<<To the fair maiden in white, who has thoroughly stolen my heart. Though we've met only in a time but brief, and yet alone the stare of your eyes had turn you to a thief. With green eyes that glitter like gems, and your long white hair from whence my craving stems. To you, I may be nothing, I'm sure. But to me, I find that you are all that I adore. The beauty of your grace, alone with words would fail to describe, even in this case, my own words would fail to inscribe.>>

<<I know this may sound conceited, but alas give me a chance, spare me a time won't you, to steal my heart all over again? Hesistate no longer, and if you must, just give me a call... and you'll find I'll always be there for you from night till rainfall. 828-230-2289>>

Ash paused, lifting her gaze up from the sheet of paper she had clutched in her hands. "I don't think that last one rhymed very well."

"To be fair, not all phone numbers tend to," I said, taking the letter for myself from between her fingers and giving it a reread through a more scrutinizing lens. "If anything, I'm impressed he managed to write all this on the fly. He's more bard than hero like this. Should maybe consider a career change.."

But you wanna know what's even more impressive-er than channeling your inner Edgar Allan Poe and writing a love poem?

Actually reading said poem without bumping into people or tripping over stray cobble rocks sticking out from the ground - the fact that Ash could do both so effortlessly without ever having to watch where she was going was a far more awe-inspiring sight than any perfect cursive handwritten letter.

As for the poem itself, well.. somehow when funneled and spoken aloud through Ash's voice, it sounded a whole lot more graceful and heartfelt than it really was, at least when compared to my inner voice anyway. You make me read it out loud, and you'd probably find it'll better fit a eulogy than an actual poem.. then again, that might just be bias talking here.

Okay, screw it, it was bias talking here - so what? I'll admit it. It's sappy, it's cheesy, it's downright freaking cringy.. and it's far fucking better than anything I can ever come up with within that timespan, and that's probably why it infuriated me so much.

"It's wonderfully well-written," said Ash, eyeing me and my blank expression. "Don't you think so too?"

"Yes," I kept my voice blank too. "Very, uh.. very eloquent."

"Do you suppose he fancies me?"

I nearly tripped on my feet again, and it wasn't for the lack of a third eye on my forehead. When I got myself steady, I whirled both eyes towards her.. only to find in her smile, playfulness hiding so sly.

"It seems I tend to attract a lot of unwanted attention as of late," Ash said, glancing slightly back to the many turned heads looking her way. "In my world, it is much of the same too.. and I believe the matter has little to do with my heritage."

With everyone stopping in their tracks for second glances at her, it's hard to chalk it up as her just simply exaggerating the claim. Seriously, there was not a corner we could turn to without the silent gazes of many scouring her all over.

"If you're still completely clueless as to why, I could help hold a mirror up in front of you.. you'll probably find your answer somewhere in there."

At that, she chuckled silently. "I appreciate the gesture, but I suppose there would be no need for that, Master. For I already know the reason for why their stares linger."

"Oh?"

"Indeed, I am not blind to my own beauty. It is a quality all Elves inherit - our skin will never wither, our bodies forever youthful.. though it seems in your world, your people are far more susceptible to my allure than the ones in Asteria."

Ah, so she was aware of the certain affect that she has on men, and yet there she was not even five minutes ago playing dumb not knowing what flirting was when it was right there staring at her directly in the face.

"No Elf prejudice here," I said to her, "In fact, many people could say that's your finest quality. Some people are into that sort of thing, you know? Elves, especially if they're coming around looking like you."

"I see," She nodded, then tilted her head. "Do you think it is possible that Sir Leon only finds me attractive based on that quality alone?"

I just shrugged. "It's a thought."

"And, um.. and yourself?"

"Myself?"

"Are you also, as you put it," She gave a slight pause. "'Into that sort of thing' yourself?"

This sounded very familiar to a conversation not too many mornings ago. "Is this a trick question?"

Quietly. "No."

"Are you trying to get a compliment from out of me?"

A little quieter this time. "No.."

"Alright, just checking," I said, rolling my eyes. "I mean, Knight like yourself, surely you wouldn't wanna be praised unless there was a good reason for it, right?"historical

"Er, yes.. but of course. Master."

"Thought so."

Then from out left field so hastily, the topic's been switched.

"Anyway, I do wonder.. for what purpose does it serve Sir Leon to relinquish his phone number to me? Won't he need it for himself?" Ash asked, frowning all confused. "Besides, I don't even possess a phone of my own let alone even use one."

"Yeah, and thank God for that," I said, finally reducing the white sheet of heart-dotted 'i's, and arched-crossed 't's in my hands into a paper ball of waste tossed into the nearest ditch in sight. "Let's keep it that way for the meantime.."

This little stroll we were having has got me keenly observing.. and from those findings, I've come to the conclusion that this convention's seriously teeming with predators from all sides.

Can't let my guard down for even a moment, can I? Ash already got taken away from me once, and I'm not keen for any second time, and that goes for everyone else too.

Speaking of which.. I should probably go look for the other girls, before any other Nicks or Leons end up finding them first.. or perhaps they might already have, in which case -

Yay.

We picked up the pace as the route gradually became ever more familiar to memory, and pretty soon, after waltzing past the same band of bards and rowdy tavern I've encountered on the side quest for chickens, we finally reached the adventurer's guild, pushing through the rickety, swinging batwing doors and..

"YOU!"

Finding Amanda, screeching her chair legs against the floorboard as she impelled herself upwards to her feet, looking.. um, not so keen on seeing me again as I was her.

Couldn't imagine why.

"Where were you?!" She demanded extremely vocally, to the dismay of adventures everywhere around just trying to find adventures. "It doesn't take thirty minutes to get to the farm and back! And I would know! I went there myself! Guess what? You weren't even there!"

Must be bewildering to find the eldest princess of the land shouting herself hoarse at a seemingly nobody jester that had just strolled in. Must be even more terrifying to be in the shoes of that poor jester himself. Thank God I wasn't him.

Oh, wait.

"I, uh.. well, I gave the chickens," I explained. "Then I got kinda sidetracked for a bit."

"Uh-huh," She stomped a foot closer, flaring her nostrils. "And by what, may I ask?"

That's when Ash picked the perfect time to pop herself through into the doorway, narrow ears perked heeding the commotion happening inside.

"Greetings, Lady Amanda," She said softly, bowing her head at her. "I feel I should inform you that there's no need to fret any longer for a replacement for the tournament. Your associates and I have taken care of it."

"Oh," Her voice went soft, went dull. "You did, did you?"

"Indeed."

Amanda took one look at her, then another look at me, before closing her eyes and heaving in her heaviest breath yet. A moment later, she fluttered her eyes back open, a tepid gaze focused solely on me.

"Perhaps I should have asked by whom, instead."

"To be fair, it was hard not to miss such a swarm of people, I had to go take a look," I said, gazing apologetically. "It was practically begging to be checked out."

"Whatever, should have expected as much, knowing you," She shook her head. "I suppose that sorta explains that too, I guess."

Sensing her hostility dampened slightly, I took a risk and crept a step closer. "Explains what?"

"Leon Mathers," She folded her arms, in her hand, her phone laid bright and beeping. "Sort of famous, sort of handsome-ish guy. You know him?"

It was my turn now to take in a breath of air for a moment.

"I'll take that as a yes," She placed her phone on the table, where it continued to vibrate and beep incessantly. "That's him there asking about her over there. Been that way for about five minutes now."

"Of course.." I hissed another breath. "I knew that wasn't the last we'd see of him."

"It seems he really must be 'into it', then," Ash remarked.

This is like beyond into it. Dude's fuckin' obsessed at this point. Doesn't he have fans he's supposed to be meeting and greeting? How is he so free to press Amanda for information?

"It's actually his secretary that's buzzing me, probably by his request," Amanda said.

That explains that.

"What happened in the ring?" She looked to me at first, then shifted over to Ash. "Did you blow a kiss at him when you crossed lances? Bat your eyes? I think he's crushing on you."

"No, nothing of the sorts," Ash said, fervently shaking her head. "We've merely jousted and nothing more. I don't believe I've done anything that could be perceived as seductive in nature."

On the contrary, Ash.. you're kinda like a succubus. Your very nature is seductive in and of itself. Guess it's both a blessing and a curse.

"Okay, then I suppose this is just a case of boys being boys, and he's not shy about it," Amanda whirled her gaze back towards me. "Maybe you could learn a thing or two from him.."

What? "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, nothing," She looked away, picking her phone back up. "Anyway, that's not the only thing I'm being buzzed about, there's another..."

"About Leon?" I sighed. "Wait, no, Nick? Let me guess I've been a bad boyfriend?"

She gave me a dull stare. "No, it's from another staff member. They're reporting a lost person that needs picking up at the information center."

"Okay.." I said slowly. "How does that concern us?"

An even duller stare. "That person is dressed as a vampire."