In the afternoon, in the mansion's courtyard, Carlisle was present. He stood on a wide lawn, surrounded by the six attributes of mana constantly swirling around him. The magical aura around his body surged continuously.
A moment later, Carlisle slowly opened his eyes, raised a hand, and softly chanted a spell.
"Al Goa."
Instantly, fire attribute magic surged from his body, and blazing flames like dancing dragons coiled around him. However, these flames did not cause him the slightest harm. The fire gradually separated from his body, hovering in front of him as it began to transform, sometimes becoming giant birds or greatswords, displaying various forms.
This was Carlisle's magic training. He was a true genius who had refined his magical power to an unparalleled level. If he wished, he could use the highest tier "Anr" level spell at any time, a level of magic whose power was enough to alter the terrain itself.
However, Carlisle understood that the power of magic was not only about destruction, but also about control. Practicing such high difficulty mana manipulation had become part of his daily routine.
"How impressive. This level of mana control, even that guy Roswaal probably can't achieve it."
Inside a nearby gazebo, Puck and Emilia were sitting together. Puck leisurely munched on a snack while attentively watching Carlisle control his fire attribute magic. The flames in his hands behaved like obedient pets, flexibly changing forms without scorching even a single blade of grass on the ground.
"Lia, watch carefully," Puck turned to Emilia and said, "This level of precise control over fire attribute mana is extremely rare. You could ask him to teach you."
Emilia asked with slight confusion, "But Puck, didn't you say that no one in this world could surpass you in mastering fire attribute mana? Why aren't you teaching me?"
(In the Re:Zero worldview, the fire attribute represents temperature.)
Puck scratched his head, an embarrassed smile appearing on his face.
"Well... I am indeed the strongest fire spirit in this world. But when it comes to teaching... I have already taught you all the spirit arts that I know."
"So Puck was bragging then?"
"I wasn't bragging!" Puck quickly waved his hands. "It's just that everyone has their own strengths. Compared to delicate mana control, raw magical power is where I truly excel. If I wanted to, I could turn the whole world into a frozen land."
"Why would you turn the world into frozen land?" Emilia was clearly puzzled by the statement.
"Of course I wouldn't. At least not now," Puck replied with a relaxed smile. "That was just an example, Lia."
Suddenly, Puck seemed to notice something, and a teasing smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"That little girl is here. Can't wait any longer, can she? Looks like it's only a matter of time before the knight boy falls for her."
"Car-lisle!"
A cheerful voice called out from afar. Subaru jogged over, her face filled with a bright smile. The sunlight shone on her, making her look lively and full of energy.
Carlisle heard the voice and immediately stopped casting. The surging flames instantly disappeared. He turned around and smiled at Subaru.
"Yo, Subaru. Are you done with work?"
"I finished my work early today, so I have several hours of rest time." Subaru panted slightly, a faint blush appearing on her face as her eyes filled with anticipation. "I wanted to see you, so I came."
Carlisle looked at the girl gazing up at him with a smile, and his heart warmed slightly. He gently nodded.
"Is that so? That's really impressive."
"Hehe, I'm being praised..."
Subaru lowered her head as a shy blush spread across her face, but the smile on her lips could not be hidden. She lightly kicked the grass beneath her feet, looking a little embarrassed, though her eyes sparkled with happiness.
Carlisle watched her and also felt a sense of ease. He reached out and gently patted her shoulder.
"You've worked hard. Let's rest together."
"Okay! Um... actually, I baked some cookies with the leftover ingredients from the kitchen. Do you want to eat them together?"
The girl carefully took out a bag of cookies from her pocket, her face showing a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. Her fingers trembled slightly, as if she feared being rejected. The bag still carried a trace of warmth, clearly showing that the cookies had just come out of the oven.
Carlisle looked at her and asked softly.
"May I?"
"Yes! Please don't be shy!" Subaru nodded quickly, as if greatly encouraged.
"Then I won't be shy."
Carlisle accepted the bag of cookies.
The two of them then sat down on the soft lawn. Sunlight fell gently upon them, and a light breeze carried a touch of coolness. The grass felt comfortable beneath them, like a natural cushion. Carlisle took a cookie from the bag and slowly tasted it.
"How is it?" Subaru clasped her hands as she looked at him with eager anticipation, her eyes filled with nervousness.
"It's delicious," Carlisle nodded, giving his approval.
Indeed, it was only a simple cookie made from basic ingredients such as flour, sugar, eggs, and milk. Yet every bite revealed the care of the person who had made it. The cookies were baked perfectly, crisp with just the right amount of sweetness and a rich milky aroma. Anyone could tell that the girl had put genuine effort into making them.
Upon hearing Carlisle's praise, Subaru's face immediately flushed, and her eyes sparkled with joy.
"Really? That's great! I was worried they wouldn't taste good..."
"No, they're really great."
Carlisle picked up another cookie.
Subaru lowered her head as the corners of her lips curved upward uncontrollably. Her heart was filled with satisfaction. She secretly glanced at Carlisle and saw him concentrating on tasting the cookies. A quiet sense of happiness rose within her.
"Next time..." she asked softly. "I want Carlisle to try a dish from my hometown. I'm currently trying to recreate a food called mayonnaise. When it's ready... can I make it for you?"
"Of course," Carlisle replied with a smile and a nod. "I look forward to it."
After finishing the cookies, the two sat quietly on the lawn, enjoying the rare moment of leisure. A gentle breeze brushed past them, bringing a bit of coolness and lightly ruffling Subaru's hair. She squinted slightly as she savored the peaceful warmth of the moment.
Carlisle gazed toward the distant sky, lost in thought, while Subaru sat beside him hugging her knees. Her eyes occasionally drifted toward him, carrying a trace of shyness and anticipation.
After a while, Subaru slowly leaned her head against Carlisle's shoulder. Her movement was gentle, as if she feared disturbing the peaceful atmosphere. Carlisle froze for a brief moment and his body stiffened slightly, but he soon relaxed. He did not push her away. Instead, he simply remained still and allowed her to rest against his shoulder.
The two sat quietly like this. Neither of them spoke, yet the air between them carried a quiet sense of understanding and warmth. Subaru's lips curved slightly as a satisfied smile appeared on her face. She could feel Carlisle's body warmth and hear his steady breathing, which filled her with a deep sense of comfort.
---
"Subaru, do you want to learn magic?"
Carlisle's voice broke the silence between them. He lowered his head and looked at the girl leaning on his shoulder.
Subaru lifted her head and blinked, as if she had not fully processed his words.
"Magic? Me?"
"Yes," Carlisle nodded. "Consider it a return favor for the cookies. How about it?"
Subaru paused for a moment, then a hopeful smile bloomed across her face and her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Really? I can learn?"
"Of course."
"I'll definitely work hard, Teacher!"
Subaru nodded vigorously as she sat up straight, her face filled with determination.
...
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