that he slept on the bed, he quickly stood up. But he failed, there was a hand holding him back. He looked at the owner of the hand. There, he saw Alicia who was still sleeping beside him. But because of his movement, she woke up as well. The moment their eyes met, her brain froze. She saw Alex on the bed and she was still hugging him. Her face became red immediately. Alex too used all his brainpower to think up an excuse. Never in his mind that Alicia would actually misunderstand everything.

Alicia thought that she invited him to sleep with her while half asleep. She somehow recalled a bit of her dream yesterday. In her dream, she was in her first-night marriage with Alex. In the scene, she hugged him on the bed as she said 'Alex... I will get stronger, I want to stay together with you, Firia, and Sherry until the end of time'. In reality, she didn't even finish her words.

In her dream, she was hugging him in their marriage chamber. She looked at Alex who wore a tuxedo. That was the happiest day of her life. When they looked at each other, she said, "Alex, I will get stronger, I want to stay together with you, Firia, and Sherry until the end of time. We will be together, teaching our kids, watching them grow up."

Alex smiled at her, she slowly closed her eyes and they kissed. The kiss led to another, and those led to a passionate night. At that time she woke up and found that she was embracing him.

At this moment, she was too embarrassed. Her face became redder than a tomato as she immediately turned her head to the side, afraid of making eye contact with him.

On the contrary to her, what Alex perceived from her action was a completely different thing. He thought that she must hate him for doing this. He thought that her red face must be pent-up anger. He braced himself.

"Alicia, this... I'm sorry," after all the thought he did. He could only let out an apology from his mouth.

When Alex opened his mouth, she was too shocked. She thought that Alex must think of her as an indecent woman, she instinctively said, "No, I'm also very sorry... for that dream."

She muttered in a very low voice at the end. But Alex still heard what she said.

"Eh? Dream?"