All-around teacher at the magic academy

"that…"

Rhine's voice gently broke the silence.

Arthur, who was eating, paused in his eating when he heard Rhine's words. He looked up at Rhine with a questioning look in his eyes.

"I'd like to be able to cook from Monday to Friday every week from now on,"

Rhine continued, his voice not loud but firm, "You have to go to work every day, it's not appropriate for you to cook when you get home."

Arthur blinked in disbelief, feeling a warm feeling wash over him.

He looked at Rhine and felt that he seemed to have grown up overnight, becoming more considerate and understanding of others.

“It’s alright, I’m not in a rush,” Arthur replied softly, not wanting Rhine to feel like he was a burden.

“I have more flexible schedules,” Rhine insisted. “For now, I’ll cook from Monday to Friday, and you can cook on the weekend.”

He offered his suggestions, his eyes revealing anticipation.

Arthur pondered for a moment, considering Rhine's proposal, feeling both touched and hesitant.

But in the end, he did not refuse, and nodded slightly, which was considered as agreeing to Rhine's proposal.

After that, the two continued to eat their food in silence, and the atmosphere at the table became somewhat awkward.

The two grown men suddenly seemed to have run out of things to say, their thoughts drifting off to distant places.

Rhine occasionally stole glances at Arthur, while Arthur kept his head down, focused on eating, seemingly deep in thought.

Dinner was drawing to a close in silence. Just as Rhine was about to get up to clear the table, Arthur stood up and reached for Rhine's plate.

“I’ll do it,” Arthur said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

He felt it was inappropriate to leave everything to Rhine, since he had been busy all along and this sudden free time made him feel somewhat uneasy.

Looking at Arthur, Rhine felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He didn't refuse again, but simply nodded gently to show his understanding.

.......

After midnight

Rhine lay in bed, feeling uneasy. He tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

As soon as I close my eyes, I can't help but think of my mother, her smile, her voice, and her meticulous care.

This concern was like a gentle force that transcended the barriers of time and space, making Rhine feel both warm and pained.

He used to feel uneasy every time he left home and needed some time to adjust.

This time, he not only left home, but also left the world he knew. This discomfort became even stronger, crashing against his heart like waves.

The more he tried to fall asleep, the clearer his mind became, and gradually, his mood began to become somewhat restless.

He couldn't imagine what he would do if he were alone; the thought of that loneliness and helplessness sent chills down his spine.

Fortunately, Arthur is still here. His existence is like a lighthouse, guiding Rhine in this strange world.

Despite this, Rhine's mind remained unsettled. He hesitated in the darkness for a moment, then ultimately decided not to force himself to sleep.

He sat up, turned on the bedside lamp, and the room was instantly illuminated by soft light.

Rhine sat down at his desk, the magic book in his hand looking ancient and mysterious under the lamplight.

Perhaps it was because the way home was hidden within this book that Rhine could only feel his emotions gradually calming down when he flipped through the magic book.

The words and pictures on the pages are both a challenge and a hope for him.

He can't cast spells yet, but he knows his primary task is to gain a deep understanding of these magical knowledge systems and theories.

Only by thoroughly mastering these fundamentals can you put them into practice more smoothly and find clues to getting home.

Meanwhile, in the next room, Arthur lay on his bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

Today, Rhine's change stirred up his emotions. He sat up and picked up the photo frame that was on the bedside table.

The photo shows a young couple with a child standing beside them, while the woman is holding an even smaller child in her arms.

That was a family photo, filled with warm and happy memories.

Arthur gently stroked the edge of the photo frame, tears streaming down his face.

He felt he could briefly tell his parents that they seemed to be doing well and that they didn't need to worry.

...

Before dawn

Arthur finished his breakfast early in the dim morning light, and quietly tidied everything up without waking Rhine.

Instead, she carefully placed the prepared food on the dining table, left a short note with a greeting, and quietly left the apartment.

Rhine vaguely sensed a glimmer of light in his dream, but he did not wake up immediately.

When he finally opened his eyes, it was already quite light outside.

He rubbed his sleepy eyes, groggily walked out of the room, and only when he saw the clock on the living room wall did he realize that he had overslept. He figured Arthur must have already gone to work.

He washed up and ate some of the breakfast Arthur had left behind. Although it was a little cold, Rhine felt warm inside.

He cleaned up the dishes and then sat down at his desk again to begin his magic studies.

He flipped through the thick magic book, his heart filled with longing.

He wanted to master some magic as soon as possible, even the most basic kind, because he needed some confidence and the motivation to persevere.

Rhine didn't know why he came into this world, nor what his mission was.

He simply knew clearly that he wanted to do everything possible to return to his own world—that familiar world filled with his family and friends.

If he were alone, he might choose to settle down in this unknown world and start a completely new life.

Everything here is so new and full of endless possibilities.

However, he was not alone. In his original world, he had relatives, friends, and all the beautiful memories he knew.

He didn't want to leave those places filled with warm memories, and he didn't want to embark on an unknown journey.

His heart still yearned for that world, filled with reluctance and anticipation for his former life; he had not yet completely lost hope in it.

Deep in his heart, he always retained a longing to go home, an emotional bond that could not be severed.

Perhaps for others, a new life is a redemption, a chance to be reborn, to let go of the past and embrace unknown challenges.

But for Rhine, this new world was nothing but endless trouble, a prison from which he could not escape.