Chapter 35: Yes, we college students are so abstract
When he stepped out of the shop, the sunlight was just right.
Julius squinted, seeing Helos crouched by the roadside, drawing some intricate patterns on the ground with a twig.
Silver strands of hair slipped out from beneath her hood, shimmering like a flowing river of stars in the sunlight.
The boy felt the 57,000 Soli left in his pouch and began calculating which shop he should visit to pick out a gift for Helos.
His gaze swept over the stores across the street, finally settling on one with a sign that read “Alchemy Workshop” — that should be where he could find better tools.
But for now, he had to share this good news with the silver-haired girl doodling on the ground.
Julius tightened his grip on the package and took a step toward her.
Before he could get close, Helos suddenly lifted her head like a cat detecting the scent of fish.
The twig in her hand fell to the ground with a “click,” and she almost bounced up to her feet.
“Did you get it?”
She rushed up to Julius in three quick strides, her pale purple eyes wide and round.
Her silver hair slipped out from the hood, shining brilliantly in the sunlight because of her sudden movement.
Before Julius could answer, Helos leaned in like a curious little animal, her nose nearly touching the package in his hands.
“Let me see, let me see!”
She reached out eagerly to grab it but was gently dodged by Julius just a moment before contact.
“What’s the rush?”
Julius put on a stern face deliberately, but the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth was impossible to hide.
He slowly untied a corner of the package, revealing the translucent Magic Crystal Shard inside.
Helos gasped sharply, frozen on the spot.
Her eyes widened even more, lips trembling slightly, as if she had just laid eyes on some unimaginable treasure.
“X.”
Her voice dropped to a whisper, fingers reaching cautiously toward the Magic Crystal Shard but pulling back just before touching it, as if afraid of shattering a beautiful dream.
Julius softened at the sight.
He grasped Helos’s wrist and gently placed a Magic Crystal Shard into her palm.
“These are all yours. What’s there to be afraid of?”
Helos’s fingertips trembled lightly as they traced the smooth surface of the crystal.
Sunlight passed through the shard, scattering rainbow light spots across her palm.
Her eyes suddenly sparkled, and the corners of her mouth lifted uncontrollably.
“It’s perfect…”
She murmured softly, her voice catching with emotion, “This is so much better than the scraps I used before…”
Even with her Curse suppressing its power, this purity of Magic Crystal should still be able to exert some effect.
“Wait!”
Helos suddenly jolted, grabbing Julius’s collar and pulling him so hard he stumbled.
“How much did this cost? You didn’t spend all 100,000 Soli, did you?”
Julius rolled his eyes from the grip but proudly lifted his chin.
“You really underestimate me.”
His nose nearly touched the sky like a triumphant general returning from battle. “I managed to haggle down seven thousand Soli!”
“Seven thousand?!”
Helos’s tone shot up sharply, her pale purple eyes instantly shining with surprise.
She released Julius’s collar and grabbed his wrist instead.
“If that’s the case, let’s hurry back! I can’t wait to start the experiments!”
“Wait, wait!”
Julius suddenly flipped his wrist, catching Helos’s slender wrist with ease.
Her running momentum stopped immediately, and she froze like a cat being held by the scruff of its neck.
“Why stop all of a sudden?”
Helos looked back in displeasure, silver hair still fluttering in the air from the motion.
“Why are you so eager to go back?”
She tilted her head, eyes full of confusion as she stared into the boy’s.
“We’ve got the stuff—what else is there to do but go back?”
Julius released her wrist and scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“Well… actually, I wanted to buy a few other things too.”
Helos blinked, then suddenly let out an “Oh” of realization.
She put her hands on her hips, raising her silver eyebrows high.
“You should’ve said so!”
She rolled her eyes exaggeratedly and turned around to walk back. “Then hurry up and buy them so we can go! I’m dying to start my experiments!”
Julius watched her energetic retreat and shook his head helplessly before quickening his pace to catch up.
Their shadows overlapped on the smooth road — one long, one short — swaying gently with their steps.
“By the way, what else do you want to buy?”
Helos put her hands behind her head, kicking a small stone by the roadside out of boredom.
Her gaze scanned the bustling shops along the street — the enticing aroma from the bakery, the clang of hammering from the blacksmith, and bundles of dried flowers hanging outside the herb shop.
“Hmm… well…”
Julius replied vaguely, his eyes drifting restlessly among the shops.
Suddenly, his steps halted in front of an exquisitely decorated clothing store.
The display window showcased various elegant dresses, each shimmering softly under the sunlight.
“I want to buy these.”
He pointed to the window with a tone of certainty.
“Huh?”
Helos stopped abruptly, eyes wide as she looked between the store sign and Julius.
Her mouth dropped open wide enough to fit an egg.
“Who would’ve thought you, a Saint Knight, with your thick eyebrows and sharp eyes…”
She stood on tiptoe and leaned close to Julius’s ear, her warm breath brushing against it.
“… secretly have a thing for women’s clothes?”
“?”
Julius seemed to have a visible question mark pop up over his head.
He stepped back half a pace, staring at Helos in disbelief.
“How on earth did your mind get twisted like that? Why would you think I’m buying these for myself?”
“Huh? Aren’t you?”
Helos blinked, her silver lashes fluttering in the sunlight.
She scratched her cheek with a finger, looking puzzled.
“Then… then it must be for my sister, right?”
She tilted her head and added, “But she probably doesn’t need dresses like these, does she?”
Julius took a deep breath, his black eyes locking onto Helos’s.
“Have you never considered…”
His voice lowered suddenly.
“… that these are for you?”
Helos whipped her head around sharply, her pale purple pupils trembling slightly.
She stared at his serious expression and even rubbed her ears as if unsure she’d heard correctly.
“Am I hearing things? For me?”
“Yes.”
Julius nodded, a faint blush creeping up his ears.
He pointed at the worn, faded dress beneath Helos’s cloak.
“You can’t keep wearing that forever, can you?”
“Why not?”
Helos looked bewildered, glancing down at the old dress under her cloak.
“Isn’t this… pretty comfortable to wear?”