After the brief interaction, Saryll went into training mode. Placing her hands at her hips, she spoke.
"Now, shall we race?"
Racing was a regular part of their training.
Earl nodded. "I'm ready."
As previously stated, Spirit Magic can be broken down into two parts.
Close-ranged and long-ranged.
This "race" was training the close-ranged portion of Spirit Magic.
The elven milf and human boy pair positioned themself atop one of the enormously large Elven Trees.
The clear sky with few clouds was in full view. They were on top of the canopy of trees.
A calm, steady breeze of wind came by, ruffling Earl's short hair. He looked to his teacher, the Elven Queen.
Her bright green emerald eyes looked perfect with the trees in the background. They looked bright and clear, without a hint of murkiness.
Her waist-length blonde hair flew freely with the wind together with her loose white dress. She looked magnificent.
"Do you like looking at me that much?" Saryll teased when she caught his eye.
"I have the most beautiful teacher so I must look at her while I still can."
"What's that supposed to mean!?"
"Aha, you'll grow into a granny before I know it, right?"
"You're really asking for it today, aren't you?" A vein popped at the side of Saryll's forehead.
"Hahaha."
"I won't be going easy today. Ready? Go!"
The branch under them shook and they took off at a blazing fast speed.
Earl concentrated as he channelled the power of various spirits into his body.
Using Spirit Magic as a medium, the user can is able to take the power of spirits into their body or project it outside. The former is what Earl is currently using, Spirit Augmentation- the close-ranged form of Spirit Magic. The latter is the long-ranged form.
Taking in the power of Wind Spirits, he ran with the wind, moved like the wind, and became closer to the wind.
It took out all the thinking one would need when performing regular magic. The downside to this overpowered Spirit Magic was the high barrier of entry in receiving the favours of the Spirits. However, this did not apply to Earl who had the powers of Shadow Magic and Charm Magic.
With this advantage, he channelled the powers of all the Wind Spirits around him and overtook the Elven Queen with a laugh.
He landed at the finish line and Saryll arrived a moment after. Despite her saying she would not go easy, she went easy on him in the end.
"Wow~ That surprised me. When did you become so fast?" She smiled sweetly and gave him a pat on the back.
"Maybe because I have such a wonderful teacher?"
"Awfully good with your tongue now, aren't you?" She laughed and pulled him close.
They had become very close over the years to the point where Saryll sometimes acted more like his older sister than a teacher.
This was, of course, in line with Earl's plans. It was not like he could do any real damage with his prepubescent body years ago anyway.
"I might fall for you if you keep touching me so much," He told her with a slightly red face when she wrapped her arm around his.
To this, Saryll immediately placed him into a headlock.
"Ah!" He cried in pain.
"Sigh. What happened to my cute Earl who used to run up and hug me every morning while saying 'Teacher, Teacher!'?"
"He's still here but he wants to do more... Argh!"
"Hmm, on this topic, how's it going with Alea?"
"Alea? She's always so violent with me nowadays..."
"Doesn't that mean she likes you?"
"Why do you want to see me with her anyway? I like you more, Teacher."
Bonk! Saryll smacked Earl's head with her fist.
"Don't go around saying that to married women! Well, you've been with us for a long time so you might've forgotten, but we're royalties. My daughter is a princess, you know? I need to pick a partner for her. Since you're my student and all... you'd be the perfect fit." She awkwardly said while darting her eyes around.
"..."
Saryll expectantly looked to Earl who she was still holding in a headlock. "So?"
"You smell good. Hehe."
Bam!
The whole forest shook.
"Why did you have to hit me like that, Teacher?"
"Hmph! I was trying to have a serious talk with you for once but you're still saying stupid things. What happened to my cute, short Earl?" Saryll sighed.
"Ah, about that." Earl suddenly switched to a serious tone. "I would only want to be with her if we loved each other, not because of an arranged marriage."
"Earl..."
"The same applies to you, of course."
Bam!
Later, when Earl returned home that day, he met Alea at the door.
She had her hair cut just below shoulder length and tied into a ponytail. Her green eyes scanned up and down his body casually as she asked. "Why do you look so unsightly today?"
After training with Saryll for the day, his clean clothes had turned all dirty and wrinkly. Compared to her who looked spotlessly clean in her elven white dress, he looked pathetic indeed.
"Ahem. Just a rough day at training."
"I see." She looked the other way. "I was worried for nothing, then."
Despite her cold demeanour, she really did care for him. Earl lightly smiled as he commented. "How sweet of you."
She ignored his remark completely and said with her eyebrow lifted. "How long are you going to block the door for?"
"I'll walk you home today."
"How unexpected." She looked the other way.