Chapter 377: Goodnight, Flamme
Rhodes said no more. He simply walked up to Flamme, reached out, and gently lifted her lowered face with his fingertips, forcing her to look at him directly.
This action was so natural, yet so unexpected.
It had been decades since she impulsively confessed her feelings and he had gently rejected her. Since then, Master Rhodes hadn't made such an intimate gesture toward her.
Flamme was forced to raise her head, exposing every emotion on her face and the countless thoughts in her eyes to him completely.
She saw Rhodes's eyes, and naturally saw the meaning contained within—no blame, no admonition, only a complexity she found difficult to understand.
Rhodes's hand still cradled Flamme's cheek. Flamme stood frozen, unable to move.
Under this gentle touch, all her disguise and resolve melted quietly like snow under the sun.
She could feel her heart beating wildly, the heat of blood rushing to her cheeks, and that love buried deep in her heart about to break through the soil.
She opened her mouth, but still couldn't make a sound.
Only tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably, dripping onto Rhodes's palm.
She ultimately failed to reveal those feelings. Reason prevailed once again, just like the restraint of the past decades.
But once the dam broke, the tears couldn't stop.
Flamme tried to turn her face away, not wanting Rhodes to see her tear-stained wretchedness, but that hand was steady, its strength undeniable.
"Master..." Flamme finally found her voice, nasal and trembling. "I am sorry... I..."
She wanted to say "I lied to you," wanted to say "I just didn't know what to do."
But a thousand words stuck in her chest, finally turning into even more torrential tears.
Rhodes didn't speak.
He just looked at her quietly. Those black eyes, unchanged for a millennium, now reflected her tear-streaked face.
His thumb still rested at the corner of her eye. Without using any magic, like an ordinary person, he wiped away the endlessly welling tears one by one. His movements were light and patient.
As if he wasn't facing a mage capable of standing alone and mastering countless powerful spells, but the little girl from many, many years ago who hid in the corner of the ruins, led out of despair by Serie, shivering as she faced him for the first time.
Just as he had wiped away her tears one by one when she cried after being scolded by Serie for failing to learn magic.
Flamme understood this emotion, and her heart ached even more.
How she wished she could be strong forever, forever the student he was proud of, instead of exposing her most unbearable side to him like this now.
I have grown up... I am no longer that little girl who only knows how to cry.
But for some reason, in front of Master Rhodes, she would always be that little girl he taught magic to hand-in-hand.
"Why say sorry?" Rhodes finally spoke. "Wanting to leave alone? Thinking that hiding everything in your heart and walking silently to the end is the best choice?"
Rhodes's question pointed straight to the core, voicing Flamme's inner thoughts completely.
Flamme's breath hitched, and her tears flowed harder.
She wanted to deny it, wanted to say it wasn't like that, but under his gaze, she finally gave up defending herself.
"I... I just..." she choked, her words broken. "Didn't want to become a burden... didn't want to make Frieren sad... didn't want... to make things difficult for you and Master Serie—"
She spoke intermittently. These were the reasons closest to the truth, yet they still covered the deepest layer—that love she could neither declare nor face calmly.
"Burden? Difficult?" Rhodes repeated these two words, then spoke forcefully in denial: "Flamme, from the day you were brought back from the ruins, you have never been a burden. You are mine and Serie's student. The Magic Association is your home. You are our closest family."
Flamme's significance to him and Serie was extraordinary.
Even though the current Serie had taught generations of mages, with disciples breaking into double digits, the only one she truly held in her heart was Flamme.
At least in the current Serie's eyes, all her other disciples combined weren't as important as Flamme.
Unfortunately, the tsundere elf lady naturally wouldn't show this affection openly.
On the other side, hearing Rhodes's words and the term "family," Flamme's face dimmed.
Yes, home.
The Magic Association was home. Where Master Rhodes and Master Serie were, that was her home.
But precisely because she cherished this home too much, she was even more afraid she would destroy it.
"But... my time is running out. Stasis Magic has its limits after all. I don't want... don't want you to see my final appearance—" She closed her eyes, eyelashes trembling. "That... would be too ugly."
The last sentence carried a girl's natural fear of fading beauty, especially the fear of revealing such a state before the person she loved.
This was perhaps the motive she found hardest to speak of when deciding to leave silently.
Rhodes froze slightly.
He naturally knew the nature of Stasis Magic and the truth that it couldn't reverse the drain of life source.
hearing her say "too ugly" with her own mouth still made his heart ache.
"Ugly? Flamme, look at me."
Flamme was forced to open her eyes and meet his gaze again.
"Do you think Serie and I would think you are ugly or a burden just because your appearance changes?!"
"The years we have lived, the birth, aging, sickness, death, and changing faces we have seen... are far more than you can imagine. Why do you think we would care about these things?"
"Flamme, your radiance never came just from being young and beautiful, but from your wisdom, your passion for magic, your sense of responsibility toward the Association, toward Frieren, toward everyone. These things will not dim with the passage of time."
Rhodes's words were heartwarming, moving Flamme deeply.
She hadn't expected Master Rhodes to comfort her in such a direct way.
Tears surged again.
"But..." she still couldn't completely let go. "Frieren believes you will find a way. But I know how difficult that is, almost impossible. I cannot hope for more—"
"Why can't you hope?" Rhodes interrupted her. "Flamme, you have witnessed miracles and created miracles with your own hands. Why is it that when it is your turn, you don't even have the courage to hope?"
He leaned down slightly, bringing their eyes level, his voice lowering further. "Actually, you can believe in Frieren, and you can believe in your teacher. Although progress is slow, the road ahead unknown, and the risk great..."
Flamme's heart skipped a beat as she held her breath and looked at him.
"However," Rhodes changed the subject, his tone becoming extremely firm, "that does not mean you can give up on your own, giving up for everyone including yourself just like that."
"Flamme, do you remember what I once told you?"
"Believe in hope and miracles, because belief needs no reason." Flamme murmured the sentence.
"Yes. So, you can also try to believe in me. Believe that this is not a permanent parting, just a short separation, a short slumber."
Rhodes's words were as firm as rock; the light of his promise was enough to dispel all despair.
Flamme's lips trembled. She hadn't expected Master Rhodes to give her a promise personally.
This time, it wasn't the near-naive promise from Frieren, but a near-impossible promise from him.
"So stay, Flamme. At least in the Association, I can protect you better." Rhodes extended his hand to Flamme.
Even if the Heavenly Kingdom was indeed incomparably safe, with almost no humans or other races able to reach it, Rhodes still hoped his most precious disciple could be by his side, even if only in slumber.
Moreover, he might be able to help improve Flamme's constitution, allowing her to live very long and delay this farewell moment to the maximum.
Facing Rhodes's invitation, Flamme lowered her head. The warm and surging emotions almost broke through all shackles, making her want to nod and stay, to be a little closer to him.
However, after the hope brought by the promise washed over her, remaining reason began to re-coalesce, issuing a calmer voice.
Staying... what does it mean?
It meant that in the limited time ahead, she would face Master Rhodes daily, waiting in hope and uncertainty.
It meant she would witness Master Rhodes investing more time and energy, perhaps even bearing unknown risks, for that slim possibility.
It meant Master Serie would know everything. With her intelligence and sensitivity, she couldn't fail to notice Rhodes's extraordinary investment in this matter. What would her mood be then?
And all of this would be built upon a heavy promise from Master Rhodes.
She was unwilling, and dared not, face all this.
At least, she had now obtained that tiny hope. Let her carry this hope and move forward.
"Master," she spoke, her voice no longer trembling, steady and clear. "Thank you. Thank you for your promise. Thank you for being willing to... make such an attempt for me."
She extended her hand too, clasping his with both hands, squeezing back slightly, then withdrawing immediately.
Rhodes's gaze focused slightly on her face.
"But please forgive my willfulness." Flamme met his gaze, a smile even appearing at the corner of her mouth. "I have decided to leave with Senior Olivia."
Before Rhodes could speak, she continued, "It is not that I don't trust you, Master. Quite the opposite. Precisely because I believe in you, believe in your promise, I want to choose this path even more."
She paused, organizing her words, trying to make Rhodes understand her complex thoughts. "If I stay, in these countdown-like days, my mood will constantly be occupied by anxiety waiting for results and uneasiness. That is not the final time I want."
"For Frieren, for Master Serie, for you... it would also be a pressure, wouldn't it?"
"But leaving, going to the Heavenly Kingdom, sleeping under Senior Olivia's care... for me, that is not death, but a slumber embracing hope."
"I don't have to feel the drain of life force day and night, don't have to worry about changes in appearance, don't have to let anyone see my possible decline."
"I can sleep in my most perfect state, carrying your promise in my heart, believing that one day in the future, when you find that path, you will wake me up again."
"This is the best way I can think of for all of us. Not a permanent parting, just... a separation requiring patient waiting."
After speaking, she looked at Rhodes quietly, waiting for his reaction.
This was her considered decision—not an impulse, nor a rejection of Rhodes's promise, but another form of trust.
She entrusted this hope entirely to his promise, while choosing to wait for that possible miracle in the quietest, least disturbing way.
Just as Rhodes said, she chose to believe in this miracle, and precisely because she believed, she chose to leave.
Rhodes didn't speak. He gazed at Flamme for a long time.
Her eyes were firm, with no room for compromise. But Rhodes could feel the deep fear beneath that calm—fear that after slumber, there might be no tomorrow.
He knew Flamme. Decades of companionship had long made her one of the existences he understood best.
He knew her mind was made up; any retention or persuasion would likely be futile.
"...I understand." Rhodes finally spoke. His voice returned to its usual steadiness but added a trace of raspiness. "I respect your decision."
He paused, locking his gaze firmly on Flamme. "Remember my words, Flamme. This is not a permanent parting. It is a simple separation. My promise remains valid."
"No matter how long that path takes—a hundred years, a thousand years, or even longer—when you wake up, I will be there."
This wasn't empty comfort, but an oath sworn in his name as Rhodes.
Flamme's eyes filled with tears again instantly.
She nodded hard, tears falling, but the corners of her mouth rose high. "Mn! I will remember, Master! I will wait... wait for the day you come to wake me up."
Hesitating no more, she took a step back and bowed solemnly to Rhodes in farewell.
"Then... Master, I am departing. Please, you and Master Serie must take care. And that child Frieren... I entrust her to you and Master Serie."
Rhodes nodded slightly. "Rest assured."
Flamme straightened up, took one last deep look at Rhodes, then turned resolutely. Red hair flying, she strode in the direction Olivia had disappeared.
She didn't look back again.
She wouldn't look back again.
Rhodes stood in place, watching her figure gradually merge into the morning mist and the brightening world until she disappeared completely.
Voices gradually grew louder; the city had fully awakened from darkness, radiating its vitality.
He looked up toward a certain window on the top floor of the towering Magic Association tower. A golden figure seemed to flash past there.
Serie... must have seen it too.
He needed to explain to her—about Flamme's choice, about that promise, about the path ahead.
But right now, he just stood there for a while longer, gazing in the direction Flamme left, unmoving for a long time.
Flamme embarked on the road to the distant Heavenly Kingdom.
Guided by Olivia, they crossed the boundary unreachable by mortals and arrived above the sea of clouds.
There, Flamme didn't choose to activate Stasis Magic immediately. Instead, she helped Olivia with some maintenance.
The power source and barrier mana of the Heavenly Kingdom needed replenishment. Although Olivia could do it alone, Flamme wanted to contribute her strength.
When everything was ready, Olivia brought Flamme to a hall filled with divine aura.
This was the prayer hall of the Sky-Winged, the place where they once contacted the gods. But now that the Sky-Winged and gods were gone, it had long been abandoned.
Fortunately, as the core building of the Heavenly Kingdom, reinforced with countless spells, this hall showed no trace of erosion despite the passage of time. It was the perfect place for Flamme to sleep.
Flamme changed out of her mage robe into a simple plain dress, as if preparing for bed.
The Stasis Magic circle had been drawn. To prevent accidents, Olivia planned to seal this place to isolate all disturbances.
Flamme sat there, gazing at the eternal and changing magnificent skylight of the Heavenly Kingdom. There was no fear in her heart, only peace, and expectation for a distant moment in the future.
"Senior Olivia," she said softly, "I look forward to seeing you again."
Olivia nodded gently. "I look forward to it too."
Flamme smiled slightly and closed her eyes.
She began guiding the little life force remaining in her body. On the other side, Olivia assisted, activating the modified Stasis Magic Rhodes had created.
Warm, soft light radiated from her body, forming a massive, translucent cocoon of light that wrapped her slowly.
Her breathing became nearly inaudible, her body relaxed gradually. Her face appeared exceptionally serene and peaceful in the light, as if she had just fallen into a deep, beautiful dream.
The breath of life was not cut off, merely perfectly sealed, waiting for the only key to come and open it.
The light cocoon stabilized finally, turning into a crystal clear crystal, lying quietly in the empty hall.
Inside, the red-haired mage had a tranquil face, the corners of her mouth seemingly still carrying a hint of a smile.
She slept.
Carrying the promise Rhodes made, embracing the hope of future reunion, she fell into this peaceful slumber of unknown duration.
This was not the end.
This was the beginning of a long wait.
Far away in the mortal Imperial Capital, at the top floor of the Magic Association tower, Rhodes withdrew his gaze from the clouds and turned to walk deep into the laboratory.
There, countless researches on Life Magic awaited him.
The road was long and perilous, but he had made a promise.
For the figure sleeping in the Heavenly Kingdom, for the existence he regarded as family, he had to work even harder.
The morning light remained, only this time, missing that familiar figure.
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