As the dawn broke over the peaceful countryside, Maris and Lucan approached a small, secluded vige nestled between lush, rolling hills. The vige was a world apart from the bustling capital they had left behind—a quiet ce, where life moved slowly, and time itself seemed to breathe easy.
Maris inhaled deeply, feeling the freshness of the air fill her lungs. She turned to Lucan, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement. "This is exactly what we needed," she said, her voice full of warmth. "A ce far from the academy, from the capital, and from all the responsibilities that seem to follow us there."
Lucan nodded, ncing around with his usual calm. Words floated into the air beside him: "It''s perfect. We''ll be able to live simply and quietly until the timees."
As they walked further into the vige, curious vigers cast nces at them, admiring the unusual pair. Maris, with her radiant presence, and Lucan, with hisposed silence, were a captivating sight. A friendly elder waved them over, his face creased with years of sun andughter.
"You two aren''t from around here, are you?" he asked with kind smile.
"We''re looking for a ce to stay," Maris replied. "Something simple, just a little home where we can live quietly."
The elder smiled and gestured down a dirt path lined with vibrant flowers. "We''ve got a little cottage on the outskirts of the vige. No one''s lived there in years, but it''s cozy and has a good view of the hills. You two are wee to it."
Maris and Lucan thanked him, and, after gathering a few supplies from the local shops, they made their way to the cottage. It was a quaint little home with ivy clinging to the walls and a small, overgrown garden. As they stepped inside, Maris took in the cozy interior—a simple stone firece, wooden furniture, and a small kitchen that looked out onto the fields beyond.
"It''s perfect," she murmured, a soft smile spreading across her face as she imagined a life here with Lucan.
---
The first few days in the vige passed peacefully. Maris and Lucan settled into a gentle rhythm, each day bringing new discoveries and small joys. In the mornings, Maris would wake early, eager to start her day. She often wandered into the garden, where she found happiness in tending to the nts and flowers, her fingers gently brushing against the leaves as she hummed a soft tune. Then she would go back and make breakfast for Lucan and her.
In the afternoons, they would take leisurely walks around the vige, greeting the locals who had quickly grown fond of them. Children would run up to Maris, enchanted by her kindness and gentle smile. She wouldugh as they tugged on her hand, asking her to y games with them or tell stories.
One day, as Maris sat in the shade of arge oak tree with a group of children gathered around her, one of the vigers approached Lucan. "Your wife has quite a way with the little ones," he remarked, grinning as he nodded toward Maris.
Lucan was stunned for a moment before smiling and nodded. He didn''t expected that vigers saw them as married couple.
The viger chuckled, pping Lucan on the back. "You''re lucky, my friend. Not everyone find beautiful woman like as wife. Treat her well."
Lucan watched Maris from afar, the softughter of the children mixing with her own.
---
As days turned into weeks, Maris and Lucan settled into a steady routine. They found joy in the simplest of things—like cooking together in the kitchen, where Maris would attempt to teach Lucan some of her favorite recipes. He would watch her intently, his words of encouragement appearing beside him: "That looks delicious. Teach me more."
Maris wouldugh, shaking her head. "Only if you promise to actually taste it this time, instead of watching me eat everything."
On market days, they would wander through the vige square, browsing stalls filled with fresh produce, handmade crafts, and woven fabrics. The vigers would greet them warmly, offering them samples of fruits and breads, and Maris would always ept with a smile, thanking each person by name. Lucan would stay close by, as they enjoyed the lively atmosphere together.
---
One evening, as they watched the sun set over the hills, Maris rested her head on Lucan''s shoulder, feeling a quiet peace settle over her. "Thank you, Lucan-sama," she murmured softly.
"For what?"
"For finding me, for protecting me, for… staying."
Lucan''s words appeared beside him: "There''s nowhere else I''d rather be."
One morning, as Maris gathered herbs in the garden, a young girl from the vige approached her, carrying a small bouquet of wildflowers. She held them out shyly, her cheeks pink. "Miss Maris, these are for you."
Maris smiled, taking the flowers with a softugh. "Thank you, they''re beautiful. I''ll put them in a vase inside."
The girl looked up at her, curiosity shining in her eyes. "Are you going to stay here forever?"N?v(el)B\\jnn
Maris paused, ncing back at the cottage where Lucan stood in the doorway, watching them. "We are going away in few days."
"Really? Why not stay here forever? It''s fun."
Maris shake her head. She also like this quite ce, spending all day with Lucan but they need to move away soon.
As the sun set that evening, Maris and Lucan sat together in the garden, surrounded by the gentle rustling of leaves and the soft chirping of crickets. Lucan''s hand rested beside Maris''s, close but not touching.
The quiet days they spent in the vige became precious memories—ofughter, shared meals, walks through the fields, and evenings spent watching the stars. These were the moments that would remain with Maris and Lucan.
As the month drew to an end, Lucan regained his ability.
Now, they had to leave this ce. Maris, however, was reluctant to go, even more so when it came to breaking the barrier. She didn''t know exactly what would happen after the barrier was broken, and there was a chance she wouldn''t experience peaceful moments like those of the past month for a long time. Still, she felt grateful to have Lucan with her, content as long as he stayed by her side.
Lucan was in another room, eyes closed, deep in thought about his abilities. Every Evil Magician possessed two unique powers. Nyx, for instance, controlled both space and time magic. Lucan''s first ability allowed him to make anything happen by speaking, and his second was simr, though he had never used it due to his limited mana.
But over the past month, he had gained mana from Maris and Meri, the previous Saint. Now, he had enough mana to use moreplex words beyond simplemands like "push," "pull," and "stop." He was also ready to wield his second ability for the first time.
With his power restored and his resolve strengthened, Lucan felt prepared to face whatever mighte.
---
Julia, Hima, Rina, and Olive stood together in front of the guild master''s desk. The guild master, a seasoned adventurer with a gaze as sharp as ever, looked at them with surprise and curiosity.
"You''re... quitting?" he asked, his voiceyered with disbelief. "All four of you?"
Julia nodded, a small, calm smile on her face. "Yes. We''ve made our decision. We''ve been through countless battles, traveled to the edges of the world, and faced every imaginable challenge and... Lost some things. Now... we''re tired. We''ve given everything to this life, and it''s time we let it go."
Hima chuckled softly, flipping a lock of her blonde hair as she was flying in air. "We''ve decided to try living a quieter life in the city, something a little less dangerous."
"You''ve always looked out for us. We''re grateful, but it''s time for us to move on." Rina said.
Olive, as silent as ever, only gave a brief nod.
The guild master sighed deeply but gave them a nod of understanding. "You all have earned it. Go find that peace."
---
The soft glow of evening light filtered through a misty haze, filling the secluded, stone-lined bathhouse with a warm, calming ambiance. Virnda and Nyx were in the bath, rxing. Steam rose in gentle waves, curling around them like tendrils.
Nyx leaned back, her dark skin glistening beneath the water, eyes closed as she embraced the hot water. Her mind was far from quiet, however; her thoughts raced as she considered the barriers, Lucan, and Maris. Opening her pale, pupil-less eyes, she nced at Virnda, who was seated across from her.
"Are you confident in our n?" Nyx asked.
Virnda, with her snow-white skin almost glowing in the dim light, opened her eyes, a faint smile on her lips. "Confident enough," she replied, trailing her fingers lightly over the surface of the water, watching the ripples expand. "With help of past Saint''s, we can break the barrier, and with help of Maris, and Lucan, we can also deal with outside force."
"Hm... Well, I have no other choice beside working with you," Nyx said as she closed her eyes.
Vrinda smiled.
Lucan... You''re also from earth aren''t you.
Virnda smirked as she thought.