"Master Rudeus, can you repeat yourself?"
"A-ahem, would you like to go somewhere with me?"
"Where?
"To our training pond, I don't actually know how to swim, so I've been wondering if you could… you know… teach me?"
"...I'll think about it…"'
/
I did it! I got a date out of Lilia, had a vague idea of how I wanted it to go.
So, of course nothing went according to plan.
The results were mixed. I think she was just waiting for me to give up, and forget as she stalled for a few days, but I have two weeks of free time, and am very eager for these lessons. For obvious reasons.
I went through a lot of effort figuring out what exactly the 'date,' activity would be, considering we're in a medieval type society, my options were limited. In the end I decided to go with the swimming approach, a two birds one stone approach.
A well thought out plan If I say so myself, so of course it didn't go to plan.
"There you go Rudy! One, two, one two… You're swimming like a pro, isn't that right Zenith?" Paul praises.
"Good job Rudy! Come here, swim to mama," Zenith says.
Riiight, well this happened. Maybe the gods of romantic comedy are actually a thing. Their dicks.
And so my date became a group date, joy…
Anyways, after trying for a few days to convince Roxy to teach me how to swim. Lilia, 'accidentally,' let it slip that she was bringing me to the old training grounds, the one's I used before Roxy's arrival, and of course that brought my parents attention.
And one thing leads to another, and so Paul, deciding that this was a good time for some family bonding, decided to schedule a group date for the whole family, Roxy and Lilia included, one evening.
And now we're here.
"Let's go swimming!" Paul said back then.
"There you go Rudy," Zenith says as she hugs me close to her chest in the water.
As usual she is a voluptuous woman, but this time her figure stands out more as she's only wearing a swimsuit. A two piece light purple, orchid colored? Hugging, tightly against her figure, pressing against me.
They're soft, and feel like they're sucking me in.
I-it's not my fault they're pressing onto me.
Still though, my private one on one time was invaded by these interlopers.
I turn my head to the side and stare at Lilia off by the bedside, without her apron. But still very much wearing her work clothes beneath it.
Yeah, there was one little problem… She doesn't own a swimsuit. Of course she doesn't.
All that time trying to convince Lilia to come on over, and it was pointless from the beginning. I suppose swimming in her underwear is a step too far, but damn, so many days wasted.
Sidenote; Roxy did have a swimsuit apparently. Adventurer's gotta be prepared I suppose?
But what are you doing all over there by your lonesome?
"Momma, air. I'm gonna swim over to Roxy," I yell from her breast as I lightly push myself away.
"Sure~ go, on- wah!"
Splash.
"Let me in on the fun too!" splashes in an energetic Paul.
"Honey~" splash.
"Dear~" splash. They continue a splash fight back and forth, as I float there by them for a second. Such a cliché… I'm not envious, not at all…
"Alright, sweetie go on to Roxy and play for a bit," Zenith turns around and sends me off, as Paul dives under the water, and-
"Kya! Paul!" she shoots her hands in the water, losing her floating momentum for a moment. A laughing Paul comes out of the water shortly after.
"Not in front of Rudy!" she yells out.
Ok, that's my que to leave. I'd rather not have any more heads up displays of their affection, I've had a front row view my first year of my life, not repeating that.
"Bye mama, bye papa," I swam off to Roxy.
"How about now?" Paul questioned.
"Should I hit you?"
At least hold off while I'm in front of you. The water is clean, I have a vague idea of what you did underwater, you idiot.
"Sensei!" save me from these idiots. I swim out to Roxy.
She is wearing a two piece as well, but much more conservative. Rather than a swimsuit that shows off her figure, it's a frilly light-blue two piece. Three if you count the white underneath.
I'm not peeking, she's just easily exposed.
"You sure are energetic, it's hard to believe you were bedridden workaholic a couple weeks ago,"
"That's the past, let's enjoy the present,"
"I hope you don't forget your studies, I'd hate it if you went from one extreme to the other,"
"No, problem, no problem. Soooo, wanna play?" I asked. Main mission was a failure, but I might as well find some enjoyment where I can. I'm going back to my training schedule, if a bit more restrained now, and this will be the last day for quite a while where I can just let loose.
"Hmph, not particularly," she starts twiddling with her braided hair.
"Really, cause I think we can do some fun things with a surfboard"
"We don't have a surfboard."
"But we do have a barrel lid,"
"Let's go," she gave a curt response.
Riding the waves sure is fun.
"Sensei!"
"Rudy?"
"Faster?" I asked.
"Faster!" Roxy then proceeds to use wind magic to quite literally set sail, and now her and I are surfing across this pond.
"Hey," I say in a low voice, "you mind if I use a little water magic?"
"You really shouldn't,"
"The ban ends tomorrow anyway," I told her.
Roxy seems to be mulling it over, we're losing speed because of her distracted focus.
"It'll be fun~"
"Fine. But keep it hidden from your parents,"
"Got it. Trace on," I then control my breathing and concentrate once more. Using water magic I raise some waves up and down a few times, in combination with Roxy's wind. It really is a blast.
"Oy, that looks fun. Let us in on that too!" Paul yelled out from the sidelines.
What followed was a fun afternoon where we decided to surf on the pond's surface. Me and Roxy, Me and Zenith, Zenith and Paul, and Paul and me. Overall it was a fun experience, not the way I intended for the day to go, but I'll make a pleasant memory. Didn't even notice the sun setting.
I wondered where Lilia was during those times, and saw that she was off to the side simply dipping her feet in the water. "You know, you don't need a swimsuit for something like this, wanna go for a ride?" I approached her.
"That's quite alright master Rudeus, I am fine," she reassured me.
Although, from time to time, I also noticed her look inside her own blouse.
I wonder… Let's investigate.
After we're all done playing, parents included, everyone starts packing up, Roxy taking back her board, Paul and Zenith taking their clothes, and gear respectively.
As everyone is making their way home, I grab Lilia by the hand and pull her off to the side. "Shh," I shush her with the hand symbol, no idea if this translates to this world, but she complies regardless, and lets me lead her away.
"Dad, mom!" I yell out from far away. "I dropped one of Roxy's text books, over there, I'm gonna borrow Lilia to carry it for me," there's so many holes with what I just said, but I really couldn't think of anything under pressure, and just needed a believable excuse to be alone with Lilia without any interruptions.
I gotta get better at thinking under pressure.
"Hmm, yeah sure, see you back at home," Paul answers, not looking in my direction.
Thank you for believing my bullshit. Although I think he's just distracted by Zenith's butt.
I wait patiently 'till we're alone, before asking, "so, Is there anything you want to get off your chest Lilia?"
"I'm not sure what you're talking about, Rudy?"
"I see," well, I kind of figured she'd say that. "In advance, I apologize for what I am about to do, you can hit me if I'm wrong," I point my hand to the pond, and force the mana to raise the water.
"Rudy?"
I now have a small wave at my disposal, and so I throw it onto Lilia. Sure hope i'm not wrong. Make sure to be careful enough so as not to throw it too hard to actually hurt her, just enough to get her wet. Very, very wet.
"Uwaa!" she screams in surprise after receiving a very large splash attack.
Rudeus used Splash, it's super effective.
"R-Rudy?! W-what was that about?" Lilia skittishly replied after recovering, sprawled on the floor leaning back on her hands.
Just kidding, splash is never effective.
"I thought so," I stare at Lilia's chest. Her outfit is black so it's hard to make out, but I threw enough water at her that I can see the indentation of something underneath.
I reach towards her chest, Lilia being befuddled by my sudden movements doesn't move, and I proceed to open her blouse. Their lay her chest bare open for me to see. Her Black swimsuit covering her chest.
Slap. Lilia slapped me in the face. Hard.
"Ow… Alright, I know I was literally asking for it, but ow," I wince in pain.
Lilia is looking at me with a look of betrayal. It is not a look that I enjoy.
"Sorry," I nursed my cheek. "I'm a very blunt person, and this seemed like the most effective way of talking about your… swimsuit, and why you're hiding it."
She still looks a bit miffed.
"I'm really sorry," I repeat myself just to be sure.
"Sigh. Fine, I already know Rudy long enough to know that he isn't 'THAT,' kind of person, and does stupid thing out of nowhere-"
"I prefer eccentric,"
"STUPID, things out of nowhere. So what big idea does Rudy have now?"
"Not an idea, just a question; why are you hiding your swimsuit? You missed out on alot today,"
She narrowed her eyes at me, before looking away and sighing, "Is that really all, for such a little thing Rudeus would make such a big deal?"
"I beg to differ, your swimsuit is a big deal-" crap I let my inner thoughts escape my mouth.
Calm down Rudeus! Your hormones aren't even active yet, how are you going to handle the future if you can't even handle things of this level.
"...right. Regardless, it's of no importance. Not worth talking about, if that is all let's go home," she starts getting up, and places her hand on her blouse opening.
"And yet it was important enough to hide it," I quipped. "By the way, now that your clothes are wet, it would probably be best to let them dry don't you think?" I move on to the side, and cut off a branch to hang her clothes, and start a small bonfire to warm them up.
I sit by the fire and wait.
"..." she sighs, but ultimately surrenders, and comes to the fire, and starts stripping.
Being forceful every once in a while isn't half bad.
I think as the resident kuudere Milf starts taking off her clothes before me. I know she said I'm not THAT type of guy (whatever that is), but I kind of wish I was right now.
She takes off her clothes, unbuttoning the buttons down from where I left off, and let the clothes fall. There she stood before me, a little wet, well a lot wet, but pretty much alright, she picked up her clothes, and began to bring them to the hanger, before I took them from her hand.
Seeing as she is only wet because of me, might as well take responsibility. I hang the clothes and then we sit by the fire.
"What would you have done if you were wrong?" The silence is broken by her question.
"...there was always that possibility. I'd probably get down on my hands and knees and beg your forgiveness until you accepted, or confess to my parents, so they could punish me appropriately, but I was confident that you were wearing something, although…" I looked at her bottom half.
"I didn't expect for the bottom to be so risqué," I say as I look closely at her choice of swimsuit. It's a black two piece swimsuit, three piece if you count a business-like collar piece with a star design on her neck, but it's the bottom half that's throwing out my concentration. It's a string piece.
"I w-wasn't planning on wearing it today, there's a frilly piece to go with it," she blushed as she covered her bottom, noticing my stare "I left it in my quarters though."
"Wow." I enjoyed the sight. "Ah-right sorry, it looks really nice on you,"
"...Thank you," she sits down by the fire sitting opposite of me, the small blush still present on her face.
What were we talking about? Right-
"But really it looks good on you. I thought you said you didn't have a swimsuit, but you even wore it here. You clearly wanted to swim so what gives?"
"...I wasn't lying when I said I didn't have a swimsuit. I ordered one the day you asked, it arrived just yesterday, but still I couldn't swim,"
"Why not? You clearly wanted to, and before you say you didn't I know-"
"I can't swim,"
"What? You can't swim?" Had to make sure I heard that correctly.
She can't swim? Well, talk about an exercise in futility.
"...wanna learn? Mom and Dad say I'm a natural," I offered.
"You misunderstand, young master. I can't swim. Specifically; it hurts to swim, at least for long periods of time," her hand traces her leg.
"I can float in place, but extraneous activities aggravate my… handicap. I don't really think I'm the best person to teach it,"she then went on explaining how she literally can not swim. Her leg injury gets aggravated by the constant paddling. For a small amount of time it's negligible, but for long periods, unknown.
She honestly didn't know how long she could stay afloat in the water, as she didn't even want to try it. Simply aware of her own limits she doesn't even try so as not to injure/embarrass herself.
It would be unbecoming to teach a student something you can not do. Or at least, that's her thinking.
"So you're not even sure, if you can or cannot swim, and just assuming?"
"It's a fair judgment, based on the situation Rudy," she justified. "You've sparred with me, remember,"
I get it, but I don't like it. That defeatist mentality kinda pisses me off.
"There's also Lady Zenith and master Paul. Miss Zenith doesn't have many moments with the young master, I thought this was a good opportunity for you two to bond,"
Ah, that. Well, there are many reasons, but in the end it's actually quite simple; I just can't. Zenith and Paul are a little dense, but not oblivious. It helps that Paul focuses mostly on training, than my personality, but I feel that if I stayed with Zenith long enough, she would know that something is up. I can play a kid for a short while, and I might slip in my act from time to time, but as long as it's not often I should be able to get away with it.
Lilia is an exception, as she knows I'm not normal, I know that she knows, and she knows that I know that she knows. So I'm free to be myself around her, not the same for Zenith.
"As for Paul, I'd be uncomfortable under his stares…"
"I can kind of understand that," I said, and get a leer for what it's worth. Yeah, had that coming."But, you still want to swim don't you?"
"..."
Lilia nods her head silently. "Even I want to let loose every once in a while," she mumbled into her lap.
"I see. Alright, that's all I needed to hear. Let's let loose," I say more to myself than anything else. I walk over to her, and look her in the face. "Let me show you something amazing."
Walking away from her I decide to break my magic ban. It's showtime.
"Ladies and-" the ladies and gentleman speech doesn't work for a crowd of one does it. "Well, just Lady, sit down and let the show begin," alright here goes nothing I suppose.
"Trace on," jumping into the water I paddle until I am a small distance from the shore.
I raise my hand, and raise the water with it, "water ball," I make a water ball, before proceeding to split apart, then I give it momentum, and let it spin, it goes in a circle around me. Using its own momentum, and my own body as an anchor it's now going in circles. I repeat again, and again, until I have five water balls spinnin around me then, "wind rise," I hit the water balls in sequences making for short bursts of explosions.
Now that the shock part is over with, it is time for the awe.
I keep creating water balls again, and again. And spinning them around me again, and again, there is a small whistling sound coming off, now time for the large figures. Using all the moisture that I've kicked into the air, I now start using it to form figures.
"Icy wind."
I made a butterfly. A star. A flower. Anything simple, and easy to make, while subtly freezing them for a moment when I release the shape onto the air. With all the moisture I've kicked up, the setting sun sets up just enough light to bounce off the ice shards I've made. It's not quite an ice sculpture, but it's impressive in its own right.
Or at least I hope it is. Didn't have time to rehearse this, so have no idea if the light is hitting the intended angles. Should have done this under a full moon, rather than a sunset.
"Whew," I turned to look at her. She is silent, and staring at me with open eyes, noticing me ending the show, she starts to clap slowly .
I think that's a good sign, hopefully not pity.
"Thank you, thank you," I'm a bit tired, but not exhausted, just enough for one little thing. I walk around the bonfire, and reach down my hand to her, "Do you trust me?"
She reaches for my hand tentatively, "...yes,"and lets me lead her to the pond..
We paddle and continue to drift, until we're back in the center. Splash. I splashed her a bit, "Let loose a bit, I'm controlling the water with your legs, how does it feel?"
"Like I'm floating on air,"
"Yep, so how about a game of marco polo?"
"Marco?" Right, right, other world old references.
"Exactly,"
/
What follows was a series of blind tag, aka marco polo, where a Maid is trying to find a young boy in the middle of a lake with her eyes closed.
Funny thing, with her eyes closed she didn't notice the smile on her face.
"Got you," she caught me.
"You got me," I wrap my hands around her. Honestly, this is more tiring than I thought I'd be, controlling the water constantly, but let's not tell her that.
"You're beautiful Lilia," as we float there in the middle of the pond with the sun now fully set, I say such things. "...in your swimsuit that is…" I let the moment pause, just enough for her to know the hidden meaning.
The original plan was to get closer to Lilia, have her fall for me, and even if I failed I would have gotten close to her enough that I could convince her to pursue someone that cares for her in body and heart. I would be sad, back then, with the second option, but I could do it.
Now though, now I don't want to fail.
Gotta take it calmly, don't want to scare her off.
Flick. She flicks me in the forehead, before lightly chuckling into her hands.
"Say such things when you're older Rudy," she smiles.
Not the intended result, but you can't go wrong with a smile.
/
Roxy [POV]
Eh? This is…
As Miss Zenith was preparing the evening meal, I was preparing the books for the night lessons. Wondering where Rudy was. I asked his parents, and they said that he left a book back at the pond.
…except the books are all home with me.
Going back to the pond, the sun had just set, and an inexplicable sight lay before me.
"Ahem," I coughed into my hand.
"Roxy?" My disciple and the maid turned their heads to see me at the bedside. She pushed herself off my disciple's grasp and started floating a hand reach away.
"Your night lessons will start soon. I heard you left a book here, funny… all your books are back at home," I spoke to my disciple as the maid silently drifted back to the bedside, to the bonfire.
"Are they? My mistake. Must have lost my mind with all the fun I was having."
And what fun were you having, disciple.
"Anyways, let's go. Any longer and your parents will worry. Children shouldn't be out at night,"
"Sure~" my disciple got out of the water nonchalantly, and made for his clothes. Where the maid was already changing. Putting back her maid uniform over her…
What a scandalous swimsuit…
After both of them were dressed, we walked home where my disciple entered in casual banter about the day's proceedings, not a bit embarrassed of how I caught him in a lie, or his earlier entanglement with the maid.
It's alright, it's alright. He's just a child.
Such a monologue went through my head until we entered the home. It's not like… it's not like it's mutual right?
I turned my head to the maid that was walking a steady three foot distance from us, until we entered the building.
As Rudy enters the home I let out some thoughts, "Rudy has quite a crush on you doesn't he," I say as I stand by the door not going in yet.
"Yes, it would appear so," came an eloquent reply.
"You seemed to be having fun,"
"...Rudy is a very charming child,"
That's true. Still though,
"I hope you're careful with young Rudy's feelings, I don't think his parents would quite like it if he's heartbroken by the maid,"
"Rest assured, Miss Roxy I will respond to Rudeus feelings appropriately, and when the time comes, I will respectfully, and kindly turn him down,"
"I see…" Perhaps it's not mutual.
Although the image still lingers; of her smiling face while embracing my student in the middle of nowhere. Followed by a more insidious thought she once heard rumors of in the past.
Tales of how young maids would sometimes try to seduce young masters, in the hopes that they would make them their wife or concubine.
No, no no no, there's no way she's that kind of woman. That disciple of mine is putting weird thoughts into my head.
"Miss Roxy?" In my turmoil I haven't noticed that I've been blocking the door for quite a while.
"Ah, sorry. Got lost in thought. But thank you for your understanding. Zenith has prepared dinner for us today, I'll send Rudy down shortly, " I open the door and make my way to my student's bedroom where the night lessons will soon begin, and rest for a bit.
Ahhh, my head, only this disciple could give me a headache during a vacation.
After a day's worth of excitement, I couldn't wait to get back to regular magic lessons.
Still though, better a disciple that worries the head than one that worries the heart.
And it's only been a year, hopefully the next year will be peaceful now…
Right?