I was walking through the corridor of the traveller's inn, making my way towards the Asfi workshop.
"Arin!" I heard Lydia's voice from behind me. I turned and looked to see her walking towards me at a very fast pace. She stopped just a single step away from me. I started to back up to create some distance, and she grabbed my shoulders.
"Arin! You have to do something about Asfi!" She shook me back and forth, "She hasn't come out of her workshop for 3 days now! She is working like a woman possessed! Do something!"
I grabbed her hands and released myself from her clutches, "Calm down for a second," I replied, strengthening my clothes, "I was going to meet her for that reason as well."
I knew she was spending all her days and nights in the workshop, trying to perfect that communication device. And although all the necessities were available in the workshop, like a kitchen and a bathroom, and even a small bed, it's still not healthy for her to spend all her time there.
"Oh?" She replied, widening her eyes, "Of course you were, you are her prince charming after all, I should have expected that, Silly me." She bonked herself on her head, her tongue rolling out.
"Yes, yes, now if you will excuse me," I replied and started walking again, only for Lydia to follow behind me.
"What if she doesn't want to leave? She has been trying to complete her project, you know." Lydia spoke her doubt.
"She won't have a choice," I replied simply. Asfi could be stubborn at times, so I am going to use a somewhat forceful method.
"Oh? Is that so?" She asked skeptically.
"Yup," I said and took a final turn, and came in front of the workshop. Lydia stopped a distance away and spoke.
"Then I will take my leave. I wanted to see how you would do that, but I am kind of busy today, so Bye." She turned and walked away.
I waited until she completely disappear from my sight and kicked open the door, and jumped straight into the room, I could see Asfi body jumped in surprise by the loud sound, And a surprised expresion come on her face, "Arin? Eh, Kyaaa!?" but before she could say anything, I grabbed her body, and carried her in my arms and jumped straight out of the window.
"Wai-Arin, what are you doing?!" She questioned and tried to resist, but I increased my hold on her and kept running until we were a significant distance from the traveller's inn.
After seeing that Asfi was no longer resisting me, I stopped and lowered her to the ground.
"Now, telling me what was that all about? Kidnapping me like that? I was this close to completing the project, you know." She started bombarding me with questions.
"And that project was the reason I had to do this," I explained, if I was not guilty of anything.
"What do you mean?" she again asked.
"Oh, Asfi, my sweet, sweet Asfi, mind telling me when was the last time you saw sunlight or got a proper sleep?" I asked, coming a little closer to her. "That was—" She tried to get away, but I held her hand. "Do you have any idea how many people were worried that you would overwork yourself?"
"I…that…" she again tried to explain herself, but failed.
"Do you have any idea how worried I was?" I asked, for the past couple of days, I have noticed her being immersed in her work. I tried to tell her several times to take it easy, but she didn't listen. Hearing my reasoning, she seems to understand that as well.
"Okay, Fine.... I was wrong, I am sorry to worry you and everyone else." She crossed her arms, her eyes not meeting mine, "Are you satisfied now?" she said in a quiet voice.
"Nope!" I simply shook my head.
Asfi raised a brow and asked, "Then what do you want me to do?"
"You are going to spend the whole day with me, we will just enjoy ourselves and do nothing else, we will eat and sleep like pigs, and then we will go back and complete that annoying project of yours." I declared.
"Fufu, you are really so vain and lazy…" she said quietly. "But fine, have it your way."
"Yosh! Then let's go!" I walked forward, still grabbing her hands.
"Where are we going exactly?" Asfi asked as we walked through the bustling streets of Orario, her hand still in mine.
"First stop - food. Real food, not whatever scraps you've been surviving on in that workshop," I replied, leading her toward the market district. "When did you last have a proper meal?"
"I had some bread yesterday... or was it the day before?" she muttered, looking genuinely confused about the timeline.
"See? This is exactly what I'm talking about." I shook my head and guided her to a small restaurant I knew from Raul and others that served decent portions. "We're getting you fed properly."
Once seated, I ordered enough food for three people. Asfi raised an eyebrow at the amount but didn't protest. As we waited, I noticed the dark circles under her eyes and how pale she looked.
"You know," she said quietly, playing with her napkin, "the communication device is almost ready. Just a few more adjustments to the magic circuit and—"
"Nope." I cut her off. "No work talk today. That's the rule."
"But—"
"No buts. Today we're just going to eat, walk around, maybe find something fun to do, and that's it." I knew she enjoyed talking about magic items, and so do I, but right now her brain needs a little, or rather a lot of rest.
She sighed but nodded. "Fine..."
"You know, Asfi?" I said, "After spending time with you, I have come to know why Hermes and Lydia push all the work on you. You are just too much of a hard worker."
"Like you are the one to talk," she bit back.
"Haha, maybe you are right, I am not the right person to say that," I replied, remembering how I was pulling several all-nighters in the great conflict. "But I was just worried about you."
"Yes, I am sorry to worry you, and thank you for bringing me out," she said with a smile.
Shortly after the food arrived, I watched her eat. At first, she picked at it halfheartedly, but as her body remembered what real nutrition felt like, she started eating with genuine appetite.
"Better?" I asked.
"...Maybe a little," she admitted reluctantly. "I forgot how good actual food tastes."
"Right? And we're just getting started. After this, we're going to walk through the park, maybe visit some shops, and then you will take a proper nap."
"A proper nap?" Asfi looked at me skeptically. "How long exactly are we talking about?"
"At least two hours. Maybe three if you're really tired," I replied, finishing my portion of the meal.
"That's practically half a workday!" she protested, though she continued eating steadily.
"That's exactly the point. Your brain needs time to process and reset. You've been running on fumes for three days straight."
Now that I think about it, maybe I should have done this sooner. I thought as we ate our food.
After we finished eating, I paid the bill and led her toward Central Park. The afternoon sun was warm but not oppressive, and there were families and couples scattered across the grass enjoying the weather.
"I have to admit," Asfi said as we found a shaded spot under a large tree, "the fresh air does feel nice. I hadn't realized how stuffy the workshop had gotten."
"And we haven't even gotten to the good part yet." I gestured for her to sit down on the grass beside me.
She carefully lowered herself onto the grass, smoothing her skirt. "This is... oddly relaxing."
"Just wait until you actually lie down and close your eyes for a bit."
"I'm not sleeping outside," she said firmly.
"Not sleeping, just resting. There's a difference, besides, don't you sleep in the dungeon all the time?"
"This and that are different," she replied as I lay back on the grass, using my arms as a pillow.
"Trust me on this one."
Asfi watched me for a moment, then cautiously lay back as well, though she kept her arms crossed over her chest.
"This is ridiculous," she muttered, but I noticed her shoulders were finally starting to relax for the first time in days.
"Sometimes ridiculous is exactly what we need," I replied, watching the clouds drift by overhead. A soothing silence settled between us. Before long, I felt her facial muscles relax as she started talking in deep breaths.
Guess she really was tired, huh? I thought I really should have stopped her earlier.
We are not living in the dark ages anymore, but they are still working so hard because there are enemies that we have yet to beat.
My thoughts continued, as I kept looking at Asfi's sleeping face, she looks so relaxed, sleeping peacefully like that.
I really want to get stronger, so these girls don't have to keep pushing themselves like this.
.
.
.
.
It's been several hours the sky has started to turn dark. I was thinking of waking her up or at least carrying her back to her room, so she can sleep better.
But as I was contemplating which option I should choose, I saw Asfi's long eyelashes flutter slightly, and shortly after, her eyes opened. She quickly got up from her lying position.
"How long was I asleep?" she asked.
"Around 7 hours, I think?" I replied, getting up as well. "Had a good sleep?" I asked.
"Yes, thank you, Arin," she said, standing up.
"For what?" I asked back, standing up as well.
"For bringing me out here, I… really enjoyed it." Asfi had a smile on her beautiful face, enhancing her beauty.
"Think nothing of it," I said, and looked up towards the sky. "Hm…you told me you like flying through the sky, right?"
She appeared confused at my sudden question, but answered. "Yes, that was the reason I made these boots," she said, looking down at her shoes.
"Then, before we head back home, do you want to take a flight?" She contemplated for a brief moment and shook her head.
"I would love to do that, but I won't be able to carry you, since the shoes still need some modification." She said.
I was happy that she was thinking of flying with me, after all, flying through the sky holds a special place in her heart. But…
"If that's the case, then let me…" I stepped towards her and carried her in my arms like a princess, which she legitimately was.
"Eh?! Why are you carrying me again, Arin— wait, are you flying?!"
"I am not." I really was not flying per se, I was just creating a scaffolding hold below my feet with my newly learnt wind magic. I remember how, when I first successfully learnt the wind magic and showed it to Riviera, she called me a child, but that sweet, proud smile on her face, as if she was the one who learnt this magic, betrayed her words.
"Is that wind magic?" Asfi calmed down a little as she observed the wind magic below my feet as I made another jump further up.
"Yup, it is." And at last we were about the same height as the Babel tower, but I was not satisfied with that, as I took a few more steps upwards. Now we were so high that the whole of ourario seems so small.
"It's so beautiful…" Asfi looked down at the city, her beautiful cyan eyes reflecting the light from below.
"Yes, so so beautiful…" I said, still staring at her, and from her peripheral view, she noticed that as well; her cheeks turned red, but she said nothing back. We remain in the sky for a while, Asfi in my arms, looking down at the city, with me looking at her standing on invisible air.
"We-we should get going now," she said, finally looking at me, but because I was carrying her in my arms when she turned her face to me, our faces came so close that if one of us moved a single inch, our lips would touch.
Asfi quickly turned her face away and got out of my arms. For a moment, my heart dropped thinking she would fall, but then Asfi activated her shoes and started to fly away. "No-now since you wasted my day, you will be helping me complete the project all night long," she declared and increased her speed.
I waited for a moment before starting to follow her, and that night, both of us worked together. I didn't comment on her red face and just did the work silently, but fortunately, we were able to complete the project.
So now Asfi won't have to do another all-nighter for a while.