Mia's POV

"Ahh, that was a good dinner! Damn, am I stuffed! That Oscar sure can cook!" I plopped down on a bed next to my close friend, Ilyana. The young mage sat up on her bed with several plates of food, some with and some without food. "So, who'd you steal all that from this time, Illie?" I smirked.

"Oh…no one," she answered quietly. "Zihark…gave it to me…"

"Huh; I didn't know he was visiting…"

"Well, yes…We are…engaged…after all…"

"Ilyana, you never mentioned that!"

"Oh…didn't I? I…suppose not…I could have sworn that I did, though…"

"Well, good for you, sweetie! I'm so happy for you!" I pulled her into a tight hug, ignoring the streak sauce that dripped from her plate and onto my bare foot, which I quickly hid from sight. Knowing Ilyana, I knew she would have had no problems with licking it up. "I know he'll do his best to make you happy!"

"Yes. He…likes to feed me…"

"Better be careful, though. If you keep eating the way you've been eating, this gut of yours will end up bigger than Oliver's!" I playfully poked her belly, making her laugh slightly.

"Yes…maybe then…I wouldn't be hungry anymore…"

"…Ilyana, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…you know…make fun of your condition, or anything…"

"Oh, I know you wouldn't, Mia…that's why you're my best friend…" I smiled at her.

"Oh, hey, so, the weirdest thing happened before dinner; after training, I was out there talking to Volke of all people — uh, you know which one he is, right?"

"Yes…I'm getting better at remembering people's names," Ilyana said. "I once hired him…to get some food for me…It was so delicious…I'd hire him again, if I had the money to…"

"I thought he only did stuff like, assassinations, and stuff?"

"No…he said that…since it was me…and we've fought on the same side…He would make an exception…He even…lowered his normal price because he knew I didn't have a lot of gold…"

"…Wow…I…never knew he could be such a nice guy…"

"Do I detect a hint of dreaminess in your voice?" Ilyana giggled.

"W—What?! No, I…I…well, maybe…He's a good listener, you know? And I don't know why, but I just felt…comfortable telling him everything that I did…"

"You llllike him, don't you?"

"Ilyana…"

"I'm sorry; you're just so adorable when you're embarrassed like this," Ilyana laughed.

"…Yeah…I guess I…do…kind of…like him…a little," I said after a while. "Back during the Mad King's War, he saved me a couple of times, whether he knew if or not. It kept happening, so I wondered if maybe he liked me…I forgot all about it until that incident with Ashera a few months ago, when we were fighting those disciples outside the Tower of Guidance in Begnion. I found myself surrounded…and just then, he came and saved me again…" I sighed.

"Does he like dueling at dawn?" Ilyana asked.

"Oh…you know, I've never asked him…When we were talking earlier, I just kept talking about random nonsense, and he just kept listening…And as I talk about him more, with you, I just…I feel like…I don't know…how to describe it…But I like him…I like him a lot, even though we've only spoken just that one time…He's so…brave…and mysterious…and he really is a nice guy…"

"Why don't you tell him how you feel?"

"…But…What if he doesn't feel the same? I don't know if I could handle that…"

"Why wouldn't he? Just look at yourself, Mia; you're so beautiful, and you're a very talented swordswoman, and you're one of the nicest people I know…"

"Ilyana…"

"…Tell you what; the merchant caravan and I are going to the beach near Delbray Castle…Would you like to come with us?"

"…Me? Go with you?"

"Yes, of course; going to the beach is always more fun if you go with your best friends," Ilyana said. "You can ask Volke if he'd like to go with us…and you can tell him then…"

"…I…guess so…"

"Trust me; he won't be able to resist you once he sees you in a bikini…even though he is Volke…" I giggled along with her.

"I hope you're right…"