* * *
Since prior notice had been sent, passing through customs was swift.
The moment they entered the village, Felix immediately looked up at the sky.
“It’s a bit overcast.”
Just as he said, the sky was filled with thick clouds.
Though the cool air was pleasant, it wasn’t the best weather for viewing the beautiful flowers.
“Come on, at least we arrived before it started raining.”
Lowell quickly pointed out the silver lining.
Realizing that dwelling on the negatives would only lose him points, Felix pressed his lips together and said nothing.
“Let’s drop off our luggage first.”
“Oh, we’ll take care of that,” the mages offered, since they were staying in the same lodging to restore their mana.
Two knights accompanied them as escorts, while Lowell and Felix made their way toward the river.
“Oh no, what should we do…?”
Lowell had felt uneasy the moment he failed to spot the famous boats floating on the river.
Sure enough, the boatman looked at them apologetically before speaking.
“What’s the issue?”
The sudden chill in Felix’s voice made the boatman flinch.
Sweating profusely, he began explaining through frantic gestures.
“Today is the monthly maintenance day. The boats are being inspected, and the river is being cleaned. They’ll be available again tomorrow.”
“You’re saying we won’t be able to ride a boat at all today?”
Felix’s brows furrowed deeply, his voice dropping to a dangerous low.
To Lowell, he merely sounded disappointed, but to the boatman, it was a death sentence.
The poor man turned pale, torn between breaking the rules and saving his own neck.
“Then how about we get something to eat first?” Lowell suggested without any sign of dismay.
“I heard there are street vendors selling all kinds of food just a short walk from here. They even have a spicy noodle dish I’ve been wanting to try.”
Despite Lowell’s effortless pivot to the next plan, Felix’s shoulders visibly sagged.
Because his usual posture was so upright, the change was even more noticeable.
He trudged along with the dejected air of a puppy denied its walk.
‘If I try to console him now, it’ll only backfire, right?’
Lowell felt guilty in his own way.
Though Felix had agreed to the trip, it was Lowell who had planned most of it.
Both of them quietly blamed themselves for the dampened mood and tried to salvage it however they could.
“Yeah, that sounds good. I’ve noticed you’re always dissatisfied with the spicy food at the palace.”
Felix had cooked for him a few times, and though his skills had improved, the palace dishes never quite satisfied Lowell’s cravings.
But according to what he had read, this city was known for its bold flavors, and one particular noodle dish was famous for its spice.
Lowell had been looking forward to it.
Knowing that, Felix thought, ‘Even if everything else goes wrong, maybe good food can make up for it.’
With that in mind, he quickened his pace.
‘It’s like he learned teleportation or something.’
Lowell, practically pressed against Felix’s side, found himself half-embraced as they hurried along.
Thanks to that, they moved at a speed Lowell never could have managed alone.
But once again, the indifferent sky had no intention of favoring them.
The heavy clouds finally gave in, and raindrops began to fall.
“Damn it.”
Felix took off his outer coat and placed it over Lowell’s head before accepting the umbrella handed to him by a knight and opening it.
“Hurry and eat so we can head back. You’ll catch a cold at this rate.”
Felix acted as if even a single raindrop touching Lowell would be a disaster.
While he was fixated on the rain, Lowell’s thoughts wandered elsewhere.
“Do you think the street vendors will still be open in this weather?”
“We should at least check.”
A light drizzle wouldn’t be enough to stop them, but by the time they arrived at the famous food alley, the rain had grown heavier, obscuring their vision.
At this point, worrying about street vendors was pointless—they needed to head back to their lodgings.
“……”
Felix fell completely silent.
No matter how skilled a magician he was, stopping the rain was beyond his power.
Perhaps he could summon rain from clear skies, but making it cease was another matter entirely.
He found himself sinking into rare feelings of helplessness—the more he struggled, the deeper he seemed to sink, like floundering in a bog.
For others, this might be “just a trip,” but for him, it held a greater purpose.
Yet, from the first step to the middle of the journey, everything had gone completely awry.
“Let’s head back to the inn. We can enjoy the trip starting tomorrow. I think I got ahead of myself.”
Lowell, who was just as disappointed, spoke with a tinge of apology.
Hearing that, Felix tensed, feeling a pang of guilt.
“But isn’t it kind of romantic to walk through the rain like this? It even reminds me of the day you taught me how to dance, Rix.”
Lowell flashed a bright smile in an effort to lift the mood.
The dark, rain-drenched surroundings seemed to glow from that single expression, illuminating Felix’s heart.
“You’re right. This isn’t so bad. But I still wanted to make this a good trip for you… I’m sorry.”
It took effort, but he finally voiced his apology.
It felt much better than bottling it up.
“Then how about we both stop apologizing for today?”
“Alright.”
Though they hadn’t followed a single plan, by the time they returned to their inn, it no longer felt like the trip was ruined.
The rain gradually lessened and had completely stopped by evening.
Felix, who had been gazing out the window at the now-clear sky, made a decision.
He turned to Lowell, who was busy snacking, and poked his cheek.
“Would you like to step out for a moment?”
His voice trembled ever so slightly.
His hands fidgeted, betraying his nervousness.
Lowell, unable to understand why Felix was suddenly so anxious again, hesitated before nodding.
The mountain was steeper than expected.
If Lowell had climbed alone, he might have collapsed from exhaustion halfway up.
But Felix, true to his word, provided unwavering support—though from afar, it looked less like assistance and more like he was practically carrying Lowell the entire way.
‘Is the night view that spectacular? This place was briefly mentioned in a famous travelogue, but no one said it was a must-see. Felix wouldn’t have brought me somewhere like this without a special reason.’
Felix was notoriously overprotective.
He never let Lowell near anything even remotely dangerous or strenuous.
Even trips to the tower or the capital always came with his constant worrying, so Lowell had every reason to be suspicious.
“We’re almost there.”
Felix finally broke the long silence.
His arms, still wrapped around Lowell, trembled slightly—not from exertion, but from nerves.
Feeling that firsthand only deepened Lowell’s curiosity.
“Is this the place?”
After about ten more minutes, Felix set Lowell down and surveyed the surroundings.
‘I feel like I’ve seen this place before…’
As he scanned his surroundings, his eyes drifted downward.
Below the mountain, the city lights stretched endlessly, twinkling like stars at his feet.
Staring blankly at the breathtaking sight, Lowell felt Felix’s arm extend protectively around him.
“It’s beautiful.”
Lowell smiled brightly, and Felix gave a small nod.
Seeing that Felix had more to say, Lowell silently urged him to continue.
After some hesitation, Felix finally spoke.
“Does this place remind you of anything?”
“It feels familiar, but…”
As Lowell mulled over his déjà vu, the realization hit him belatedly.
‘It looks just like Swain Hill.’
* * *
