A small chase broke out, one chasing in embarrassment and anger, the other dodging with laughter. The two immediately began circling around Sefina and Ellaria on the platform.
The awkwardness and subtle tension from their chance encounter just moments ago vanished in an instant, swept away by the lively roughhousing.
Ellaria watched them and couldn’t help covering her mouth with a light laugh. The embarrassment in her emerald eyes eased considerably.
Used as a “shield,” Sefina remained expressionless, but a flicker of something between resignation and amusement passed quickly through her wine-red eyes.
Once the two girls had calmed down a bit, Sefina spoke calmly:
“Good. We’ll all go together.”
Those simple words made the two who were tussling stop instantly.
“Since we’re going the same way, we’ll impose on you.”
Sefina looked at Kefi, whose cheeks were still flushed, her tone as calm as ever.
“Sorry for the trouble, Kefi.”
Kefi was stunned. She hadn’t expected Teacher Sefina to actually agree. Then a surge of surprise and shyness welled up inside her, making her face turn even redder.
‘Really… I’m really going to take the teacher to meet my parents… Ah, no, no! It’s just a visit! I’m inviting the teacher and the Princess to come to my house!’
Kefi frantically corrected her straying thoughts in her mind, trying to calm herself down.
“No, no trouble! Not at all!”
Kefi waved her hands quickly, her voice a bit tight from nervousness, but a genuine smile blossomed on her face.
“My mom and little sister will be really happy!”
“Great! Then it’s settled!” Mia cheered, jumping out from behind Sefina and patting Kefi on the shoulder triumphantly.
Ellaria also let out a sigh of relief, showing a gentle smile, and nodded lightly to Kefi.
“Then we’ll be in your care, Kefi.”
And so, what was originally planned as a journey home for two people dramatically became a trip for four.
Accompanied by the long whistle and the low rumble of the magic crystal engine, the train bound for the northern border slowly pulled into the platform.
The four of them carried their luggage and boarded the carriage one by one. After finding adjacent seats and settling in, the train started, the platform outside the window receding, and the silhouette of the Ayrean Royal Capital gradually fading away under the winter sky.
Inside the carriage, it was warm and comfortable. Mia and Kefi were still bickering softly about what had just happened.
Ellaria quietly watched the scenery outside the window, while Sefina took out a thin magic notebook and read it, her posture calm.
***
The train arrived at that border town in the evening.
The doors opened, and a biting wind mixed with fine snow rushed in. Four figures stepped into the town one by one.
“We’re here, we’re here! Follow me!” Kefi excitedly lifted her luggage, her gray eyes sparkling in the twilight.
“My house is very close to the station, just a ten-minute walk!”
The town was blanketed in thick snow, with icicles hanging from the eaves. Yellow light shone through the windows of wooden houses along the street.
It was nearly dusk in the deep winter, so there were almost no pedestrians on the road, only curling smoke rising from chimneys. The snow absorbed most of the sound, making the whole town very quiet.
Kefi led the three through the snowy paths with familiar ease, chattering nonstop.
“Watch your step, it’s slippery here… Ah, that old pine tree is still there, I used to climb it when I was little… Almost there, almost there!”
Turning a street corner, a two-story wooden house came into view.
The house looked a bit old, the wooden siding stained dark brown by time and weather, but it was well-maintained and quite tidy.
The roof was covered in thick white snow, and under the eaves hung several strings of dried red peppers and corn, swaying gently in the cold wind.
Warm orange light shone from the windows, and white smoke carrying the scent of firewood drifted from the chimney.
“It’s here!” Kefi almost ran to the door, then turned and waved at the three behind her, her face beaming with undisguised joy.
“Hurry up, hurry up! It’s too cold outside!”
Sefina carried a small suitcase, her wine-red eyes calmly scanning the house and its surroundings.
Ellaria walked beside her, her golden hair fluttering slightly in the cold wind, her emerald eyes filled with curiosity and a bit of nervousness about the unfamiliar environment.
Mia was stamping her feet to keep warm while looking around, her blue eyes reflecting the snow’s light.
Kefi pushed open the heavy-looking wooden door, and a wave of warmth mixed with the aroma of food rushed out.
Inside, it was even warmer and cozier than expected. Firewood crackled in the fireplace directly opposite the door, and the dancing flames bathed the entire living room in a warm glow.
The furniture was simple and old but neatly arranged and spotlessly clean. On the walls hung a few hand-embroidered decorative pictures and a family photo. A bookshelf in the corner was stuffed with books.
“Mom! Kelin! I’m home!” Kefi called out loudly as soon as she entered, her voice full of the joy of coming home.
Almost at the same time, thumping footsteps came from upstairs.
A little girl who looked about eight or nine, with twin tails, came bouncing down the stairs like a young deer.
Her features were about seventy percent similar to Kefi’s, but more childish, with sparkling light blue eyes.
“Big sis!” The little girl cheered and threw herself directly into Kefi’s arms.
Kefi laughed, picked up her sister, and spun her around.
“Kelin! Did you miss your big sis?”
“Yes! So much!” Kelin giggled, hugging Kefi’s neck tightly. “How long are you staying this time? Did you bring me souvenirs from the capital? You promised to bring me candy!”
“I brought them, I brought them, they’re in the suitcase.” Kefi put her sister down, ruffled her hair, then looked around.
“Where’s Mom?”
“Mom’s in the back shed getting firewood. She said we need to burn more tonight because it’s especially cold.”
As Kelin spoke, she looked curiously at the three still standing by the door, especially Sefina.
“Big sis, are they your friends?”
Just then, the door to the backyard opened, and a young woman in an apron walked in carrying a bundle of firewood.
Her gray hair was simply tied up at the back of her head, with a few strands hanging by her cheeks.
She looked to be about thirty-five or thirty-six, with a gentle and pretty face. Her features were exactly like Kefi’s, but with a softness that came from age.
“Kefi, you’re back?” The woman placed the firewood by the fireplace, dusted off her hands, and broke into a warm smile. “I thought I heard voices… Oh my, you brought guests?”
Her gaze fell on Sefina, Ellaria, and Mia, and her smile became even warmer.
“Welcome, welcome! It’s so cold out, come in and warm up. I’m Kefi’s mom. I just happened to make stew and bread, and I was worried we wouldn’t finish it. Let’s all have dinner together.”
Kefi beamed and walked over to Sefina, about to make a formal introduction.
“Mom, these are…”
However, her words were interrupted by Mia.
As Kefi started to introduce them, Mia tugged at Kefi’s sleeve, her voice very low but clearly audible in the quiet room.
“Kefi, who are you talking to right now?”