How much time had passed? Sefi, though she had no watch and surely could not tell the time by the sun and a stick, still knew for certain: morning had passed, and it was now lunchtime. Usually, that did not bother her, but this morning she had a scheduled lesson… with Frieren. And now she was irritated that the elf hadn’t shown up. Had she forgotten? Or maybe she was plotting something?
Maybe there were problems in the village? Beasts attacked? Or were they having some kind of quiet hour? A ritual? They were elves after all, and they lived in the forest… Hm. What if Frieren really was plotting a plan for her destruction, and yesterday she only pretended? What to do? Go there or wait? What a dilemma… Damn.
— Difficult, — she now sat on a fallen tree, using it as a chair, and drew doodles on the ground with a stick. She did not feel stress, but logical thinking drove her into a dead end, and she had to distract herself. Making notes on the ground helped. — So… Frieren…
Sefi decided to wait no matter what. Everything should be fine. She really hoped so.
***
— Hey, demon, I’m here, — Frieren’s voice rang out. She spoke loudly but slowly so the demoness could understand her. A little late, just a bit, it shouldn’t be a problem. Well… at least it wasn’t evening or night, she should praise herself for such punctuality.
Sefi, upon hearing the voice, abruptly stopped what she was doing: at that moment she was butchering the carcass of a slain animal. She put away the knife, cast a cleansing spell on herself, and headed to the meeting. Not frowning nor cheerful, but neutral, with the intent to speak her mind. Frieren stood watching her, and Sefi approached, standing threateningly and staring at the small girl.
— You’re frowning… What was your name again? — For some reason it was hard for her to pronounce her name, especially the full one, as if her tongue refused to form it. Perhaps it was a feature of demonic speech – the demoness’s name was clearly more complicated than usual. Or maybe it wasn’t the normal language? In general, difficult to pronounce.
— Serafima, — Sefi snapped and clenched her fist. — And I’m not frowning. Such an expression of the face is connected with anger or irritation, and I do not experience them, — she added evenly.
Frieren tilted her head and pointed at her forehead
— But you’re frowning. — She stated directly, staring at her strangely.
— I’m not… frowning. — Sefi checked: she raised her hand, touched her forehead – indeed, a crease was there… Fine, she was frowning. Unpleasant to admit. A habit. Still, it didn’t matter. The main thing was the reason for the wasted time. They had missed most of the training. That was very sad.
— Why were you late? I waited for you all morning, — she asked after lowering her hand. Frieren was silent, staring at her, and then shifted her gaze to the sun, which was already leaning toward the horizon. — We missed the first lesson. And half a day more, precious time.
— Hm… Well, I overslept. — She simply declared it and looked at the demon’s face, very much wanting to watch her reaction. Perhaps childish mischief, but the change in the stoic woman’s face amused her.
From that admission Sefi almost opened her mouth. How could one oversleep until evening? That was absurd. Unreal. Frieren was sick, absolutely.
— Why are you looking like that? — Frieren stepped back a little when the demoness pressed her lips together; it made her uncomfortable. The gaze ran over her, especially her skin and face.
— Hm… I cannot understand the reason for such behavior. Usually living beings do not sleep this long. Moreover, with such prolonged sleep you should have visible signs of fatigue, or rather… consequences: swollen eyes, drowsiness. I do not see them. Therefore, you are likely lying, — Sefi concluded honestly. She moved closer, lowering herself to her level, and peered intently into the elf’s face, pressing her hand to her chin and thoughtfully rubbing it.
— I’m lying? — Frieren nearly burst out laughing. She was being accused of lying by a demon! Absurd. Of course, she hadn’t told the villagers yet about the demoness – there had been no reason. And she had reduced her mana on request. At first the goal had been her elimination, but so far everything was within acceptable bounds.
— I always sleep like this. Especially now, I’m in my maturing period, elves need more sleep at this time.
— Hm… Maturing, then… — it sounded logical. Only still, to sleep until that time? Absolute absurdity. Frieren was lying. But fine, interfering wasn’t worth it. However:
— Next time come earlier. Breaking an agreement is not the best behavior, — she said, wagging her finger in warning. Frieren only stood there, pondering something, yet still gave an answer:
— Understood. — Frieren was on chill, completely. Relaxed. That was irritating, too much. How could such a creature be so calm? She was four hundred years old! Four whole centuries – in that time histories are born and civilizations vanish. And this brat only yawned. She was supposed to be wiser and guiding her. Yes, she was still a child for her kind… but… — Your face spoiled.
— Me?.. No… — Sefi touched her face, — Ugh, fine, yes. — Sefi sighed, rubbing her face and turning away. Fine, nothing terrible… fine… she would leave it at that? Shame. — Let’s begin.
***
The lesson went… quite dubiously. Frieren was a terrible teacher. Sefi realized this not only from the clumsy handwriting on the ground but also from the attempts to explain anything at all. Even the drawings were awful. Not a teacher, but a disaster… and how did she even survive for so long?
— Your explanation is quite dubious in content, — said Sefi, trying to read what was written on the ground. The elf muttered something under her breath but continued writing. — And also the handwriting, I advise you to improve your script.
— Hey, stop! Who’s the teacher here, me or you? — Frieren stood up and pointed at her with a twig. The demoness, in response, also pointed at her. — See! I’m the teacher, don’t contradict me!
— But…
— No buts! — She stomped her foot and shouted. Frieren was barefoot, and on the ground was a small stone. Nothing serious, no blood, nothing like that, just an unpleasant feeling for the elf. — Don’t contradict!
That was the lesson: nothing was clear – neither the handwriting, nor the explanations, nor even the drawings. Nothing made sense. And how on earth… ugh… irritating. Sefi now understood the value of Serie, her greatness… even if she feared her, she taught well. Excellent even… but now…
The growl of a stomach struck suddenly, like thunder out of a clear sky. With such force that the vibrations reached not only the owner but also her companion, raising an eyebrow and drawing a deep breath. The strength was such that the belated lesson had to be interrupted under the assault of the greatest threat to the living – hunger. Fierce, as if…
— I have meat, but it will take long to cook, so while waiting I suggest you eat this, — Serafima handed Frieren a small piece of bread. It was of her own making: she planted the wheat, grew it, ground it, and baked it. She did all this after realizing that Frieren would not come. With magic it took about three hours, after which she went hunting and caught a beast. She stopped butchering it when she heard Frieren’s voice, though she did not abandon the task. She had no mastery of ice magic, so she used cunning: she built two cauldrons – large and small, so that one fit into the other. She poured very cold water into the gap between them. She left all this in a three-meter-deep pit – thus creating a sort of cellar and refrigerator.
In truth, Sefi had wanted to get ice, but it didn’t work. She could create ice, but for some reason now she couldn’t hold its form or do anything with it; it just crumbled. Why was that? The sight of ice itself was associated with cold for her, and it was always unpleasant to make… maybe that’s the problem. It hadn’t been like this before? When she was with Serie… why the change, and right now? After ten attempts she abandoned that futile effort, instead pulling out the meat and slicing it into strips.
The beast resembled a deer but differed in its horns and tail. The horns – half an arm in length, straight, not branch-like, but simply horns. Strange. The tail was long, like a cow’s. Unusual sight.
Anyway, it didn’t matter. She lit a fire; now the meat had to be cooked. Frieren came and sat down, watching the process. The growling grew louder, as did the swallowing of saliva. Wow...what sounds she could make!
***
Some time passed… The meat was ready, and she served Frieren a steaming piece. Of course, on a wooden plate and with a wooden fork. She had cut the meat beforehand into small cubes – to make it easier to eat, so the guest wouldn’t strain herself. However:
— Wait, before eating, — Frieren looked at her and slightly tilted her head. What fire in her eyes! She really wanted to eat. But first she had to ask. — Did you wash your hands before eating?
The only answer was a shake of the head
— Next time wash your hands before eating. For now give me your hands.
The elf hesitated at first, then obediently held out her hands. Sefi carefully took them and applied the spell “Purification.” On herself too. Frieren was astonished – greatly. She looked at her palms, clenched them, turned them, watching them glow. Cute.
— Now we can eat. Note that the meat is hot – blow on it before eating, — said Sefi. She speared a piece on the fork and began to eat. Without emotion. Frieren was surprised… Sefi herself hadn’t blown on it… hmm… — I’m used to eating this way. But you are a child. Don’t do foolish things, don’t copy my actions.
— Ah… understood…
The meat was eaten. In silence, but quickly – especially by Frieren. She chewed with fervor, as if she hadn’t eaten for a day, maybe she really hadn’t. Sefi sat upright, unhurried, cutting each piece with the same precision, as if every movement was part of a ritual. It was a kind of habit of hers, especially with meat. In a past… um… life? She very much loved eating this way, because… well… it was cool, and now it was a habit.
— That’s it, I’m full! — Frieren stretched with satisfaction, setting the wooden plate aside. Sefi perked her ears when her food was praised… her food, such action was always a priority, since she understood how best to please. — So tasty! Even without other vegetables!
— Hm… if in the future you want more vegetables, you could bring me seeds or just wait, I’ll figure something out. — She calmly replied and ate a small piece. — "Maybe some potato pieces, if they exist… well, maybe some greens and onion… hm… then it would rather be a stew, I suppose" — She thought while already thinking of something else.
Frieren snorted and lay on her back, staring at the sky. For a few seconds she lay silently. Then she sat up. Stretched.
— Well then, enough delaying. Let’s begin the lesson! Today we have language. Repeat after me: "I’m going home." — She said with a kind of mischievous smile.
Sefi immediately straightened, like at a command. She set aside the plate – problematic… But she could finish it later, even if the food cooled, the main thing was that it was edible… although no, she could be selfish. She wanted to eat, and speaking while eating was no problem.
— I’m going home, — she pronounced clearly. The sound was pure, slightly mechanical, but the intonation correct. She copied it perfectly, then the woman ate another piece of meat.
— Good. Now say: "You eat too much." — Even more mischief… hm, why so? Hinting, wait… the main thing is to repeat.
Sefi nodded:
— You eat too much. — She said and looked at the plate, her appetite gone. Ugh, and all because of the elf’s words, how mischievous. Probably should set the food aside, yes, that’s what she did.
— Clever girl, — Frieren said with a smile, leaning forward. Sefi raised an eyebrow. The little girl managed to pat her. Height would have been a problem, but Sefi was sitting on a tree stump, so the girl’s actions were very insistent: she drove her hand here and there.
— Clever girl… why so? — She asked and slightly lowered her head, allowing the girl to play with it as she wished. And then, as if granted permission, she so eagerly began ruffling her head. Even used her other hand. — …That was not at all necessary.
— I know, — Frieren waved her hand, then with new force lunged at her. — But you’re still a clever girl. Even if you don’t feel it.
Sefi fell silent
It wasn’t embarrassment, but something else… She simply hadn’t received any praise here at all. Serie had given hints, but nothing direct. The words did not stir her heart, but she appreciated them… not bad.
— That is an evaluative judgment, but I understand its functional purpose… thank you. — In the end, Sefi just went quiet, while the elf smiled strangely.
— Oh, is that so, clever girl indeed! — the elf giggled and stepped back. — Alright, let’s try something harder. — The girl thought, and then something occurred to her. — Try to repeat: Words can be sharper than blades and softer than silk, and at the same time colder than winter… But spoken with warmth – they can revive even a frozen heart.
Sefi repeated without hesitation:
— Words can be sharper than blades and softer than silk, and at the same time colder than winter… But spoken with warmth – they can revive even a frozen heart. — At this Frieren somehow smiled, then looked at the sky. What was with her?
— Amazing! — Frieren clapped her hands. — Even I couldn’t have said it so quickly. You have talent!
— I learn quickly. Without it I cannot… — she paused for a moment. Silence fell. — Yet… sometimes I just want, I don’t know… really, I don’t know.
Frieren looked at her in surprise. Cautiously approached her and sat down, not quite nearby, but a step away. A few seconds of silence – then she sat closer, tucking her legs.
— And what do you think of words? — She asked, looking at the demoness’s face.
— They are useful. Effective. But… sometimes imprecise, — Sefi said slowly. — I, for example, did not understand what my previous mentor wanted to convey to me.
Frieren knew nothing. She knew nothing about this demoness’s previous mentor, so she couldn’t say anything about her, and simply decided to give support. Best to repeat words from a book; the elf herself hadn’t fully understood the said words or the emotions behind them, but still… she wanted to help.
— It’s like that for everyone. Even for those who feel, sometimes especially for them. — And now… she thought. Perhaps tomorrow she should ask the elders for an explanation; they must know what those words mean. And why did she want that? Well… teachers should help their students. Shouldn’t they? It was simply… nice. To have someone who listened to you… too bad there were few like her in her village, or rather, children. She was the only child in the village, and that caused her problems. Anyway it didn’t matter, the main thing was how the demoness reacted?
Sefi nodded
— I see… I would like that… to understand. — Sefi actually knew what it was, since she had been human before. But now… everything was blurry. She knew much, but couldn’t understand the simple: why was it so? Why did Serie act like that? She wanted to kill her, but didn’t… Why? What use? It wasn’t emotions of joy, fear, or anger… Something else… Maybe amusing? Fear and anger… Possibly, but how?
No, no, so… Joy – that’s when a being feels good, fear – when a being faces death or some other circumstance that will cause it harm. Anger – that’s when a being… has the desire to kill another or has scores to settle with someone. Hm… what else? There are such subclasses as hatred or despair, but those are more complex versions of fear and anger… right? There emotions intensify, but… from observations, Serie did not feel fear or despair, nor joy… but anger, yes, exactly. But then why did she leave her alive? What was that… difficult, unclear. No logic at all.
— Hey… — The elf suddenly poked her in the forehead, pulling her out of her thoughts. — Did anyone ever tell you that you’re actually caring?
Sefi looked at her, for a moment confused, caring?
— I simply do what is right. I know that care is important, it strengthens bonds and gives joy. Also it’s easier to cooperate with the object of care. Thus, only advantages, I see no disadvantages… well, except loss of time, there is also the concept of duty… and I seem to simply follow it.
— Yeah, yeah… — Frieren smirked. The demoness laid it all out clearly, without a hint of falsehood. Sorted it on shelves, and even a bit insulting that there were pros and cons. Anyway. — Only from that duty I feel warmer than from the whole village put together, really.
Sefi said nothing. Just slightly tilted her head… pressed her lips together and went back into thought. The elf just sat beside her. It was good, she too thought… yes it was warm. Not from the fire, but from the demon.
They sat in silence for a while. The wind swayed the treetops. The sun leaned toward the horizon, and the sky became a little crimson.
Frieren rose and brushed off her dress
— I must go. A little more, and I won’t make it back before dark. Shall we continue tomorrow? — Sefi looked at her, a little uneasy. In such an evening, would Frieren really find her village? Whatever it was, the question had to be answered.
— Yes. I will remember the meeting place. I will also prepare bread and a second dish… your breakfast. — She declared. Frieren giggled again.
— You sure you’re not a mom?
— I am not a mom, certainly not yours, genetically that is impossible. You are an elf, I am a demon. I see no connection. — She clearly stated, and Frieren didn’t understand the word “genetics,” nor how she even pronounced it, but decided to let it go.
— Then you’re strange, but good. Alright, bye. — She waved her hand and, easily leaping over a fallen log, headed toward the forest path. Her silhouette gradually dissolved in the crimson glow of the setting sun.
Sefi sat a little longer, gazing in the direction of her departure. Feeling nothing, but knowing that this was joyful. Yes, the classification of emotions really helped her, now she could determine what she felt… well, was supposed to feel. Though questions remained open regarding Serie, but that was beyond her power.
Tonight she needed to rest… although…
— Frieren deceived me today, I need to take that into account and ensure it doesn’t happen again tomorrow, — she said. Not only a loss of time, but also of trust… Hm, trust? Well yes, that’s when you… trust. How to classify that? Not joy for sure. Maybe a new scale should be applied. — Scale of trust… hm, nonsense… Am I in some sort of dating simulator?
…
…
…
…
…
[Frieren]
Trust: 95%
Reason for decline: Didn’t come on time
— …Shame on me. — She scribbled all this on the ground with a stick, then erased it, to write again… Yeah. Truly, shame on her.
***
So, the morning had come. Sefi, as usual, was waiting for this event. Or rather – the second one. Frieren was supposed to come, but she still hadn’t. Strange… did something happen today? Nothing serious, just a few minutes.
— Hm... I think I can cook her some food while she’s on her way. Yesterday she mentioned her breakfast, — with these words the woman gathered her willpower, or whatever she had instead of will, and began the task. Flour, water, dishes. Fire. There were no vegetables, so the second dish was meat again, but with a difference: not just fried, but a little roll. Slice it into ribbons and wrap it, fry it and get a dish. Easy to eat – that’s the main thing. And calories... well, she had no problem with that, Sefi moved a lot. Besides, Frieren herself had said that she was in some kind of growing-up period now, so useful elements and extra food wouldn’t hurt. Hm... — A growing-up period...
Sefi added a little meat to Frieren’s portion
An hour passed. The food cooled down. A second hour. The food no longer looked appetizing. Sefi hadn’t eaten her portion – she was waiting for Frieren. The third hour...
— Hm... it will be lunch soon. Did she oversleep again? — she said, looking at the sky, especially at the sun. It was shining brightly, its rays stretching everywhere. There was still no sign of the elf girl’s arrival. — Again... she...
The demoness sighed and wrote on the ground:
[Frieren]
Trust: 95% → 90%
Reason for decline: Late again
With these words she began to eat her food. It had cooled, but was edible. Strange that the elf girl hadn’t come. Considering this, she should feel anger. But it wasn’t there. Hm... Eh, it’s all complicated.
— How long does their sleep even last? That’s absolutely unnatural for the living... — she thought. Then she remembered miss Serie. She was a sleepyhead too. However, in truth, Sefi thought she simply... did what she wanted, even if it meant being lazy. And she wasn’t allowed to. Sefi tried to wake her up. And if needed, Serie could get up and act without delay. No problems at all.
But Frieren sleeps far too much. She left in the evening, which means she fell asleep at night. Even in a doubtful situation, she probably falls asleep around midnight. After all, adults wouldn’t let her stay up till late at night. Maybe even earlier.
Sefi didn’t know the exact time, but she assumed it was around ten or eleven in the morning. Not quite morning, but not lunch either. So she considered it morning time. Even in unfavorable conditions, a human should wake up around nine – that’s a normal amount of sleep. So what problem could she have? Definitely lying.
— I will check today how their organism works, — declared Sefi, already coming up with several experiments in her head. They did not go beyond the bounds of decency and ethics, but would likely give her the needed information. The comparison would be with an ordinary human.
***
Another hour passed. The air had managed to warm up. Somewhere in the distance, insects were chirping. Over the fire, a faint transparent steam barely moved, she maintained the fire purely by her own will. Mana was the source of fuel, and also training.
Sefi silently crouched, carefully scraping bark off a small branch with a sharp knife. It would become a toothpick. Or a handle for carving. She hadn’t decided yet. She just needed to occupy her hands. Waiting... irritatingly inefficient. But she wasn’t angry. She couldn’t be. Just… an unpleasant emptiness, as if inside there was a hole that couldn’t be closed. To compare, it was like coming to a party and finding out no one was there. You don’t know what to feel.
She looked at the fire
The flame reflected in Sefi’s eyes – like in a mirror. No fear, no warmth. Just light.
She walked over to a hollow dug yesterday evening – a makeshift cellar, a refrigerator. Carefully she took out a cloth bundle. Inside – leftover meat, wrapped in herbs. Condition was normal. Edible. And...
— This is enough for two more days. If she even comes at all, — she said quietly, without resentment. Just… a statement. Like “the sky is blue” or “water flows downward.” She had taken it for reserve on purpose, otherwise she would have set it out to dry to make jerky.
She returned to the fire. Wiped down a wooden board, took out a knife, began slicing the meat thinly, almost transparent. Some pieces she fried herself – for the smell. Frieren reacted to the smell. Maybe she would hear it. Or catch the scent... maybe. She had already decided to start cooking herself lunch, Frieren wasn’t coming.
A piece accidentally fell into the ash. She carefully picked it out with a stick, shook it off, looked at it.
— Well then... ruined. — In her mind. Or aloud. She no longer noticed.
Suddenly... a branch cracked
Sefi instantly froze. Her eyes narrowed slightly. She didn’t tense – just assessed: not a bear, not a wolf. Light footsteps. She wasn’t nervous. Everything was calm. Exactly.
A second. Another. A third.
— Hey! Demon! — A voice.
Sefi didn’t react immediately. Only sighed. Slowly turned. Frieren appeared – again with that same lazy gait, as if she didn’t understand at all that she was doing something wrong.
— You came, — said Sefi without expression, but in her voice there was… not joy, but a statement of a fact on which expectation had been placed. And to be honest, the demoness wanted to snort, scoff maliciously, or something like that, but… she couldn’t. No, she could, only it would feel unnatural.
— Yeah! Well, sorry, I... — the elf girl stretched, yawned. — I woke up, and then sat down... and fell asleep again. It happens, right?
Sefi didn’t answer. Turned, walked to the fire. Sat down. Took a wooden plate, put pieces of meat on it. Moved carefully, as always. Nothing about her changed with Frieren’s appearance. Neither fast nor slow.
— I cooked you breakfast three hours ago. It cooled down. I reheated the food from the fire three times. Your portion. I already ate my part, so don’t expect me to keep you company. — Since she couldn’t give anger, at least hints.
— Oh... um... I see. — Frieren sat down opposite, crossing her legs on the wood. — Thanks for leaving me some.
Sefi handed her the food, placing a wooden fork in her hands. She, as always, grabbed it with joy, but suddenly froze when the demoness looked at her:
— Hands. — Frieren silently nodded. Stretched her palms forward.
Sefi placed hers under.
— “Purification.”
Light. Gentle, clean. Her hands began to shine, like freshly washed. Even nails. As if magic really erased everything. Frieren turned her wrists again, admiring:
— Uh... cool. No need to go to the river. — She declared and grabbed the fork. Now she was definitely ready to eat. Even more so.
— The river is twenty-three steps away, — said Sefi, and just looked at her companion, wordlessly. Directly.
— Well, with you it’s faster. — Said the girl and ate the first little roll.
Silence
— Are you angry? — suddenly asked Frieren, looking straight at her. Asked while tapping the fork on the plate a little.
— No. — And indeed she wasn’t angry, but... she needed to teach her a lesson. So she wouldn’t be late again. It wasn’t right to behave this way.
— Are you upset? — The elf girl stepped closer to her.
— No. — Sefi just turned slightly away. Frieren pouted.
— Ah... well, offended? — She stared right into her eyes, directly. It was too aggressive for the one who had offended her. Sefi narrowed her eyes and sighed.
— I am not capable of offense. However, you have broken the agreement a second time. With consistent repetition of such actions, trust decreases over time. — She had to say it and push her away, shocking her.
Frieren only stood and looked, then understood and sat back down, taking the plate in her hands. She began eating and talking while chewing, which caused Sefi an unpleasant feeling. Not anger or anything, just it didn’t correspond to the rules, not ethical.
— Sounds like I’m in some kind of contract, if the delay is more than two days, then all ties are terminated?
— I just waited for you all the time. You didn’t come, and that is – noncompliance with the terms of communication, you can’t act like that. I told you. — Sefi stood up, brushed herself off and walked to the house. She still hadn’t dealt with it yesterday, though she could have… Time wasted.
Frieren was silent, but then raised her eyes and said seriously:
— I really will come tomorrow. I promise. Without delays. Even earlier.
— Then I will cook you warm food. And make a drink. Yesterday you mentioned tea. I will find plants similar to the ones you specified. By taste, color, and composition. — Speaking loudly, Sefi decided to check something. Better to be sure than to waste effort again. Maybe Frieren really did sleep long, and it was her physiological problem? Like, the metabolism of elves worked that way.
— You’ve got everything sorted on shelves, huh? — Frieren leaned forward slightly, watching Sefi take something out, from the demon’s figure it wasn’t entirely visible, but apparently some things. — And you... don’t you get lonely, well... when you’re alone?
Sefi slightly raised her gaze
— I know what it is like to be lonely, but I do not feel it. I just... remain in place. And wait. That’s all. — The demoness turned. Now in her hands was a wooden tray. On it stood two cups, one herb, and pieces of meat: one fried, the other dried. Hm, strange.
Unhurriedly Sefi approached Frieren and handed her the whole tray. This... food?
— I want to check something. Eat all this when I tell you. I want to study your reaction. — Frieren looked at the tray with slight suspicion. There was nothing frightening about the food. Sefi clarified. — Don’t worry. It isn’t poisoned or spoiled. Just the flavor bases are different. Please, drink first the cup on the right, from your side.
Frieren frowned, but obeyed. It was cold water. Not icy, just cool. She took a few sips, and all this time Sefi carefully observed her face. Too carefully. That gaze made her a bit uneasy.
— Now the second cup.
This time – warm water. Much more pleasant. After the cold, even cozy. Didn’t want to drink much, so Frieren stopped halfway. Sefi said nothing.
— Now try the fried meat. There are spices.
It was a small piece, roasted over the fire. There were quite a lot of spices, the taste turned out tart, even a little bitter. But not unpleasant. Frieren frowned slightly, but finished it, and if one got used to it, it was actually tasty.
— Now the dried meat.
It turned out salty. Very salty. But tasty. So much so that Frieren tore into it like a hungry wolf cub, and finished it in a few bites.
On the tray only the plant remained – a strange leaf
— Bite off a little. Careful, it’s bitter. Only a small piece.
Frieren obeyed... and immediately grimaced. She stuck out her tongue, spat out the rest and even shuddered slightly. Sefi immediately handed her the remaining water. The elf girl drained the cup in one gulp.
After that she raised her gaze
— Are you done with your dubious experiments?
— These are not dubious experiments. And you could have refused if something was unpleasant. Everything within the bounds of ethics. — Sefi calmly approached and knelt beside her. — May I touch your face?
— Uh... yes?
She gently took Frieren by the cheeks. First – a soft massage. Then pulled a little, and finally, lightly squeezed. The elf girl stared at her in bewilderment.
— ...May I tickle you?
— That’s definitely dubious...
— May I?
— ...Yes.
Sefi carefully touched her sides. Frieren tensed, holding back laughter... but then couldn’t resist and laughed. Sefi immediately stopped and stepped back a pace, studying her.
— From all your reactions I can confidently say: you fully correspond to human physiological norms. Taste, irritability, reactions – all in order. Even in a growing-up period. I see no signs of retardation or slowing.
She thought, looking at her calculations, now not on the ground, but in her mind.
In theory, Sefi considered that elves had a slowed metabolism, like whales or turtles – hence the long life. But that would affect other things too. They would be either more massive, or extremely voracious. However, Frieren was neither. Moreover, she was... sluggish. Almost apathetic. She... lazy, no... she didn’t care. Maximum indifference.
— Maybe it’s connected to age? — suggested Sefi aloud. — "But adult Serie demonstrated other reactions, though she was restrained..."
Sefi, unchanged in face, kept looking at Frieren, while she looked at her. The results of observations were fixed in memory – without notes, without tables, but with the precision only she was capable of.
Maybe elves simply had a strongly slowed metabolism? Like deep-sea fish or reptiles. Maybe that’s why they needed more sleep. But... then there should be at least some manifestation: slowness, body sluggishness, impaired coordination during sudden activity. There was none.
Frieren, despite her relaxedness, could react quickly, moved with precision and even agility when required. This was noted at the first meeting, and then too – elves wouldn’t live in the forest otherwise, there were plenty of dangers there.
Does that mean their metabolism is normal, and lifespan is tied to something else? Maybe their cells don’t break down as quickly? Or they simply… regenerate better? But then why no visual signs? No accelerated hair growth, no rapid healing. Nothing. Everything was like a human. Even reflexes standard. Not normal.
— "Maybe it’s age after all. She’s a child, as she said herself. Then what? Energy expenditure high? No, she eats little. Means she doesn’t spend. Then why sleep so much?" — Sefi lowered her gaze. The more thoughts, the more headache. — "Or is it simpler? Maybe it’s a behavioral model, shaped by culture? For example, it’s customary for them to rest more. Maybe it’s part of their mentality – not to hurry. Then the cause is not in the body at all, but in upbringing. Yes... But then I cannot check anything. That goes beyond physiology."
Although... Maybe not so simple. What if they really are biologically oriented toward slowing? What if their internal processes run differently? Some other type of hormone interaction? But then... why does Frieren laugh, fear tickling, taste things exactly? Those are basic reactions. Everything coincides with humans.
— You are not like humans... I cannot understand why you are like this, Frieren. — She stated directly. Better to ask her herself than clutter her head with everything.
— I see... you think differently, Seraphima, — said Frieren, looking at her intently. — You may be long-lived, but you think quickly.
Sefi silently nodded, not knowing if she should say anything
— I am an elf. I can afford not to hurry. I have a lot of time, and I can allow myself to think for decades. Plan for centuries. And you... want everything right away.
— That is normal.
***
Frieren said everything she knew herself, both from her own knowledge and from the words of adults. There weren’t many books, and later Sefi’s head digested it all on its own.
Elves, as long-lived beings, are very unhurried by their nature and lack vivid emotions – and this is not without reason. They live so long that it is almost immortality. No one knows how long they live, simply no one has survived to find out. Elves, if they do die, it is not from old age, but from other causes. And all those who wanted to determine their exact age perished themselves in the depths of time.
And what would happen if such beings, who live for centuries, possessed strong emotions? They would burn out from the inside, like a candle. That is their problem. Perhaps it is the law of evolution itself that allowed them to preserve life: for if they hurried, they might fail to notice how they were leading themselves to ruin.
The fact that they don’t feel much, that they aren’t as vivid as humans – is not because they are selfish or apathetic, but because it is their natural defense. Defense against themselves. Against their own immortality.
And the reality is that precisely because of this they do not rush like the others. Their life is not the brightest, but rather smooth, ordinary, with rare fragments that they keep until death. Perhaps this affects their experience, their knowledge, and their worldview itself. Elf children are not so curious, they don’t rush headlong into things and won’t interfere in dangers… without a special reason, of course.
— And does this mean that your sleepiness is not caused by you, but by your ancestors? — asked Sefi with an absolutely calm face.
— Seems so.
— That’s an excuse.
— No!
— Yes.
— No!
— ...
Sefi took a stick in her hands and wrote on the ground:
[Frieren]
Trust: 90% → 85%
Reason: Deception with suggestion and dragging ancestors into it.