n

n

nMason released yet another helpless sigh.

nIt was only the nth time in the last few hours.

nEmilin could also only helplessly smile and pretend not to notice.

n...

nA few hours ago...

nMason brought Emilin to one of the locations in which he would get inspiration on his leaves.

nAt moments like these, many would think of pretty forests or mountains.

nBut Mason was by no means a normal person…

nEmilin was baffled when they ended up in the busiest shopping district in Phashi, which was also one of the most well-known fashion districts in the entire continent.

nThe clients in line would surely be angered to death if they found out that Mason's so-called seclusion was in fact sitting at the private balcony of the best pastry shop right in the middle of the no. 1 shopping district.

nHe also seemed incredibly familiar with the shop owner as he walked in and up the floors like he owned the place.

nEmilin couldn't help but be impressed when she realized that there were even long couches, a bed, and a minifridge nearby.

nThe first three floors of the pastry shop were filled with tables and customers, but this fourth floor had no one else.

nWhen she asked, he just responded saying,

"Oh, I do own this floor.

"

nWhich answered a whole lot of questions, but not why this floor was connected to all the others of the bakery and why the people working downstairs would bring up refreshments and refill the mini-fridge every few hours.

nThe pastry shop clearly had another owner.

n

"This is my secret hideout,

" Mason said honestly.

nThis is where he went to get some time for himself when in Phashi.

nAnd though he traveled, he was still here quite a lot as Phashi was well known for its fashion industry, which attracted a lot of clients from the industry.

nThat much could be seen from the fact that he had a studio here.

nThere wasn't a single well-known international brand that didn't have a shop in this district.

nAnd while Mason made his way through the room, Emilin just followed him in silently.

nMason dragged a chair from inside to the balcony where there was only one other chair.

n

"Come on, sit down then,

" Mason patted on the chair he had just dragged over.

n

"Okay,

" Emilin sat down slowly.

nThere was an awkward silence created by the strange atmosphere where one was too ashamed of their work and the other didn't know how to bring it up.

nIn the end, it was still Mason who spoke first.

n

"Can I know why you want to become a photographer? I mean, it doesn't earn you a whole lot of money at first, and I doubt money is what you are aiming for in this industry, or you would have gone for something else. It also clearly isn't the best method of gaining fame. So, if not fame and fortune what could it be?

" Mason asked.

nThere was something else that he didn't add, but if Emilin were trying to follow in someone else's footsteps, like a family member, then she wouldn't have to seek him out either.

nEmilin hesitated for a moment before replying.

n

"…I- I want something to be remembered by.

"

nAnd also, something to remember from. Something that would tell the future her, that none of this was a dream.

nMason didn't quite understand why photography would be Emilin's choice when that was her goal, but he could understand the sentiment.

nHe nodded lightly.

n

"I see. Then let's get started.

"

nEmilin was somewhat startled that Mason didn't ask any questions, but that was good too.

nShe probably wouldn't be able to find the right words to answer any of them.

n

"Okay.

"

nFor the following hours, Mason started sweating bullets.

nHe knew it was bad, but not this bad…

n

"You normally have such a steady grip! What's happening?

"

n

"What is this blur?

"

n

"Did you click something on the camera? Why are the pictures in such an angle?

"

n

"Mm, but the camera is fine…

"

n

"When did you even get the chance to tilt the camera in such a way?

"

n

"It just feels right? Well… that's good, but not when the result of your gut feeling is this!

"

n

"Did you just miss the target of your shot?

"

nHis initial idea was to come to this district to show her the ways of the angles when photographing certain types of people depending on how far they are, what types of clothing they are wearing, and commenting on how to complement certain styles of the person with their clothes and accessories.

nThis place was especially good as on this balcony, while you could see the people below, because of the sheet that extended underneath, the people below couldn't see you.

nWith the high-definition cameras, the distance of 3 to 4 floors was no issue either.

nBut all that was for not.

nA good idea, but useless in practice.

nThis was because Emilin couldn't even hold the camera straight…

nIf he didn't know any better, he would have thought she was doing it on purpose.

nBut clearly not the case as Emilin was at least 100 times more distressed than himself.

nMason was a little sad at the thought.

nThe clicking sounds resounded and he didn't know what to do.

nWas he not fit to be a teacher?

nWas he approaching this the wrong way?

nIf so… what was he doing so wrong?

nAt this point, Mason felt like he really had to give teachers some more respect.

nThe respect they deserve for the work they do.

nIn his head, Mason felt like he had things well thought out, but he was quick to realize that he didn't really know much about teaching at all.

nIt was somewhat like how an unqualified middle school math teacher might get frustrated as to which why the student couldn't understand the simple knowledge that represented Log or Roots.

nSure, that teacher may or may not have learned it, but that did not represent that they would be able to impart that knowledge properly to any and all people.

nThey might be trying to explain it time and time again in a way that they found to be simple or easy to understand.

nBut at that point, if the student doesn't understand, is it really their fault?

nHonestly, Mason thought otherwise.

nAt a moment like this, he actually felt rather incompetent. Unable to explain things more simply and making his first and only student feel inadequate.

nThat was also why most master's and Grandmasters were incredibly picky when choosing disciples.

nThey would be certain that their disciple could understand them beforehand, so they would most likely never face such issues.

nXander for example already had years of experience understanding most of what Emilin showed him, and even if he didn't his talent was just too helpful.

nEmilin on the other hand didn't seem to have the talent in photography on her side.

nThat was when Mason decided that he was going to take a day off from the lessons to brush up on his own knowledge.

nEmilin only nodded as a response, she was already feeling bad enough about the trouble she felt like she was causing, so she felt like that was only right.

nBoth of them, however, still stayed on this floor.

nWhile Emilin remained on the balcony, taking her handy camera and trying again.

nMason was inside the room, rereading through his old books, textbooks, and looking through some good examples to use.

nAt these instances, the instances in which she had the camera in hand, sitting by herself with only her own thoughts to accompany her, sometimes she would question herself.

nHolding it tightly, she asked herself what she wanted.

nSure, she had a long-term goal, but surely, she could have a short-term goal as well, right?

nWhat did she want?

nEmilin heard the reverberating clicking sound for the nth time.

nBut it was still just like any other.

nThe results were less than desirable.

n

"What was it?

" Emilin mumbled to herself.

n

"What was that feeling?

"

nShe was not talking about the feeling of taking a photo right now, but rather the one she felt back then.

nThat one good photo she took back in the Hemafuji mountain range.

nEven though it was weeks ago, she felt like it was just yesterday, that beautiful scene that would forever be carved into her memory.

nShe could forget all the other photos she took, but not that one.

nBut that feeling… that perfect click.

nShe could no longer find it.

n***

nOn a helicopter landing pad, Elijah stepped off with a freshly rested face while Liam, well… let's just say it's a good thing he is not openly afraid of heights, but otherwise, he really couldn't look any worse.

nElijah looked at this assistant of his and thought about having pity before dismissing the idea with a second thought.

n

"Let's go to Sister Margo's main shop,

" Elijah said, pretending not to have noticed Liam's poor countenance.

nAnd Liam was too tired to say anything in his own defense, so things just ended up like that.

nWell, since he said nothing, then nothing should be wrong, right?

nElijah walked off calmly while immersing himself in his own thoughts.

nHe had to go in person to ask Margo whether she had seen the person who went by the name of Xander or not… that was the main purpose for which he came all the way here after all.

n

"Things would have been so much easier if only teacher was not so...

"

nElijah did not dare say the following words as he was sure he would probably be caught for it, even though there was no one else around to hear him other than Liam.

n