Aethernea : Soulbound [Book 1]

Episode 46 - Engagement Ring Shop

In the previous Episode:

After the exams, Elaru picks Kiel up and takes him to a high-class shop selling rings. Kiel finds out that over these several days, Elaru had been spellcrafting an enchantment that will be placed on the ring of his choice. She has also mystified the enchantment so no one would be able to tell that his magical artifact is a fake mana purifying artifact.

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She then turned her head to the side, locking eyes with his. "If I wanted to expand my knowledge...where else could I go? Muni is the holy land of magic. If the knowledge can't be found there, then it can't be found anywhere else in the lands under the Shield."

She has a point. Muni wasn't only a teaching institution. It was also a research institution with more staff than students which produced new breakthroughs in the field of magic study every year.

There was much more to Muni than just classes. All professors were masters in their respective fields of study. Being mentored by one would allow you to learn knowledge that you can't learn anywhere else.

Muni also had the finest library of magic related books in all the lands of Halnea.

If you wanted to learn magic, no matter how advanced, where else would you go besides Muni?

Kiel had successfully managed to change the subject from her efforts to make him a magical artifact, to her purpose in coming to Muni. However, even though the conversation steered away, his mind and heart were still hopelessly stuck on her seemingly selfless efforts in helping him out.

He clenched his fists hard, trying to hide the turmoil he felt inside. He didn't know what he should be feeling right now. He didn't even know what he was currently feeling.

He only knew that whatever these emotions were, they weren't pleasant. There was a tightness in his chest and a bitter taste in his mouth.

Elaru used this opportunity to wrap her hands around his. The warmth spreading out from her body pressed against his arm made the unpleasant feeling subside a bit.

Currently, the thought of shrugging her arms off didn't even occur to him. She pulled on his arm gently, letting her soothing warm aura envelop him.

Under her urging, relaxed by her aura, he stepped forward.

Completely lost in his own thoughts, he had forgotten his previous complaints about entering the ring shop. Only when the merchant asked how he could help, did Kiel snap out of his thoughts.

Dazed, he looked down at the table filled with shiny silver rings; his mind unable to concentrate on the matter at hand.

In the background, he heard the voice of the merchant. "Are the young lord and lady looking for engagement rings?"

He couldn't see Elaru's face but from her words he could tell she was smiling. "We haven't made any definite decisions yet. We would like to see your wares first."

The merchant winked at her knowingly. "Why of course!"

Hearing that, Kiel felt as if a cold bucket of water splashed over his head. He almost spit out blood from anger. This is why!! This is exactly why I didn't want to go here!! Why couldn't you have explained it properly?? Why do you insist on speaking in such an ambiguous manner!? It's as if you want to be misunderstood!

The merchant started bringing out different types of engagement rings and explaining their materials.

"See anything you like?" Elaru's voice reverberated inside his head. As if she could tell exactly what he was feeling she added. "Quicker you find the right ring, the quicker we can leave."