Dusk gently poured over the little path Flamme had chosen to return home.
The golden slant of the setting sun dyed the stone-paved road in warm amber.
Agusheed walked slowly, holding the hand of a slightly drained "Little Flamme" after her lecture with the court mages.
Bathed in the afterglow, they made their way toward their cottage.
"Shrinking really drained my energy too… I need to turn back soon."
Flamme muttered gloomily, kicking at pebbles like a real child.
She was now barely up to Agusheed's waist.
Even though he had slowed his steps considerably, Flamme still had to struggle to keep up.
"If you wanted to change back so badly, why didn't you just write to Serie from the beginning?"
"Who wants their teacher to see them and laugh…"
Flamme shot him a frustrated look.
"That human 'sense of shame,' is it?"
The sunset cast a soft orange glow across Agusheed's profile as he murmured to himself.
But in Flamme's eyes, that warm hue didn't soften the usual coldness in his gray eyes.
She tried to pat his shoulder—only to reach his elbow.
Way too big for her current feet—made a clomp clomp with every step.
Even rolling her pants up three times didn't stop her from tripping on the hem.
Agusheed didn't look back, but his voice was as calm as always.
His steady hand caught her just before she stumbled.
His tall figure cast a long shadow over the little Flamme, completely covering her.
"Don't treat me like a kid, Agusheed…"
Flamme sighed softly.
She tried jumping to swat a low-hanging oak branch but couldn't even reach the lowest ones.
That only frustrated her more.
Unseen by her, Agusheed's lips curled ever so slightly:
"But Flamme, everything about you now is childlike."
"You could at least try to speak to me like your normal self."
Flamme tilted her head up to retort—
But tripped again over a raised root from the oak tree stretching into the path.
Before she hit the ground, Agusheed's arm shot out, catching her again by the waist.
Like picking up a kitten, he lifted her and gently set her back on her feet.
He said tersely but didn't let go of her shoulder.
"Being a kid is the worst…"
Flamme grumbled after nearly falling twice.
Hearing this, Agusheed stopped and pulled a candy from his waist pouch.
Flamme also paused, her nose nearly brushing his outstretched fingers.
"Stop treating me like a child already…"
"And you sound like a grandpa spoiling his granddaughter."
"Demons don't have a concept of 'family,'" Agusheed replied.
Then turned and walked again, this time clearly slowing his pace further to match hers.
The road widened, and windmills from their district came into view.
Flamme tugged at his sleeve suddenly:
"You were bouncing around just a second ago."
"That was ten minutes ago!"
She kept tugging, pouting like a spoiled child.
"Don't you know children get tired quickly?"
"Didn't you just say I shouldn't treat you like a child…"
Agusheed stared at her for a few seconds.
And then, with a sigh, turned around and crouched down.
Flamme didn't climb up immediately. She stood there watching him for a moment.
Then giggled softly and clambered up, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Agusheed lifted her with ease, as if she weighed nothing.
"You're kind of heavy," he said.
Flamme wasn't offended. She rested her chin on his shoulder, mock-resentful.
"What a rude thing to say about your own wife."
She caught the faint, clean scent in his hair.
Then rested her head on his broad, warm shoulder, rising and falling gently with his steps.
The dusk deepened. The sun glowed more intensely.
Flamme yawned, her eyelids drooping.
Agusheed turned his head slightly, murmuring to her.
"Then tell me a story."
Flamme clung tighter to his neck, her voice sleepy.
"I'm no good at stories."
"Then just say something… like what you were doing while I was teaching today…"
Agusheed was silent for a while. Just as Flamme thought he wouldn't answer—
"Studying how humans think. As always, trying to understand what 'emotions' are."
Flamme chuckled softly and leaned in closer to his ear.
"That sounds so boring… Didn't you miss me?"
Another silence fell.
She could hear his steady breathing and strong heartbeat.
The distant cry of birds and the soft crunch of leaves under his feet filled the quiet.
Their cottage was close now.
In the corner of her eye, Flamme spotted Frieren sitting at the doorstep, slacking off all day.
Just then, Agusheed turned and looked at the little Flamme on his shoulder.
"So are you sleeping with Frieren tonight, or with me as usual?"
Flamme caught the nuance in his tone.
She turned her face and buried it in the crook of his neck.
"I've said this a thousand times… stop treating me like a kid…"