Levine and Eren faced each other after their experiments.
Levine wore a dark blue dress that hugged her curves without being too tight. The peasant-style blouse, high-neck embroidered bodice, bishop sleeves, and elegant skirt created an elegant silhouette that was Levine's favorite style.
The dress had a collar-like extension that covered Levine's exposed shoulder blades, fur-like details at the end of the sleeves, and golden embroidery below the waist and at the bottom. She accessorized with a stunning pendant and a sleek fedora hat, which added to her visual appeal.
Levine's waist-length, off-white hair was voluminous and full of life, bouncing with every step she took. Her cherry-red lips and supple skin gave off a youthful appearance, which was fitting for her recent promotion to Master-ranked potioneer.
Overall, Levine exuded a vibrant and vivacious presence.
Levine slowly removed her gloves, which she was used to wearing during potion-making tasks, and looked at Eren with a peculiar expression now that their student-teacher bond had ended.
"Thank you for being patient with me, Levine," Eren said, dropping the formalities as a sign that he no longer saw her as his teacher. Levine appreciated the gesture and enjoyed being addressed directly by her former student.
One had to say that Eren was very seamless with his words and body language. Levine's name came naturally to his lips without hesitancy. This proved to Levine that he had already prepared himself to welcome the change in their relationship dynamics.
Eren was dressed in his typical adventurer's attire, but without the usual lightweight leather armor he wears typically. Instead, he chose a runic bracelet that created a space-element barrier when needed. Although the bracelet was costly and had limited uses, Eren had enough savings to afford such essential items. He didn't like taking chances with his safety and security.
Eren's black hair had a distinct dark purple sheen, and his black and green outfit complemented his emerald-green eyes.
Levine returned Eren's smile and handed him her personal recipe scrolls. These were the remaining scrolls from her collection not yet given to Eren.
Levine handed Eren a set of scrolls. "These recipes may be of use to you," she said. "I created them to counter Demonmir. I even used them at the Battle of Edinnica Arena. So you can say they are field-tested."
Her face turned bitter as she recalled her last encounter with Demonmir, the wretched demon who escaped her grasp. "I'll be honest, Eren," she continued, sighing. "These potions may hinder that man, but they don't work that well against him. At least not the way I wanted them to.
Or maybe I didn't use them right? I don't know. Either way, they can help you in a pinch. I'm sure someone like you would make better use of them than I ever could."
Eren nodded and stored the scrolls in his personal storage. He knew he needed to spend time researching Levine's recipes to ensure their effectiveness. He snapped his fingers, and the lab apparatus disappeared, replaced by a recreational space with a mini bar in the corner.
Eren led Levine to a seat at the counter and, with a lightning crack, appeared on the other side. Without waiting for Levine's response, he offered her a drink of her brand.
Levine's eyebrows arched inquisitively as she observed Eren's empty glass. "You're not drinking?" she asked, her voice curious.
"I'm good," Eren responded with a faint smile, shaking his head. He then gestured to the cheese assortment on the platter. "But I highly recommend trying one of these with wine."
Levine nodded in agreement and reached for a slice of cheese, savoring its creamy flavor as she sipped her wine. Eren watched her intently, analyzing her expression for any hint of discomfort or unease.
Eren watched her carefully, concern etched on his features. "What's bothering you?" he asked softly. "And is there anything I can help with?"
Levine hesitated for a moment before confiding in Eren. "It's Demonmir," she admitted, her voice heavy with frustration. "I thought I had him cornered at the battle of the Edinnica Arena, but he escaped effortlessly.
Now… I don't know how to find him, much less defeat him. How do I answer my clan's expectations weighing on my shoulders? And how do I ensure the act of vengeance won't come back to harm my clan?"
Eren nodded in understanding. He knew Levine was very personal about finishing Demonmir. She had become the de facto leader of her clan in Demonmir's absence. But her position would only be cemented when Demonmir's death news spreads.
Levine was a potioner first and foremost and excellent in her field. So nobody expected her to fight the demon frontally. But the remaining members of her clan wanted her to do something about the demon somehow. Without Demonmir's death, her House would not only lose face, but internal turmoil would also resurface.
"*Sigh. I'm already on it, Levine. Just don't expect quick results."
Eren assured Levine. Eren wanted to get rid of Demonmir as well. After all, he had interacted with the man on various occasions. If the Demon Prince inside Demonmir really started connecting the dots, it wouldn't take long for him to conclude that Eren was the inheritor of Elder Ichor.
The Demon Prince Samael would receive the memories and experiences of Demonmir if and when he died inside Anfang. This was the outcome Eren wanted to avoid at any cost. He needed to personally kill Demonmir in the right settings to ensure his identity as Elder Ichor's inheritor stays secret.
However, Eren didn't need to tell all this to Levine. He was happy to let her assume that part of the reason he was after Demonmir was because of her. He was content in being seen as the rescuer of damsels in distress.
Levine smiled faintly at Eren's words. She nodded at him before drinking another sip. She watched in amazement as Eren used his elemental fusion shards to dissect a fish and serve her cubes of juicy pink meat.
The elemental shards also processed fish meat as soon as they came in contact with the flesh. The aroma released by the cubes was enticing, and Levine couldn't resist taking a bite.
As she chewed, she felt a sense of contentment wash over her. The wine and food were delicious, and Eren's company was comforting. She knew they had a long road ahead of her to defeat Demonmir.
But for now, Levine was grateful for this moment of respite.
