Malak's Crush

"Rafa, Alma, can you keep a secret?" Malak asked his sister and her closest friend in the group, "I've got a crush on one of the girls on the team, and need help asking her to go out with me. I know that you two would know more about what girls like and what they don't like than I do."

"Start with chocolates, all girls like chocolates. I remember giving Ramza this advice several years back, when he was experiencing his first crush. Oh, and unless she sneezes when around flowers, get her some of those too. They'll brighten up her day," Alma advised him.

Rafa inquired, "So who is it, brother dear? Don't tell me it's Tess, Margurita, or Sage. Because you know that all of them are already going out with someone. I don't think you can go for Balmafula just yet, Olan hasn't been killed yet, his paper is still in the planning stage. And Reis has Beowulf. Since you are telling Alma as well, it can't be her. Then who is it, Meliadoul or Agrias?"

Malak blushed. He thought back to the battle at Riovanes. He'd watched Ramza's men try to enter the castle, Rafa helping them. But suddenly, a Knight tried to attack his sister. For the first time since he had been left alone after the fire in his village, Malak had been afraid. Suddenly a woman ran in front of Rafa, and brought up her shield to parry the blow. The woman had long blond hair and brown eyes. She wore a Holy Knight's garb. Later, he would learn that her name was Agrias Oaks, former guardian to Princess Ovelia, and an ally to Ramza ever since the princess's capture.

He muttered her name under his breath, trying to hide. Although he wanted help from Rafa and Alma, he didn't want them knowing the full story. But just then, Rafa began to tickle him, knowing exactly where it would affect him the most. Malak found he couldn't take it anymore. "Ok, ok, I give sis. It's Agrias. I've admired her courage, ever since she saved you at Riovanes, when that knight was trying to disembowel you. She barely knew you, yet she was willing to risk her own life to save yours."

"Then we'll help," Alma told him, "Agrias likes my brother, but so does Meliadoul. I know, I've asked her about it before, and Mel just blushes and avoids the subject. Ramza too, I think he might like the young Divine Knight in return. Probably thinks her a kindred spirit, after all, the two are so much alike when it comes to family loyalty, and knowing when to turn on your family for the greater good. But if they ever get together, Agrias will be lonely. I want to help her out as well, help her find true happiness."

* * *

Malak stood in his best suit, waiting for Agrias to come back from the blacksmith, where she'd gone to temper her sword's dull edge. In his hands, was a box of chocolates, and a bouquet of flowers. But Malak didn't quite realize that he was allergic to pollen. As luck would have it, he finally lost it right as Agrias was coming down the road. The young Hell Knight sneezed, knocked himself backwards, and landed in the mud, hitting his head on a tree. Alma and Rafa, who were watching from said tree, then fell out of it, and landed on top of him. Poor Malak was greatly injured from this.

"Oh, God! Are you three ok? Sage, Leon, come quickly! Malak is hurt, and Alma and Rafa have suffered minor injuries as well! I don't have any items with me at the moment!" yelled Agrias. Instantly, the two members of the team's clinic came running. With them, they'd brought a pallet, which would make it easier to carry someone who is injured. Together, they placed Malak on top of it, and began to carry him towards the healer's tent. Alma and Rafa, at Agrias's insistence, followed.

* * *

Alma said, "I'm sorry, Malak. I had no idea that you were allergic to flowers. Maybe we should just stick to chocolate then. Nothing can go wrong with that, unless she is allergic. But I've seen Agrias and Meliadoul talking about battle and battle strategy over chocolate, so I know she isn't."

Malak's leg was broken, and his arm in a sling. In addition, he'd bumped his head pretty badly, and would have to wear a brace on it for about a week, at least. "What can I do in this condition? I really can't move very much, only if an emergency occurs, and we must flee. As it stands, Sage and Leon have to bring me my dinner on a separate plate, after the rest of you have finished eating."


Just then, Agrias came into the clinic. She had what appeared to be flowers, but they were only made of silk and a stick that was painted green. No doubt, Leon or Sage had told her exactly why Malak had fallen, and hit his head on the tree. Pretending not to see her, Alma and Rafa began to giggle.

"Here," she said, "I brought these to cheer you up. I remember back when I was a trainee, and had gotten sick. All of the others in my class gave flowers to brighten up the room, and I felt all better. So I figured you might want the same. But then I heard you were allergic. So I went to Reis, who makes these silk flowers to brighten up her home, as she knows a real flower will eventually wither. I hope you feel better, soon." She placed them in a vase, and began to arrange them.

Malak wanted to tell her that instant. But he felt his tongue had been tied up in a knot. He was sweating nervously, and the constant giggling and whispers to tell her from his sister and Alma were not helping his cause in any way. If anything, they just made the situation worse.

"I something wrong, Malak? You don't seem to be yourself today. And your injury is unusual. I've seen you hurt showing off, trying to prove you've got what it takes to fight in a battle with your Un-Truth spells, but never while holding flowers," commented Agrias.

Malak replied, "No, no nothing's wrong. I was just picking some to congratulate Reis on her conceiving a child. Plain forgot I was allergic to them. Rafa and Alma were standing guard from the tree, just in case Deverca's gang or the former Lucavi demons tried to attack us."

Agrias smiled. "Well then, I've got to get going. I promised Meliadoul that we'd spar with one another after I returned. We must be in tip top shape, should a battle occur in the near future."

Malak watched her leave. He wondered how he could get up the courage to tell her how he felt. After all, she was one of Ramza's strongest fighters, his toughest warriors, and what was he? A Hell Knight whose spells often did more harm than good to the party in battle.

- - - -

Well, blame the fanfics, not me. I read one, and it got me into Mustadio/Alma. I liked Ramza/Mel from early on, Beowulf/Reis is already stated, and Olan having a descendant means he must have found someone (and since Balmafula was with him in the ending. . .) Then we've got Rafa, but that's just plain wrong (I'm not into incest). Meaning, Agrias is all we've got left.