Chapter 5: Unbreakable Bonds

Days of Tranquility

The days passed peacefully at the Eisenhart mansion. Since her arrival, Freya had naturally integrated into the family, though at first, she struggled to accept that she was no longer treated as a slave. Over time, her relationship with Leonhardt had grown closer, evolving from mere companions

That bond strengthened through their daily training. Freya, having discovered her affinity for fire magic, trained in secret with Leonhardt at night, when everyone was asleep. The spark of her power was unstable at first, but with her friend's guidance, she learned to control it

"You have to focus," Leon"If you let your emotions take over, it will either extinguish or explode."

Freya frowned. "It's not as easy as you make it seem..."

Leonhardt

"Feel the flow of mana… don't force it, just let it flow."

Freya

"I did it!" she

Leonhardt smiled. "Well done."

These kinds of interactions were becoming more frequent. Though Freya wouldn't openly admit it, she enjoyed spending time with Leonhardt, whether they were training, exploring the library, or simply talking about anything.

The Spring Festival

One day, during breakfast, Sigmund placed a notice on the table.

"Today is the Spring Festival in the city. I'd like you two to go and enjoy it."

Freya and Leonhardt exchanged glances.

"Festival?" Freya asked curiously.

"It's an annual event where people celebrate the arrival of spring. There are food stalls, games, and performances," Elizabeth explained with a smile. "It's a great opportunity to have some fun."

Freya's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I want to go!"

Leonhardt raised an eyebrow. "Fine, but don't do anything reckless."

Exploring the City

Upon arriving at the festival, the city was full of life. Colorful lanterns decorated the streets, music played at every corner, and the air was filled with the scent of delicious food.

Freya gazed around in fascination, lightly holding onto Leonhardt's sleeve.

"This is amazing…" she whispered.

"It's just a festival," he said, unimpressed.

She frowned. "For me, it's special! I've never seen anything like this before…"

Leonhardt watched her in silence for a moment before sighing.

"Alright, let's enjoy the day."

They wandered through the festival, tasting different sweets and playing various games. Freya was especially skilled at the accuracy-based games, which surprised Leonhardt.

"Where did you get such precision?" he asked.

She grinned proudly. "Instinct."

After exploring for a while, they reached a stall selling hair ribbons and accessories.

"Pick something," Leonhardt said.

Freya blinked in surprise. "Huh?"

"I'll buy you something, so you'll have a memory of the festival."

A soft blush dusted Freya's cheeks as she started looking. In the end, she chose a red ribbon.

"How does it look?" she asked.

Leonhardt nodded. "It suits you."

Freya's heart pounded as a warm feeling spread through her chest.

The Game of the Heart

As they continued walking, they stumbled upon an unusual game booth.

"Step right up and test your fate with the 'Game of the Heart'!" the stall owner announced. "A young pair can discover their compatibility just by placing their hands on this magical sphere!"

Leonhardt wanted to ignore it, but Freya was already looking at him with sparkling eyes.

"Let's try it!"

"Huh? I don't see the point—"

"Please!" She tugged on his sleeve pleadingly.

Leonhardt hesitated. "Fine..."

They placed their hands on the sphere, and immediately, it glowed with a warm light.

The stall owner whistled. "Wow, what incredible compatibility!"

Freya blushed furiously. "W-what does that mean?"

"It means your hearts are aligned. If you were adults, I'd say you have a promising future together," the owner said with a mischievous smile.

Leonhardt quickly withdrew his hand. "This game is ridiculous."

Freya remained silent, staring at the sphere with a shy smile.

The Festival Dance

As the sun began to set, musicians started playing a special melody—the festival dance.

Couples gathered in the plaza to take part in the event. Freya turned to Leonhardt with hopeful eyes.

"Shall we dance?"

"I don't know how to dance."

"Neither do I… but we can try."

Leonhardt hesitated. Freya looked at him with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Finally, he sighed. "Alright."

Freya beamed and took his hand.

At first, their movements were a disaster.

"Stop stepping on my feet!" Freya protested.

"It's your fault for moving weirdly!"

But little by little, they began to synchronize. The lantern light illuminated Freya's face as she let out a soft laugh.

"This is fun…" she whispered.

Leonhardt watched her closely.

For the first time, he realized how beautiful she looked when she smiled.

A Special Moment

After the dance, they stepped away from the crowd and sat on a bench.

"Today was a good day," Freya said, gazing at the stars.

Leonhardt nodded. "Yeah, it was."

She turned to look at him.

"Thank you, Leonhardt."

"For what?"

"For treating me like a person… for being my friend."

Leonhardt looked away, feeling strangely uncomfortable.

"You don't have to thank me for that."

Freya smiled softly.

"Even so… thank you."

A gentle breeze carried the scent of flowers through the air.

Without realizing it, Leonhardt had taken another step toward a bond that would change his destiny.