Chương 41: Chapter 41
The second illustration poll has ended with the following results:
Shirou touched Riveria's elven ear : 53%
Riveria is blindfolded while Shirou tests her sensitivity to prana : 7%
Riveria, without clothes, faces away from Shirou to have her magic circuit opened : 40%
With a total of 15 votes. You can check it out on https://www.patreon.com/Rayish
Loki, who was lounging casually, looked at Aiz with curiosity. "By the way, why did you come to my room earlier?" she asked, fiddling with her fingers.
Aiz pulled an envelope from inside her clothing and handed it to Loki. "I received this letter for you while I was out earlier," Aiz replied in her calm voice.
Loki's eyes lit up. She immediately recognized the letter as an official invitation to the upcoming party. "Oh, so this is the party invitation," she muttered, quickly opening the envelope.
Seeing this, Shirou felt it was time to return the tuxedo he was wearing. He tugged at the collar of his tuxedo and politely said, "In that case, I'll return this tuxedo. I don't think I'll be wearing it."
However, Loki waved her hand dismissively, ignoring Shirou's intent. "No need, that tuxedo is for you. Just keep it," she said with a sly smile. "Who knows, you might change your mind or need a tux for another event."
Shirou nodded slowly, slightly surprised but also grateful. "Alright, thank you," he said before deciding to take his leave.
Aiz and Shirou then excused themselves to leave Loki's room. As they walked out, Aiz suddenly spoke in a softer tone. "I... still feel embarrassed because I'm not good at dancing," she admitted, blushing slightly. "Would you help me practice? I want to get better for the upcoming party."
Shirou turned to Aiz and smiled gently. "Of course. Even though I'm not very good myself, we can learn together," he said. Though he was just as awkward at dancing, Aiz's desire to improve made him want to help.
Aiz smiled brightly, clearly pleased. Her eyes glanced at the tuxedo Shirou was wearing, and with a more enthusiastic tone, she said, "In that case, I'll go change my clothes first. Wait a moment, okay?"
Shirou nodded as he watched Aiz walk away to change. Deep down, Shirou felt something pleasant about their time together, even in a simple situation like practicing dancing.
After a while, Aiz returned wearing a stunning light green gown with an open back, highlighting her elegance. A necklace with an emerald pendant adorned her neck, shimmering softly in the room's light.
Shirou gazed at her, mesmerized by Aiz's beauty. It took him a few seconds to realize and say, "Aiz, you... you look incredible. But we're just practicing dancing, you didn't have to dress like this."
However, Aiz simply shook her head with a faint smile. "No, Shirou. You look handsome in that tuxedo, so at least I want to match you while we dance," she said earnestly.
Shirou, not used to such compliments, especially from Aiz, felt his face heat up. He blushed slightly and cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment. "Thank you... So, where should we practice?" he asked, trying to shift his focus away from Aiz's beauty.
Aiz thought for a moment. She clearly didn't want anyone else to see them practicing, especially if they were still awkward. "How about the library?" she suggested. "There's plenty of space, and it's probably quieter. We can practice in peace."
Shirou nodded in agreement. "That's a great idea. Maybe we could even find a book on dancing there," he said with a smile.
With that decision, the two of them headed to the Twilight Manor library, ready to continue their dance lesson in a more private and peaceful setting.
Shirou and Aiz quietly made their way through the corridors of Twilight Manor, trying not to draw any attention. They wanted to ensure that no one saw them, especially since they were about to practice dancing—something they were both hesitant to do in front of the other Familia members. Their steps were silent, though nervousness lingered between them.
Once they arrived at the library, they stood in the middle of the spacious and quiet room. Tall bookshelves filled with thick books surrounded them, but the atmosphere felt calm, far from the hustle and bustle outside. Shirou and Aiz exchanged glances, both unsure of how to start.
Aiz looked around at the bookshelves and then spoke in a calm tone, "Maybe we can find a book that teaches us how to dance."
Shirou nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that's a good idea. Let's try looking," he said as he began scanning the nearby shelves.
The two of them started searching, carefully examining the rows of books. However, after several minutes, they didn't find any book on dancing. Most of the books in the library were about magic, history, or battle strategies. Shirou sighed after reading the title of yet another book that had nothing to do with dancing. "It doesn't seem like we'll find any books on dancing here," he said, turning to Aiz.
Aiz looked slightly disappointed, but she quickly turned to Shirou and said, "Maybe we can just try it ourselves. Dancing without the help of a book."
Shirou was silent for a moment, then smiled slightly. "Alright," he said, extending his hand to Aiz, signaling that they should give it a try.
With a little hesitation, Aiz placed her hand in Shirou's. They returned to their dance position as before, with Shirou's hand on Aiz's waist and Aiz's hand on Shirou's shoulder. Slowly, they started moving. As expected, they danced awkwardly. Shirou felt stiff as he stepped, and Aiz, though graceful in battle, still struggled to find her rhythm in dancing.
They kept trying, repeatedly taking awkward steps and exchanging slightly embarrassed smiles. Even though their dance was far from perfect, there was something enjoyable about being together. They might not have been skilled, but at least they were learning together, without pressure or distractions from anyone else.
As Shirou and Aiz were awkwardly dancing, they were suddenly interrupted by a voice from behind them. "What are you two doing here?" The voice was firm but gentle, startling them both.
They immediately stopped and turned toward the voice. It was Riveria, who had quietly been observing them in the library. She squinted her eyes, taking in the matching outfits of Aiz and Shirou. Though her face remained calm, a small pang of jealousy crept into her heart.
"This library is not a place for dancing," Riveria said calmly but with a hint of warning. She stepped closer, her gaze sharp but caring.
Aiz, feeling embarrassed at being caught, quickly explained. "We were just… practicing dancing for the upcoming party," she said, her voice a little nervous. "I was too shy to practice in front of others, so I thought it would be better to do it here."
Riveria stared at them for a moment before pulling Shirou's hand away from Aiz. "In that case, let me teach you," she said with a more serious tone, as if issuing a challenge without saying it outright.
Without waiting for a response, Riveria took Shirou's hand and began dancing with him. Her movements were far more graceful, confident, and every step she took with Shirou was smooth and natural. Riveria demonstrated expert dance techniques, making Shirou appear more fluid, though he was slightly surprised by the drastic shift in the atmosphere.
Aiz, unaware of the hidden motives behind Riveria's actions, simply stood and watched in admiration. "You're amazing, Riveria!" she said, clapping lightly, genuinely impressed by Riveria's elegant movements that made dancing seem effortless.
Meanwhile, Riveria felt a sense of satisfaction, having shown that she was more suited to dance with Shirou. However, she kept her expression calm and poised, hiding her deeper feelings toward Shirou.
When their dance ended, Shirou felt a bit awkward. Riveria gave a slight smile as she let go of his hand. "That's how you dance properly," she said, glancing at Aiz, as if reminding her that as her mentor, she could teach more than just magic and battle strategy.
Not wanting to give up, Aiz quickly took Shirou's hand again. She looked at Riveria with hopeful eyes and said, "Riveria, please teach us the right way to dance. We want to do it well for the party."
Riveria restrained herself from showing any jealousy and remained composed. She approached them and began adjusting Shirou and Aiz's hand positions and posture. "Shirou, place your hand here, more relaxed but still firm," she said, adjusting Shirou's hand on Aiz's waist. Then she gently corrected Aiz's posture, "Aiz, don't hold your shoulders too stiffly. Follow the rhythm softly."
With patience, Riveria gave instructions and monitored their every movement. Slowly but surely, Aiz and Shirou's steps became more in sync, and their dance became smoother. They started to find their rhythm, and what had previously been awkward now began to feel more natural.
However, deep inside, Riveria's jealousy continued to grow. She watched Shirou now dancing more fluidly with Aiz, and while she knew that Aiz was her student and she wanted the best for her, she couldn't suppress the uncomfortable feeling. "I have to maintain my composure, even if it hurts to see him dancing with another woman... even if it's Aiz," Riveria thought, trying to suppress her emotions.
When their dance ended, Shirou smiled and turned to Riveria. "Thank you so much, Riveria. Thanks to you, we're doing much better."
Riveria looked away slightly, trying to hide her feelings. "You'll need to practice harder to be more polished for the party," she said in a neutral tone, before deciding to leave the library. "I'll be going now. You can continue on your own," she said as she walked out, leaving Shirou and Aiz standing in the middle of the room.
Aiz smiled softly, feeling lucky that Riveria had taken the time to teach them, even though she was usually so busy. "Riveria is really kind to take the time for us," she said, her voice sounding relieved.
Shirou nodded in agreement. "Yeah, she was a big help. I didn't think we'd improve this quickly," he said as he glanced around the now-quiet room after Riveria's departure.
Suddenly, an idea popped into Shirou's mind. "I have something that might make this moment more enjoyable," he said, raising his hand and beginning to project an object. With the soft glow of his magic, an old gramophone started to materialize in his hands. The gramophone looked antique, with a record placed on top, as if it had been pulled straight from the past.
Aiz looked at the gramophone with curiosity. "What is that, Shirou? I've never seen anything like it," she said, her eyes wide with wonder.
Shirou smiled slightly and placed the gramophone on a table, winding the record. "This is a device from my old world, from the city I lived in, Fuyuki. I used to try and repair broken gramophones like this. I decided to project one now," he explained as he set it in motion.
As the record began to spin, the soft sounds of classical music filled the room. The melody floated through the air, creating a serene and nostalgic atmosphere. Aiz was captivated, her ears picking up the unfamiliar but beautiful tune. "This song... it's wonderful," she murmured, gazing at Shirou in admiration.
Shirou turned to her, smiling warmly. "This is music from my old world. I thought it might help us dance better," he said. Then, he extended his hand to Aiz. "Would you like to dance with me again?" he asked gently.
Aiz nodded, her eyes sparkling. "Of course," she said, slowly taking Shirou's hand. They began dancing again, but this time, accompanied by the music from the gramophone Shirou had projected. Their steps became more in sync with the melody, as if the music transported them to another world.
Aiz felt calmer now, and her movements were smoother. She followed Shirou's lead more easily as the soft music surrounded them. Shirou guided her carefully, feeling more confident with the rhythm accompanying them.
"This music... it makes everything feel different," Aiz whispered softly, her voice nearly drowned out by the beautiful notes from the gramophone. "I feel like... I'm floating."
Shirou smiled at her words. "Music has that kind of power," he replied, twirling Aiz gently. "I'm glad you like it."
Aiz could only smile, her heart at peace, far from the chaos of battle training or daily tasks. The dance was no longer just about learning steps, but about savoring the moment together—something simple yet deeply meaningful for both of them.
In the corner of the room, the gramophone continued to play, as if keeping the rhythm of their dance, which now felt smoother and more natural. In an instant, the quiet library transformed into a space full of warmth and togetherness, just for the two of them.
As Aiz enjoyed dancing with Shirou to the music from the gramophone, a sudden warmth enveloped her heart. The slow steps and the soft rhythm reminded her of her childhood. Back then, her mother, Aria, often sang lullabies to her before bed. The memory of her mother's gentle voice filled her mind, bringing back a sense of peace and tranquility she hadn't felt in a long time.
Unknowingly, Aiz activated her magic, Little Ariel. A soft wind surrounded her, lifting her slightly off the library floor. Shirou, initially surprised by Aiz floating, quickly adapted. He remained calm and adjusted his steps, following both the rhythm and Aiz's movement in the air.
They continued dancing, as if they were dancing on clouds. Shirou carefully spun Aiz, who now floated around him, while the wind from Little Ariel carried them in graceful turns. Aiz looked like a free wind spirit, and Shirou followed her movements in perfect harmony.
The dance ended as Aiz floated back into Shirou's arms, her body slowly descending from the air. Their faces were so close, just inches apart. They stood in silence for a moment, gazing at each other, enjoying the closeness. Shirou could feel Aiz's breath, and both their hearts began to race.
For a few seconds, time seemed to stop. They just stood there, trapped in an intimate and peaceful atmosphere, as if the world around them no longer existed.
However, a sense of awkwardness eventually arose in Shirou's heart. His face started to flush, and shyly, he released Aiz from his embrace. Aiz, also feeling a bit bashful, gave a soft smile, realizing just how special the moment they had shared was.
Shirou, still blushing from the closeness, tried to shift the focus by starting a conversation. "Aiz, just now… did you use Little Ariel to dance? It's the first time I've seen it used like that," he said, his voice a bit awkward but full of admiration.
Aiz smiled gently and nodded slowly. "Yes, I activated it without realizing it. Actually, while we were dancing, I was reminded of my mother, Aria, who used to sing to me when I was little. Those songs always made me feel calm… and I guess that's why Little Ariel activated on its own," Aiz explained, her eyes drifting slightly as she recalled the sweet memories with her mother.
Feeling the warmth of the moment, Shirou decided to tease her a bit. "It seems like Little Ariel is quite versatile, huh? Besides helping you float in water, now it can be used for dancing too," he said playfully.
Aiz chuckled softly, a rare laugh from the usually quiet Sword Princess. "I never thought of it that way," she replied, her gaze soft but cheerful. "But… did you find it difficult to dance with me while I was floating?" Aiz suddenly asked, a bit worried that her ability had made the dance harder for him.
Shirou quickly shook his head, smiling warmly. "Not at all. In fact, it made our dance even more special," he answered sincerely. "Even if you floated higher, I'd still be able to dance with you," Shirou added, his voice filled with a confidence that made Aiz feel at ease.
Aiz looked at Shirou with a soft smile, feeling comforted by his words. "You always know how to make me feel better," Aiz whispered softly, her voice almost lost in the quiet of the library.
Shirou, still a bit flustered, could only smile in response, knowing that this moment was precious for both of them.
Aiz smiled softly, gazing at Shirou with gratitude. "Thank you, Shirou. Thanks to you, I'm ready to dance tonight," she said, her tone more confident than before.
While Shirou felt relieved seeing Aiz happy, a sudden unease crept into his heart. Although he had decided not to attend the party, the thought of Aiz dancing with someone else made him a little anxious. But Shirou quickly pushed the thought away. "It's none of my business," he muttered to himself, trying to calm down.
With a small smile, Shirou replied, "You're welcome, Aiz. I hope your dance goes smoothly tonight." They both said their goodbyes, filled with mutual appreciation.
After parting ways, Shirou walked back to his room. When he reached the door, he noticed a letter had fallen from the door frame. Curious, Shirou picked it up and opened it.
The contents of the letter were short but clear: "Come to the warehouse at the edge of the Twilight Manor garden tonight."
Shirou immediately recognized the handwriting. "This must be from Riveria," he thought. Shirou had taught Riveria Magecraft in that warehouse several times before, so it wasn't unusual for her to send a secret message like this. Shirou began to wonder what they would be learning tonight.
Feeling curious, Shirou neatly folded the letter and began preparing for the night. There was something important about the invitation, and he knew Riveria wouldn't send a message without a pressing reason.
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