Non fell silent after Emily's fession.
'Twe? How she be the same age as me?' he thought as he g her sideways.
For years, he had lived immersed in his obsession with mastering his magic, tinuously researg and perfeg his trol over time.
He had spent an unimaginable amount of hours repeating the same process over and over: activate the spell, rewind a few seds, observe the effects, rest tain strength, and the it all.
A routine so strid meical that it had ed a signifit part of his life.
But now... everything had ged.
His mana core was damaged, and using magic as he had before was a tremendous risk.
'Maybe I should try something different…' Non told himself as his mind wandered.
He remembered the times his friends and rades had invited him to parties, celebrations, even simple outings to the city.
And how, each time, he had rejected those invitations in the name of his research.
'I never had time for those things…' Non thought bitterly.
But was this the moment?
Should he take advantage of not being able to use magic to do something different?
Perhaps… to meet someone…
Unsciously, his gaze returo Emily, who stood before him, looking somewhat nervous.
He couldn't believe it; she was really within his age rahough she looked much younger.
And the best part was…
"Uh...?" Emily's trembling voice pulled him from his thoughts.
She looked at him with a mix of uainty and . As Non had drifted, the silence had stretched on for too long.
'Why is he so quiet?' Emily thought, anxious.
Tension began to build in her chest as she tried to remember if she had said something inappropriate. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and just as she was about to apologize, Non broke the silence.
"It's fine," Non said calmly.
Emily froze pletely, her eyes wide open.
Had she heard correctly?
"W-what?" Emily asked, her voice trembling. "Could you… repeat that?"
Non looked directly into her eyes and, without hesitating, repeated,
"I said it's fine. You e to my house whenever you want, and I'll tell you all about the academy. I even teach you some magic if that's what you want."
Emily felt her heart ra her chest.
She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Had she really heard him right?
Was he going to teach her magic!?
To her!?
A smile, first hesitant and then broader, began to light up Emily's face.
"Really…?" Emily asked, her voice filled with restraiement.
"Yes, really," Non replied with a slight smile, enjoying the enthusiasm in her eyes.
Emily couldn't help but imagine herself casting spells, mastering magic, flying through the skies like in tales of the most powerful mages.
That fantasy made her let out a small joyful ugh, but it was interrupted by ending a small piece of paper to her.
"Here, this is the address of my house," Non said.
Emily, returning to reality, took the paper and looked it over.
She stood there for a moment, perplexed, as she read the name of the neighborhood.
'Does he really live there? In one of the most affluent areas of the city?'
Before she could ask more questions, Non slightly ined his head in farewell.
"I'll see you soon, then."
He turned and began to walk away with firm steps, as if he were in a hurry to get somewhere.
Emily, still stunned by everything that had just happened, watched him go, feeling a mix of excitement and fusion.
"Thank you… and sorry for the trouble," Emily said hastily, her voice almost a whisper, but loud enough for Non to hear as he walked away.
Non, for his part, felt satisfied.
At least now he would have something to do while he waited for his mana core to stabilize.
Teag Emily could be something new, something that would give him purpose while he couldn't use his magic.
As Emily tio waton, the elderly woman who had been the se from a distance approached her with a sly expression.
With a smile and a spiratorial glint in her eyes, she patted Emily on the head.
"Go get him!" the old woman said with a mischievous ugh.
Emily blinked, pletely fused.
"Excuse…?" she asked, turning her gaze to the woman, not uanding what she meant.
