Lake Lysandra is nestled in a secluded corner of the University Planet, a secret place known only to a few who had taken on the task of exploring the planet’s lush forests. It remained pristine thanks to the university's strict measures to preserve the biodiversity of its “gardens.”
As one approached, the first notable feature of the slightly oval-shaped lake was its crystal-clear water, which faithfully reflected the blue sky and the clouds lazily floating in it. In the center, the sun seemed to dance on the surface, creating glimmers resembling scattered diamonds.
Surrounding the aquatic “mirror” were dense forests of fir and pine trees, towering like ancient guardians. Their tall canopies formed a sun-filtering layer, casting dancing shadows on the ground, which was covered in a mossy carpet. Sporadic wildflowers added splashes of color—yellows, reds, purples, and whites—contrasting with the ever-present green.
Floating leisurely across the vast lake was a modest-sized boat with a special charm. Its polished wooden hull shone with golden hues under the afternoon light as it silently glided over the lake's waters.
The boat's deck was adorned with a burgundy and gold velvet carpet, on which sat a woman of beauty that bordered on divine. Her hair, resembling liquid gold, flowed in soft waves down to the middle of her back, and her deep blue eyes gazed lovingly at the young man resting in her lap.
Her clear, flawless face bore a slight blush that only enhanced her charm. Her body, a perfect blend of sensual curves and a toned figure, could inspire desire in anyone who saw her. But to the woman, the only thing that seemed to matter was the young man in her lap, whose hair she stroked with delicate care.
The young man resting in the beautiful woman’s lap was no less remarkable in appearance, with enigmatic black hair as dark as ebony, adorned with glimmers that resembled a starry night, filled with stars and galaxies. His hair starkly contrasted with his pale skin and emerald-colored eyes.
“This is the life…” Erik commented with his eyes still closed, his calm expression reflecting the peace he felt.
“It’s good that you like it. Besides, you should rest more often; it’s not good to spend all day locked away.” Sigrún spoke as she gently combed through Erik's hair, a beautiful smile on her face. The young man with the starry hair casually asked with a hint of curiosity in his tone.
“Mmm, maybe I should rest more often, it feels great. But what prompted this sudden idea for an outing?”
“Oh, nothing special, I just wanted you to enjoy a moment of relaxation.” Sigrún replied with a small smile before giving Erik a soft kiss on the forehead, to which he smiled gratefully as he opened his eyes to look into his master’s blue ones.
“Thank you, master.”
“There’s no need to thank me, you’re my little baby. It’s only natural that I do these things for you.” Sigrún responded with a beautiful smile, then gently closed Erik’s eyes with her hand and began massaging his face.
“Little baby? But I’m taller than you” Erik commented playfully with his eyes closed, to which Sigrún responded with a joyful and affectionate giggle while gently pinching the boy’s cheeks.
“Hehehe, that doesn’t change anything; you’re still my little baby.”
“Haha, if you say so.” Erik could only respond with amusement to his master, who smiled in the same way before commenting in a ‘strict’ tone.
“Hehe, I say it because it’s true.”
The pleasant scene continued in peaceful and enjoyable silence, accompanied by the subtle sounds of nature that served as a backdrop to the memorable moment. After some time, Sigrún asked in a more serious tone, wanting to understand her beloved disciple a little more and clarify a subject that had been on her mind for a long time.
“Erik, why do you like being alone so much?”
Upon hearing his master’s question, Erik opened his eyes again and looked into Sigrún’s deep blue eyes, which were filled with concern and affection. After a moment, he explained in a more serious tone.
“It’s like I always say—being surrounded by people eventually brings problems.”
“Why do you think that?” Though she already had an idea of the answer, Sigrún still asked, wanting to understand her disciple’s thoughts more deeply. Erik responded calmly.
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“Well, throughout my life, I’ve met many people, and almost all of them ended up bringing problems into my life. Really, the only people who have been beneficial to me are the old blacksmith and you, my masters, who I consider the greatest stroke of luck in my life. So, I think I’ve already used up my luck in that regard, which is why I prefer to enjoy what I have rather than seek out problems elsewhere.”
“But isolating yourself so much will bring you problems in the future…” Sigrún commented softly and with concern, gently caressing Erik’s cheeks. He smiled warmly before beginning to explain his point of view.
“I don’t think I’m isolated. I always have you, and Seraphina is great company too. Besides…” Erik directed his gaze to a corner of the boat where Kaiser and Tiberius, who looked like small pups, were peacefully sleeping under the sunlight. He added with a hint of amusement.
“…In case of an emergency, I’ll always have those two.”
With an ironic smile, Sigrún looked at the wolves basking in the sun without a care in the world, then turned back to Erik and commented in a serious tone.
“Humans are social animals, Erik. Socializing is a need, and depriving yourself of it will make you sick in the long run.”
“But master, in all the years we’ve been together, I haven’t seen you socialize with anyone besides Master Eleonora and that red-haired woman.” Erik commented in a calm tone, which made Sigrún smile slightly before explaining.
“Hehehe, you mean Thalia. That’s because our lives are so long that it’s common to go centuries without meeting your acquaintances. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have friends. In fact, during my time as a student, I was very popular and knew everyone. I even had my own gang with whom we caused all kinds of trouble.”
“And how did that turn out?”
While observing the somewhat melancholic expression on his master’s face, Erik asked, already knowing the answer to his question. Sigrún looked away, as she understood perfectly what her starry-haired disciple was referring to, and he was right. Many of the problems she faced during that time were indeed caused by other people. After a moment, she looked into her beloved disciple’s eyes and shared her true thoughts.
“It turned out well, you know. Although I did get into several problems because of it, it also allowed me to meet valuable people whom I greatly appreciate, so it was very worth it.”
“Well, I went from being an illiterate orphan stranded on a deserted island to being the disciple of two of the most beautiful and powerful women in the galaxy. How many people can tell a story like mine? It’s better not to push my luck and wait a couple of centuries—after all, I still have a long life ahead, hehe.”
Erik commented with a small, amused smile on his face, which brought an uncomfortable expression to Sigrún’s beautiful face. After deliberating for a moment in her mind, she asked in a soft and somewhat nervous voice.
“Erik, do you want to know about your parents?”
Hearing his master’s question, Erik opened his eyes wider in genuine surprise, carefully studying every detail of his master’s beautiful face before looking up at the blue sky for a moment, as if deliberating with himself about his response. Sigrún waited patiently in silence, gently massaging her beloved disciple’s forehead.
“The truth is, I don’t. Maybe a long time ago, I would’ve liked to. You know, back then, I used to imagine that my parents were heroes of justice and that when they defeated evil, they would come back for me. But over time, I realized they were just ordinary people who simply didn’t want me. So it’s something I’ve let go of, and now I don’t need them. Over time, I met valuable people who actually cared about me.”
After some time, Erik expressed feelings that had been buried in his heart for a long time. Sigrún, in turn, asked in a low voice with a complex expression filled with various emotions.
“And what if they did love you, truly loved you, and were forced to leave you?”
“It seems like you know something…” Hearing his master, Erik could only comment softly while looking into Sigrún’s eyes. She nodded gently and let out her response like a sigh.
“Yes…”
“Are they still alive?” With a complex expression, Erik asked in a low voice, to which Sigrún shook her head and responded with a similarly complex tone.
“Your mother isn’t…”
“I see… Is he a good person?” Erik asked with a blank expression, trying to hide his emotions. Sigrún replied with an even more complicated expression.
“No…”
“Was it him?” A small light appeared in Erik’s eyes as he asked, something Sigrún quickly noticed but decided to tell the truth quietly.
“Yes…”
“Is he stronger than me?” The dangerous light in Erik’s eyes grew even more intense as he asked. Sigrún responded, nodding gently.
“Quite…”
“I see…” Erik commented while looking at the blue sky, his mind drifting in a sea of emotions. But after a while, he closed his eyes again and spoke in a serious tone.
“We’ll talk when I catch up to him.”
“All right.”
Sigrún responded with a small smile on her face, feeling much more at peace now that she had confessed what she knew to her beloved disciple. She had always felt guilty for keeping that information to herself, as if she were deceiving him in some way. But now that was no longer a concern, and if Erik wished, she would accompany him herself to seek rightful vengeance.
Some time later, Erik fell asleep in Sigrún’s lap as she gently caressed his face, almost as if she were lovingly lulling him. After a few hours, the starry-haired boy woke up as the sky began to darken, finding his master looking at him with a pleasant smile.
“Did you sleep well?” Sigrún asked in a tone filled with warmth and affection, to which Erik nodded, feeling much more relaxed and even closer to the beautiful woman who always supported him.
“Yes, hehe, sorry for using you as a pillow.”
“Don’t worry about that. Let’s eat something,” Sigrún responded cheerfully, knowing that her beloved disciple must be starving. The young man nodded with a smile before rising from her lap.
After Erik got up from the ground, Sigrún quickly floated into the air to land on her feet on the boat. At the same time, a beautiful glass table with all kinds of food appeared near them, decorated with a lovely candelabrum holding aromatic candles. These candles released a soft fragrance of jasmine and vanilla, creating a play of light and shadows that added a romantic touch to the beautiful boat.