Submergence
By the time Faon returned from the kitchen after brewing the tea, he found that his wife and his old teammate had already become quite familiar with each other.
Although his wife did most of the talking while Veya only responded with a soft “mm” or an emotionless tone, based on his understanding of Veya, the atmosphere was fairly good.
This was mostly thanks to the social skills his wife had developed for his sake — though they were specifically targeted at the women around him.
He sat down next to his wife, poured a cup of tea for the two of them, and then spoke with a smile.
“Sister Falin, what are you two talking about?”
“Nothing much, just chatting. Besides, Husband, you mentioned before that Miss Veya is the kind of Mage who travels all over,” Evalyn said with a smile.
“For someone like me who used to work as a receptionist for the Guild, she is quite fascinating.”
Even though she was the one asking most of the questions, Evalyn, who was extremely sensitive to the women around her husband, could sense that although Veya was cold, her attitude toward her was quite decent.
If the other woman were not a “Generatable Quest Target,” Evalyn would have genuinely liked to chat a bit longer with her husband’s former teammate.
Veya could also sense that Evalyn was probing into her background.
She did not find anything wrong with it; she simply felt that the woman had more of a “human” feel to her compared to the “lover” Faon had described.
Perhaps only a person like this was worthy of the convictions Faon held in his heart.
“So that is how it is.”
Faon nodded with a smile. He looked at Veya and spoke.
“By the way, Veya, how long will you be staying this time? I heard from Miss Eve at the Church that you only filled in a profession and a name?”
“Is there something wrong with that?”
Veya picked up her teacup, took a sip, and spoke indifferently.
“My stay this time might be a bit longer. There is a certain magic here that I cannot locate, so I can only wait slowly.”
However, her emotions were somewhat complicated —
‘The tea is the kind I like to drink. I did not expect Faon to still remember.’
Evalyn nodded as if she partially understood.
For her, this counted as grasping an important piece of information, allowing her to complete the commission slowly.
The reason she had not chosen Veya as a “Generatable Quest Target” yet was not only because the Special Commission was stuck there, but also because commissions had completion time limits.
Veya glanced at him calmly without speaking.
She knew what Faon was referring to; she did not lead Faon here without a purpose…
Evalyn knew her husband had a reason for choosing to move here, but she would not become a “Matchmaker.”
Thus, she tactfully refrained from questioning further and said with a smile, “In that case, Miss Veya, feel free to come over and visit more often. You can even come over for dinner. After all, you and my husband are good partners~”
Evalyn was using her husband’s own phrasing here.
“Mm, then it will depend on the intentions of this ‘good partner’ of mine.”
A subtle smile curled at the corners of Veya’s mouth.
“I certainly have no objection,” Faon said nonchalantly.
At that moment, a box of exquisitely packaged gifts appeared out of thin air in Veya’s hand.
Her tone was calm, but her gaze lingered on the necklace Evalyn was wearing.
“This is a gift for an official visit.”
Evalyn quickly waved her hands and said giggling, “Did Miss Veya not already send a gift yesterday?”
Faon also knew it was an exquisite tea set.
The one they were using now had been sent by Veya.
Even after all these years, Veya still shared his fondness for gifting things like tea leaves.
Furthermore, her habit of collecting was fully on display — the tea leaves and the teapot often came from the same shop.
After placing the tea leaves on the living room table, Veya finally spoke slowly in a flat tone.
“No, yesterday’s was a late wedding gift. This is the gift for the visit.”
Faon and Evalyn were stunned, having never expected Veya to say such a thing.
After the two of them exchanged a glance, Faon spoke.
“Veya, you really did not need to make up for it. Being able to see you again as a friend is enough. Besides, I know you are likely in the middle of collecting magic.”
Veya shook her head and took another sip of tea.
“To use your own words as a [Knight], it is a small, late token of my appreciation… Oh, and one more thing —”
She paused there, speaking in a tone so calm it was as if it were stagnant, as she looked directly into Faon’s eyes.
“Happy wedding.”
Evalyn said with a complex heart, “Thank you.”
She had heard her husband mention that the emotions of a [Witch] were never shown on the outside.
In her view, speaking for herself, living like that would be a very painful thing.
Faon, however, did not notice — or perhaps, his heart was already entirely focused on his wife.
He said with a laugh, “Veya, I did not expect you to offer such a blessing. It really does not suit you.”
“It is because I stayed by the side of this [Knight] for too long.”
A subtle curve formed at the corner of Veya’s mouth.
Next came dinner time.
Veya, however, prepared to leave. Faon did not intend to urge her to stay, as he knew Veya disliked polite formalities.
Even if it were not just politeness, she likely would not have stayed.
He still prepared to see her out, nonetheless.
His wife giggled and agreed.
As Faon walked Veya to the door, Veya suddenly spoke.
“Faon, the problem with Miss Evalyn’s body seems to have grown serious again.”
“Yes. We can only wait for that thing to appear. At least it can still be controlled for now, and there are no obvious symptoms yet.”
Faon sighed helplessly.
“And you? What about the ‘Side Effect’ left behind by The War?”
Veya followed up. She liked looking into Faon’s eyes.
“Me? Veya, you know that any power comes with a price. To be left with only some ‘Side Effects’ is already considered quite good.”
Faon shook his head, not saying much more.
Veya did not ask further.
She suddenly reached out her hand, and a subtle smile appeared on her otherwise expressionless face.
“Then please look after me from now on, [Knight].”
Faon smiled and took Veya’s delicate, smooth hand — the kind of hand a [Witch] was supposed to have. “Please look after me as well, [Witch]… Master.”
This was the title he had used when the adventuring party first began and consisted only of the two of them.
Faon had followed Veya and learned many things.
The two did not hold the handshake for long before letting go.
As she was leaving, Veya spoke.
“Even if the [Battle Maniac] did not come, did Nili not come either?”
Faon shook his head.
“They both have their own matters to attend to — matters that are very important to the Empire and the people.”
“Mm,” Veya responded softly and turned to leave.
Faon did not notice that upon hearing that those two had not come, just like her, a subtle smile quietly surfaced on Veya’s originally calm face.
‘As expected… those two made the same choice as me and did not come.’
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