As the sunlight gradually weakened, the number of people playing in the sea started to decrease accordingly.
So Luke took off his swimsuit and changed back into the dress he had come in, sitting in the tent and enjoying some snacks.
The snack Daphne brought was watermelon.
As Dayton took a piece of the cut watermelon and took a bite, the sweet flesh burst in his mouth like he was biting into water.
In this era, everything that goes into the mouth is indeed a delicacy.
While eating the watermelon and looking up at the sky, it was already painted red.
It was as if someone had set fire to the sky.
Luke chomped on the watermelon while gazing at the burning red sky.
“It should begin soon…”
The solar eclipse would start shortly.
Thinking this, Luke watched Pyris, who was hurriedly munching on her watermelon in a corner of the tent.
It was hard to believe that she was the same child who had been crying as her sandcastle was washed away by the waves just moments ago.
“Is it that delicious?”
“It is!”
The sight of the red watermelon flesh disappearing into the mouth of the blue spirit was in stark contrast to the sky swallowed by the red color.
Looking in another direction, Sorbi and Kirke were engaged in some pointless activity, seeing who could spit watermelon seeds further.
On another side, Dayton was still awkwardly handing a piece of watermelon to Yerna.
Seeing this, a good idea suddenly popped into Luke’s mind, and he called out to Yerna.
“Yerna, how about we go to a place where we can see the solar eclipse better?”
“Hmm, should we? Where shall we go?”
At Luke’s suggestion, Yerna nodded happily and got up.
“Eh? Where are you going, sis?”
Diana’s question prompted Pyris to look at Luke with curious eyes.
“I’ll just step out for a moment to see the solar eclipse. You all stay here in the tent for a bit.”
“Okay.”
The children, not particularly interested in the eclipse, quickly shifted their focus back to the watermelon.
Then Luke looked at Dayton.
Today, Dayton was busy taking care of Diana and Pyris, and when Yerna stepped outside and was no longer in sight, he appeared completely drained, showing a look of not wanting to do anything.
However, Luke approached Dayton and extended his hand.
“Dayton, would you join me?”
“What, are you asking for support?”
“Please.”
“Hey, I’m feeling pretty worn out myself.”
As Luke said this, he tried to wink and secretly signal, but… his left eye was covered, so he helplessly pointed to Yerna with his chin and smiled again.
However, Dayton seemed to miss the signal, waving his hand dismissively, replying, “Ask someone else for support.”
“Hm, really?”
At that moment, Daphne, who had been quietly observing them, noticed the signal and exclaimed, “Ah!” before giving Dayton a light nudge on the back.
“Dayton. Just a moment.”
“Uh, what is it?”
After hearing a brief whisper from Daphne, Dayton’s expression shifted from confusion to that of a man who seemed to have made a resolution.
He closed his eyes for a deep breath, then nodded as he looked back and forth between Yerna and Luke, who were now outside.
Seeing that, Luke smiled again.
“Ha ha. You finally caught on.”
Kail always said that timing is everything in a confession.
At the time, he couldn’t quite grasp what that meant.
But now, he somehow felt he understood.
——-
While Grandpa was momentarily away to prepare a meal and bait, Shirud was lost in thought, gazing at the sea.
Listening to Grandpa’s stories reminded him of when his father passed away.
Is it really true that you can see someone you long for on the day of a solar eclipse?
Could he possibly see his father?
Now, his face was barely remembered.
There wouldn’t be much to say if he did see him again.
To be honest, he had originally resented his father.
He hadn’t been very devoted to the family, and all of a sudden, he left them with a huge wound and burden due to his accident.
Still, it would be nice to see him again.
A dark shadow began to loom over the crimson sunset on the horizon.
The solar eclipse was drawing near.
Shirud looked at the fishing rod splayed out in the distance and recalled what his father once said.
“Shirud, you will be the pillar of the Trifind family. So remember, a Trifind must stop at nothing to achieve their goals.”
It was so long ago that he couldn’t recall the specific circumstances or reasons those words were said.
Nonetheless, the reason those words lingered deeply in Shirud’s memory was simple.
At that time, his father’s expression seemed particularly serious and grave.
But isn’t it funny? While he can’t remember the face, he remembers the expression vividly.
“Longing for someone…”
Do I really still long for my father?
Maybe I will find out when the eclipse begins.
As he thought this while staring at the fishing line, suddenly a familiar voice came from behind him.
“Ah, Shirud? What a surprise to see you here. Ha ha, what a coincidence.”
Could it be…?
“W-What?!”
It was Luke Irushi.
————
Shirud was taken aback.
Luke’s appearance after such a long time was nearly identical to his memories.
If Luke hadn’t recognized him first and used a voice that wasn’t typical of him, he probably wouldn’t have even known it was Luke.
Forgetting even the greeting of joy, Shirud immediately bombarded him with questions.
“What on earth happened while you were absent from school? And what’s with the bandage? Where did your horn go?”
“Oh, is that what you’re referring to?”
Ha ha, in fact, it was the thought of such reactions that had prevented him from going to the Academy.
To begin with, he had been unconscious in the hospital for quite a while.
After all, the magic that used his body as a sacrifice can leave severe aftereffects, even if successful.
Luke shrugged his shoulders and sat next to Shirud.
“Just had a fight with an old acquaintance.”
It was quite an understatement, but it wasn’t a lie either.
“You fought? Who did you fight?”
Luke getting into a fight was surprising.
He had never really gotten angry at others.
There was one occasion when he had gotten mad at Shirud, but that was because he mixed up reality with a game. Usually, he was close to a gentle grandfather.
However, Luke had actually gotten into a fight?
If it were any other day, Shirud would have thought the other person might not be alive right now, but knowing that Luke was injured means something extraordinary must have happened.
“Don’t worry. It’s nothing for you to concern yourself about.”
“Are you really okay?”
“It’s fine.”
“Well, if you say so…”
However, Luke waved off Shirud’s worries as though it were nothing and smiled.
Shirud’s gaze briefly landed on Luke’s cane.
He was injured enough to need that to walk, yet he said it wasn’t a big deal?
But seeing Luke act like this made further questioning awkward, so he turned his gaze back to the fishing rod.
Noticing this, Luke asked, “You seemed quite surprised. Are you okay?”
“Yeah… I’m fine.”
“That’s a relief. It seems you’ve gotten quite accustomed to controlling your Circle now?”
“Of course. I’m at a Triple Circle level now, just like my grandfather.”
Shirud couldn’t imagine how surprised and happy Grandfather must have been to hear that.
From the Triple Circle level onward, manipulating mana becomes much easier, and the probability of losing one’s life due to a Circle overflow is almost non-existent. It also means that he no longer felt the occasional pains squeezing his heart.
Children who develop a Circle at a young age make others worry too much.
Sometimes, the pain from the Circle can be quite severe, and since Elves are long-lived, they have to live with the Circle for longer.
However, now that he had reached a Triple Circle, these worries were no longer necessary.
He could lead a life just as nonchalant as those without a Circle.
“Yeah, that’s right. Congratulations once again, Shirud.”
Shirud scratched the back of his head in response to Luke’s congratulations.
“Well, it’s all thanks to you.”
Had it not been for Luke, he might not have been able to reach the Triple Circle this quickly.
He might have even perished long ago due to Circle overflow.
But when he thought about the Circle that Luke caused to overflow, well…
…in retrospect.
Soon, Shirud thought about his grandfather’s words regarding being able to see those you long for on the day of the eclipse.
Well, to be honest, he missed him ‘a little.’
The Academy was generally boring, but at least with Luke around, even though it was hectic, it was somewhat enjoyable.
So he missed Luke; it wasn’t as if he had an overwhelming desire to see him.
Therefore, he had not anticipated meeting Luke at all.
He had never considered that they could encounter each other in a place like this.
So, is this really because of the eclipse?
Shirud looked at Luke and said, “At first, I thought you were someone else. You looked so different from what I knew.”
“Ha ha. Is that so? It figures.”
Luke raised his hand, fiddling with his shortened hair, then felt the area where his horn had been cut.
To a young child like Shirud, this change was quite significant.
Especially, the sudden loss of the horn would be a big deal.
Though sometimes, horns are trimmed for aesthetic reasons or to alleviate inconveniences in daily life.
“Do you think I look very strange now?”
“Ah, no! Not at all…”
Seeing Luke with a contemplative look while fiddling with his hair, Shirud shook his head vigorously.
To be honest, he had been a bit scared of being poked if he sat too close to that horn.
And the short hair that neatly replaced the long locks that covered his waist suited him quite well.
The dress was also pretty on him…
“Looks… good on you.”
“Really? Thank you for the compliment.”
Luke smiled back as a form of thanks.
Shirud, feeling an inexplicable shyness, turned his gaze downwards to the sea.
He had never noticed before, but looking at it this way, Luke was definitely a girl.
As Shirud thought about how he wished Grandpa would return soon, staring at the flow of the sea, Luke, having observed Shirud for a moment, opened his mouth.
“It will begin soon.”
As he took in the sight of the sun being swallowed by darkness, Luke pondered whether Dayton was making good use of the opportunity he had created for him.
