The petite girl opened her eyes, revealing emerald green pupils. She calmly looked at Shi Chen, as if she didn't see him, then closed her eyes.
"Hey! Is that your reaction to seeing your Senior Brother?!"
Shi Chen quickly approached her with exasperation, unceremoniously ruffling her loose silver hair.
It was incredibly smooth and soft, the familiar touch.
The petite, snow-like girl opened her eyes again, pushing against his hand, and asked calmly, "Who are you?"
"Don't give me that!" Shi Chen lightly flicked her forehead.
"Ow…" She couldn't help but raise her hand to cover her forehead, looking up at him with dissatisfaction.
"Hehe~ Long time no see, Frieren." Shi Chen smiled, looking at her gently.
"You still know how to come back," Frieren pouted, quite displeased.
"This is my home too, why wouldn't I know how to come back?" Shi Chen countered with a smile.
"How long have you been gone? I thought…" Frieren paused, then softly said, "I thought you'd run away."
"How could I run away?" Shi Chen couldn't help but ruffle her hair again, messing up her loose silver strands.
"You… couldn't learn magic, right?" Frieren didn't mind, honestly replying with hesitation.
"That's no reason to run away," Shi Chen said, shaking his head with a smile.
"Besides, without me, you can't even eat properly, can you? Your hair isn't even tied up."
Shi Chen hooked a strand of Frieren's silver hair with his index finger, slowly curling it up, like a silver ring, just a bit thick.
"There's no one else here, why should I manage my hair? It's a waste of time."
Frieren calmly watched him play with her hair. He had always especially liked her hair, and after so long, he hadn't changed.
Is her hair really that fun to play with?
And her head, what's so good about rubbing it?
"Isn't Master here?"
"She doesn't even tidy her own hair, she just casually pins it up."
"Then you can't learn from her. Why learn bad habits instead of good ones?" Shi Chen said helplessly.
"You're speaking ill of Flamme, I'll tell her later and let her teach you a lesson."
"Call her Master!" Shi Chen exasperatedly flicked her head again.
"And, call me Senior Brother!"
"No way! You left for so long without telling me, and as soon as you're back, you bully me!" Frieren puffed out her cheeks, angrily turning her head away.
As she turned her head, she accidentally tugged the strand of hair Shi Chen had curled.
"Hiss—" "Sorry, sorry." Shi Chen immediately released her hair.
"I'm really angry," Frieren said in a flat tone, her expression unchanged, which made it hard to be scared.
"It's my fault, I'm sorry. How about I make you something delicious to compensate you later?" Shi Chen squatted down,
looking at her at eye level.
"…Rabbit meat again?" Frieren's throat moved, and she looked at him suspiciously.
"Not necessarily. I'll make it more elaborate for you later, no rabbit meat." Shi Chen chuckled.
"Really?"
"May I be a puppy if I lie to you!" Shi Chen raised his hand and swore.
"Alright, I'll reluctantly believe you. I can temporarily not be angry."
"Why can't you believe your Senior Brother's words?" Shi Chen couldn't help but rub her head again.
It was small, fit in one hand, and her hair was so silky, making it hard for him to let go.
"You left without a word, why should I believe you?"
"Sorry, it's my fault. It won't happen again next time." Shi Chen apologized honestly.
"Hmph~" Frieren lightly snorted, indicating she had forgiven him.
Shi Chen naturally understood her meaning and asked with a smile, "How long have I been gone?"
"Don't you know yourself?" Frieren retorted.
"Didn't keep track."
"Ninety-one days."
"Three months, huh…" Shi Chen looked at Frieren with a grin: "It's impressive you remember so clearly. Did you miss me a lot?"
"Dream on." Frieren rolled her eyes at him.
"Hehe~ I get it, you're shy, aren't you?"
"…Can you stop being so self-absorbed?"
"What's there to be shy about? I missed you too~"
"Then… why did it take you so long to come back?"
"Can't you sense it?" Shi Chen spread his hands, a smile playing on his lips.
"Sense wha… Your magic!" Frieren finally noticed the immense magic contained within Shi Chen's body.
She hadn't noticed it at all just now.
"What's wrong? Did you forget what Master said? Magic perception should always be used." Shi Chen arrogantly tapped Frieren's head.
"…I've been using it all along." Frieren slapped his hand away and retorted.
"Is that so? Then why didn't you feel it just now?"
"None of your business!"
"Haha~ I know, is it because you're too happy I'm back?"
"And you said you didn't miss me, how did you learn to lie?"
"…What's wrong with your magic?"
"That's why I left. Now, like you, I can use magic."
"Is that so? That's good." Frieren looked at the undisguised smile on Shi Chen's face, pursed her lips, and nodded.
"Aren't you going to ask how I got magic?"
"No need, it's enough that you have magic."
Frieren still remembered Shi Chen's envious and dejected expression from before because he couldn't learn magic, a stark contrast to his current smugness.
"I'm really strong now~ Aren't you really curious?"
"Not curious. I'm hungry. Go make me something delicious."
Frieren naturally sensed that the magic contained within Shi Chen was far greater than hers, and she was definitely no match for him.
But there was no need to compare; she and he were not enemies.
"Darn it, am I not even as attractive as food?" Shi Chen angrily reached out and rubbed her smooth cheek.
Petite and delicate, her skin was also very fine. His hands easily cupped her face, leaving only her eyes, nose, and mouth exposed.
Frieren ignored his mischievous hands, calmly looking at him. After he rubbed a few times, she asked, "Can you go make me something to eat now? Didn't you say you'd make a lavish meal?"
"Alright, alright." Shi Chen reluctantly released her face, smiled at her, and walked towards the cottage.
"Oh, by the way, is Master here?"
"She went out this morning."
"I see. Will she be back today?"
"She'll be back. She's been with me recently."
"Got it, then I'll make a bit more."
"Wait, there are no ingredients in the kitchen."
"Hm?" Shi Chen paused, turning to look at her.
Frieren also quietly looked at him.
"Then… how do I make it?"
"That's for you to ask yourself, or are you trying to trick me?"
"Haha~ Just teasing you. Isn't it easy to find some ingredients?"
Shi Chen walked back to her, proudly saying, "Let me show you something good."
With that, Shi Chen snapped his fingers. Immediately, a magic circle appeared behind him. The magic circle slowly approached him, then engulfed him.
"I'll be right back."
As the magic circle faded, Shi Chen naturally disappeared, leaving only that one sentence.
Frieren rarely showed such a surprised expression, staring blankly at where Shi Chen had stood. This was magic she didn't know, magic she had never seen, and magic she didn't understand.
Magic truly was incredible, so incredible that it made one love it so much.
Frieren lightly chuckled, marveling at the wonder of magic, and also at the fact that Shi Chen could truly use magic.