Morning light slipped gently through the inn's window slits, casting warmth on the wooden walls and filling the air with the lingering scent of dew. Arthur woke up first, sitting up slowly with a slight grimace as he reached for the burn on his back. The healing salve given by the healer yesterday seemed effective. The sharp pain had faded, leaving only a dull throb.
Lucifer opened his eyes and saw his friend already awake. "How's your back?" he asked calmly, though his voice carried genuine concern.
Arthur nodded slightly. "Better. Not as bad as yesterday," he replied with a faint smile.
"That's good," said Lucifer as he put on his signature black jacket. "I'm going out for a bit. Just to walk around… get some fresh air."
Arthur glanced at him briefly, then gave a small nod. "Go ahead. But don't start any trouble. And don't be late if there's another mission."
Lucifer chuckled softly, raising his hand as if taking an oath. "I'm just going to find some good satay. No fights, I promise."
Lucifer's footsteps echoed along the increasingly busy city streets. The sun hung low in the sky, casting its light on food stalls just lifting their curtains. The scent of spices and grilled meat filled the air, tempting every passerby.
He returned to the same place as yesterday—a simple satay stall at the corner near the park. And as if fate repeated itself, Kaela was already there.
The silver-haired girl was dressed casually today: a plain white top and light gray pants that softened her appearance. Her face lit up as she saw Lucifer approaching.
"Lucifer?" she greeted with a small smile.
"You came back too? Getting addicted to the satay, huh?" he teased as he sat beside her on the wooden bench.
Kaela laughed lightly. "I like the atmosphere. And yes, maybe the taste too."
They ordered satay, and to his surprise, Kaela offered to treat.
"Seriously? You're a great mage. Don't tell me you read my mind and knew I'm broke?" Lucifer joked.
Kaela gave him an amused look. "Think of it as a thank-you for helping out on the last mission."
Their conversation flowed easily. Laughter occasionally broke out as Lucifer tossed out silly jokes, which Kaela answered with sharp wit of her own.
While enjoying the steaming satay, Kaela asked softly, "How's Arthur doing? Is he alright?"
Lucifer paused briefly, then took a sip of his drink before answering, "He got burned during the fight with the salamander. But this morning, he was much better."
Kaela nodded slowly, visibly relieved. "That's good… I figured he's tough, but burns like that are dangerous."
After finishing their meal, they didn't part ways right away. Instead, they walked together toward the guild department. Upon arriving, Lucifer glanced at the mission board.
"Do you feel like taking a mission today?" he asked.
Kaela nodded. "As long as it's not too difficult. An E-rank mission sounds light enough."
They picked a mission to gather medicinal herbs. It sounded boring, but both agreed that after the danger of their last mission, something peaceful wouldn't hurt.
Their destination was a small forest on the city's outskirts, full of bushes and low trees. Not long after entering the area, Kaela closed her eyes, standing still as the mana around her subtly shifted. The air itself seemed to respond to her presence.
Within a minute, Kaela opened her eyes and pointed toward a bush. "Over there."
Lucifer followed her lead, and sure enough—the herbs they needed were growing behind a small cluster of rocks. He looked at her in awe. "You found it that fast? How?"
Kaela smiled proudly. "Mana radar technique. I spread my mana into the surroundings, then use my senses to detect living beings or magical objects."
"Wow… that's cool. Can you teach me?"
Kaela paused for a moment, then nodded. "Sure, but it's not easy. It took me a week to learn it the first time."
Surprisingly, within less than an hour, Lucifer was already able to mimic and apply the technique, though still roughly.
Kaela was stunned. "Are you serious? That's way too fast… Even academy instructors take longer than that."
Lucifer chuckled awkwardly. "Maybe I just… learn fast?"
Kaela pinched his arm lightly. "Or maybe you're a monster disguised as a human."
The sun had started to dip westward. After gathering enough medicinal herbs, they rested under a large tree. A gentle breeze brushed over their tired faces.
Lucifer sat leaning against the trunk, while Kaela sat beside him, gazing at the sky turning orange.
"You know," Kaela suddenly said, "sometimes I envy the way you interact with people. So relaxed, lighthearted, but still genuine."
Lucifer turned to her, surprised. "Envy? But you're way better than me at so many things."
Kaela looked at him, and there was something in her eyes—soft, but deep. "Maybe… But you have something most people don't."
Lucifer didn't answer right away. He just smiled and closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the peacefulness of the evening with the girl who was slowly filling a small space in his heart.
Afterward, they returned to the guild, handed in the herbs they'd gathered, and received a small reward in return.
It was a simple day, perhaps, but behind the light chatter, easy steps, and soft smiles, something was slowly growing—friendship, and maybe, something more.