-Crescent-

  When Grandpa suddenly had a list of things for me to get from town, I was confused. Normally if he’s busy, he sends one of his aides to take care of domestic tasks. Not to say I ever really got used to having others take care of things like that, but it was unusual. Still, things had quieted down lately, and my boss was nagging me to spend more time enjoying my youth. Plus shopping was fun! I dressed in the nicer clothes Grandpa had been wanting me to use and set out to town.

  Originally I was heading over to ask Callia, Reesia, and Nixie if they wanted to join me shopping, but then I saw Callen casually walking down the street. He seemed vaguely distracted with a notepad in hand, but I called out to him. We had spent a lot of time together working on the town, but I never quite moved past that kiss we had at the festival. I kept our communication casual because I wasn’t sure what we were yet.

  Something that is abundantly clear is just how much having active stats influences growth. While it hadn’t been long, he was already looking more in the range of 16, and my own body had also grown in a similar manner. I never really announced it, but my stats had also unlocked while I was working in the EMS. He didn’t seem to notice, but my guess for that was because everyone he spent time with had similar growth.

  Still, I can’t help but secretly admire the tall, scholarly, but still firm build his body has grown into. After talking briefly, I immediately realize this is another one of Grandpa’s plans to get me to spend time with Callen. He’s dense in the strangest way when it comes to Grandpa abusing his power to take advantage of him. I’m hesitating to tell him when he invites me to join him. I might be upset that Grandpa is manipulating the situation. That doesn’t stop me from smiling widely and won’t stop me from eagerly going along with the setup. At worst I’ll rat out Grandpa when we’re done.

  The tools were interesting, but not quite what I found interesting. It was interesting listening to Callen go into detail describing how the craftsmen made their products. I didn’t really know a whole lot about smithing or woodwork, but listening was fun, and it seemed the craftsmen appreciated the recognition. Together we found the items Grandpa wanted, but Callen stored them and my bag in his space so we could focus on shopping instead of dragging around everything.

  Neither Callen nor I anticipated what a mess visiting the earthkin would cause. I had never heard he was a master runemaker! Then again, he made his dad an arm, built a variety of flying devices, and reimaged extensive portions of our town. From that perspective, it only made sense he was a master! Callen was so distracted with all his projects he probably didn’t even properly understand what it meant on a larger scale. Earthkin acknowledged masters are even more rare than knights. Our town had Master Yoren because of a deal the royal family struck with the earthkin.

  Rumor had it the clan who moved in also had a master, but that information was kept secretive by their community. Anyway, I was completely caught off guard when Callen grabbed my hand and led us off to escape his admirers. He didn’t let go even after we escaped. When we were lying on that rooftop, my heart was beating like a drum. Callen had shifted his focus from the job Grandpa gave him to me. We eventually left, but our hands stayed together.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  On our way to the market, my stomach gurgled, and my already flushed face from holding hands turned even brighter red in embarrassment. He just chuckled and took us off to get lunch. I didn’t even realize where we were until we sat down in Nunnally’s bakery! Why here! This is a couples date spot! Nunnally is the biggest gossip in town! For couples visiting this shop is making a public declaration to the whole town! I carefully watch Callen’s face to see if he understands this, but it’s still happy and clueless of what he’s doing! I’m struggling to look up, as I already hear Nunnally excitedly sharing the news with her husband.

  We leave together, but I’m so embarrassed I instinctively cling to Callen, trying to hide myself. He seems to think I’m tired, so we stop at one of the plazas he designed in the market to mix a bit of nature into the town. Sitting together on a bench in the middle of a public space, just like a date. In fact, I can already see some people noticing. It’s not like we’re unknown figures. I’m the mayor’s granddaughter, and he’s one of the town’s heroes. Eventually I manage to calm myself down enough to keep going. I willfully ignore the watchers and focus on the shopping. This is your fault, Grandpa! Since Grandpa is such a meddling old man, I’ll just give in! I’ll have to resolve myself to endure spending time with the ignorant Callen.

  By the time we finish browsing, the night market is starting. Grandpa’s list was finished long ago, but I’m still dragging Callen around just to spend a bit more time. We ran into a street performer playing music and danced briefly. We explore the stalls selling jewelry, toys, and snacks. The night market only lasts for a couple hours once a week, but before I know it, it's already over. We had gone from holding hands to interlocking arms, but being close felt natural. Together he walked me home, but before bidding me goodbye, he pulled out a set of earrings. One was a crescent moon and the other gibbous, together making a full moon. He offered me the gibbous, and the meaning was clear.

  It wasn't an engagement, but it was a couple's earrings. He didn’t know how to say it because he’s a bonehead, but he found his own way to ask. Seeing my smile, he smiled widely and carefully clipped the gibbous moon onto my left ear. Then he held out the crescent moon for me to take. I reached up and clipped it onto his right ear and took the chance to peck it with a quick kiss. I turn to run inside, but right before I open the door, he calls out to me.

  “Crescent!” I instinctively stop and look back. “Does next week work for a proper date?” I nod my head, but the blood is rushing up as my blush from before comes back in full force.

  “Yes,” I confirm before ducking inside to escape to my pillows. I hug it with all my might, rolling on my bed. This was it! Callen and I on a real date! Not that tonight wasn’t accidentally a date, but now we were official! I wanted to drag him to all those famous date spots around town but at the same time was burning with a mix of embarrassment and anticipation. I resolved myself; I absolutely can’t mess this up, which meant I needed to consult everyone. The only problem is that most of my friends are single or his sisters. This was a dilemma that needed time to ponder!

  Mastermind

  Mayor Hew sat back in his office chair and waited for the news. He had set it up perfectly and timed it so Callen and Crescent would conveniently run into each other. All across town he secretly informed his guards to pass on any sightings of Crescent and Callen. Not an urgent notice and not something to act on; only reports and observations when they left their shift.

  The list was just an extensive tour around town. Enough to encourage joining up to go on their trip around town. It was much later when the guards sent in the reports that the story of their day began to take shape. It had the old man smiling from ear to ear. While he didn’t know what was said, he did hear what happened and where they went. From walking side by side to holding hands and eventually interlocking arms. A visit to Nunnally’s bakery and dancing together at the night market.

  It shouldn’t be long until his plans for great grandkids come to fruition. He pulled out a spare blanket and pillow from his desk. Crescent was just as sharp as himself, and she would’ve seen the writing on the wall from the beginning. The only problem was she had a tendency to take out her embarrassment in the form of violent pillow attacks. Therefore, he decided to let her cool down before going home. Tonight his bed was the office couch. Everything had gone perfectly according to plan! He briefly considered working as a matchmaker after retiring but passed. Without unlimited authority and a misplaced sense of trust, it wouldn’t be nearly as fun.