Aric followed the knight through the corridors towards the main hall, occasionally glancing at the passing windows as sunlight streamed into the estate.
He wondered how Aster would react when she saw him. Although he remembered spending much of his childhood with her, three years was a long time to be apart, especially when their last memories together had been made when they were still children.
As they entered the main hall, his eyes immediately settled on the young girl standing near one of the windows.
She had long white hair that fell neatly down her back, while her light blue eyes were fixed on the garden outside. She wore a simple but elegant dress, and her hands were clasped together in front of her.
"Lady Aster, Young Master Aric has arrived."
She turned at the sound of the knight’s voice.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Aster’s eyes widened slightly as she looked at him, taking in his appearance as though she were making sure he was really standing in front of her.
"Aric..."
He offered her a small smile.
"It’s been a while."
Aster stared at him for another moment before taking a few steps forward.
"You really are awake."
"I am. Unless I’m convincing you otherwise?"
She let out a small laugh, though her expression remained emotional.
"Don’t joke about that. Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited to hear you say something like that?"
Aric’s smile softened.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting."
"You should be."
She folded her arms, trying to look displeased, but the expression didn’t last long before she smiled again.
"I was starting to think you would sleep forever."
"That would have been rather inconvenient."
"Rather inconvenient?" Aster repeated, raising an eyebrow. "That’s all you have to say?"
"What else would you like me to say?"
"Perhaps something a little more apologetic."
Aric chuckled.
"Then I’m sorry for making you worry."
Aster looked at him quietly before nodding.
"Good. I’ll accept that."
They stood facing each other for a moment, and Aric noticed how much more grown up she looked compared to the memories he associated with their childhood. The little girl who used to follow him around the gardens had become a young lady, though the familiar expression in her eyes had not changed.
"How have you been?" he asked.
"I’m fine. I’ve been keeping busy with my studies and preparing for the academy."
"Your studies?"
Aster nodded.
"Father hired tutors to help me prepare. I’ll be entering Starglade Royal Academy in about six months, so there’s quite a lot I need to learn before then."
"I see. I’ve heard of Starglade, but I don’t know much about it."
"Really? I thought you would remember."
Aric tilted his head.
"Remember what?"
"We used to talk about it all the time. You always said you wanted to see the royal capital and visit the academy one day."
He paused briefly.
That sounded familiar. He could recall fragments of those conversations, memories of two children sitting beneath the trees and talking about places they had never visited.
"Perhaps I was more interested in the royal capital back then."
"Perhaps?" Aster repeated with an amused expression. "You were always asking me what the academy was like, even though neither of us had ever been there."
"Then I suppose I was curious."
"You certainly were."
Aric smiled, and Aster seemed pleased to see him responding so naturally.
"Anyway, Starglade is one of the most prestigious academies in the kingdom. They teach magic, combat, history and several other subjects. Students can also specialise in different fields depending on their interests and abilities."
"That sounds interesting."
"It is. I’ve been looking forward to attending for a long time."
There was a hint of excitement in her voice as she spoke, and Aric could tell how much the opportunity meant to her.
"Are you nervous?"
"A little. I’ve heard that the entrance examinations are quite demanding, and the academy attracts talented students from all over the continents."
"Then you’ll have plenty of competition."
"Of course. But they would all have to look at my back as I am at the top."
She said it with such confidence that Aric couldn’t help smiling.
"I hope you do well."
"I intend to."
Aster glanced towards the doors leading to the gardens.
"Would you like to take a walk? It’s been a while since we had a conversation."
"Sure."
The two of them left the main hall and made their way outside.
The gardens were quiet, with the occasional gardener tending to the flowers and trimming the hedges. Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting patches of light across the stone pathway.
Aster walked beside him, occasionally pointing out flowers that had recently bloomed or mentioning changes that had been made to the garden.
They eventually reached a familiar spot beneath a large tree, where a wooden bench stood facing a small fountain.
"Do you remember this place?" she asked.
Aric looked around.
"Of course."
"We used to spend so much time here."
"You were always bringing me flowers."
Aster looked at him.
"You remember that?"
"Some of them were rather difficult to forget."
She laughed softly.
"They weren’t that bad."
"I never said they were."
Aster approached the fountain and dipped her fingers into the water.
"Do you remember what I used to make for you?"
Aric watched her for a moment before answering.
"Ice flowers."
Her face brightened.
"You remember!"
"You used to make them whenever we came here. You said ordinary flowers were too easy to find."
"Well, I wasn’t wrong."
She withdrew her hand and stepped away from the fountain. A faint blue glow appeared beneath her palm, followed by a magic circle that formed in the air before her.
Aric’s attention immediately shifted towards it.
The circle was made up of several intricate patterns, its blue markings rotating slowly as mana gathered around her hand.
The water inside the fountain began to rise.
It lifted into the air in a small stream, twisting and turning as it gathered above her palm. Aster moved her fingers slightly, guiding the water into several thin strands that gradually spread apart.
A faint layer of frost appeared across the surface.
Within moments, the strands had taken the shape of a flower, its delicate petals unfolding one after another before freezing into a translucent blue blossom.
Aster held it out towards him.
"Here."
Aric accepted the ice flower carefully, examining its delicate structure. Light passed through the frozen petals, giving them a faint blue shimmer.
"It’s as beautiful as ever."
Aster smiled.
"I’ve had plenty of practice."
"I can tell."
"Your flowers used to fall apart after a few seconds. I remember you complaining about it."
Aric laughed.
"I don’t remember complaining."
"You did. You always wanted them to last longer."
He turned the flower slightly, studying its shape.
"Well, I suppose you’ve finally figured out how to make them properly."
"Finally? You’re making it sound like I wasn’t good at magic."
"I wouldn’t dare."
Aster laughed again before creating another small ice flower, this time letting it float above her palm.
Aric watched with interest.
"How long did it take you to learn that?"
"Quite a while. Controlling water and freezing it at the same time isn’t as easy as it looks."
"I imagine not."
She dismissed the magic circle, and the flower in her palm dissolved into droplets that fell back into the fountain.
Aster turned towards him.
"What about you? How are you feeling now?"
"Better than ever."
"And your mana core?"
"Father told me it had been restored. I haven’t had the chance to test it properly yet."
"That’s wonderful."
She looked genuinely pleased.
"Does that mean you’ll be able to use battle aura now?"
"Hopefully. But I don’t plan to use only battle aura"
Aster looked at him curiously.
"You plan to use magic too?"
"Yes. If my mana core has been restored, I don’t see why I should limit myself to just one."
Aster’s expression grew thoughtful.
"But your body has always been rather weak. Do you think you’ll be able to withstand the strain of using magic and Battle Aura?"
Aric shrugged.
"I’m not sure yet, but I suppose I can always rely on my fiancée if things become too difficult."
Aster blinked before narrowing her eyes at him.
"You’re already planning to make me responsible for you?"
"Is that too much to ask of my future wife?"
She shook her head, but a small smile appeared on her face.
"You’re as troublesome as ever."
Aric shook his head, laughing.
For the first time since waking up, the thought of what lay ahead felt less overwhelming. There were still countless things he needed to understand, but he was beginning to see possibilities beyond the walls of the estate.
And perhaps, when the time came, Starglade Royal Academy would be one of them.
He glanced at the ice flower still resting in his hand.
"By the way, you should make me another one sometime."
Aster smiled.
"Only if you promise not to complain when it melts."