Chapter 30: Going Hiking With His Friends

As Rosalind considered Alaric’s question, she leaned against a nearby tree, her expression thoughtful.

“Well,” she began, looking up at the stars peeking through the canopy, “being in my final year is… bittersweet, really. I’m excited to graduate and see what I can accomplish out there, but I’ll miss the Academy. It’s been my life for so long now.”

Alaric listened intently, taking in her words. Then, without saying anything, he stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Rosalind looked down, slightly taken aback, but a gentle smile curved on her lips as she placed a hand on his back in response. His head rested against her chest, and he could feel the steady beat of her heart, strong and calm.

The warmth of her embrace seeped through the fabric of her damp clothes, and Alaric savoured the feeling.

He closed his eyes, feeling the softness of her body as her arms encircled him in return.

The scent of the lake lingered on both of them, and he let himself enjoy the closeness for a long moment.

Rosalind held him patiently, stroking his back gently, her fingers trailing along his damp clothes.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke; they just held onto the closeness, letting it speak louder than any words could.

Finally, Rosalind stepped back, her face warm with a fond smile.

“I should probably get dried off now,” she murmured, lifting her hands as a faint, subtle flame danced around her at the same time as a gentle gust of wind.

The simultaneous application of two elements showcased Rosalind’s practical skill in magic.

The magic wove around her, evaporating the water on her clothes and skin until she was completely dry.

Her hair settled neatly over her shoulders as she finished the spell.

Alaric followed suit, concentrating as he conjured a small flame to envelop himself, then used another spell which caused a soft breeze to brush over his entire body.

A moment later, he was completely dry, and his clothes had returned to their usual, neat state. He glanced up at Rosalind, who was watching him with an approving smile.

“Well done,” she said, nodding as she observed his controlled spell work. “You’re getting better with each practice, Alaric.”

“Thank you, Rosalind,” he replied with a grin. But as he watched her, his mind was already turning to something else—the system notifications he had muted earlier.

As soon as he brought up the system, a long list of notifications filled his vision.

[Congratulations! You have gained 2,317 Experience Points from intimate interaction with Rosalind.]

[Congratulations! You have gained an additional 3,605 Experience Points from maintaining physical closeness with Rosalind.]

[Congratulations! Extended duration of intimacy has awarded you 5,501 Experience Points.]

Alaric read through the notifications, calculating the total—11,423 Experience Points from his time with Rosalind tonight alone

He nodded to himself thoughtfully, assessing the gains with a calm demeanour. It was more than he had anticipated, and it seemed that every moment he’d spent with her had counted toward his progress with the Harem God System.

‘Rosalind was the easiest among them,’ he thought, studying the notifications.

‘I managed to get close to her with little resistance, but she’s not the only one I’m targeting. There’s still Mariel, Isolde, and Viviana. They’ll be tougher, but I have time.’

He felt a sense of satisfaction knowing he had already made headway with Rosalind, and their bond would only open up more chances to deepen their connection.

He paused, his thoughts drifting as he considered his next steps carefully.

‘But I need to be cautious,’ he reminded himself. ‘I don’t want to ruin what I’ve established with Rosalind by moving too quickly or pushing too hard. She’s opened up to me, and I should make sure I don’t destroy the trust that I’ve built.’

He glanced at Rosalind, who had moved a few steps away, examining the stars with a soft expression on her face.

Alaric knew he had made progress with her and felt a rush of satisfaction.

He was eager to see where his connections with her and the others would lead, but he understood that patience would be key.

~~

As the sun began to rise, Alaric finally parted ways with Rosalind, their gazes lingering on one another in the pale morning glow.

She offered him a soft smile, and they exchanged a final wave as she headed back toward her dormitory.

Alaric took a moment to savour the peace of the early morning, then quietly made his way back to his own dormitory, his mind still swirling with thoughts of the night they’d shared. He slipped into bed, exhaustion catching up with him, and quickly fell asleep.

When Alaric woke up, the afternoon sun was already high in the sky, filling his room with warm light.

Stretching, he sat up, rubbing his eyes before catching sight of his reflection in the mirror by his bedside. Smirking to himself, he noted how restful his sleep had been, probably thanks to the intensity of last night’s events.

It was a holiday today as it was a weekend so Alaric took his time, beginning his day with a relaxing bath. The warm water eased his muscles as he leaned back, reflecting on everything he’d learned in the last few days.

Eventually, feeling refreshed, he dried off and dressed in a casual set of academy robes, ready to take on whatever the day might bring. His stomach growled, prompting him to head to the academy mess hall for lunch.

There, he found Cedric already sitting at one of the tables, digging into a hearty meal. Spotting Alaric, Cedric waved him over with a grin.

“Took you long enough to show up! I thought I’d end up eating lunch alone,” Cedric joked, gesturing to the empty seat across from him.

Alaric chuckled, sitting down and grabbing a plate. “Guess I needed more sleep than I thought. Yesterday’s festival wore me out.”

As they ate, the two friends exchanged stories about the festival, laughing about their encounters and marvelling at the different attractions they’d experienced. Cedric seemed particularly fascinated by the dancing lights that had illuminated the night sky.

Once they finished, Cedric leaned forward with an idea. “By the way, Alaric, Natasha and a few others were talking about going hiking this evening. They want to camp out on the hill near the academy—seems like a nice way to wrap up the festival. You in?”

Alaric thought about it, his interest piqued.

Hiking and camping under the stars could be a refreshing break from his usual routine, and he’d be able to explore the area with his friends.

“Sounds good,” he replied. “Let’s meet them outside the girls’ dormitory.”

The two boys made their way across campus to the dormitories, where Natasha was waiting alongside a few other girls from their class—Lea, Tessa, and Irene.

Natasha’s face lit up as she spotted Alaric approaching, and she offered him an eager smile.

“You’re here! We were starting to think you’d skip out,” Natasha teased, giving him a playful nudge.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Alaric replied, smiling back at her. He noticed the way Natasha’s gaze lingered on him, and he could feel the other girls’ attentions as well.

Though they were only eight years old, they seemed captivated by him, each girl trying to capture his attention in her own small way.

Alaric played along, engaging each one in conversation, while mentally distancing himself. He didn’t let on to anyone that his thoughts and outlook were far beyond their years.

Cedric, meanwhile, seemed content chatting with the group, though Alaric noticed him casting glances at Natasha now and then.

Cedric’s feelings were evident, yet the look in Natasha’s eyes as she focused on Alaric made it clear that, to her, Cedric was simply a friend.

Once everyone was ready, they set off toward the hill. The path was well-worn, lined with lush, vibrant vegetation that hinted at the kingdom’s magic-infused land.

The girls walked closely around Alaric, occasionally pointing out interesting plants or animals they spotted along the way. Lea tugged at his sleeve excitedly at one point, drawing his attention to a glowing, silvery vine winding its way up a tree.

“That’s a Silvermoon Vine!” Lea exclaimed. “It only glows like that when it’s exposed to a certain amount of moonlight.”

Alaric examined the vine curiously, nodding as she explained. “Interesting… I’ve read about them but never actually seen one up close.”

As they continued hiking, they encountered other magical plants, each one more fascinating than the last. Natasha pointed out a cluster of blossoms with blue-green petals, their edges shimmering faintly.

“These are Whisper Lilies,” she explained with a bright smile. “If you listen closely, you can hear them hum when there’s a breeze. They’re supposed to bring good fortune if you find them in bloom.”

Alaric leaned in, and indeed, a faint hum seemed to resonate from the lilies as a light breeze passed. He nodded appreciatively. “Quite remarkable,” he commented, impressed by their charm.

Further up, the group spotted a pair of luminous, gentle-eyed creatures nibbling on nearby foliage.

They were small, fluffy beasts with horns resembling curled vines and coats that seemed to blend with the shadows.

“Shadow Fawns,” Tessa whispered in awe, pointing at the creatures. “They’re harmless and really rare to see in this area.”

Alaric watched the fawns as they continued their foraging, silently admiring their graceful movements.

He could tell from the ease with which these creatures roamed that the kingdom authorities had likely pacified any dangerous beasts on this hill, making it safe for students to explore.

As they continued, Cedric struck up a conversation with Natasha, trying to share in her enthusiasm over the magical flora and fauna.

He shared his own observations, pointing out interesting details and facts he’d learned.

Alaric noticed, however, that Natasha’s gaze often drifted back to him, her attention subtly gravitating his way.

Despite Cedric’s awareness of Natasha’s interest in Alaric, he didn’t let it sour his mood. He engaged the other girls in conversation, laughing and joking with Tessa and Irene, who responded warmly to his friendly banter.

Cedric seemed determined to enjoy the hike, valuing his friendship with Alaric too much to let jealousy interfere.

When they finally reached the top of the hill, the sky had begun to take on a golden hue as the sun dipped toward the horizon. They set up their camping area on a flat patch of ground with a perfect view of the surrounding forest and the distant academy towers.

“This view is incredible!” Irene exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder as she looked out over the landscape. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it.”

Alaric nodded, sharing her sentiment. “It’s worth the hike,” he said, his voice carrying a note of appreciation. The landscape stretched out before them, bathed in the warm glow of twilight.

As night fell, the group gathered around a small, magical fire that Alaric conjured with a simple incantation. The flames flickered with a faintly blue light, casting soft shadows on their faces as they sat in a loose circle.

Lea leaned closer to Alaric, her eyes glinting with curiosity. “So, Alaric, are you planning to join one of the top guilds once we graduate?”

Alaric shrugged, smiling at her enthusiasm. “I haven’t given it much thought yet. But I suppose I’ll see where things take me.”

Natasha, her gaze unwavering, chimed in, “I think you’d fit in anywhere, Alaric. You’ve got a way with magic that not many people do, especially at our age.”

He inclined his head, acknowledging her compliment. “Thanks, Natasha. That means a lot coming from you.”

As they sat talking, Cedric pulled out a few snacks he’d brought along, sharing them with everyone. The girls laughed and teased him, making him the center of attention for a while, though Alaric could still feel their occasional glances his way. It was clear each girl wanted to impress him, and they took turns recounting their favourite stories from their time at the academy, hoping to catch his interest.

The conversation shifted to the magical creatures they’d encountered on the hike, and Cedric grinned as he shared a story about a mischievous sprite that had once stolen his notebook during class. Everyone laughed, the sound echoing across the hilltop as they enjoyed each other’s company.

Eventually, the night deepened, and the group settled down, lying on their blankets as they looked up at the stars. Alaric could hear the soft, steady breathing of his friends, each of them relaxed in the peaceful surroundings. Though he kept his thoughts guarded, he felt content being here among them, enjoying the moment.

As they lay under the stars, Natasha’s voice broke the silence. “Alaric, have you ever thought about what you want to do… beyond this academy?”

Alaric looked up at the twinkling stars, choosing his words carefully. “I think… I want to learn as much as I can. There’s so much out there, so many things we haven’t seen or experienced yet. The academy is only the beginning.”

His response seemed to resonate with everyone, and silence fell over the group as they each considered their own futures, lulled into a gentle calm by the warmth of the campfire and the quiet beauty of the night.

Eventually, they drifted off to sleep, the soft rustle of leaves and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures lulling them into dreams.

For Alaric, it had been a peaceful day, a perfect end to the festival celebrations, and he felt grateful for these moments that kept him grounded amidst the complexities of his unique life.