"The quiet moments are where the soul whispers its truest dreams."
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Chapter 06
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After a week of relentless practice, Naruto finally mastered the levitation spell. Naturally, he couldn't help but brag about his newfound skill, which only resulted in him pestering Frieren for the next challenge.
Frieren, unperturbed as always, crossed her arms. "Alright," she said. "Here's your next goal: levitate for as long as you can, without moving—just float in place."
Naruto frowned. "What? Why? That sounds boring."
"I want to observe something," Frieren replied cryptically.
Naruto groaned. "Fine, whatever. This'll be easy."
He began levitating inside the cabin, his head brushing against the ceiling as he drifted upward. "See? No problem," he said smugly, twirling his staff like a baton.
At first, it was effortless. A minute passed, then ten.
"Still good," Naruto declared confidently, though his feet wobbled slightly in the air. He twirled his staff again, narrowly missing a shelf. "Oops, uh, all part of the show."
Frieren observed him with detached interest while Fern sat nearby, pretending to read but sneaking glances. "I can only manage forty-five minutes at most," she admitted under her breath, watching Naruto's casual ease with growing disbelief.
As thirty minutes ticked by, Naruto began to fidget. "Okay, maybe this is a little harder than I thought," he mumbled, shifting in midair. His legs kicked aimlessly, and he gripped his staff like a lifeline. "Ugh, this is so boring! Can't I just—"
"No," Frieren said before he could finish.
By the time an hour rolled around, Naruto was too bored to even complain. His usual energy drained away as he floated, staring at the wooden beams above him. "This is torture…" he muttered, barely audible.
To break the monotony, Stark decided to introduce a game. He tossed a small knife into the air and caught it with ease. "Hey, Naruto! Let's play catch," he said, grinning mischievously.
"With a knife?!" Naruto yelped, nearly losing his balance in the air.
"Don't be a baby," Stark said, tossing the blade lightly toward him.
Naruto caught it awkwardly with one hand, spinning slightly as the force knocked him off-kilter. "This is a terrible idea!" he shouted, flinging the knife back.
Stark caught it effortlessly, laughing. "You're just mad I'm better at this."
The game escalated quickly. The knife zipped through the air faster and faster, and Naruto had to twist and turn midair to avoid getting sliced. Fern, who had been watching with increasing irritation, finally snapped.
"Mr. Stark! Mr. Naruto! Stop this nonsense immediately!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the cabin like a whip. She stormed over, yanking the knife out of Stark's hand and glaring at both of them. "What are you, children?"
"Technically, I'm still a teenager," Naruto offered sheepishly.
Fern smacked him lightly on the head with her staff. "Not helping."
The chaos settled down, but Naruto remained floating, stubbornly determined to hit whatever invisible target Frieren had set for him. As the evening wore on, the others went about their routines. Stark eventually sprawled out on his bed, snoring loudly. Fern resumed reading, though she stole glances at Naruto from time to time. Frieren simply sat by the fire, her eyes half-closed as if she were meditating.
By the time midnight arrived, Naruto was still levitating, though he had fallen fast asleep. His snores echoed faintly, causing Fern to suppress a chuckle. "How is he still up there?" she whispered.
Frieren glanced at Naruto, her gaze thoughtful. "It's impressive. He doesn't seem to tire from the spell."
It wasn't until the early hours of the morning that Naruto woke with a start, clutching his stomach and groaning. "Oh no… Oh no no no!" he shouted, breaking the silence.
Fern bolted upright, startled. "What's wrong?"
Naruto, still midair, clutched his crotch with both hands. "I haven't peed in fourteen hours!" he wailed, his face contorted with panic.
Frieren raised an eyebrow but said nothing, while Fern buried her face in her hands, muttering, "Unbelievable…"
Naruto crashed to the floor with a thud, bolting for the door as fast as his legs could carry him. The others sat in stunned silence, unsure whether to laugh or shake their heads.
When he returned minutes later, looking relieved but sheepish, Frieren finally spoke. "You lasted longer than I expected," she said.
"Thanks… I think," Naruto replied, scratching his head.
Fern and Frieren exchanged a glance, both noting how Naruto didn't appear drained at all despite using the levitation spell for hours. Frieren's lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile. "Had it not been for his bladder," she mused, "he might've stayed up there all night."
Õ—T—Õ
Months passed, and Naruto's restlessness grew with the unrelenting snowstorm. Everyone else seemed unaffected. Kraft prayed regularly, Fern took care of cooking, Frieren spent most of her time sleeping, and Stark was always polishing his axe like it was his life's purpose.
Naruto, however, couldn't sit still. Being a shinobi meant being active, and this idle life wasn't his style. So, he did the one thing he knew best—pester Frieren.
He bothered her at every opportunity. When she was sleeping:
"Hag! Wake up! Teach me something cool!"
"Mmm… No," she mumbled, rolling over and pulling her blanket tighter.
When she was eating:
"C'mon, hag, at least one fire spell! Just a tiny one!"
She stared at him with her usual blank expression, took another bite of her bread, and said, "Not today."
Even when she was heading for a shower, he'd follow her to the door, pleading, "I'll be quick, I promise! Teach me now, and I won't bother you for a week!"
"Go away," she replied, shutting the door in his face.
Desperate times called for desperate measures. Naruto resorted to bribery.
"You've been sleeping a lot," he said, cracking his knuckles. "How about a nice head massage? Or a shoulder massage? You've earned it, hag."
She glanced at him suspiciously but eventually relented. "Fine… Just don't stop until I say so."
He worked tirelessly, his hands skilled and firm from years of ninja training. For a moment, it seemed like he had won her over.
"This is nice," Frieren admitted, her voice almost soft.
"So… about that fire spell?"
Her reply came in the form of a soft snore. She'd fallen asleep again.
Still, his persistence bore some fruit. After weeks of nagging and massages, Frieren finally taught him three spells. Unfortunately, they were anything but impressive:
A spell to clean mold from copper statues.
A spell to see your back without turning around.
A spell to ease toe pain.
"Seriously?" Naruto groaned. "These are the worst spells ever!"
Frieren shrugged. "You wanted to learn magic. These are spells."
Meanwhile, Fern took pity on Naruto's boredom and decided to teach him about the world's history, particularly the legendary Hero's party from 80 years ago. She spoke with reverence about Heiter, the priest who had been like a father to her and who had gifted her the staff she carried.
"Heiter was kind," Fern said, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "He believed in helping everyone, no matter who they were. He taught me a lot."
Naruto listened, surprisingly attentive. He was fascinated by the stories of Himmel, the heroic leader who never gave up and always found ways to help others.
"Himmel sounds awesome!" Naruto said. "A real hero!"
"He was," Fern agreed, smiling faintly.
Naruto found himself inspired by Himmel's deeds. He imagined himself following in the hero's footsteps, doing odd but helpful tasks for others. However, whenever Frieren came up in Fern's stories, Naruto zoned out. To him, Frieren was just "the hag," and he couldn't picture her as anything other than her current sleepy self.
On the rare occasion Frieren was awake and attentive, Kraft shared a few combat techniques with Naruto. Despite being a seasoned ninja, Naruto was impressed. Kraft's moves were subtle but effective, blending physical strength with precision and grace.
"Wow," Naruto said after a particularly enlightening session. "I didn't think an old man like you could move like that!"
Kraft chuckled. "Age is just a number, kid. Keep training, and you'll see."
Through it all, the snowstorm outside continued unabated, but inside the cabin, Naruto found moments of growth, even if they weren't exactly what he'd hoped for.
Õ—T—Õ
Naruto had developed a habit of experimenting with his staff whenever he could. The staff was like a new toy, and his shinobi instincts made him eager to test its limits. But Fern was always watching him, her hawk-like gaze unwavering.
One afternoon, Naruto attempted a spell he'd made up on the spot. Just as he was about to swing his staff, Fern's stern voice cut through the room.
"Mr. Naruto, what are you doing?"
Naruto froze mid-swing and gave her an innocent grin. "Hehe, um, trying a new spell?"
Fern's eyes narrowed. "Put the staff down. Now."
"Aw, come on, Fern! I've got this one for sure!"
"Put. It. Down," she repeated, her tone brooking no argument.
Despite her vigilance, Naruto managed to sneak in a few experiments when Fern was distracted. These experiments, however, rarely ended well.
One morning, while Fern was busy preparing breakfast, Naruto decided to "enhance" the kettle with his magic. He chanted a spell that he thought might make the water boil faster. Instead, the kettle exploded with a loud BANG!
Fern stormed into the room, her face a mix of anger and disbelief.
"Mr. Naruto!" she yelled, fists clenched.
Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Uh… oops?"
Fern didn't hold back. She spent the rest of the day smacking him on the head with her fists every time she passed him.
Another time, Naruto aimed to improve the fireplace by making the flames brighter and warmer. Instead, he ended up blowing the entire thing out, leaving the room freezing.
Stark had burst into laughter. "Nice going, kid. You turned it into a snowstorm in here!"
Fern was less amused. She grabbed Naruto by the ear and dragged him to clean up the mess, grumbling about his recklessness the entire time.
Through all this, Naruto continued pestering Frieren for more spells. He tried everything to convince her—pranks, sweet-talking, and even exaggerated flattery.
"Frieren, you're the most amazing mage ever! Teach me something cool!" he'd say with an overly dramatic bow.
Frieren remained as nonchalant as ever, brushing off his antics like one swats away an annoying fly.
Three months into their snowy confinement, Frieren finally decided to teach Naruto a new spell.
"This one is practical," she said, her voice calm but firm. "A levitation spell for carrying heavy luggage."
Naruto's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Yes! Now we're talking! Let's do this!"
Frieren demonstrated the spell, effortlessly lifting a large log into the air and setting it down gently.
"Whoa," Naruto whispered, awestruck. "That's awesome!"
"It's also simple," Frieren said, handing him the staff. "Your turn."
Naruto was eager to try, but as always, things didn't go smoothly. On his first attempt, he chanted the spell and managed to lift the log—but only for a second. It shot up into the air and smashed into the ceiling, sending bits of wood and plaster raining down.
"Uh… my bad?" Naruto said, cringing.
The next day, he tried again, this time with a smaller object—a cooking pot. He concentrated hard, chanting the spell with determination. The pot floated, wobbled, and then zoomed toward Stark's head.
"Hey!" Stark ducked just in time, the pot clanging against the wall. "Watch it, Naruto!"
"Sorry, sorry!" Naruto said, laughing nervously.
On the third attempt, Naruto decided to test the spell on something heavier—a pile of books. He chanted confidently, and the books rose into the air. For a moment, it seemed like he'd succeeded. Then the books burst apart, their pages flying everywhere like a paper blizzard.
Fern stood in the doorway, her expression a mix of horror and fury.
"Mr. Naruto!" she yelled. "Do you have any idea how long it'll take to put those back in order?"
Naruto spent the rest of the day organizing the books under Fern's watchful eye.
By the end of three chaotic days, Naruto finally mastered the spell. He could now levitate objects smoothly and with precision.
"Ha! I did it!" he cheered, spinning his staff in triumph.
Frieren gave him a rare nod of approval. "Not bad. Let's see if you can keep it up."
Õ—T—Õ
By the end of six months, the blizzard began to wane, marking the end of their stay with Kraft. During this time, Fern and Stark had visibly grown, with Fern now 1.5 inches taller and Stark standing a proud 2 inches above his previous height. Naruto, however, hadn't grown at all.
"I'm the same!" Naruto exclaimed, throwing his hands up in frustration. He stomped around the room, puffing his cheeks in annoyance. "This isn't fair! How come I'm still stuck at this height while they're growing like weeds?"
Stark smirked, teasing, "Maybe you're just destined to stay small, shorty."
"Say that again, and I'll—" Naruto stopped mid-sentence as Fern gave him a disapproving glare.
Kraft, unfazed by the commotion, decided to run a few basic tests on Naruto. He hummed thoughtfully as he inspected Naruto's vitals and conducted a few basic examinations. After some time, he leaned back, his expression unreadable.
"There's something unusual about your metabolism," Kraft stated, stroking his chin. "I suggest showing him to a priest for further examination."
"Huh?" Naruto blinked in confusion. "What's wrong with my metabolism?"
Frieren nodded, cutting off any further questions. "Noted."
Kraft turned to Frieren as he packed up his tools. "So, where are you all headed next?"
"To the Demon King's castle," Frieren replied nonchalantly.
"Why?" Kraft asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Heaven," she said simply.
"Ah," Kraft said, nodding in understanding. "Are you planning to take the sea path, then?"
"It's too costly," Frieren replied. "Out of our budget. We'll go by foot."
Kraft frowned. "If you're going that way, you'll need a certified First-Class Mage with you. The land route is dangerous, and only a First-Class Mage's authority will let you cross certain areas safely."
"First-Class Mage?" Naruto and Frieren echoed in unison, their confusion palpable.
Fern, ever the responsible one, took it upon herself to explain. "A First-Class Mage is the highest rank a mage can achieve. To become one, you must pass the First-Class Mage exam, which is held once every three years. The exam is extremely rigorous, testing not only your magical abilities but also your knowledge, adaptability, and leadership skills."
Naruto scratched his head, trying to process the information. "And you're… what class?"
"I'm a Third-Class Mage," Fern admitted. "It takes years of study and experience to even qualify for the First-Class exam. Most mages don't make it past Second Class."
Frieren, leaning against the wall, muttered, "There wasn't this much complication in my time."
"And when was your time? The prehistoric era?" Naruto quipped, earning himself a sharp look from Fern.
Frieren ignored him, her expression turning thoughtful. "Fern will take the exam, then. Traveling by sea is too costly, and we'll need the certification for the land route."
Fern looked both surprised and determined. "I'll do my best."
With that decision made, the group prepared to leave. Kraft stood at the entrance, watching as they packed their belongings.
"Take care," Kraft said, his voice gruff but warm. "And show that boy to a priest when you can."
"We will," Frieren replied.
Naruto waved enthusiastically. "Thanks for everything, old man!"
As they walked away from the cabin that had been their shelter for six long months, the snow began to melt, revealing the path ahead. They were one step closer to their destination—and to the challenges that awaited them.
Õ—T—Õ
Author's Note:
Next chapter will be special. Guess why.
So, I took the admission test and yeah, I passed... but man, it wasn't enough. There were a ton of people who absolutely crushed it—scored way higher than me.
Guess that means no stethoscope hanging around my neck, no white coat dreams coming true. Not gonna lie, I'm not exactly sad… more like stuck in this heavy, depressing haze, y'know? Maybe that's why my recent updates have been kinda… meh? Feels like I'm running on empty.
But hey, life doesn't stop, right? Gotta figure out a new path. I'm a dreamer, after all—I'm built to keep moving forward, no matter how many times I stumble.
Anyway, drop your thoughts in the review section if you feel like it. Seriously, your words mean the world to me. They keep me going, writing faster, better, and with more heart.
Catch you next time!