—–
“Eric didn’t you wanted me to teach your uncle and your aunt some magic and Ki manipulation?” I sighed. Eric had brought me to his room and quickly closed it. It seemed he felt embarrassed by his own family a little bit.
“Y-Yeah, but that can be for later, right?” He said. “This is the first time I bring a friend to my house…”
“What about Chris?” I wondered.
“Chris? Ah, I have thought about it, but he’s so hyperactive that it wouldn’t suit him to just sit here with me.” He sighed. “But you’re different, you’re calm and smart like me, Blake, so we can get along easily!”
“Hm, I suppose you could say I have more temper.” I said while rubbing my chin.
Eric quickly moved around his room, which was a bit messy. It was covered with many books and pages spread everywhere, flasks with half-made potions, medicinal herbs pilled over a small piece of furniture, and even animal skin drying out near the open window. It was quite obvious he was someone passionate about research and alchemy. I suppose we’ll get along even better than before.
“Here! Look, these are the books I wanted to show you, there are six of them. One of them documents over a hundred species of Medicinal Herbs and their various uses, the other documents over sixty species of Mushroom species, if they’re edible, and even if they’re poisonous, this other documents several wild animals and monsters that live within these woods and also the grassy plains past the forest, this other has several potion recipes, this other has how to use alchemy magic, and this one is… M-My own book. I have been writing it, it is about the usage of magic circle and Ki manipulation.” Eric said, as he showed me the last book. It was only around a quarter filled, but it had even detailed drawings which were almost realistic. He was an incredible artist.
“You did this?” I said, reading through the book at fast speed, I quickly found that the detailed explanations went wonderfully along with the drawings, complementing everything together.
“I did… Sorry for not telling you beforehand… I know it was a secret, but I really wanted to write about everything you taught to me.” Said Eric. However, I ended petting his shoulders, he grew slightly nervous out of the sudden, his face turning red.
“No, Eric! This is fantastic! I wouldn’t had been able to do half as great as you did by writing a book!” I said. After all, my own Grimoire didn’t let me write anything on it, each time I tried the letters quickly disappeared.
Eric continued to grow redder like a tomato for some reason, mostly embarrassing of being praised, as steam even began to come out of his ears.
“Uwawawahh…”
“Eric…?”
“Ah!”
Eric suddenly fell into the floor as he sighed tiredly. I think I overstepped my boundaries. Eric has always been a shy boy, and dislikes to get too close with people, even friends. Perhaps touching him like this shocked him. I quickly used some healing techniques using Ki and spells using Mana and quickly calmed him.
“Hahh… S-Sorry about that…” He sighed in relief. “I get a bit too nervous when… people get too close to me. Please don’t do that again.”
“Sorry.” I said. “Nonetheless, this book is amazing. Well done.”
“Really? You’re happy about it, Blake?” Eric said, his eyes had not shone so bright ever before.
“Yeah. Are you passionate about writing by any chance?” I wondered.
“I am a researcher! I love to research everything. But these books… they had documented almost anything that there is within the boundaries of the village, so there isn’t much for me to research after I had memorized most of the books. I am rereading them for the fourth time by now…”
“Truly?!”
“Y-Yeah!”
“Amazing, so you’ve got all of this info inside of your brain already?”
“Indeed. I am studying hard every day because I…”
“Hm?”
“I want to go with you into an adventure when we grow up, Blake…”
“An Adventure?”
Oh, now I remember. I had told my friend that when I would grow up, I would become an Adventurer because it was the job most fitting for me. I wanted to explore the world, hunt creatures, and learn many things. The adventurer profession will facilitate everything regarding my interests, even the ultimate challenge of climbing the demonic towers.
In that time, all three of them seemed intimidated by my dreams, I could understand them though, they were children who had grown conceited of their lives in the safety of their homes. However, ever since then I’ve noticed that they had been working extra hard. Erika lately had told me that she’ll also become an Adventurer to stay by my side, and Chris seems to be having the same idea.
The least of the three was Eric. I never truly expected someone so immersed into his own books and research to want to explore the dangerous world outside. But I was wrong. I suppose Eric is someone that also has the free heart of an adventurer.
“I see. So you want to become an adventurer as well, Eric? Are you sure about this?”
“Y-Yeah… Even if I am the weakest… I will make up for it with my knowledge and everything else!”
“Don’t worry, you may be weak but your abilities are special and rare. You don’t have to overthink it, we’ll protect you.”
“B-Blake… I’ve always wanted to explore the world outside and research every monster, plant, and other thing I could find… Since I’ve read these books that I’ve felt inspired to write new ones for my family… I know this goes against my family traditions but I… I really want to go with you!”
“It’s okay, you don’t have to get so worked over it. I will help you convince your uncle and aunt. For now, let me read these books, they seem interesting.”
“O-Okay! Let’s read them together…”
Suddenly, Eric stuck to my shoulder and began to read the books with me, pointing at drawings and other things with his fingers. Wasn’t he afraid of getting too close to people?
—–