Kevin sat quietly on a stone block, her legs swinging gently. Her eyes followed Lorin’s figure as he went to buy something. Then she stretched lazily with a soft yawn.

"It’s a bit crowded."

The breathtaking beauty hidden under her cloak showed a helpless expression. She felt the crowd brushing past her constantly, then murmured to herself.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Kevin."

Lorin appeared with an unknown steaming food in his hands. Though its appearance was strange, the aroma was genuinely tempting. He slowly approached Kevin and handed her the odd dish. His handsome face bore a sincere look, without a trace of ill intent.

"Huh?"

Kevin felt instant rejection just by glancing at it. Her rosy lips parted slightly to speak, but she met Lorin’s expectant gaze. She hesitated for a moment. After all, it was just food. Though bizarre-looking, one bite shouldn’t cause trouble, right?

"Okay, thank you."

Kevin took it shakily, even sensing the food wriggling in the bowl. She hadn’t seen such weird food in ages. With an awkward yet polite smile, she grabbed her chopsticks, snatched the strange item, and popped it into her mouth in a flash—as if nothing happened.

"How is it, Miss Kevin? I highly recommend this."

"Mmm... mmm... wait..."

Kevin held the food in her mouth without chewing, as if afraid. A faint sound escaped her lips.

"It’s... fine. Good."

"Glad you like it, Miss Kevin. But wow, it’s really crowded here."

Lorin breathed a sigh of relief, glancing at the bustling crowd. "Miss Kevin, shall we go somewhere quieter?"

He suggested this because the crowd was overwhelming, even raising the temperature. Besides, Lorin sensed she preferred peace.

"Whatever. I’m following you anyway."

Kevin seemed indifferent. She’d already devoured the food completely, even letting out an unladylike burp.

This troubled Lorin momentarily. He wasn’t familiar with the area, but finding quiet wasn’t hard—he’d just use a bit of magic.

Soon, Lorin led Kevin through the sea of people to a deserted road. Weeds overgrew the path, and only the low chirping of insects in dense bushes broke the silence. The buildings looked dilapidated, old and broken. Kevin glanced at Lorin with confusion, then instinctively stepped back.

"Lorin, what a lovely spot," she said with a warning edge. Years of experience screamed something was wrong.

"Huh? Miss Kevin, didn’t you want quiet? Are you unsatisfied?" Lorin replied sincerely, his face showing no malice.

"Fine. This place works."

Kevin said little, just a trace of helplessness on her face. Even if Lorin had bad intentions, her Tenth Tier strength would handle him effortlessly.

"But the path upward is kinda long."

Her light blue eyes reflected the endless stone stairs—clearly leading to the mountaintop. She inwardly complained; this route was way too lengthy.

Soon, two figures climbed the old steps steadily, stopping only at the summit to rest.

Kevin looked utterly drained. She sat quietly on a rough boulder, a hint of fatigue on her face. She already longed to return to the inn, feeling foolish for agreeing to Lorin’s plan. She sighed silently.

Then she gently caressed her fair ankle, revealing an alluring calf from under her cloak. Moonlight made it glow pure and flawless.

The evening breeze effortlessly blew off her hood, unveiling her breathtaking beauty. Everything around seemed to dim, as if highlighting her radiance. Kevin resembled a stunning painting, captivating any viewer. But Lorin, with strong will, snapped out of it quickly.

Though magic supported her feet, she still felt tired. Without proper shoes, she wouldn’t be in this state.

"Miss Kevin, do you dislike wearing shoes, or...?" Lorin asked with slight confusion. Since their first meeting, she’d always been barefoot.

"It’s my issue. No suitable shoes."

"I see. How’s this place, Miss Kevin? Very peaceful, right?"

"It’s fine. So why are we here, Lorin?"

Kevin scanned the area—nothing but trash. Nothing interesting. She gazed at Lorin quietly, puzzled.

"Ah, sorry. I was just focused on finding quiet."

Lorin’s voice held apology. His mind had been full of quiet spots and Miss Kevin’s lingering image. He gently touched his slightly heated forehead. He didn’t know what was wrong—maybe illness. He just kept wanting to get closer to her, to understand who she was, what she liked.

"It’s fine. Same difference."

Kevin lightly swept the space beside her, patting the ground. Casually, she noticed the blue gem pendant on Lorin’s chest. It reminded her of her disciple Henry. She decided to chat—just to pass time.

Truth was, she hadn’t properly talked to anyone in ages. Stuck on Divine Spirit Mountain researching Forbidden Magic, only Gali visited for drinks. Just drinks.

"Lorin, how are your parents?"

"Hmm..." Lorin’s face darkened instantly. His eyes darted around, struggling to speak. He sighed heavily. "They’re... fine. My father’s an alcoholic, so—"

"Wait. Let’s switch topics."

Kevin realized she’d stepped on a landmine. She cut him off before he finished, her tone calm. "Let’s talk about something lighter."