Owari got back soon after leaving the blacksmith. When he walked in the first thing he heard was his mother. “So he really has changed a lot.” Of course Owari knew they were talking about him the moment he heard it.

“It’s rude to talk about people behind their backs.” Owari didn’t seem upset by this though as he shut the door and walked over to the table.

“As if you would care what someone else would say about you.” His mother joked.

“I care what you two have to say about me.” He said as he sat down.

“Is that so? Are you curious then?” Noel asked.

“Not particularly. I left you two alone so you could have some time to speak in private. Kind of defeats the purpose if you just tell me doesn’t it?” Owari had wanted to give them a chance to bond outside of him.

“How thoughtful.” His mother had an approving gaze. “You really have changed a lot though.”

“That happens when you go through a lot of things. I’ve made some new friends and it’s helped me to see things in a different light than before. Being in the city made me realize how little I knew, so I learned it. Humans are nothing if not adaptable.” Owari had spent a lot of his study time looking for information on coming out of his shell and being more extroverted and confident in his actions.

“Of course you would turn to books to learn how to talk to people instead of actually talking to people.” His mother smiled wryly.

“Of course. Books are an easy source of information.” Owari showed no shame.

“You should see his room, he has books stacked from the floor to the ceiling.” Noel informed her.

“He would have done the same here if I hadn’t been strict about it. Instead his room is bare as bones with only a single bookshelf of his favorite books.” It was true, his room had basically no indication that someone lived in it unlike his new home. “But I’m curious, do you go to his room often?”

“No, but he does come to my place quite often.” Noel smiled calmly.

“How boring.” She probably wouldn’t say the same if she knew how they acted when they were alone.

“Neither of us are the type to get overly emotional or act without thinking so what did you expect?” Owri was curious what his mother thought he would do.

“Something. Aren’t you supposed to be teenagers?” His mother couldn’t help but recall her teenage years. Even if they were legally adults they still tended to be treated as kids until their twenties.

Owari laughed. “We’re taking things slowly. We just met five or six months ago you know.” It wasn’t too short but not too long.

“Well whatever makes you two happy.” His mother didn’t push it anymore. “So how did your visit go?”

“Perfectly.” Owari didn’t elaborate, causing the two to get curious. Both of them knew however that if Owari wasn’t saying anything then it was something he wouldn’t say no matter what.

The three talked for another hour before Owari pulled Noel away and began walking around town with her. Unlike with him, his mother wasn’t as keen on listening to Noel drone on forever with her normal chatter. Before she got overwhelmed he had taken Noel away at the first opportunity.

As they walked around they chatted about nothing in particular. Nothing particularly untoward happened on their walk. Owari spent the day showing Noel around and telling her what he knew about the town. He also showed off a few of the farms which were interesting. It was winter so there were no crops, but she was shocked by how big the fields were when he pointed it out.

They arrived back home that night and Owari showed her his room. “Your mother was right, your room is very boring.” She looked around and found a single desk, a small wardrobe, a bookshelf stuffed with books, and a double bed in the middle of the room sitting against the back wall.

“I didn’t really spend much time here. And when I did it was to study.” He didn’t really have anything else he would do so it never got dirty. Other than books he was generally very neat. “What about you? I wonder what your room is like?” Owari smiled.

Noel thought for a moment. “My room back at the compound is very pink and girly since I never bothered to change it. As for my new room… You’ll just have to find out on your own.”

“Are you implying I have a reason to go into your room one day?” Owari teased her.

“Not like that. You're as bad as your mother.” Noel couldn’t help but compare the two. She had spent most of the time alone with his mother getting teased.

“It’s just fun watching you get flustered considering how calm you usually are.”

“Then maybe I’ll just be more calm when you tease me.” She said defiantly. She could do it if she tried. She hoped. At one point she was able to do so, but as time has gone by and they’ve gotten closer it’s harder to stay as composed as her mind wanders. His mother was actually right, the two were teenagers, they just handled it differently from most.

“I’ll leave you to your sleep now.” Owari made his way out to the living room where he sat down to meditate. He had improved and could now replace sleep completely with only 10 hours of meditation. Before he started however he drained his mana with the phantom affinity while practicing some basic unarmed techniques. It never hurt to be prepared.

The next day came and the two considered what to do. They were currently in Owari’s room, Noel was laying on his bed lazily while he sat in his desk chair. “We could always just hang out around the house and talk.” Owari suggested.

“Isn’t that boring? You’re back home now.” Noel thought it would be a shame to stay inside.

“A place where I don’t know anyone and nobody knows me.” Owari half-joked.

“Fair enough.” Noel laughed a bit.

“Why don’t we just stay in? It’ll give you a chance to get to know my mother.” Owari finally decided on what he wanted to do.

“I suppose that wouldn’t be all bad.” Noel agreed. Owari walked over and laid on his bed next to her as she talked. “What are you doing?” Although she asked she didn’t show any sign of stopping him.

“Lying in bed, what does it look like?” Owari said somewhat sarcastically.

“Isn’t it a bit presumptuous to assume you can lie in bed with me.” Noel pretended to be offended.

“You say as you lie down in my bed, in my room, in my house.” Owari smiled wider every time he listed one-off.

“Fair point.” Noel did her best to seem calm.

“You seem quite calm, maybe I’m not trying hard enough.” Owari spoke half to himself.

“No, you’re doing quite enough.” Noel smiled.

“But is it really enough if you aren’t flustered?” Owari asked rhetorically.

“Of course it is. I can’t always be flustered. After all I intend to be with you for a very long time.” Noel sidled up to him and leaned against him.

“I suppose that’s true. It would be weird if you never got used to my teasing.” Owari agreed.

“So what should we do now? If you intend to let me get to know my mother that implies you won’t be around.” Noel clarified before Owari could say anything.

“I can just hang out in my room. I brought some reading material just in case.” Owari was always one to prepare carefully.

“Of course you would bring a book.” Noel laughed, it was very like him.

“Why wouldn’t I? I love books.” Owari said as if it was obvious, which in fairness it was.

“And what about me?” Noel suddenly asked, though she was somewhat embarrassed immediately after.

Owari turned and looked at her seriously for a moment as she looked back. He slowly leaned closer to her causing her heart to pound. Then suddenly he changed direction and kissed her forehead. “It’s a bit early for that. But I do care about you a lot.” Owari smiled as Noel pouted.

“You shouldn’t play with a girl's feelings.” She looked away from him as if she was really upset, though in reality it was to hide her embarrassment.

Owari seemed to consider something for a moment. “I would have kissed you had we not been lying in my bed, in my room, in my house.” Owari called back to earlier.

“Perhaps I should have been sitting up earlier then.” Noel responded.

“Maybe later.” Owari said as if he had already planned on it.

“You say that as if you get to choose when.” Noel suddenly turned back to him.

“Unless you plan to do it then wouldn’t I?” Owari said as he looked over towards her.

Suddenly she leaned in and gave him a peck on the lips before he could do anything. “I do plan to though.” She smiled as she saw Owari’s visible shock. “I’m not just some girl, I’m a warrior before anything else. How could I let you provoke me like that and not respond?”

“That’s fair. It reminds me of that time in the tunnel when you turned to fight off the enemy despite how bad your situation was.” Owari reminisced a bit as he recalled it.

“Yet you swooped in and saved me despite my resolve.” Noel said somewhat bitterly.

“You did save everyone later though. That was just as impressive.” Owari reminded her.

“Yet you were the one who came over and told me what to do to help everyone.” Noel countered.

“You still did the important work. I just gave some advice at a key moment. You would have thought of the same plan if you had the chance to.” Owari felt like Noel was downplaying her achievements.

“I’ll accept my loss here. I’m not so stubborn as to refuse to see my own worth.” Noel finally relented. She knew Owari wasn’t the type to give empty compliments.

“Good.” Owari smiled. “Now as much as I’d love to lay here in bed all day with you, I think we should just about get up.” Despite saying that he wasn’t getting up.

“I don’t feel like it.” Noel said defiantly.

“Alright, I don’t mind.” Owari gave up without resistance. Instead he put his arm around Noel and pulled her close.

The two continued to talk well into the day. They only separated when lunchtime came. Both of them missed breakfast so they were somewhat hungry. Owari also recommended that they get up before his mother barged in to tell them lunch was ready. As if on cue, shortly after separating his mother burst into the room.

“Lunch is ready.” She seemed disappointed to see Owari walking over to the door.

“I’ll get changed first.” Noel called after. She was currently wearing pajamas after all.

“Alright.” Owari made his way out of the room, dragging his curious mother with him and shutting the door.

“We’re both girls. I don’t see the problem.” She said with an even more disappointed expression if that was possible.

“If I had known you would be like this I wouldn’t have brought her.” Owari sighed. “What’s for lunch?”

“Some noodles. I figured it was a special occasion since you came back.” His mother finally accepted that she wouldn’t get to help Noel pick out something to wear.

“Alright, it’s been a while since we had noodles.”Owari decided to take Noel to that noodle stand for dinner when they got back. It had been nearly a month since their last visit.

“We as in you and me, or we as in you and her?” His mother felt like it was probably the latter based on his tone.

“Me and her.” Owari sat down at the table and waited for Noel to come out before eating.

When she came out she was wearing a plain t-shirt and baggy pants. She preferred this kind of casual clothing when she was relaxing over anything fancy. “Sorry for the wait.” She said as she walked over and sat at the table.

“It’s no problem at all.” While she was surprised by Noel’s choice of clothing, Owari’s mother didn’t say anything. She was the type of person who believed you could learn a lot about a person from their choice of clothing.

Both Owari and Noel thanked her for the meal and ate quite excitedly. They had both grown quite fond of noodles, it also helped that Owari’s mother was really good at cooking them. The two ate with relish, and were so fast that it looked like they were competing over who would finish first. If it was a competition Noel would have won, Owari ended up sneezing halfway through because he got some broth in his nose.

“Well I suppose I don’t need to ask if you liked it.” Owari’s mother couldn’t help but laugh. She certainly didn’t expect a young lady as small as Noel to be such a voracious eater.

“I enjoyed it quite a lot.” Noel still felt it was only right to compliment her. “In fact I’m tempted to ask you to teach me to cook.

“You don’t know how?” She asked curiously.

“I only just started learning recently.” Noel admitted.

“I see.” His mother seemed to think for a bit. “How about I teach you some of the basics today. If you’re free of course.” She looked between Owari and Noel.

“Of course she is. It would be better spent getting to know you than spending the day with me who she can see most of the time.” Owari stood up. “I’ll leave you girls to it. I’ll be in my room reading if you need me.” As soon as he said it he was gone like the wind.

“Here one second gone the next. Very like him.” Noel spoke out her thoughts.

“You sound quite familiar with his habits.” His mother noted.

“I’ve spent a lot of time with him these last few months after all.” The two continued this back and forth as Owari avoided it all by sitting in his room reading books. Never one to fully rest he was already looking into his next goal for his expedition.

The day passed by uneventfully, at least for Owari. Noel had a lot of questions to answer and by the time she came into his room she was exhausted both from the grueling practice and even more grueling questions. Owari chuckled seeing her like this. In the end she pretended not to notice him and went to sleep right away after flopping into bed. Owari didn’t say anything, he just covered her with a blanket and made his way out of the house and over to the smithy. It was still early enough that he would be working.

When he got there he was able to smoothly pick up the ring he had made. It was a simple band that could be placed on one’s finger, but it was made of a beautiful white gold material. Owari was pleased with it and he left satisfied. When he got back he immediately started meditating.

The next morning came as the sun rose and light came in through the windows. Owari got up early as always even though he wasn’t fully rested. His habits were too ingrained into him at this point. A little later Noel came out and sat next to him in her usual sundress. They waited for his mom to wake up by talking about random things. The three planned to spend the day walking around the town and reminiscing, his mother thought it was unfair that she only saw the town from his perspective since he was antisocial and never interacted with anyone.

His mother walked out into the living room groggily but still decently dressed. “I’m up so let’s go.” She yawned out somehow.

“I plan on eating breakfast first.” Owari sighed.

“Oh yeah, I’ll make some eggs for everyone.” His mother woke up at the thought of food and went to make some breakfast.

After eating the group made their way into town. Owari’s mother pointed here and there telling Noel a little about the history of the town and people who lived there. The town was actually quite nice, the buildings were neat and orderly, there were some shops for various goods. Nobody would ever feel like they needed something and had no way of getting it. The people were generally nice to one another though they loved gossip, it would always be about outsiders. Of course this didn’t apply to people like Owari who rarely interacted with anyone anyway.

Owari’s mother went around telling Noel about the various people such as the baker whose daughter had gotten a job in the city working as a professional baker's apprentice. There was also a farmer whose kid had gone to the city to work and gotten a great desk job allowing him to send money home. Stuff like that repeated throughout the day until Noel knew more about the various people in town than she knew about the people in her own family.

“Boring stuff basically.” Owari said after it was all over.

“It isn’t boring. It’s their lives.” Owari’s mother seemed offended.

“I care as much about the life they are living as they care about mine.” He just laughed.

“That’s fair.” Of course his mother knew all about how the townspeople ignored her son for the most part.

“It was interesting, but not very useful information.” Noel said more neutrally.

“Well it’s about time for dinner.” Owari’s mother checked the time and the three of them all went out to the restaurant that Owari and his mother visited before he left. When they got there the three of them all ordered their favorites, obviously Noel got a rare steak. “I didn’t expect that.” His mother was more caught off guard by that than her appetite.

“She’s like an animal.” Owari joked, earning him a punch.

“I just like how it tastes alright?” Noel huffed.

“No need to explain to me.” Owari pretended not to notice the glare aimed his way.

Dinner went quite well after that. The three joked and talked, especially Noel for the latter. After that the group made their way back home and relaxed as the day came to an end. As they all sat on the couch it was Owari’s mother who spoke first.

“It was short notice so all I could get for you two was a nice dinner.” She seemed somewhat apologetically.

“That’s fine, after all I didn’t tell you we were coming.” Owari didn’t mind. “But I did get something for you.” He reached into his bag which was near the couch. He pulled out a few sheets of cloth. “This is mana infused cotton. It’s of the water affinity.” He didn’t have to tell his mother that water affinity cloth helps enhance one’s vitality and makes them healthier.

“How kind of you.” His mother knew he got it for her to make something for herself to keep her healthy. “This must have been expensive.” She noted.

“Nothing outside my means.” Owari assured her.

“I got you something too.” Noel smiled as she reached into her duffel bag and pulled out a small box. She handed it over calmly.

“What’s this?” She of course opened the box as she asked. Inside was a butterfly brooch made from silver with an amethyst set in the center. “Oh my how pretty.”

“I heard you were a seamstress and thought you might appreciate a decorative piece.” Noel smiled as she realized she liked it.

“I do indeed. I especially like the butterfly design. They are one of my favorite pieces to decorate things with. There are so many vivid types.” There was a reason Owari liked moths so much.

“That does make sense. Butterflies can be quite beautiful.” Noel agreed.

“So can moths.” Owari said from the side.

“Yes yes, moths can be pretty too.” His mother seemed used to his appeals for moths.

Owari nudged Noel lightly. “I have something for you too.”

“What a coincidence. I got you so something as well.” Obviously they hadn’t told one another beforehand.

“Who goes first then?” Owari gave her the choice.

“You go first. I’m curious.” Noel couldn’t help but wonder what he got for her.

“Alright.” Owari reached into his coat and pulled out a small box.

Noel opened it to find the orichalcum ring inside. She smiled a bit. “What kind of girl do you take me for?”

“It’s made of orichalcum. If you use a mystic art through your hand with it on you can enhance the effect if you want.” Owari chuckled at Noel’s misunderstanding. Of course he also had it made because it was pretty.

“I see. Well it’s beautiful either way.” She put it on her right middle finger. “It fits perfectly too.” Of course Owari had sneakily got her finger measurements when he held her hand on the train.

“Did you say orichalcum?” Owari’s mother was practically sweating. She knew that even a small ring like that would be absurdly expensive. At least hundreds or maybe even a thousand credits. The worst part was how naturally she accepted it, as if it was only a matter of course.

“Yes, why?” Owari smiled. He knew exactly what his mother was thinking.

“How did you afford that?” She couldn’t help but feel something was off.

“Your son is quite the hunter.” Noel answered for him.

“I found it while doing some prospecting.” Owari clarified.

“So you didn’t buy it?” His mother felt like things were going back to normal.

“I suppose not, though he could afford to if he wanted.” Noel said casually.

“Is that so?” His mother was equal parts surprised and impressed.

“I do a lot of mapping work.” Owari explained. “Not many hunters are good at it so my work is quite profitable.”

“Now then it’s my turn to give your gift.” Noel reached into her own bag and pulled out a box about two and a half feet long and handed it over to Owari.

Owari opened it up calmly and found a metal arm guard inside. It was made out of a magical steel. Owari could feel it resonate with his metal affinity. “It’s very nice.” He said as he tested it. He placed it on his left arm and allowed it to passively absorb his mana as his arm moved, enhancing his arm to be stronger.

“Now you’ll stop hurting your arm.” Of course she meant how he kept breaking it.

“It doesn’t get in the way at least.” Owari was never really one for armor of any kind. But it only covered his forearm and didn’t get in his way so he was fine with it.

“I’m glad you like it.” Noel was happy, she didn’t know how he would feel given how he normally didn’t wear armor. The three of them were overall satisfied with their gifts. After that they all talked a little more before going to sleep. Tomorrow Noel and Owari would be leaving and going back to the city.