Chapter 4

After Luna's break had passed, she went back to training under Lindel's watch, and this time, the man had her learning how to make basic medicine. Luna sat there using a measurement instrument and tapped some powder into it before checking to see if was enough she added it to a vial and shook it up with the liquid. She then opened it, but it was too soon as a puff of smoke blew up in her face. Luna started coughing up a storm, and the vial fell from her hand as Lindel went over and quickly got her away from her workstation to the water.

Splashing her face with water, the man handed her a towel, and Luna dried her face off, saying, "Thanks, what the hell happened did my compounding go wrong?" She coughed a bit and rubbed at her eyes as they burned. "You need to be a little more careful with the mixing process; Luna, had you done it the right way by whisking it, not shaking it in a vial, your eyes would not be burning now. Two units of purified salt, one unit of ivy blended into a power and lastly a small unit of purified spring water. It should become a salve to sterilize burns and wounds."

Lindel picked up her vial, eyeing the paste, and shook his head, saying, "This is no good now. Time for a break anyway." Luna stared at him, and Lindel said, "Not that face again, Luna, or do you not remember the promise you told me you'd do exactly as I told you." "Fine… I'm going for a walk." Luna said standing up and rubbing her eyes. "Merituuli, go with her." Lindel said, and Luna said, "I can walk by myself." She then marched off, and Lindel rubbed the bridge of his nose, agitated. Ever since the drowning incident, the woman had developed a rebellious streak. Merituuli caught up with Luna saying, "Hey, now I thought we were friends Luna do you not like me walking with you?"

The woman stopped and looked at Merituuli, saying, "It's not that I feel ever since I got attacked by those Grindylows, Lindel has been extra strict on my training and making me stop when I mess up. I just needed some time alone, and I don't get what's changed." "Aside from almost dying my master won't be the first to admit it but you scared even him, Luna," Merituuli said as he walked alongside her. "Really but how do you know? I have not once seen him scared since I've been here." Luna said as she sat on a boulder. "I felt it through our connection as master and familiar silly. He cares about you, so, of course, he'd be strict." Merituuli pointed out. Luna found herself blushing as she asked, "Can you tell me if he's ever had any thoughts about me aside from training time?" Merituuli laughed and said, "You totally have a silly little crush on him don't you? I don't know the only things shared are feelings and emotions between us two, like that necklace you and he have, meaning he can probably feel your emotions right about now."

Luna squeaked, embarrassed, and she said, "I don't have a crush on him, you, little hellion!" "Then why's your face so red it's obvious you like him," Merituuli said, laughing, and Luna groaned, hiding her face in her hands. "It's not appropriate he's my teacher; okay, I can't be having those kinds of feelings for my mentor." The woman said. "If that's what you think, I guess it can't be helped. Just keep being you and do your best to uphold our promise." Merituuli said as he sat on Luna's lap. "I know I remember our promise, silly. I wish he'd see I can bounce back from accidents I make." Luna said, sighing. "He has faith in you, Luna that's why he's training you anyway there is a storm coming in let's head back," Merituuli said, hopping off Luna, and the woman stood up.

The two made it back just as it started raining and took cover as Luna came into the tent. She saw Lindel there, actually reading the notes she had written while he was cooking. Looking up, Lindel smiled, closing the book before saying, "Your handwriting is very clean and easy to understand." Luna flushed and sat down before she took the lid off the pot stirring their meal. "I try to do my best, to be honest. At first, I thought I wouldn't be cut out for magic until it became easier, thanks to my wand." Luna said before making up her bowl of food.

"Say, Luna, there's a village not far from here if this storm lets up. I have an errand for you to run for me. Naturally, I'll send Merituuli with you if you're up for the task." Lindel said, smiling. Luna blinked and looked confused, but Lindel made up his food after some time, the rain had stopped, and Luna was dressed for the weather. She took the medicine she was to sell, and Lindel handed her a pouch before saying, "Buy yourself something nice while out and about there's some money in here for you. Anyway, have fun, you kids, and don't stay out too late." He waved as Luna ended up going for Paulina. Merituuli knew the way, so the two were off, only to ride halfway before making it to the village.

Walking the paved roads, it didn't surprise Luna that people didn't freak out about Merituuli. The humans truly could not see him and Luna didn't like being around other people. But she ended up selling the medicine as she was told before she figured she should head back. Being around other humans was nerving for her, and Merituuli said, "You going to the market Luna that's the other way." Luna just shook her head and picked up her pace. She then sighed, stopping figuring she might as well look around. Going toward the market's direction, it was only slightly busy, and Luna looked among the stalls. Lindel gave her free money, but she was never one for shopping and wasn't sure what to buy. There were so many goods being bartered, and Luna stopped at a particular stall and saw some jewelry being sold. Her eyes landed on a pair of earrings, and the woman's thoughts began to wander as she wondered how they'd look on her. Luna had never been particularly girly, but she wanted those earrings.

They looked like little songbirds and were cute, so she ended up catching the stall owner's attention before saying, "I'd like to buy the songbird earrings, please." The woman smiled, saying, "I think they'd look very cute on you are you trying to impress a boy, perhaps?" Luna blushed and paid for them saying, "I'm not sure to be honest I just think they're cute." "Let me put them on you so you can get the lad to notice you." The woman said. Luna turned ripe red but sat down and pulled back her hair. Once the earrings were in, she took her old ones, tucking them away safely. "Thank you," Luna said as she stood up and left. She waved goodbye to the woman and headed on back to Paulina.

Merituuli snickered, saying, "Isn't young love adorable I think he'd notice those pretty well." They got on Paulina, and Luna blushed to say, "Oh shut up you. I think they're cute earrings, and I never had the chance to buy myself nice things." Soon they took to the skies, and eventually, they returned, and Lindel grabbed the things Lindel had her picked up aside from selling the medicine. Lindel, we're home." Luna said, walking up the path as she saw him folding laundry. He smiled saying, "Welcome back, you two how did it go?" "It went okay I got everything you needed," Luna said, but she noticed Lindel staring at her. Standing up, the man reached out and saw the earrings as he looked at them, saying, "How cute I'm glad you got yourself something nice." Luna blushed.

"To be honest, when I saw these earrings, it made me think of you. I have to admit for someone who sings while doing the laundry, you carry a decent tone like a songbird." Luna said softly her face red. Lindel found himself blushing, saying, "I didn't think you heard me most of the time you were asleep, but yes, it is what I do best my songs are magic, after all." Realizing his hand was still close to her face, he pulled away quickly and said, "S-Sorry about that." Merituuli whistled, and Lindel was embarrassed as he said, "Did you see anything else interesting?" "Well, there was a scale in the medicine shop I had my eye on. I have the basic one you gave me for compounding, but this one was bigger." Luna said. Lindel smiled, saying, "I see well. Eventually, you'll have nicer tools. For now, it's just a trial period."

Luna got down and continued folding the laundry, and Lindel got on his knees beside her, doing the same. "Not even home five minutes and already hard at work." The man teased. He got smacked on his arm by Luna as she blushed and laughed. "You're one to talk these daily chores keep me sane after you ban me from training my magic after I mess up." She said as they reached for the same sheet accidentally, and Luna jumped when his hand brushed hers, and she blushed. Snatching the sheet, she stuck her tongue out at him and finished folding that as well.

Lindel laughed and stood up before carrying the folded stuff to be put away for the time being. Seeing Merituuli grinning, Luna blushed, saying, "Wipe that smirk off your face, mister." Merituuli just laughed and ran as Luna lunged for him, and she hit the ground. Lindel came out and saw Luna sit up rather embarrassed, and the woman stood up, blushing as she said, "Your familiar is a pain in my ass Lindel." Lindel laughed, saying, "I agree he can be a handful at times but then again, so can you." "I'll remember that," Luna said, glaring. She then read one of her books until Lindel went back to teaching her how to compound medicine. This time her salve came out perfect, and Lindel sealed it in a container for her.

Luna was cleaning out her tools after that and properly putting them away as Lindel said, "I'm off to have a bath before it gets too late." "I'll start dinner then for us," Luna said and Lindel nodded before grabbing his things and leaving. Luna was sitting there prepping dinner with Merituuli keeping her company, and the woman said, "He noticed these earrings. After all, I wasn't expecting such a grand reaction. I need to go to that village more often." "Oh, going to buy extra jewelry to make yourself be noticed more," Merituuli said with a grin. Luna blushed, saying, "Not just for that, I also wanted to explore the market more." "So you are trying to get him to notice you, then you go, girl," Merituuli said. Luna flushed and groaned as she didn't want to admit it but seeing how he looked at her earlier made her happy.

Lindel had returned a short time later and his hair was still pretty damp so Luna pulled out her wand deciding to try something. Focusing as she pointed it at him, she aimed to suck the moisture out of his hair and dispose of it. The woman managed to do so, but when she opened her eyes, Lindel's hair was now a frizzy mess puffed out, and she placed a hand to her lips and broke into a fit of laughter. Merituuli laughed, saying, "That's a good look for you!" Lindel was now a bit flustered, but Luna pulled a comb out of her back pocket, saying, "Here, tame your hair while I finish our meal." "Thanks, I guess," Lindel said as he took it. Luna was looking rather proud of herself still, so how could he be mad?

Luna finished their meal which was something different thanks to the fish Merituuli had caught, and she had made a side of rice to go with it. The two of them sat there eating, and Lindel said, "Your cooking is top-notch as always, Luna I say each meal you make is better than the rest." "I just think of it like magic it's much easier than mage work, though," Luna said as she offered up Merituuli, the last fish his eyes lit up, and he ate it. Luna finished the rice and said, "Anyway, I'll try and come up with some better recipes tonight's dinner was in favor of Merituuli since he did the work catching it." "I'm happy to help!" Merituuli said pleased with himself and Lindel smiled.

"If that's the case, I need another round of books, Merituuli. I already burned through the ones you got me." Luna said. "You're like a knowledge sponge, aren't you? I think you'd do amazing if you went to college." Lindel said, smiling. "But I like learning from you Lindel. Isn't that place full of people I don't like crowds, so I'll never want to go?" Luna said. Lindel lightly flicked her nose, making her yelp. "I could never send you there anyway. I've grown used to your company Luna. Every day so far has never been dull, and you've grown in the short time you've come to me." Lindel said. "You're beginning to sound like an old man again, you fossil." Luna pointed out, and Merituuli laughed as Lindel blushed. Luna laughed and she felt glad she was getting through to him, which meant her promise to Merituuli was slowly in the works She never wanted to leave at this point and was happy where she was and honestly hoped Lindel felt the same.