39 Life is full of separations.

Aurora Village, Old Village Chief House.

A month and a half quickly passed by.

…

The moon shone brightly.

After coming back from the routinely intense training, Elias returned to the village chief's home with his whole body drenched in sweat.

Without asking for permission, he went to use their hot spring and immediately took a soothing bath to remove the soreness in his body.

Deluged in sprinkled clean water, Elias was refreshed. The training was no less intense than ever.

"A month and a half has already passed so quickly. The entrance examination to Arcane Academy is coming up. But now I'm assured that I can pass it."

"...During this past month and a half, I've trained every aspect of a Ranker. I've become much, much stronger than before to the point even I couldn't believe it myself."

"...At first, I couldn't do anything against Donato and the rest, but later on, I managed to tie a draw against them in battles and accomplished their self-made exercises."

"Furthermore, with the help of Limitless, I had close to no problems learning their teachings and imparted useful skills."

"I've also discovered some things about the system."

Elias chuckled while looking at the ceiling distantly. He suddenly remembered that a few days ago, his Uncle Sanchez called him to tell him that his identity is finished.

"Now, a month and a half have already passed so quickly… tomorrow is the day Uncle Sanchez will pick me up."

Thinking about it, he couldn't help but feel complicated emotions. He had been here one month and a half, forming some friendships with the other villagers.

He had interacted with almost all the villagers already, making him familiar with everyone in the village, including Harris and Miss. Alysa.

That was why he did not bother asking their permission to use the hot spring, on one hand, he was lazy, on the other hand, he was already familiar enough with the village chief to do so.

These one-and-a-half months were quite eventful. It's a pity that he was going to leave and say goodbye to them.

"Life is full of separations. Nothing we can do about that."

Elias cynically muttered out loud as he closed his eyes. While he was deluged in refreshing clean water, he calmly relaxed in the breezing wind.

Creak..

At that moment, the door suddenly opened as someone entered the hot spring.

Elias suddenly widened his eyes and turned around only to see a naked long brown haired young woman with only a towel covering her body.

"..."

Alysa opened her mouth, closing it soon after. Her entire face immediately turned red while her lips trembled in embarrassment.

She was blushing furiously.

Looking at Elias who had a toned perfect body, unhidden and a striking appearance, Alysa felt dizzy as her nose slightly bled.

Without saying anything, she slowly turned around and opened the door… wanting to escape as quickly as she could.

However, Elias didn't give her the chance.

"Ms. Alysa? I didn't know you were going to take a bath in the hot spring. I should've told you, sorry about that."

Hearing him apologize, Alysa suddenly stiffened up as she withheld her desire to immediately run away and instead spoke up.

"...I-it's fine… It's fine, Sir. Elias. I-I was also at fault for not realizing that someone is in the hot spring, m-may you excuse me..! I'll just take a bath after you!"

Alysa was stammering through her words but didn't turn around. Seeing her, Elias couldn't help but be amused.

He thought for a moment before he ultimately asked.

"Miss. Alysa, if you're going to take a bath.. why don't you stay here for the moment?"

"..Ah?"

Alysa suddenly widened her eyes. At this moment, she wanted to pinch her skin to check if this was reality or not.

Elias hummed before reasoning with a calm smile.

"The hot spring is big enough for two people anyways. I don't mind if you want to take a bath also. It's also getting late, if you come before me, it might be too late. If you wish, I can close my eyes so I won't make you uncomfortable."

'What are you saying Sir. Elias…' Alysa felt dizzy as she thought. Taking a bath together…? Absurd. Absurd.

However, after a while, she didn't open the door at all.

With a slightly reddened face, she came back to the hot spring with her lowered eyes unable to meet Elias' eyes directly.

"...I don't mind, Sir Elias. I mean… if you wish then that's al-alright. No need to close your eyes… yes, no need at all."

Inwardly, she was screaming at herself for her decision. But unfortunately, her desire overcame her embarrassment.

"..."

Elias chuckled before looking up, staring at the nightly moon and starry sky. His eyes were slightly mesmerized.

After a while, he commented.

"The moon is beautiful, isn't it?"

Hearing his words, Alysa also looked up and observed the nightly lunar moon. She nodded in agreement.

"..."

While both of them were deluged in water and a misty atmosphere, a long, comfortable silence took place between them.

It was not tense nor awkward, it was serene and peaceful.

After a while, Alysa raised her head and broke the silence as she suddenly spoke.

"Sir. Elias, are you really leaving tomorrow..?"

Hearing that, Elias slowly opened his eyes. He thought for a moment before nodding directly.

"Yes. My relatives are going to pick us up. I've already said my farewells to your grandfather. We're thankful for your hospitality these past months, this gratitude will be repaid well.."

"I see.."

After spending a month and a half time with him, Alysa wasn't surprised. She had observed him and talked to him for so long to realize something was different about him.

Although a lot of Rankers cross their village, there were close to none who was as young as Elias who came.

When her grandfather muttered his intentions of marrying her of jokingly, she started to see Elias in a... more so different light and saw a lot of things she liked about him.

With his mysterious allure, dependable personality and handsome appearance, she grew a budding crush on him over time.

She rarely came in contact with the opposite sex of her age, and then comes in a person like that.

It was somewhat reasonable a small infatuation and a budding crush to develop, but not outright love.

Her feelings was something she realized relatively early but didn't bother enough to think about it.

After all, with their statuses, they were simply worlds apart.

With her natural curiosity, she observed him and grew to realize there was something amiss: Sir. Elias was lying at first. He has a mysterious background and was a Ranker at a young age.

That made her realize that there was something wrong and mysterious about him. However, she wasn't worried and didn't ask or interrogate him about her suspicions.

On the contrary, she kept it to herself and stayed silent about the matter. If anything, Sir. Elias and the group were good people and became a huge help to the village.

They collected monster carcasses, beast hide, and materials and helped out the other villagers, making the village much livelier than ever before.

Thinking about it, Alysa's face couldn't help but give a radiant soft, and gentle smile.

While she was mesmerized by her own memories, a voice suddenly snapped her out of it.

"You should smile like that more. You look beautiful when you're happy."

Seeing her smile, Elias chuckled as he complimented her genuinely.

"...Please don't tease me, Sir. Elias."

Alysa sighed and smiled bitterly. Now that she confirmed he was leaving the village, she couldn't help but feel slightly sad.

'And this man finds more reasons why I should like him… and here I am, a fool, falling for it anyways,' Inwardly, she berated him and herself in her heart.

Seeing her expression, Elias raised his brows in confusion and asked hesitantly.

"...You look sad, is there a problem?"

Alysa was silent for a moment before admitting.

"You're leaving."

Elias suddenly widened his eyes in surprise. He raised his head and stared at her while a sigh escaped his lips.

"I also feel it's a pity."

Alyse pursed her lips before asking.

"Will we meet again?"

Elias glanced at the stars before turning his gaze to her with a helpless smile.

"If fate would allow it, perhaps we will. Or perhaps we will never."

"I hope fate allows it."

Alysa whispered loudly.

"I hope so too."

Elias smiled while looking at her with a complicated expression. After a while, he felt that he was already staying long enough.

He stood up from his position and looked at Alysa, who was covered in a towel, slightly averting his eyes.

"Miss. Alysa, I'm sorry, I'll take my leave first. I hope you don't mind."

Alysa nodded slightly. Elias nodded back and left. She raised her head and looked at his retreating figure. In the end, she smiled while a sigh escaped her lips in the end.

"..."