Anxiety.

Everybody, from the richest to the poorest, the ugliest to the most revered… at one point or another, we all fell victim to the rising swell bubbling deep within ourselves.

It was not a nice feeling, I'm sure no one will contend with that assertion.

Nice or not, just as the ball of life kept turning ever onwards slowly unraveling the strings of destiny, so too does anxiety, bulldozing its way encrusted with a bulky layer of barbed wires into your thoughts, leaving a trail of spiky worrisome prospects in its wake for your imagination to unknowingly trod upon.

The worst part about it was that it won't go away till it decides to go away. You can dread it, run from it, in the end, just like destiny, anxiety still arrives.

Wish I could just snap it away sometimes.

My typical mornings usually start with a shriek and a vampire by the bedside. It's gotten to the point where I started to expect it by then.

Not this time.

The morning started with me rousing awake, dreams unassailed, and a room absent of a misty-eyed maiden in black. It took only a brief moment of half-asleep pondering to recall just what day it was today, then it all made sense.

Instead of fangs and claws for a wake-up call, I was greeted by that bubbly unbearable feeling in the gut, blaring loudly and uncontrollably the reason for my sudden apprehension.

I got a date to get ready for, and it was only just then that I was realizing just how much I wasn't ready for it.

Screw it, I don't care. I was done playing spineless indecisive chicken shit for so long now. Cold feet has screwed me over more times than I could count already.

Seriously, If my problems were a speeding truck, then my mental fortitude was the old lady crossing the road, and so far… she has yet to ever cross the street in one piece.

That all changes now, though. That old lady has hit the gym, ran the treads, leg day was every day, and no longer would any stupid truck prove insurmountable, no road to great…

I'm crossing that street.

Didn't care how long it stretches for, didn't give a shit how jagged its barbs were - I'm done overthinking, I'm done second-guessing - anxiety can lash at me all day long, I won't let it impede me anymore.

Whatever will be, will be… and what it won't be was a failure. I'll make sure of that.

It was tryhard time.

With spirits reinvigorated and well wide-awake, I jumped out of bed and burrowed out my dating clothes from deep within my closet. It was when I tossed them to a nearby chair that something peculiar caught my eye, a piece of paper stuffed underneath the cologne Ria had gotten me standing tall atop my bedside drawer.

I unfurled the piece of paper, read it, and to summarize - Ria and Adalia took Ash out early this morning for her own private lessons in dating 101 sponsored by Ria's Detective Agency Incorporated.

Where they went out was beyond me, the only other vital thing of note was that I was supposed to be in the city center by 1 on the dot at least according to the hasty scribbles that resembled chicken scratches more than they do actual human handwriting.

Scorched marks scattered around the edges told me all I needed to know. For someone who constantly boasts herself highly for her tutoring skills, Ria sure sucks at writing.

As much as I enjoyed poking flaws in the flaming cockatoo, I still have much to prepare for. The clock hanging above the doorway struck an urgent eleven, and my body wasn't going to magic itself clean here.

Time for a bath.

Let's skip the more perverse bodily details of bathtime and move on instead to me getting dressed. No one wants to know how I looked beyond my baggy shirt and pants, and if you actually do then please go get some help. Something must be definitely wrong with you.

I could barely recall the last time I ever exerted so much effort into making myself look positively prim and proper, staring into the mirror, going cross-eyed, making absolutely sure not a single strand of hair went overlooked.

It reminded me of my job interview that day, spent the better part of the morning donning that suit and tie. All to no avail, unfortunately. Dressed myself for success, only to be met by failure.

Here I was, gazing deep at my reflection, dressed for success once more. I won't let this be a failure. Not on my watch.

Speaking of watches - it was already half-past eleven, and I was starved for something to eat. A quick bite before I go wouldn't hurt… I'll just go about making myself something simple, no need to fret over food when there are other more important things to fret about.

But before that… Ria's gift still stood atop the table, it's spicy stuffy smell pervading the air all around it.

Even for job interviews, I steered clear of colognes. It never really served a purpose for me.

This was a date, though. Not an interview. And if that love detective swears her life on it… well… a small touch of it wouldn't hurt much, right?

A deep breath, a quick sprinkle, and a little regret.

Whatever, losing my sense of smell was a small price to pay for exuding sex appeal. I mean, people do it all the time, right?

With eyes watering, I stowed away the skunk-in-the-bottle into a drawer never to be seen again, and exited the bedroom, entering a familiar deserted hallway.

The quiet of the early morning was something I grew accustomed to living with. Big house, big spaces, and not enough people to fill 'em up with, the dead silence was practically a given.

What I wasn't accustomed to was the isolation that came with it - been living in this fancy-ass house for quite some time now, and this was the first time I was actually alone with just me, myself, and I for company.

Usually, a slumbering figure on the living room couch or a shadow painted over the floorboards of Ash's doorway would be the telltale signs signifying that I was living by myself no longer.

Didn't have that today. No sleepy vampire by the couch and Ash's door was swung wide open with not a soul in sight.

That fleeting moment of unsettlement that breezed past me realizing this was a bit of an eye-opener.

My life has actually evolved to the point where I expected the abnormal in my every day, and these brief glimpses of actual normality only made to unease me.

The paranormal has become the new normal, and I surmised that there's no turning back from it… not that I minded it one bit, that is. It might sound strange coming from me, the ambassador of bizarre situations, but if I had to choose which version of the every day I would most certainly adhere to, well… fantasy life was best life all the way, wasn't even a contest.

Ahh, retrospection is such a gratifying thing, ain't it? Turn you humble and makes you grateful for the things you have in the now.

And now I gotta date, so let's go get me some energy for it, shall we? I'm feeling like buttered toast at the moment, so stomp-stomp down the staircase I go, very much famished and craving.

Didn't even make it down the last few step before a spontaneous gut-feeling warmed me that something was amiss here. It was a feeling so dreadfully, painfully familiar, it barely even took a second for me to narrow down where and when I felt something like this before.

This sinking feeling told me many things, but none more so prominent than the fact that I was no longer alone here.

Someone was in the house with me, someone I wasn't particularly enthusiastic to see, but as I rounded the bend and faced the vastness of the living room, see her I did.

Her sleek curves, her rounded cheeks, they told of an otherworldly beauty like no other, beauty that was slightly dampened by her cold, glaring eyes, her piercing glare like a knife through the chest.

It was the same face I see standing by my bedside when I wake, only this time, no longer did they gaze at me with a murky-white. They were alert, stern, and dark as night.

Adalia this was not.

Just another unexpected visit by an unexpected person... second day in a row, what are the chances?

Unlike Amanda though, I didn't need to remember that face, didn't need to burrow through memories just to put a name on that expression. I see her in my dreams all the time. A nightmare come to life.

Just as my eyes found her, likewise, she found me too, staring at me dead in the eye, and asked immediately with a daunting voice, "Where is my sister?"

Hello again, Amelia.

Could go on about how much it was an absolute displeasure seeing her again, whine on and on about how her sudden reappearance was a blight tainting a promising day. I could - but I won't.

I instead, stifled those thoughts.

It was a new day, a new me.

All those pent-up feelings inside of me I brushed away, as I looked and mustered a small smile her way.

"Nice to see you too," I said.

Despite everything, niceties must be upheld, being the better man was most important than some grudge.

Even if I didn't really mean it at all.

Screw you, Amelia.

So many similarities shared with one another, yet on total opposites of the spectrum. These two sisters couldn't be further apart if they tried.

If it were Adalia standing there before me she'd have greeted me back with a quietly said 'How do you do?'. But no, Amelia preferred herself discreet and blunt, scowling away in silence.

Seeing that pushed away all thoughts of buttered toast to the back of my mind. Lost my appetite. Sad.

"Well, I'd tell you to go make yourself at home," I said, taking a step towards her. "But it seems to me that you already did."

Indeed like a centerpiece drawing all focus towards it, she stood there, prominently, her long flowing raven black hair as opposed to her sister's calming grey blowing with the breeze of an open window.

"My sister," she demanded again, her glare like a permanent imprint that couldn't be removed. "Where is she?"

"Relax," I told her. "She's with the others. In the city, I think."

Amelia clenched her jaw, her fangs slightly poking through thinning lips. "She's not supposed to be outside."

"Adalia's fine."

"Eleven in the morning," She retorted. "It is unhealthy for her. She should be asleep."

I scoffed. "So should you."

"I'm different."

"She wanted to."

"Oh, did she?" She responded dubiously, her sharpened fingers folding into her palms. "Why is that now, I wonder?"

Yikes. I almost forgot about her violent tendencies. Someone is in desperate need of anger management.

"Can you calm down? Your sister is just helping out around here, alright? We ain't keeping her chained up in a room somewhere, feeding her dog bowls full of blood and poking her with a stick. She's… doing things, she's - y'know… what do people call it - living?"

Convincing the unconvinced was like throwing a glass of water into a blazing fire. Needless to say, in her eyes, I was still pretty sus.

"If she frenzies..."

"She knows her limit," I interjected, growing tired of this pointless back and forth. "As do I. Why not have a little faith, hm? We've been doing pretty well so far."

Provoking Adalia's more volatile half wasn't something I'd wholeheartedly recommend doing, but in this case, I could hardly care less what happens now.

And what indeed happened now was nothing short of surprising - Amelia actually conceded.

"Fine," She spun away from me, arms crossed, the expression on her face still very much disgruntled. "So where did they go?"

"No clue."

'What?"

"Yep," I shrugged my shoulders. "But I'll know where they will be. Supposed to meet up with them by 1."

"Meet up? Them?" Amelia glanced sideways at me, her brows furrowed, and eyes gleaming with intrigue. "What are you all up to?"

Why does everything that spouts out of her frowning lips always have to sound so accusatory? Why, is it illegal to have an outing nowadays? Gonna send me in chains to the executioner's block, Amelia?

"Long story short, I'm going out to have fun with Ash. Remember Ash, the Elf you abducted? Yeah, we're gonna try and forget all the trouble you caused… and your sister along with Ria is helping accomplish that."

Surface level explanations were all that she needed to hear. Didn't really feel like narrating my life story to her.

"The Elf? You're going out with the Elf?"

It surprised me to hear a semblance of emotion that didn't anger in her voice. It also dismayed me to hear that that emotion she did show was of utter disbelief.

"Yes," I said, eyeing her close eye on me. "That a problem?"

"A date, then?"

Well then… She's every bit as keen-eyed as her sister, isn't she?

"You can call it that, I suppose," I said.

Expectations forged through previous experiences had me bracing for disapproval, for disdain. Dating the Elf, how sacrilegious of me, how despicable an act… seeing her squint at me with such a peculiar look, I was ready and waiting to face her scorn.

"Good for you, then," she said, her gaze straying elsewhere again. "Good for you both."

Thought I heard wrongly the first time she said it, then I thought she had to be speaking an entirely different language on the second. I was that adamant about her indifference because from what I have seen and heard so far, her not caring one bit was the same thing as her approving this venture with Ash.

Which would be insane, 'cause you know… Elf bad.

"I suppose that's why you're dressed so bizarrely?" She asked, getting all snobbish all the sudden.

"Huh? Ah - oh yeah," I nodded my head, nearly forgetting my change of attire. "Got myself dressed nicely for the occasion."

Was under the impression that her comment on my clothes was a one-off topic that would have been dropped instantly in favor of more relevant subjects at hand.

That wasn't the case. Amelia kept one eye intently focused, surveying close to every square inch of my body. Didn't get why she was so hung up on some blazer and jeans combo, then I remembered what Ria had said to me in regards to vampires and their unmatched insight on style and glamour.

Seems I did learn something from your lessons after all.

Just as Adalia did back in the clothing store, Amelia's assessment needed only a few moments for a verdict to be reached, and judging by the slight shake of her head and the frown of her lips… she had very mixed opinions with her sister's selections.

"You don't approve?" I asked.

"Not particularly, no," She said in an air of apathy, despite displaying so much interest before, "Tacky at best. Your sense of fashion leaves much to be desired. If it were up to me, I would have - "

"Your sister picked it out actually."

"Oh, is… is that so?" I saw her eyes blink a few times in rapid succession. "Well, in spite of it, it still looks very good - You look good… very much."

I'm sensing some bias around here.

Amelia walked up to me for a closer inspection before she abruptly stopped in her tracks, took a whiff, and immediately retreated a good distance away. "And the odor… mmm... my sister picked it, yes? Well, ah… you smell… you smell absolutely uh..."

"Actually Ria picked the smell."

"Oh," Her expression reverted back to disinterest. "Then you smell absolutely revolting."

"Thanks."

Yeah, someone's playing favourites alright.

Whimsically, I let my eyes wander, and caught sight of the living room clock just as it struck the last of the double digits. Noon has commenced, and any chances for a quick meal has been dashed.

Thanks, Amelia.

"I need to get going," I told her, my pace an urgent march to the front door. "You gonna leave now or do I have to worry about being burglarized here?"

Her trademark scowl befell my gaze once again, her arms crossed, heaving a small sigh. "I came to visit my sister, and she isn't even here."

"So? You're free to visit her again any other time."

"Not for quite some time," She said, another sigh sounding. "There are obligations I have to fulfill. Unfinished business… I still need to find - "

"Terestra, yeah?"

"Not Terestra, no," She shook her head. "I do not know yet who exactly am I looking for, but I'll find them… it's only a matter of time, I'm sure."

"Not Terestra?" I spun back towards her, that feeling of urgency overruled by a surge of curiosity. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but is that not what you and your sister have been striving for this entire time? I died cause of it."

"Unnecessary now," She waved a hand. " You claim to be involved with her, did you not?"

"You're looking at her firstborn child. Pretty sure that makes me more than just involved, don't you think?"

"And she's not in the state?"

"No, she's out in the country…" I pulled a frown, growing more intrigued by the second. "Where you going with this?"

Shouldn't have asked that, shouldn't have gone ahead and indulged my ever-burning curiosity. That question was a trap, a deep pitfall with mystery and mystic as its lure, alluring eager-eyed individuals such as myself into a hole neverending.

Sucks that I was such easy bait.

It was still only 12, I have plenty of time still, and also plenty more questions for the words she next spoke out.

"There's a growing presence lurking about the place. A powerful imposing aura. It's what drew me here to your town in the first place. There's someone with a presence to match Terestra's lurking somewhere in your city."

I swear I was committed to keeping my commitments. First and foremost, priority number one has always been and will always be my outing with Ash. Reminders of it blared me at me like a tumultuous intercom stuck in an infinite loop of 'Don't forget! Don't miss it!' in an overbearingly authoritative voice.

In the grand scheme of things, a date was but a trivial thing of little regard. The thing was, it didn't feel so trivial. It felt almost like the most pivotal appointment of my entire existence. Overexaggerating here, but you get the idea.

I will not miss this date for the world.

So the fact that I stayed dawdling by the front door, feet planted opposite the entrance, staring back into the house just goes to show how monumental her claims really were.

This matter wasn't something I can just shrug off and walk away from, unfortunately. I just gotta know.

"A presence to match Terestra's," I muttered softly, pondering to myself, before resuming, "There's only one other like that, right? You sure it's not my - "

"No," An immediate shutdown. "Your father is a man deserving of a pedestal among the Gods. An aura such as his is not something easily mistaken. It's not Leonardo."

For a second there, there existed that faint glimmer of hope that it really was him. A hope burning so bright only to be dashed so quick.

Thanks, Amelia.

"I'm still ridden with disbelief," Amelia suddenly spoke out, her expression very much affirming her statement. "Two of Kronocia's most powerful, most revered, eloped with one another… bore a child, and that child… with parents of great unmatched heritage… how is it that that child is you?"

Didn't even sound like an attempt at my dignity. Wasn't an insult or a slander in any way whatsoever. She really sounded genuinely at a loss about it, and believe you me, Amelia, I was too.

"Did I mention I have a sister too?" I said, attempting a small sympathizing smile. "You'll love her. She's almost as nice to me as you are."

Amelia, maintaining her glower, rolled her eyes ever so dour. "I pray dearly that she does not share in your traits."

Okay, now that one there was actually a jab at me. Ouch.

Back on topic.

"This presence you're feeling," I continue to pry. "Since when have you started sensing it?"

She answered almost immediately, and kind of impatiently, " I always have been. It's what gave me the impression that Terestra was here in this city. The presence is so similar to hers, I wasn't able to tell them apart. Then, you came along - her offspring, claiming she was never in the city to begin with. That's when my suspicion grew."

The more she spoke, the more my intrigue grew. I looked at the clock - still had time, plenty of time - Amelia continued.

"I confided with the Succubus."

That one actually got me slightly gasping in shock. "You spoke to Irene one-on-one? Like civilized and shit? You didn't try to rip her head off or anything like that?"

"I'm not barbaric."

Now I was rolling my eyes. "Uh-huh… pretty sure my left leg has a thing or two to say about that."

No comment. Amelia moved on. "The Succubus is having me do her work for her. Scrounging the city for any leads. Apparently, her condition renders her unfit for public viewing. The past week, I've been searching - to no avail. Doesn't help that the recurring downpours are a pain to deal with."

"Vampires can't go in the rain?"

"No," She said sharply. "I just hate rain."

If you keep that disdain in your voice for every subject matter that you converse about then everyone would think that you just simply hate everything.

Or is that tone just exclusive when it comes to me?

"Apparently the Succubus thinks the rain correlates with our mystery presence. At least, that's what she told me."

"The weather?" I raised a brow. "Murky forecast… what's that gotta do with the mystery man/girl? It's the rainy season right now."

"She says it's a hunch."

Hunch, huh? I love hunches. Especially when it came to foreboding things. Usually, they're always wrong. I just hope this was the case of the 'usual' here…

"A little off-topic, but I'm surprised you're being awfully cooperative with her," I said. "Far cry from the threats and ultimatums I'm used to hearing."

"Don't be intentionally daft, it's annoying," She snapped. "I'm helping you all, because you helped me. As much as it pains me to admit it, I wouldn't have been able to help my sister if it weren't for your intervention. There - is that what you wanted to hear?"

Had a feeling that was the case. Still, it was still very much gratifying to hear it be spout out from her reluctant lips. Never realized how petty I actually was. Then again, just as her tone was to me, maybe it's just an attitude I adopted exclusively for her.

Also, it seems like both sisters went about paying us back in their own special ways. They were as similar to each other as they were different.

Matriarchs. Terrifying apex predators of the night, huh?

Apparently, the person who wrote their codex entry had forgotten to list their strong sense of integrity when it came to paying back debts they owed.

That doesn't mean all is forgiven though. It was hard to wipe that blood-stained slate clean, especially after what happened.

Moving on…

"So why won't you be able to visit?" I asked. "I doubt a light goose-chase will be able to stop you from seeing your sister."

"Wouldn't call this light," She said, her voice less on aggression and her piercing stare leaning more on towards solemnity.

"Meaning?"

She didn't answer. For a moment, I thought of course she's gonna be annoyingly ambiguous about it, why wouldn't she be, right? That was until her gaze veered off to the side, a brief second's stare into the vacant distance, before she would speak again.

"Wind's getting heavy…"

Just as the words left her lips, not even a second later, the many loose curtains draping over the living-room window billowed inwards with enough force to detach some of them from their binds, while the remaining left blowing away with the current were in the process of following suit, had the breeze not had gradually lessened in intensity.

The aftermath resulted in some disarray among the more flimsy pieces of furniture strewed about. Toppled lamps, couch cushions slanted at odd angles, even the glass chandelier hanging above swung to and fro like a disco ball on speed.

All in all, it was a scene warranting some concern. A lot of concern, actually. The most glaring of which Amelia took the initiative to most graciously point out -

"Seems your date with the Elf will have to take a raincheck."

Funny.

"Not over my dead body," I said, finally spurring towards the door handle. "It rains out, not in. We'll stay indoors if it does rain."

"That wouldn't make for a very nice date."

"No offense," I said, pausing, before swinging the door wide open. "But what would you know about dating?"

The opened door allowed the wind to continue breezing through unhindered, there was a heavy gust blowing, whistling past me, howling away. It was loud enough to nearly drown out the faint chuckling that sounded from right behind me.

Amelia's chuckle, very much discernible. The first semblance of emotion I've heard from her that wasn't just downright anger. I gotta admit, it was kinda off-putting in its own way.

"You have a point." She said in a tone verging on amusement. "By all means then, do enjoy your date."

I turned back, wanting to see if a smile came along with the sound of laughter, only to find an empty hallway fronting me with nary a soul in sight. She disappeared, gone like she was never there.

Matriarchs. Masters of deception. Kinda seems like it's just a way for them to be cool and shit with their farewells.

How very dramatic of you, Amelia.

Very.

The sun was missing.

Stepping out to the porch, I wasn't exactly expecting to be basked in a surplus of 100% all-natural all-healthy organic space mad- vitamin D, but hell, at least a little tinge of it would have been nice.

Up above the world so dull, was a swirl of grey murky clouds so dense, you'd think the big yellow boy in the sky had received a restraining order to stay far from daylight or something from the way the streets and the trees looked so bleak.

A monochromatic grey no matter where you turn your eyes. Rain was such a bitch.

Didn't care. I walked out of the pavement and headed towards the direction of the bus stop. Silently.

And you know what silent means.

It seems they'll never be a day where they won't be a multitude of pressing concerns burrowing a small nest in my head.

Date was already daunting enough, stack that on to of what Amelia had said about our mysterious weatherman and all, add a nice fine touch of pacing back and forth waiting for an already belated bus, and you got yourself a mess of a man that was me.

By the time that damned bus wheeled around the corner, I only had half an hour to be there at the appointed time. Hardly could blame the bus driver either. I could have caught an earlier one had Amelia not stalled me back there, then again… I chose to indulge her. My fault.

Taking a seat, I did some quick math in my head, rounded off some numbers, pulled out the abacus, and realized, with a heavy strike to the gut - the bus ride there itself already takes more than the time I have left to get there, and I still had a walk ahead of me to reach the rest of the way there as well.

Uh oh.

Times like these make me wish I owned a car of my own. Being in the outskirts of town, you don't see much traffic your way in regards to taxis and the likes… walking was my only other alternative besides the motion sickness machine.

And comparing the distance from point A to B? Well, I'd take motion sickness machine any day over walking. Still though… late on the first date. You've outdone yourself, me. Don't bother to even show up next time, why don't you?

Seeing as there was nothing I could do besides sit and watch as the wheels on the bus go round and round till I get there, I pulled out my phone and browsed around for a bit.

Did my usual spree - Read the news, hop onto online forums and see what kind of trivial shit people are arguing about nowadays, and hung about social media for a bit.

The third one was when I had a brain blast, like a kick in my temporal lobe, I brought back forth something I've been meaning to do that was for all this time pushed to the back of my to-do list in light of more recent events.

I haven't looked her up at all yet, have I? And I was the one that asked her as well… my bad, Amanda.

Well, no time like the present, I suppose. Let's see here… a search for 'Amanda Collins' reveals… quite a character bio.

When she said to me that she was 'everywhere' I had thought it her simply exaggerating, a little ha-ha funny to lighten the mood. It probably was, but it also simply the truth of it all.

She was indeed everywhere online.

A social media butterfly first and foremost, and tacked alongside her online presence was a multitude of blogs and articles written about her accomplishments in life.

Apparently, she was a prodigy in her field… enrolling in quite a prestigious university under a scholarship. Program and design, huh? Apparently, she programmed and designed so good, she was making waves in the fields.

Gotta lot of companies lining up at her doorstep. Standing among her peers, she was basically the cream of the crop.

At the tender age of 23. Just a single year older than me.

Shit, she was leagues above me when it came to the game of life. In fact, she might as well won the genetical lottery for it.

Good looks, good brain, good life.

It was as if lady luck herself sprang to life, taking the form of a springy young gal with a heart of gold.

Didn't know lady luck was such an internet deviant. She practically lived in the cyber realm. Her feed, every post she makes, always updated in five-minute intervals.

And the site she most frequented displayed a bright blue logo of a little bluebird. Not surprising.

Didn't have an account, so on a whim, and deciding it wouldn't hurt, I made one of my own. About damn time, I suppose.

Wasn't the most creative when it came time to deciding on a username. Hmm… screw it, 'LeotheHero' it is.

First order of business, I went to her personal page. And would you look at that - her follower count exceeded past the tens of thousands, what a celebrity she was.

Starkly contrasting that was the number of accounts she followed in return. Wanna take a guess how low that number was?

Twenty? Ten, perhaps? A measly five, maybe?

How does zero sound? Yeah, strangely enough, Amanda wasn't much of a follower herself despite her online status.

If I added her to friends, what's the likelihood I'd be buried atop notification after notification of people doing the same as I?

I'd say it's pretty high actually, but I wouldn't know until I tried.

So I did.

'Would you like to add Amanda Collins to friends?', asked the prompt on my phone.

My finger tapped away at a resounding 'yes'. Then immediately as soon as the prompt was whisked away from sight, my phone went buzzing in my hands.

A notification. A direct message. I tapped at it and was greeted by the briefest, bluntest question ever.

>

Sent by the one and only Amanda Collins only a few seconds ago. How diligently did she have to be to reply to me so instantaneously?

I received blunt, so I shall also be blunt in kind. It was only fair after all.

>

Apparently, Amanda didn't think so.

>

An indication that proves that I am who I say I am. I know just the thing.

>

I received an answer almost at once.

>

>

A little blurb consisting of three dots briefly appeared, and then - >

>

>

>

Didn't take long for her to write a reply, every answer I've received so far was within a span of a few seconds. Either she's a fast typer or she can read my mind, and the case was the same for the text she sent next.

>

>

She sent another one. >

Still creepy.

> Amanda continued. >

>

>

Didn't really know how I was supposed to reply to a smiling emote, but luckily I was spared having to think about a new topic by another message that popped up.

>

I replied, shrugging my shoulders in real life. >

>

And that ends that, timing well with the halting screech coming from the bus' wheels as it entered the first stop into town which so happens to be my stop.

Time for a walk.

I got up from my seat and as soon as I did, my phone buzzed again in my clutches.

Amanda Collins is now following you.

A walk turned into a jog. A jog turned into a sprint. From a sprint, it became a mad dash against time. I was fifteen minutes late. Every millisecond in every second in every moment was another moment Ash had to wait for me.

Five minutes was no biggie. Ten minutes, a bit shit… but do better next time, kay? Twenty minutes, why do you even deserve to live?

I don't know man, I don't know.

Came down to the point where I don't even know wait for the traffic lights anymore when I'm crossing the street, that's right I'm jaywalking now - come over and arrest me, Irene. Madman's out of control.

Wish time would just stay still for a moment. Spare me like a measly minute to catch my breath, why don't you? Sadly, Old Father Time kept winding down the clock evermore, everywhere I looked were constant reminders of my absolutely impeccable punctuality.

Jumbotron at the front of the shopping complex - 1:25 P.M.

Somebody by somewhere asked someone else for the time - 1:27 P.M.

Even my phone, flickering to life in my violently swaying palms, shone a glaring bright 1:29 P.M.

Thirty minutes after the appointed time slot I was supposed to originally arrive at, I finally reached the rendezvous point - panting, sweating, arriving as a disheveled wheezing mess.

I'm just relieved it hasn't rained yet.

The city center was a popular spot for meetups due to its simplistic layout. A disk-shaped region paved with cobble, a large fountain spewing water sitting in the middle, with routes leading to other parts of town on every end.

Many would wait by the fountain side for people for dates and friends to show. It was hard to go amiss by the fountain-side, you're guaranteed to find the person you're looking for with just a few seconds of looking around.

Ash would be waiting there, the note claimed.

Well, I had my few seconds, I had my time to look around, the thing was… I was looking around at the wrong time, the wrong few seconds - Ash wasn't waiting there.

God damn - wait… she's there. Turns out, she was there. I just needed a second glance, why? Because I barely even recognized here. Ria and Adalia did more than just show her the ropes, it seems - and like me, she had a total character makeover.

The only difference being - they succeeded with her much more than they did with me.

She was wearing that white sundress… the same one I saw her slip into last night. A view of it in the darkness of night was already a mesmerizing sight… in the light of day, however, it was amazing how much a change in luminosity can make such a staggering difference.

The wind howled, and her dress lightly fluttered along with it. Every curl, every frill, a dainty sway accentuating grace… never seen an angel before, not even when I was dead, but I guess this is the closest I'll ever get to ever beholding one's presence.

But instead of wings, Ash had her silvery-white hair.

I was used to seeing them streaming down past her shoulders, these past few days, held up in her room for so long, they were as frazzled as they could ever be.

Not anymore it seems. It was sleek, appearing smooth to the touch, and braided to a long flowing ponytail shimmering white. There was also a dab of rosy pink to her cheeks and a glossy look to her lips.

Ash and makeup was something I never thought I'd see be intertwined with one another. Not in my lifetime.

But it suited her, everything, it definitely did.

And clearly I wasn't the only one who thought so.

Guys who would walk by her were always doing a double-take, a second glance, to the gorgeous figure in white, their eyes captivated and in awe, until being abruptly brought back down to Earth with a slight pinch or a jab, their girlfriends haughtily turning their noses away, expressing very clearly of their discontent.

Not like I could fault the guys for it. Ash… she… she really was something to behold.

Compared to me, what am I?

A sweaty, tardy, unkempt mess, that's what.

Going by the state of things, this scenario should have played out the complete opposite. I should have been the one that was kept waiting for so long, not her.

Too late for hindsight, should stop fretting over every 'what ifs'… what happened, happened. All I could do now was make the best of it.

So I went, swiping up a loose strand of hair, breathing in a final breath for that extra bit of calmness, and approached her.

Apologies first. Can't go up there grinning like a fool pretending all was well. Just go up to her, and say to her face -

"You're here..."

That wasn't me. That was her. As I weaved and navigated through the wandering crowd, I failed to notice Ash was doing much of the same - reaching me faster than I could ever have reached her.

Hearing her say that, seeing the apprehension fade away from her glossy emerald eyes, damn does it make me feel guilty as shit.

"You're late," Ash spoke again. "I was told we were to meet precisely at noon's dawn."

"I know, I'm sorry," I said at once. "I got held up… there were things that I had to do and - "

I paused, my brows immediately furrowing in confusion. From afar, Ash looked right as rain - nearer now, practically face to face… can't believe it took me this long to notice it… another amenity in her makeover, except this time it only served to detract from her appearance as opposed to adding it.

So out of left field, I couldn't help but ask, "Why are you wearing earmuffs?"

Plated in a snowy white coating too, the kind you use when winter comes blowing and your hands start a-shivering.

Don't know about her, but my teeth weren't chattering yet. In fact, I feel pretty hot despite the wind's constant breeze. Then again, I just ran a marathon but I digress.

Ash raised her hands and firmly clasped both muffs. "I insisted."

"Insisted?"

"Mistress Ria strongly disapproved of it. She called it distasteful and tacky, claiming it to be in her own words, 'A big middle finger to the fashion industry and all it stands for.'," Ash explained, before giving a bemused frown. "I still fail to comprehend what that actually meant. 'Middle finger', hmm..."

That sounds about right.

"Nevermind her," I said, stifling away my amusement. "Why'd you insist? You disagree with that assessment?"

She shook her head.

"Far from it. I merely believed it a necessity, considering, well..." Ash spun around slightly from left to right, her arms rigidly spreading out on either side. "This outfit, it lacks a shroud to better conceal my ears. I insisted to Mistress Ria that it was an issue worth addressing, so reluctantly, after much convincing… she offered me this to obscure them from the public eye."

She finished her explanation, and I know I should have replied immediately. It was just that… that little twirl just now… My God, do it again.

"I see," I said, batting my eyes trying to blink back my composure. "Does it not bother you, though? It's practically squishing your ears tight, isn't it?"

"It has its drawbacks, admittedly…" She looked up at me. "But at least now, like this, I look normal, do I not?"

Normal. Oh, how I loathe that word right then. I know I was the one that insisted on it, urged her to always keep them hidden

Those Elf ears weren't normal, it was better to hide that part of yourself.

Once again, too late for any hindsight… what's now is now, and it was now that I finally saw the truth of it all along - that Ash has always been normal.

"Actually," I began. "You can take them off, Ash."

She gave another frown. "Pardon?"

"No one would mind seeing them, no worries," I said, stretching my hand out in front of her. "Plus, it's a date. I'd feel bad if you were always in constant discomfort. It's cool, Ash. You can let 'em show."

She was far from being persuaded. I noticed her eyes shifting dubiously from left to right, noting the dozens passing us by in a constant stream, apprehension surfacing again on her expression as she slowly reached for her earmuffs, an uneasy glance being thrown my way.

I offered a smile, that same foolish grin pretending all was well - except this time, it really was.

"Trust me."

Ash gently placed the muffs into my open palm, and those long sharp Elven ears of hers immediately sprung free in all their glory into the open air, unveiled, unshrouded no longer.

And what did the all-seeing, all-judging public have to say about it?

With eyes scouring frantically about, Ash hearkened to their call, and found no one else looking back at her with any form of peculiarity.

Nobody nowhere had anything to say.

Course, there were still the occasionally stares here and there, guys, and even some gals marveling away at her beauty, but none even came close to acknowledging any oddities in her appearance.

Because there were none.

After all, normal is what normal does. It seems your lessons bore fruit, after all, Ria. Good for you.

"See?" I said, watching as disbelief ripple across her expression. "What did I tell you?"

"How can this be so? Beforehand, you told me - "

"I stand corrected," I simply said. "You don't have to hide them anymore. Just… be yourself as is, alright? No one's gonna look at you funny."

Although still a little confused, Ash nodded her head all the same. "Understood..."

Now she looked truly astonishing… the way she is now, and always will be…

It all felt a little surreal, to be honest… I mean, my Elf-Knight from another world couldn't be this cute, could she?

Apparently, she was, and it was such a shame she doesn't know that… not that I can blame her for it, that is.

That's all going to change, though, starting right… now.

"See, without those things, you look beautiful, Ash," I said, giving my most heartfelt smile. "You really do."

I didn't care whether or not that she believed it herself, in fact, I really don't expect her to, not so easily anyway. But so long as she knows that I think so… that's all that matters.

She smiled and from the way she shifted about in place, it was abundantly clear compliments doesn't come to her as often as it should.

That's something that's going to change too.

"Thank you…" Ash muttered, her gaze tilting downwards. "You… you look good too, Master."

And just like her, I too wasn't one for being complimented.

It seems this date was going to change a lot of things for the both of us. For now though… we'll just start walking, and see where that brings us.

In spite of the ever-constant looming threat of downpour, the date continues on.