The lights in their eyes (1)

For a time, the two sat there in silence holding each other's hands. While Felix was trying to bring out even just a tiny bit of his mana, the girl was there trying her best to help him in the little way she can.

After a bit more time, Felix opened his eyes and let out a sigh of defeat.

"Do you feel anything Felix?"

He shook his head and let go of the girl's hands.

"Sadly, I do not. I apologize for failing to live up to your expectations Princess."

"D-don't be. You already said that you were having trouble manifesting your mana. I'm sorry for putting you on the spot like that. I just… really wanted to see how you do it."

The girl apologized profusely to him. She seemed more disappointed than him for some reason.

"It is alright Princess. I wanted to do it too."

Though he had failed before, Felix wanted to succeed. Whether it was for himself or for the girl.

"Hmm…"

The girl started to think to herself.

"Felix, when you train with your teacher, where do you usually do it?"

"Where anyone else would do it I imagine, a training room."

"Hmm… That might be it."

"What is it Princess?"

"Maybe just being outside is the key."

"Somehow I doubt that Princess. Like I said, Dad already tossed me into a cave."

"Yeah. You did mention that."

The girl slumped back down into her chair and crossed her arms.

"When did that happen Felix?"

"Around a year ago? I do not completely remember. Suddenly being tossed in a cave is not exactly a pleasant memory."

"Hmm…"

The girl fell into thought again. She was seemingly starting to get restless as she was stomping her foot. Then she stood up from her chair with a determined look on her face.

"Come with me Felix."

"Where to, Princess?"

"Outside."

Felix was a little confused at her actions, but he was curious to see where this would go. Standing up, they began to walk away from their seats when the book they were just reading started to glow and let out a small ringing sound.

"Oh right."

"Are there multiple enchantments on the book?"

"Yeah. I don't know how many though."

"Wow."

The girl picks up the book and continues walking. As they came closer to where they had gotten the book, the book began to glow more intensely. Placing it back on the shelf, its light began to dim until it completely fades.

"There, right where it belongs."

"So that is why there is no librarian here. Will it continue to ring if not in its place?"

"I think so. I've never not put it back before so I don't know."

"Multiple enchantments on something so small. The imperial mages really are amazing."

As Felix kept following the girl, his mind was still on the enchantments on the book. It was already hard enough to enchant something so small and fragile, but to engrave several magics onto it was even more difficult. He was so in awe of their skills that he had not noticed that the girl had already stopped and he walked into the wall beside her.

"Aww…"

"Are you alright Felix?"

The girl had stopped what she was doing and checked on his condition. 

"I am alright Princess."

Rubbing his head, he assures the girl that he's fine. Regaining his senses, he finds the girl crouched in front of a vent trying to pull it off. With a bit of difficulty she successfully pries it off from its place.

"Princess, where exactly are we going that requires us to take this route?"

"The gardens. It's probably my favorite place in the palace."

"But, why are we going through the vents?"

It would be quite odd if the only way to get to the garden was through the ventilation, so it was a legitimate question. The girl let out a nervous giggle.

"I just… think this is cooler."

'What?'

Felix was bewildered by the girl's reasoning. Just because she thought it was a cool way of traversing the area, she would go through the dusty ventilation system. 

"Uhm… Princess, is it fine if we go the normal way? I would rather not get my suit dirtied."

"Oh… yeah it's fine."

The girl hung her head at being rejected. Nobility put a fair amount of importance on their appearance, so it was a bit unreasonable for the girl to expect Felix to follow her through the dusty ventilation shafts. 

"Thank you Princess."

"Don't mention it, Felix."

The girl was a little sad at not being able to go to her favorite place in her favorite way, but she understood why. There would probably be other chances for it to happen so she let it go, they were still going to her favorite place after all.

"Come on, we'll go the normal route."

"Of course Princess."

'Looks like she's not mad about it.'

There was relief in Felix's voice. He was worried that the girl would try to insist on going through the ventilation. The thought of going through such a dusty place that would ruin his suit, made him shudder. It was the norm for most, but it seemed that the girl was outside of that norm.

The girl led the way out of the library towards the garden mostly in silence. At first Felix thought that she was saddened by his refusal, but looking closer it seemed like she was thinking deeply about something. He had no way of knowing what she could be thinking about, so he merely hoped that it was something trivial as they walked.

****

The imperial garden was a sight to behold. There was a garden in Felix's household as well but he had never been before. Even if he had, it would probably pale in comparison anyway. Though it was the middle of the winter season, the flowers here were still in full bloom. The light snowfall even gave them all a little highlight on their petals. It was amazing to look at.

"Do you feel anything different Felix?"

While Felix was busy admiring the majesty of the imperial garden, the girl's mind was on other matters.

"Oh… Let me see."

He was so distracted with the atmosphere that he forgot why they went there. Felix sat down surrounded by flowers and closed his eyes, trying to bring out his mana. He assumed his usual meditative state to try and increase the odds of his mana manifesting. 

As he sat there with his eyes closed, the girl grabbed his hands. He thought that it was the girl's way of reassuring him, which was partially true. But the girl was doing it for a multitude of reasons.

'His hands are so warm.'

The girl's eyes were locked on the boy's visage. She had long been smitten by his appearance, but she still had her breath taken away.

"Hoo…"

His deep breath broke her starstruck state. He was earnestly trying to manifest his mana at her selfish request and it seemed like he was trying rather hard as well. She calmed her beating heart, and focused on her other objectives. 

"Hoo…"

There were multiple reasons why she had grabbed his hands apart just wanting to. While the girl earnestly wanted the boy to be able to manifest his mana, she also wanted to feel the mana inside him move. She hoped that maybe feeling his mana move would give her some insight on how to force her own awakening somehow. 

For some time, they sat silently in the garden holding each other's hands as they focused on their own goals. As time passed by, the snow began to pile around them but neither seemed to mind.

****

"Achoo!"

After a bit of time, the boy had started to shiver as he felt the cold.

"It has gotten really cold."

"I guess it has, hasn't it?"

Maybe it was because she was too focused, but she did not feel cold.

"Any changes Felix?"

"I apologize, Princess. No changes."

The boy shook his head and gave her an apologetic smile.

"Don't be. Instead, I'm sorry for not being able to help more than this."

While her intentions were all over the place, the girl had sincerely wanted to help her fiance. She returned his apologetic smile to him.

"Hmm, I don't understand why you aren't able to manifest your mana here. There should be plenty of earth mana here so it should be easier for you here."

"It is not just earth mana that is here, Princess. If anything there is a lot more phyto mana here because of the plants. There's also a decent amount of ice mana because of the season."

"I guess that's true. I'm sorry that it didn't work Felix."

"It is alright Princess. I wanted it to work too."

"Well, there's always next time."

The girl gave her fiance a sweet smile. A smile that almost made his heart skip a beat.

"Yeah, next time."

The boy returned her smile. As they tried to stand up, they find that their legs had no strength in them.

"We were sitting still for too long."

"Ye-yeah."

The boy began to put pressure on his legs to try and get the feeling to return. The girl shook her body to shake off the snow that had piled on top of her. 

"Ah!"

A small clump of it ended up on the boy's lap causing him to grimace and let out a yelp in surprise.

"Aw, aw."

There was no actual pain, but it certainly felt like there was due to his legs being asleep.

"Sorry, sorry. Are you okay?"

The girl tried to check on her fiance's condition even in that situation, though he was too preoccupied with the stinging sensation of his legs to really notice.

It was a small blessing in disguise. After getting over the initial shock, the feeling in his legs gradually came back.

"Ha…ha…"

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah… yes. I am alright Princess."

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know that would happen."

"It is ok, Princess. It is ok."

The boy stood up with shaking legs. Breathing like he just ran a marathon, he stands up on his legs.

"Woo! I did it."

"That's great Felix."

The girl gave him a small round of applause.

"Thank you Princess. Are you alright?"

"Not yet."

The girl had a weak smile on her face as she held out her hand. The boy grabbed onto it and helped her to her feet. As she tried to stand on her own, her legs had other plans. Collapsing like they were made of jelly, she fell into her fiance's arms.

"S-sorry."

"It is alright Princess."

"Uhm… can we stay like this for a bit. I still don't have any strength in my legs."

"Take as long as you need, Princess."

His response made her face grow even redder. She buried her head in his chest as she asked him, unable to look him in the eye.

It was fortunate that she was too embarrassed to see the weird look on the boy's face.

After an acceptable amount of time had passed, the girl was able to stand on her feet without support. 

"Achoo!"

Not long after, the boy let out the sneeze that he had been holding in.

"Looks like you have caught a cold Young Master Laten."

As they heard a voice from elsewhere, a small set of fireballs covered the two. Turning in the direction of the voice, they could see the girl's maid, and behind her, a man who looked to be about in his thirties. The girl assumed that the mysterious blonde was the boy's knight due to the various medals proudly displayed across his chest.

"I think so as well, Lady Kashina."

"That is natural Young Master Laten. I assume you two have been out here for quite some time now."

"H-has it really been that long?"

"Yes Princess. It is actually time for the Young Master to return home with the Duchess."

"A-already?"

"Yes Princess."

"Aw…"

The girl was a little saddened at the fact that their date was coming to an end.

"I-I guess I'll see you again next week. I'll see you off in your carriage."

"Of course Princess."

The boy gestured for her to lead the way out of the garden. The girl with slightly heavy steps, led the group towards the boy's carriage. The main entrance to the palace grounds had a path that connected it to the garden so after only a short walk, they could see a carriage that seemed to be waiting for them. 

The carriage with its white and gold trimmings looked just as luxurious as the passengers that it was waiting for. Drawing nearer, they see the figure of a woman inside the carriage.

With hair as green and as uniform as grass, the woman gave the party a smile and a wave as she stepped outside to greet them.

The girl bowed as she greeted the woman who stepped out.

"Hello Duchess."