Chapter 33 A date

  After walking back into town we continued to talk, with Alice eventually bumping her elbow into my side and whispering.

  “Hey, you haven't gone on a date with Sarah yet right? Go do that tomorrow, I spotted a coffee shop near the docks.”

  After taking a moment to deliberate I decide I'll ask Sarah before bed. We make it to the sparrows roost and I only bring Jean along this time, sparing Derek from passing out from his phobia.

  “Xion! I trust the contract is closed?”

  Belle immediately walks over to me the moment I climb over the top, her white feathers half blinding me in the mid-day sun. Shielding my eyes I lay out the fresh pelts, Jean follows suit and does the same.

  “Contract is closed, we got a few pelts that were in good condition I trust you have the payment ready?”

  “Good good! Yes, here you are.”

  Belle takes a moment to pull out some coins from her money pouch on her belt before handing me a few silver more than what I should have gotten.

  “The extra is for doing it within the time frame I needed, now if you'll excuse me I have a caravan to mobilize.”

  Belle flaps a few times and takes to the sky. After watching Belle fly for a moment me and Jean get ready to jump back down with my gravity magic.

  “Hey Xion. Lets get as much speed as we can this time.”

  Jean is practically bouncing on his feet, I suddenly had the distinct feeling he'd be a good poster boy for a certain energy drink. Sighing I raise us up with my magic, it was significantly easier only making two people follow my will of gravity than five. After making us rise a fair bit I increase our gravity.

  “WHOOOO-HOOOOO! YEAHHHHH-”

  Jean is plummeting beside me, his mouth open, tounge flapping in the wind as we quickly drop, close to the ground I slow us down and we both tumble and recover from the drop. My heart is pounding from the sheer speed we had gotten during our fall. The group stares at us with open mouths and a moment later Sarah jumps onto me and pulls me into a tight hug. Jean is jumping with joy as Sarah worries over me.

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  “Xion please don't do that again, I was worried you'd become a pancake!”

  She looks at me with tears dotting the edge of her eyes.

  “Dont worry, I only did it because Jean asked me too, I'm not fond of reaching terminal velocity again.”

  “Terminal what?”

  I pat her head and just stay silent. I kept forgetting science didnt develop in this world because of magic. After a moment we broke away to hear Jean say something exasperating.

  “Guys I just got the Daredevil skill! It gives me a small bonus when I'm doing dangerous stuff apparently…”

  Sarah glares at Jean as we walk back to the inn. My danger sense is quiet as we walk, seems like we weren't being targeted any more. When we sit down for lunch I talk to the group.

  “Alright everyone, we're gonna take the day off tomorrow. That means no drills, no training and no contracts for the day. Stay in pairs if you go out though, this city seems to be chalk full of thieves.”

  The day goes on as normal until its time for bed. Me and Sarah are intertwined in the blankets cuddling and occasionly kissing each other. In the middle of a heated series of kisses a small thump from our right makes us snap to attention. It's Alice sitting on the edge of the bed watching us intently.

  “No no, please continue. Dont mind me.”

  Alice says this with a smug look on her face, her hands on her knees.

  “How long have you been watching us?”

  “Since you guys started kissing.”

  I glare at Alice. As soon as they finish speaking.

  “Pervert.”

  I point at her with narrowed eyes, condemnation in my voice.

  “I'm wounded. As a follower of Athi It's my duty to make sure the love between you two blossoms like a beautiful flower.”

  I roll my eyes as me and Sarah roll over with me being the big spoon, my tail in her arms. Athi was the goddess of love and any time true love blossomed it's said she blesses the couple with being together forever, in life and in death.

  After Alice huffs and walks off I tenderly speak to Sarah.

  “Hey, so tomorrow I was thinking we go on our first proper date. There's a coffee shop near the docks I'd like to take you to.”

  Sarah's tail wraps around me as she nods sleepily in my arms.

  “Xion…I'd love that…”

  After a few more minutes of patting her head we both fall asleep within moments of the other.

  The morning sun rises and wakes me, my dreams were pleasant and I stretched languidly around Sarah.

  “Time to wake up sleepy head, today we have our dateee.”

  I whisper into her fox ears, they flutter as I speak. After a moment Sarah wakes and immediately turns around and kisses me. Her soft lips brushing against mine as she wakes up.

  “Your lips are the only coffee I need…”

  Sarah mumbles as she wakes up, her eyes snapping open as she realizes what she was doing. I laugh as she jumps a bit.

  “I could say the same darling, but coffee has a distinct taste that my lips simply can’t provide.”

  We untangle and get dressed after our moment. Alice was still sleeping as we left. We head downstairs to see Derek posing on top of a small crate. Jean's hand was moving quickly over a piece of paper as he drew him flexing.

  “Are we…interrupting?”

  Jean looks up, his hand pausing.

  “What? No, don't worry about us, just go on your date or whatever.”

  He speaks dismissively as he goes back to drawing. I roll my eyes and head outside with Sarah, I held her hand as we weaved throughout the street. After a bit of walking we make it to the coffee shop. After ordering some dark coffee for myself and Sarah getting a light brew we sat down and had some small talk.

  “So Sarah, any hopes for your two brothers? Last I heard they wanted to be entertainers.”

  “Well, I've seen them practicing their acrobatics, apparently they wanted to be part of the famous blue sky circus.”

  We continued to chatter as we finally got our coffee. We both put milk and sugar in our cups and drink. The deep earthy flavor hit my senses and chased away the slight sleepiness I still had. After a good few gulps I sat my coffee down and looked at Sarah.

  “I love you Sarah, so much so I'm certain Athi would give us her blessing.”

  “I love you…that much too.”

  I kiss her hand and look at her lovingly. After a few moments the room feels like its spinning, Sarah collapses onto the table, spilling our coffee. After a second of confusion I do too, I'm vaugely aware of chains wrapping around me as the world fades to black.