See You Later

The rest of the date with Nadiya was enjoyable but uneventful. They enjoyed street food as they wandered around the market, just browsing the unique hand-crafted wares on sale. Nadiya bought a few small trinkets for her family and the two made their way back to the Runewaker mansion after a few hours as Kye's leg was starting to hurt from all the walking. Once they were back at the mansion, they split up as Kye wanted to do some work before resting up for dinner later that night. Kye made his way up the stairs alone and entered his room before sighing.

"I hope she liked that as much as I did."

Vanessa opened the door and closed it behind her as she entered.

"How was your date, master?"

"I hope she enjoyed it. I'm not well versed in such matters but I certainly did enjoy myself. Maybe I should dedicate myself to learning about people for a while."

"People aren't so easily figured out master. It is something of a life-long learning experience."

"Then, I suppose I'll take my time."

Kye smiled at Vanessa. The date was a fun experience for Kye, companionship with the opposite sex was not something completely new to him but intimate experiences such as these were new. To think he had the chance to experience such things before but failed to recognise their worth! Kye was mentally kicking himself for all the times he brushed off such interactions as needless. Though Kye's overall goals had not shifted, new priorities began to bloom within his mind and heart.

"Well, even so, I feel as though rushing into such things is not the correct path. I have to continue my work and for now, I will shift my priorities into fixing these accursed magic carriages. They bump and shake like beggars' belief!"

Kye sat down at his desk and began drafting up ideas for a new magic carriage with increased speed and a smoother ride. These vehicles had not been around in his past life but he did recall those old carriages that merchants used for long journeys used malleable tyres to cross difficult terrain so that their merchandise would not be shaken as much. Several ideas came to mind for such a wheel, but Kye also believed that there was a better method.

While browsing the street vendors of the market, Kye had come along a toy store that sold wooden toys for children to play with. One of these toys was a wooden pipe with a coiled strand of metal wire in the bottom, that when compressed down with a nub of wood from the side and something was fed into the top of the wooden pipe, once the nub was released, the thing inside would shoot out with incredible force.

Kye had inquired as to what was exerting the force as he could sense no mana but what was revealed to him was the coiled strand of metal called a spring. This spring contracted under force but bounced back into shape once released. Kye believed that such a simple principle could be applied to vehicles like the magic carriage. This could also serve as structural support for a much heavier and faster-moving vehicle. Kye's inventive mindset to work drafting up very primitive prototypes of what we in the modern era would call a shock absorber.

Though it would take many more years and iterations before it became what we know it to be as of today, this seed would grow into a flower that would spell the revolution of mechanised transport. Vanessa watched over Kye as he busily sketched out plans and did calculations messily around them with a small smile on her face. She found that when Kye was absorbed in what he was doing, he looked very cool, making her heart throb excitedly. It was like he was a different person from his usual demeanour. She could feel the excitement radiating off of him as his ideas formed in front of him and solved problems around it.

Kye continued working on his suspension system until one of the maids brought him down for dinner with Nadiya and the rest of his family. The dinner was cooked extremely well and made from very fresh ingredients but somehow, Kye felt as though the taste was somehow off. He enjoyed his meal with Nadiya when they were walking around much more despite just being street food.

'Well, I might just be sick or something.'

Kye concluded in his mind and made a mental note to run a few medical tests to ensure that he wasn't coming down with an infection or sickness. Having been so emotionally repressed, Kye could not recognise that the food tasted better because he was enjoying his time with someone he cared for instead of just a well-cooked meal that was a matter of course for someone of his background. Just because he was committed to changing, such things did not happen overnight.

They finished their meal and separated, though Nadiya followed Kye out and timidly reached for his sleeve.

"Um, Kye. I just wanted to say thank you for today and everything else. You really helped us out and I really enjoyed the time we spent together today."

"No need to thank me, Nadiya, I enjoyed it too."

"That's good." She smiled but shortly, her smile fell into a sad face. "Kye, I'm leaving tonight."

"Tonight? Why not in the morning?"

"My father is waiting on the outskirts with a regiment of knights for me, your father is escorting us out tonight as to not draw attention to ourselves. I don't want to say goodbye so soon but I have to go."

Kye smiled and grabbed her hand.

"Goodybe? With how much fun I had today? Not a chance, this is not a 'goodbye' but rather a 'see you later'. I can be kind of selfish when it comes to new experiences like this."

Nadiya gripped his hand back and gave a small laugh.

"What's up with that? Selfish? I want to see you again as well so... see you later Kye."

"Yeah... I'll be seeing you Nadiya."

She gave a sad smile and let go of Kye's hand. They stood there and gazed into each other's eyes, not wanting to leave. Kye figured he would leave and make it easier for her but before he could turn and walk away, she leapt forward and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. Her face ablaze in red, she scurried off quickly towards the entrance where Frey was no doubt waiting. Kye stood there in shock, not knowing how to react. He was broken from his stupor by Alicia placing a hand on Kye's shoulder and smirking knowingly at him.

"So, a girlfriend huh?"

"G-g-g-girlfriend!?!?! No no, we're just friends mum!"

Alicia just smirked and walked in Nadiya's trail, going to see her husband off. Kye sighed exasperatedly and walked up the stairs to his room. He wouldn't be getting any work done with that on his mind.

--

Apologies for the break, nothing drastic, just Elden Ring lmao. Back to one a day, sorry for the delay.