Frieren: The Founder and the Elf Who Didn't Understand Love

Chapter 383: Breakfast Made by Serie

"What are you thinking about? So lost in thought."

A voice thick with the laziness of just waking up came from behind him.

Rhodes turned around and saw Serie rubbing her eyes, walking out of the bedroom barefoot.

She wore only a silk nightgown. Her golden hair was messy from sleep, and a few stray strands stuck up high, their fuzzy edges shimmering in the morning light.

"I was thinking that with so many familiar faces gone, the Association is a bit too deserted." Rhodes reached out, naturally pulling her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, inhaling her familiar scent.

Serie offered a rare lack of resistance. Hearing this, she sighed too. "Yes... Flamme left, Frieren's whereabouts are unknown, and Ela ran off and hasn't returned... Even though we were busy before, it always felt lively."

She paused, looking up at Rhodes. "But fortunately, Olivia visits occasionally, bringing so many magic books! And as long as I have you by my side, it is enough."

"Is that so? Same here."

"But don't forget what you promised me."

Her cheeks flushed slightly, but her eyes were bright.

Rhodes naturally knew what Serie was referring to. Or rather, it was something he had brought up himself hundreds of years ago.

Back then, he hadn't yet created the magic to bridge the reproductive isolation between different species, so he hadn't mentioned it again. But now, with significant progress in his research, it could finally be brought to the table.

For Serie, being an elf, the desire to reproduce wasn't as strong or urgent as it was for humans.

But having a child belonging to her and Rhodes... this thought had taken root and sprouted in her heart with the success of Rhodes's research, becoming clearer day by day.

Rhodes lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "Of course. We can start anytime. But before that, I want to eat a meal made by you."

Over the years, Serie had occasionally cooked. Although the taste was average, it was the thought that counted.

"In your dreams!" Serie glared at him, but she obediently slipped out of his arms and walked briskly toward the kitchen. "Just wait!"

Watching her busy figure, the sudden subtlety in Rhodes's heart was instantly replaced by overflowing warmth.

Yes, familiar old faces were fewer in the Association.

But this was still his home. The person he loved most was by his side. There were unfinished research and promises, expectations for the future, and a trace of curiosity about new things.

Time flowed, taking some things away, settling others, and bringing new possibilities.

He walked to the kitchen door, leaning against the frame, watching Serie handle the ingredients.

Compared to the beginning, when she tried to use magic to process ingredients quickly and blew up the kitchen, the current Serie was much more proficient.

Although she looked a bit clumsy, at least she was doing it step by step.

Outside the window, the Imperial Capital gradually awakened, while the Magic Association tower stood eternal.

As time passed, a sweet aroma wafted from the kitchen.

Serie seemed to be making a dish similar to pancakes.

The flour was a special variety cultivated by magic, naturally sweet—a precious ingredient rarely eaten even by Association mages.

The accompanying syrup was made from berries in the small garden on the top floor of the Association. Just eating a little might awaken magical talent in an ordinary person, but now Serie was using it as a common breakfast ingredient.

When Serie brought the golden, glistening pancakes and two cups of flower tea to the small round table, Rhodes had already organized his documents and was waiting.

"Try it!" Serie sat opposite him, asking expectantly.

Although she often said cooking was meaningless, whenever Rhodes tasted her food seriously, she couldn't help but care about his evaluation.

Rhodes picked up his knife and fork, cut off a corner of the pancake, put it in his mouth, and tasted it carefully.

"How is it?" Serie asked.

"Better than last time," Rhodes swallowed the food and gave his assessment. "Just a bit too sweet. This flour is naturally sweet; adding too much syrup makes it cloying."

"Picky." Serie curled her lip, but she looked very satisfied, cutting a piece for herself to eat.

Actually, she agreed with Rhodes's opinion, but she refused to admit defeat verbally.

The two enjoyed breakfast quietly, occasionally exchanging a few words in low voices.

The topic naturally shifted from the doneness of the pancakes to the Sky-Winged magic books Olivia brought.

"Those Holy Magic runes are indeed exquisite," Serie sipped her flower tea, frowning slightly. "But too absolute. Pure purification and rejection, treating all non-Holy Light energies as enemies. Although this effect might work wonders against existences like demons, applying it to broader fields is a bit too uncontrollable."

Rhodes nodded in agreement. "The Sky-Winged are closely connected to the Goddess; their magic system is deeply influenced by her, so it is not surprising."

"However, the unique insights regarding Light Magic within are quite inspiring. Perhaps we can try researching them deeply and combining them with our existing defensive or offensive magic."

"Mn. I think so too." Serie's eyes lit up. "I was trying last night to integrate their magical runes into current magical shields. The effect is indeed more stable than traditional runes, and the consumption is slightly lower. I will experiment this afternoon."

Seeing Serie's rekindled passion for research, Rhodes didn't disturb her.

No matter how many years passed, her pure curiosity and desire to explore magic remained unchanged.

This was one of the important reasons they could accompany each other for a thousand years and still have endless topics to discuss.

Near the end of breakfast, Serie seemed to suddenly remember something. She put down her teacup and looked at Rhodes. "Regarding Flamme... that backdoor you left, and your plan... are you really confident?"

She still cared about her disciple.

Or rather, Serie cared about all her disciples. Even after so many years, she could remember the names of all the first batch of human disciples she accepted.

Therefore, Flamme's departure remained a knot in her heart.

Hearing her ask this, Rhodes's expression became more serious. "Do not worry. Everything is within the plan, and the current progress has reached a critical stage."

"I can already temporarily modify the life runes of some lower life forms to extend their active time. But to do so for higher intelligent life forms, especially individuals whose state has been specially solidified like Flamme, still requires time."

"Roughly... how much longer?" Serie asked softly.

Rhodes pondered for a moment. "If everything goes smoothly without unforeseen obstacles... perhaps another hundred or two hundred years."

"Time is on our side, Serie."

"Flamme will not age, will not change. Guarded by Olivia, she won't be disturbed by the outside world. We have enough time to take every step steadily."

Hearing Rhodes say this, the worry in Serie's heart eased slightly. She nodded. "Mn. I believe you. Just sometimes... I still miss her. Miss the tea she brewed, miss her serious look when processing documents, miss her teaching Frieren."

Her voice drifted, filled with nostalgia.

"When she returns, you can make her brew tea for you every day, and throw the most troublesome Association documents to her while you're at it."

Rhodes cracked a rare joke, trying to dispel the slightly heavy atmosphere. "As for Frieren... I wonder how she is now."

Mentioning Frieren, Serie revealed a sneer. "She has absolutely no concept of time!"

"You specifically instructed her, yet she's been gone for five hundred years without a single message!"

"At least Ela sends back magical messages from time to time. Frieren is practically missing, dead or alive..."

"We both know Frieren's personality. If she feels nothing is wrong, she won't contact us specifically."

Rhodes was quite calm about it. "With her current strength, as long as she doesn't actively provoke those dangerous existences, she can protect herself. Moreover, I can sense that the magical items I gave her haven't been triggered."

Just then, a gentle knock sounded on the door.

Rhodes and Serie exchanged a glance. At this time, who could it be? Routine Association affairs usually wouldn't disturb them.

"Come in," Rhodes said.

The door slid open, and Solitär-Flamme's figure appeared at the entrance.

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