When I reached back home, Kaichen was outside. Teacher! Have you been waiting for me? I asked brightly, partly teasing and partly wishing he had. I waved at him and jumped past the yellow rose bush.

Arent you out too often these days? he asked, displeased.

I thought I heard it wrong. I stopped waving at him. His voice was serious and dangerous. But I was confused. What?

Are you studying at all? he asked, I am pretty sure I told you that there will be an exam tomorrow.

Oh that. Of course! I said, I finished reading them.

Reading alone isnt enough, he said, I told you to memorize everything.

Of course! Dont people memorize everything when they read it once? I asked, now confused more than ever.

Kaichen looked shocked and amazed. He was definitely thinking, you have that kind of ability? I realized most people didnt really memorize everything they read just once.

I told you, I said, most teachers would have gotten jealous except you. I winked at Kaichen. He scowled. I didnt think he liked the way I had complimented him. Are you worried that I keep going out? I asked.

Its nothing like that.

Then why are you hanging out here?

Kaichen seemed embarrassed. Perhaps he had no explanation, or he didnt want to voice it out loud. I guessed he hadnt expected me to ask so bluntly.

I held my laughter and patted my bag. I have made something really nice, I said, I was going to show you when I was done setting it up but its still good that you are here. I decided not to push him further for an explanation on why he was out in the yard. I doubted he would obligingly answer anyway. He might just get irritated.

Please give me a moment, I said, and ran into the house to fetch a knife and a plate. Kaichens gaze followed me. I ignored it and approached the willow tree near the pond. A stray yellow willow leaf swayed in the wind. The view was so beautiful. The yellow color of the leaves painted everything gold. Kaichens house as a whole and the area around it was very dazzling. Yellow trees, yellow rose bushes

There was also a red wizards cape that had beautiful gold embroidery on the hood. I have never seen Kaichen wear it. He seems to like golden colored things a lot. Kaichens mana was golden, too. His golden hair and golden eyes distinguished him. Everything about him was as precious as gold.

I took the bench out of my magic bag. I didnt forget to cast lightweight magic on the bench otherwise it would be too heavy to lift. In woodworking, Hanmer had helped me, and I avoided telling him that I could do it myself because I didnt want to reveal myself as Kaichens student. It would have caused too much ruckus. But right now, right here, I had no such qualms.

I lifted the bench and put it down by the willow tree. I had trimmed the space under the willow-tree to get rid of the wild bushes and to make the ground even.

Whats this? asked Kaichen.

I had already measured the place right next to the pond. The bench fit there perfectly. Its a bench. I said. You can sit here, eat delicious food, take a nap, or just rest

Kaichen looked disapprovingly at me as if I had disobeyed his orders. I dusted the bench and sat there. Its a beautiful place, I said, Besides, if you sit here, you can even feed your ducks while you relax.

Kaichen raised his eyebrows. I knew very well how much he cared about those ducks.

I read in the book that if you become one with nature, you can gather more magic, I said.

It definitely is easier to use magic that way, he said.

Same thing

Not at all.

He looked interested in explaining more but wanted to uphold his aloof demeanor. I could see he was having trouble doing that.

Oh, just come on. Sit here, I said and pulled at the hem of his robe. Sometimes, its okay to relax and rest.

If he wanted to, he could have resisted but he sat beside me. He wanted to sit here. He wanted to act all cold and distant from the outside, but internally, he wanted something else. I couldnt help but smile a little.

I took the plate I had brought from inside the house and placed it beside me on the bench. I took out a siron out of my bag. It was heavy but I had again used the lightweight magic on it.

Did you use lightweight magic for that too? asked Kaichen.

What do you mean?

Well lightweight magic is usually used for construction purposes. You know to move large rocks and things.

I know, I said, But if I am not wrong, it is also the basic magic that one learns after learning to gather mana.