You Think Yours, I Touch Mine

Thoughts drifted far away.

Looking at Tilis, who was lost in deep contemplation, Luo Wei pulled her and sat down on a park bench, cradling her like a snowball on his lap. She didn't even notice the intimate nature of this pose or how close they were becoming. When facing Luo Wei, the witch always quickly let her guard down. Luo Wei had a hunch that if she was deep in thought, she wouldn't notice if he did something... so he wanted to give it a try.

The result?

"Luo Wei!!" Tilis's face turned bright red in an instant.

"Stop touching me everywhere! I'm thinking!"

"Seriously!"

She indignantly escaped from Luo Wei's embrace, stamping her feet in the snow and glaring at him. Luo Wei innocently blinked, "You think your thoughts, I touch what I want!"

"Disgraceful! Big scoundrel! I'm so mad!" Tilis had no more mind to continue her magical pondering; she was furious and about to leave.

Luo Wei tugged her back with a firm grip. Facing the pouting witch, he dropped his rascal smile and adopted a solemn, earnest expression.

"Humans today don't need mages to lead and protect them, but that doesn't mean they don't need mages at all."

Tilis shed her embarrassment and became equally serious.

"Luo Wei, you mean..."

Luo Wei gave her a helpless look. "Why are your mage brains so stuck? Always swinging from one extreme to another..."

"Mages definitely have their uses. The world's science is just starting out, but the mystical has had thousands of years of accumulation. There are still many problems science cannot solve - isn't that where your advantage lies?"

Tilis nodded her little head, "Yes, but..."

"No buts!" Luo Wei cut her off, "Most of your hermit order are remnants from the age of the magic empire. That's why you're too proud and self-important!"

Luo Wei sneered, "Besides, who said mages can't coexist with us? Aren't there several royal mages in Charlton II's palace? Thanks to their protection, the royal princes and princesses rarely fell sick, and the old emperor, who should have died ten years ago, keeps living thanks to the magic..."

Mentioning those 'royal mages', Tilis revealed disdain.

"Those palace lapdogs, I disdain joining them."

"Yes, yes!" Luo Wei smiled wryly at her, "You're virtuous, you're noble, you're saviors of humanity!"

At Luo Wei's mockery, Tilis scrunched up her face.

Luo Wei gave another example, "Forget the royal mages, look at the family mages of the major clans, the Imperial Astrology Association, the divination shops in Saint Callen, the battle mages in the military... You all still have your uses, and quite significant ones at that. Why aren't they being excluded?"

Tilis still looked down on them, "What's the point of doing those things?"

Luo Wei got a little irritated, "Then tell me, what's meaningful?"

Tilis put her hands on her hips and said with justification: "In studies, tirelessly researching the mysteries of magic, touching the truth. In practice, transforming society, building a better world!"

Luo Wei felt a chill in his heart.

He silently looked at the witch, proud and haughty in her speech.

Although still adorable, her unintentional words carried something terrifying...

Seeing her about to start up her usual spiel on the 'New World', Luo Wei grabbed Tilis and pulled her out of the school.

"Hey!!" Tilis gave a surprised yelp, "I haven't finished yet! Where are you taking me?!"

Luo Wei glanced back with annoyance, "On a date!"

"Oh..." Tilis muttered, "But I really haven't finished..."

"Less chatter, or I'll shut you up!"

"Hmph... even if you shut me up, I still have to say—"

"I'll do it with my mouth!"

Hearing this, the witch finally stopped talking...

...

Later, Luo Wei took Tilis around town, sampling many sweet treats girls love, and even took her to see a circus performance, including the famous guillotine act of that magician.

Of course, Tilis wasn't very well-behaved during the show. Luo Wei didn't know how much effort it took to keep the witch from jumping on stage to expose the trick...

"Our date almost got ruined by you." Luo Wei said exasperatedly as they walked.

Tilis didn't understand why such a deceptive act was entertaining, pouting and looking resentful.

"He didn't really cut off his head! I just wanted to help him out..."

Luo Wei widened his eyes in anger, "It's magic performance! Just for show!"

He felt he really needed to correct Tilis's absurd notion. That magician was a real, living figure in Saint Callen, and Luo Wei was afraid Tilis might really twist off his head if she met him next time...

Tilis snorted, "I thought he was an aberration, or even practiced some dark magic. Turns out he's just a charlatan, just like you - both deceivers..."

Luo Wei argued, "Where am I deceiving?"

Tilis narrowed her eyes at Luo Wei, "Hmph, you said you'd take me to a performance, but as soon as the lights went out..."

"Your hands started wandering everywhere, touching my..."

"My..."

Luo Wei blinked, "Touching where?"

Tilis's face turned red, "You ask that!"

Luo Wei laughed, "Tell me, where?"

Tilis pinched her wits out of Luo Wei's side and turned away, refusing to talk to him.

Luo Wei chuckled and wrapped his arms around the pouting Tilis. "But we're on a date. Don't dates go like this?"

Tilis suddenly turned around with a puzzled look.

"Is that true?"

Luo Wei said earnestly, "Believe me, for this date, I specially reviewed a lot of textbooks, and they all say that appropriate intimate contact helps deepen feelings and maintain mental health."

Tilis looked blankly at him; she had no experience of this kind, so she had no idea that Luo Wei was making it all up.

"So dating has so many nuances... it's actually an interesting learning..."

"That's for sure." Luo Wei lied without blushing, "There's still much to learn! You have a lot to take in indeed."

Blithefully nodding, Tilis let Luo Wei guide her towards an eating establishment.

"Now I can touch freely, right?"

"Ah! No! Still no!!"

...