Chapter 45: Double Date!
Lars, jumping off of his broom in midair, finally arrived at Kikka after a two hour journey. It was the weekend now, and Lars had endeavoured to use his off hours to spend time with his lady today. It would be the whole day, just the two of them, doing various romantic activities, and other various romantic activities, and even more… various… romantic… activities…
Yeah, he hadn't a clue what couples did on their first date, or even worse, how he was gonna fill an entire day without boring Lucia.
A/N: Lars may or may not be a microcosm for me writing this fic right now…
It was actually embarrassing how he couldn't think of any ideas, despite being the one who invited Lucia on a date, which surely meant that she would expect him to bring ideas on what to do, right? And now he was gonna make a fool of himself in front of Lucia!
"Lars?" A soft voice whispered in his ear, her figure pressing against his back. She covered his eyes. "Guess who…"
"Lucia, I'm not a child. I know who you are," Lars replied coolly. On the inside, however, he was not feeling very cool, still panicking about the situation at hand.
Lucia uncovered his eyes, turning round to face him with a large grin on her face. She kissed him on the cheek then dangled a piece of paper in front of his face.
"I brought an itinerary," the redhead smiled. "Well, it's more of a list of things that we could do, so if you have any objections or additions, I don't mind working around it…"
Sweet relief! Lars thought, grateful tears streaming down his face inwardly.
"Let me take a look," Lars smiled back.
He squinted at the paper, trying to make out the handwriting that looped and spiralled with almost artistic flourishes. Lucia's handwriting was beautiful but…difficult.
"Here," Lucia said, leaning closer and pointing to each item on the list as she read them aloud. "First, we could grab a late breakfast at that café by the river, and then walk through the market—there's a greenhouse there with rare plants too."
Lars nodded, liking the sound of the morning. "Sounds perfect so far."
"Next, if we're feeling adventurous, there's this casino in town." She gave him a mischievous smile. "Just for fun, of course."
Lars blinked, eyebrows raised. "The casino? I didn't realise you had a streak for gambling."
She shrugged playfully. "You learn something new every day."
He chuckled, still pleasantly surprised. "Alright, a bit of adventure it is."
Lucia continued down the list. "Afterward, we can take a break and have lunch at the bistro by the square. Then, there's a travelling show in town today—a mix of performers, musicians, magicians… I thought we could check it out."
"That sounds… great," Lars replied, trying not to sound like he was overly impressed by her well-thought-out day. But really, he was.
"And finally, if we're still up for it, I found a spot near the cliffs with an amazing view of the sunset. We could end the day there with some dessert from the bakery."
Lars' smile grew. "Lucia, this sounds perfect. I wouldn't change a thing."
"Sorry we're late, guys," Kian said, landing on the ground with Lyra behind him. "She insisted on riding with me, even though she literally has the ability to fly…"
"Oh please!" Lyra scoffed. "You're dating me now, you have a responsibility to treat me like a lady!"
"I thought you were a sufficient, self-serving woman," Kian said, folding his arms and raising an eyebrow. "Surely someone like that wouldn't want me to fly them."
"Let's not fight," Lucia hastily said, slightly mortified by the prospect of a fight ensuing between these two. "After all, it is you two's first date, after all! You should be sharing the love with each other! How about we talk about what's bothering you over breakfast? There's a nice cafe in that direction-"
"Fine," Kian growled, turning to Lyra. "Take my hand, my lady."
Lyra interlinked her arm with Kian's, and the two walked with each other, an arrangement that each tried to inflict the most discomfort on the other in.
"Do they even know where they're going?" Lars sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Those two are so perfect for each other," Lucia said, a look of pure bliss on her face. "Shall we go now? We don't want them to get lost."
Lars took Lucia's extended hand gracefully. "Of course, my lady," he said, kissing Lucia's soft hand. The redhead blushed, but she shook it off, and they started to walk gracefully, becoming the envy of every couple who saw them on their way to the cafe.
…
"So, why the relational turmoil?" Lucia said, her chin resting on her hand thoughtfully. They had just enjoyed a delicious albeit tense meal, mostly because Kian and Lyra were giving each other death stares during it.
Kian and Lyra had been giving each other increasingly frosty looks throughout breakfast. Finally, as they picked at their plates, Kian threw down his fork and exhaled sharply.
"Alright, if you really want to get into it," he muttered, "maybe we should talk about your recent... habit of just making decisions for both of us without asking me."
Lyra set her coffee down, looking incredulous. "Oh, please. You mean like picking our mission assignments or insisting on whose magic strategy to follow, regardless of what I think? Honestly, I thought you'd be happy I was getting us more joint missions—you're the one who's always saying we should work together more."
Kian shook his head, adjusting his glasses with a bitter smile. "Right. And I thought it was because you actually wanted to work with me. Not because you thought I was some sort of side project."
Lyra looked visibly hurt, her tone softening. "Kian, that's not it at all. I… I just think we're a good team, and yes, I want us to get stronger together. Maybe that means I'm a little... involved. But that doesn't mean I think I need to 'fix' you."
"Oh, really?" he shot back. "Because lately, it feels like every time I say something, you're waiting to correct me or 'improve' my approach. You're never just… letting me be."
Lucia bit her lip, glancing at Lars. "Maybe we could help smooth things over?" she whispered, but Lars had a faraway look, his gaze fixed on the pastry case by the counter.
He sighed, almost to himself, "That Spadish pastry… best thing the Spade Kingdom's ever contributed to society. Seriously, they did one thing right, and this is it." His eyes narrowed, and he murmured, "If I could just get my hands on that recipe..."
Lucia bit back a laugh but nudged him gently. "We're trying to save the date, Lars. Maybe the pastry can wait?"
Reluctantly, Lars refocused on the table. "Fine, fine," he muttered, though he continued eyeing the pastry with longing.
Meanwhile, Kian had crossed his arms, looking every bit as stubborn as Lyra. "It's not that I don't appreciate you pushing me," he was saying, "but when you decide things for both of us, it feels like you're undermining me. Like you don't trust me to make the right call."
Lyra folded her arms, softening slightly. "I don't think I knew you felt that way. I'm… sorry if I've made you feel small. I just—" she hesitated, "—I've been afraid that if I leave things up to chance, I'll lose you."
Lucia leaned in, her voice gentle as she tried to mediate. "It sounds like you both care a lot, but maybe you're just... going about it in ways that don't align. Lyra, maybe it's worth asking for Kian's input before planning everything? And Kian, maybe Lyra's just afraid of losing you because… well, you mean a lot to her."
Kian looked at Lyra, his expression softening for a moment before he sighed. "Maybe I am a bit of a control freak," he admitted, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "I just don't want to feel like I'm a passenger in my own life, you know?"
Lyra nodded, reaching for his hand. "And I don't want you to feel that way. But I also don't want you to think I'm stifling you, Kian. I just…" she trailed off, looking uncertain for the first time.
Their gazes met, both of them softening slightly. But then Kian shook his head, looking away. "We can't fix this in one breakfast," he muttered, but his voice held a hint of warmth. "But... maybe we can try talking about it more often?"
Lars, sensing that the heavy conversation was winding down, cleared his throat. "I don't mean to interrupt this, uh, touching moment," he said, "but if we're done discussing control issues… Can we talk about that Spadish pastry recipe? Because, honestly, it's the best thing I've ever tasted."
Kian rolled his eyes, but a small smile crept onto his face. "Of course you'd be thinking about food right now."
"Can you blame me? It's so peak," Lars said, tears of joy streaming down his face. He wiped them hastily, facing the other three once more.
Lyra, giving Lars a grateful smile, added, "And here I thought the Clover Kingdom was supposed to have the best bakeries."
"Oh, don't get me wrong, we do," Lars said confidently. "But even a kingdom can mess up once in a while and accidentally create perfection. Which brings us to the Spadish pastry. Probably the only good thing that's ever come out of Spade."
"When did you become the bakery connoisseur?" Kian asked, his arms folded and the small smile growing into a big grin.
"It's one of my first loves," Lars emphatically declared.
"How can you have multiple first loves?" the force mage asked again, chuckling. "Listen to yourself!"
"Shhh, let me push my agenda," the mind mage replied, blowing his fringe out of his eyes. "I really need to gel this back. Do you think it would look good hair-gelled back?"
Lucia laughed, her eyes dancing with amusement. "I think we've found Lars' one true love. Other than me, of course."
"Until he gets the recipe," Lyra teased, joining in the laughter.
And for a moment, the tension between her and Kian seemed to ease, their earlier bitterness giving way to shared amusement. It was tentative, but it was a start.
A/N: The spadish pastry is a parody of the Danish pastry, because why not? Also, Spade is the kingdom that looks the most like Scandinavia, soooo…
…
"Let's go gambling, baby!" Lars and Kian yelled, running towards the main attraction of the casino like little kids - the poker table. Meanwhile, the girls hung back, watching them go with identical amused expressions.
"Look at those two go," Lyra remarked, her eyebrow raised sceptically.
"Men are so simple," Lucia smiled, watching Lars and Kian pull up seats and get their gambling faces on. "Oh god, I sound like Sol…"
"Who's Sol?" the viridian haired girl replied,
"Don't worry about it," Lucia said, waving a dismissive hand
"Over here," a small voice, wizened with age, whispered. It was a fortune teller, a short old woman wearing a black cloak. She held a crystal ball in her hand, and moved her other hand over it, trying to create a mystical impression. "Get your fortune read for just 100 yul."
"Should we?" Lyra asked.
"Why not?" Lucia replied, shrugging. The girls headed into a red tent that the old woman was pointing at with a crooked finger.
Meanwhile, as the boys sat down, a burly man came up to them. "Put your prize winnings in," he grunted.
At the poker table, Lars and Kian wore their "poker faces"—more determined expressions than actually strategic—yet they were utterly captivated by the cards, shuffling through their small stacks of chips with wide eyes. They were ready to take on the world, or at least the nearest table.
"Alright, Kian, tonight we leave this place with full pockets and a whole new level of fame," Lars grinned, cracking his knuckles as if he were about to face off in an epic duel rather than play a card game.
"Don't get too cocky," Kian replied, trying to look serious but failing as a hint of a smirk slipped through. "I've read up on this stuff. I'm ready."
But as the dealer shuffled the cards, a figure slid into the seat beside Lars, her presence almost invisible in her quietness. The young woman had long, platinum-blonde hair tied in a loose braid and large, nervous eyes behind thick glasses. Lars glanced over at her briefly and then did a double-take. Something about her seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. The woman adjusted her glasses and glanced around, her posture shy and her hands clasped tightly together, but her eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement.
She didn't look like the usual casino crowd, and neither Lars nor Kian recognized her as one of the regulars—or even as a fellow Magic Knight, which she happened to be. This was Fransiska "Fani" Granvorka of the Purple Orcas, but few knew her by sight, and even fewer would recognize her like this. Beneath her meek exterior, she harboured a hidden thrill for the world of gambling. It was her vice, her secret rush, though few could guess that beneath the shy exterior was a gambling fanatic. As soon as she took her seat, her entire demeanour changed, her eyes narrowing with a predatory gleam. It was as if her meekness was peeled away, revealing someone much more cunning and dangerously focused.
The dealer dealt the cards, and as the first round began, Fani surveyed her hand, tapping her fingers on the table in an oddly confident rhythm. The boys quickly lost track of their own chips, caught up in watching this quiet girl transform. She played aggressively, betting high with each turn, her soft hands pushing forward more chips without hesitation, completely in her element.
"She's good," Kian muttered, sounding both impressed and nervous.
Lars nodded, bewildered but captivated. "And terrifying."
As the rounds went on, Fani's chip stack grew higher and higher. She kept her expression stoic, only the glint in her eyes betraying her excitement as she won hand after hand, leaving Lars and Kian in awe. Her competition fell to the side, one by one, until only she remained with the last two piles of chips—hers and the house's.
Finally, after going all in on one last victorious hand, Fani let out an uncharacteristically loud "Yes! Suck it, losers!" before clapping a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with embarrassment. She shrank back, her cheeks flushing as she realised the attention she's drawn to herself.
"Oh, um… w-wait… I didn't mean to…" she stammered, immediately reverting to her shy self. "Um… here, you can… you can have these." She handed her winnings—piles of chips—to a stunned Lars and Kian.
"Uh… are you sure?" Lars asked, staring at the massive stack she'd handed over.
Fani nodded, clearly mortified now by her own outburst. She mumbled, "I-I really shouldn't… I didn't mean to get so, um… anyway, it was fun. Have a good night!" Before they could say another word, she'd darted away from the table, her confident, gambling persona gone as quickly as it had appeared.
Kian blinked, watching her disappear into the crowd. "Who was that?"
"I have no idea," Lars said, holding the chips gingerly, as though they were a gift he'd stolen.
"Whoever she is… she's good." Kian shook his head, letting out a chuckle.
Back in the tent, Lyra and Lucia peered at the old woman, waiting intently as she looked at her crystal ball.
Back in the red-draped tent, Lyra and Lucia sat across from the fortune teller, who had her fingers draped over a crystal ball that glowed faintly, casting shadows across her wrinkled face. She watched them with deep, searching eyes that seemed to cut straight through the tent's hazy dimness.
"Names," she croaked, and the girls exchanged a glance.
"I'm Lucia," she said cautiously.
"Lyra," the green-haired girl added, her usual playful air shifting as curiosity got the better of her.
The old woman's eyes gleamed, and she looked into the crystal ball with a deep hum. Her voice dropped to a whisper, as if sharing secrets the girls weren't sure they wanted to know. "Ah… love is a strange road for you two," she began, her fingers tracing invisible patterns over the ball. "Lucia… your heart is drawn to those who seek power but often hide their true selves. A love born of quiet patience. Someone steady, despite the whirlwind around them." Her gaze shifted meaningfully toward Lucia, who stiffened, wondering if this strange old woman somehow knew about Lars.
Lucia said nothing, but Lyra elbowed her playfully. "Sounds like it's right up your alley," she whispered.
"And Lyra," the woman continued, her tone softening, "your heart's already found someone, hasn't it? Yet… there's hesitation. A doubt that lingers, like a flickering flame caught in the wind."
Lyra's easy smile faded slightly, her fingers pausing mid-drum. "Hesitation?" she asked, trying to sound casual but failing to mask the hint of surprise.
The woman gave a knowing smile. "Yes, but take heart. Trust that the fire between you both will endure, even through uncertainty. Be patient. It will grow stronger than you can imagine."
Lyra nodded slowly, her confident mask slipping just a bit. "Guess we'll see," she said, the words softer than usual.
The woman shifted her focus, her eyes piercing again. "Now… let's see what your path as Magic Knights holds," she murmured. She waved a hand over the crystal, and her gaze grew more serious.
"Lucia, your journey will not be an easy one, but it will be blessed. You are capable of achieving a great harmony in the Clover Kingdom, finding balance and strength in ways others cannot." Lucia watched her warily, not wanting to betray the thrill that these words gave her.
"And Lyra," the woman said, her voice growing stronger, "you are destined for a life of trials and triumphs alike. You will rise and fall, but your legacy will leave a mark on your squad for years to come." Lyra's face lit up, clearly pleased.
The fortune teller's hand wavered over the crystal, her expression suddenly growing tense. She blinked, then focused sharply on Lucia, her voice trembling. "I see… a fusion in your future," she murmured, almost as if speaking to herself. "An untapped power within you, waiting to awaken. The magical arcana of your cards… it will unlock something grander if you let it."
Lucia stared, speechless. She hadn't said anything about her card magic. "Uh… right… thanks." She forced a smile as she stood up, tugging Lyra's arm to leave.
Lyra gave her a reassuring grin, nudging her out of the tent. "Creepy, right?"
Lucia only nodded, glancing over her shoulder one last time, unsettled as the woman's words echoed in her mind.
…
"Alright, so far, we've had breakfast, gone to the casino, went to the market, had lunch… and now we should be going to the theatre of Kikka to watch the show!" Lucia said.
"What a day," Lars sighed. "And it's only 3 in the afternoon… we could still do so much if we wanted to."
"Let's not be late then," Kian added, stretching.
The group hurried through Kikka's winding streets, eager to reach the theatre in time. As they stepped inside, a bustling, warmly lit hall greeted them, filled with laughter, voices, and the scent of stage smoke. They found their seats and settled in, leaning forward as the lights dimmed.
The play began lightheartedly, following the misadventures of a nobleman and a merchant's daughter who stumbled into a romance that neither one had anticipated. Their clumsy, earnest confessions drew laughter from the audience, and Kian in particular was leaning forward, grinning broadly.
"Oh, come on!" Kian laughed as the main character tripped over his own boots in a misguided attempt to impress the heroine. "Who would do that?"
"Honestly," Lyra replied with a smirk, "I think you'd do just that in his place."
Kian shot her a look, indignant. "I'd at least have some dignity!"
Lucia giggled, leaning closer to Lars. "This reminds me of the time you—"
"Please don't finish that sentence," Lars mumbled, his cheeks reddening as he sank into his seat.
The play continued, the characters facing the trials of their social differences, complete with misunderstandings and humorous exchanges. A delighted hum filled the room as the characters finally admitted their love in a moonlit garden scene, and a quiet "aww" escaped from Lucia, her expression softening. Even Lars was smiling a little, clearly engrossed in the story.
But as the second act started, the tone shifted. A new character appeared, a rival who brought tension to the couple's lives. Harsh, cutting words replaced the gentle teasing, and a sense of foreboding took hold.
The main character's downfall began when he was accused of a crime he didn't commit, forcing him to flee and leaving the heroine to suffer the consequences. The rival manipulated the circumstances, his ambition and jealousy twisting the story further. A gasp went up from the audience as the heroine was imprisoned, her despair palpable as she sang a haunting melody from the cell.
Lucia's eyes widened, clutching Lars' hand without realising it. "This escalated quickly…" she whispered, a mix of horror and fascination in her voice.
The third act spiralled into pure tragedy. The nobleman, broken and desperate, returned to free his beloved, but a terrible accident led to his death at the hands of the very guards meant to protect him. His lover, upon discovering his fate, collapsed to her knees in anguish.
By the time the play reached its end, the stage was filled with characters who had fallen one by one, leaving only the rival—tormented by regret and sorrow—as he realised he'd destroyed everything. The play ended with him holding a knife to his chest, and the stage fell into darkness, leaving a haunting silence in its wake.
The lights brightened, and the audience sat stunned for a moment before clapping, though the energy was subdued, as if everyone were still processing the play's dramatic end.
"Well…" Lars cleared his throat, looking at Lucia, who still had his hand in a tight grip. "That escalated quickly."
"You're telling me," Lyra said, shaking her head. "It was like two plays got mashed into one."
Kian, who had been oddly quiet since the start of the third act, ran a hand through his hair. "You know, I thought it'd be… happier."
As they made their way to the lobby, a familiar voice called out. "Did you like the play?" a certain cheerful member of the Silver Eagles wearing a beret waved, grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh, Erin!" Kian greeted, shaking off his unsettled mood. "You didn't tell me you'd be here."
"Well, I was helping with the play." Erin shrugged. "Along with Zoe," she added, pointing toward a woman by the door.
Zoe, who was for some reason also wearing a beret, nodded curtly. Her gaze landed on Lars, and her expression immediately soured. "I see you're here," she said, her tone cold.
Lars felt a shiver. "Nice to see you too, Zoe…"
Ignoring him, Zoe turned to Lucia. "I rewrote the play's script. It was a sloppy romance before, so I made it more… enjoyable."
"Enjoyable?" Kian asked, his eyebrows shooting up. "Everyone died!"
"Yes," Zoe said, almost smugly. "Romance doesn't have to be all sunshine. It's sacrifice and struggle. Sometimes, the end isn't happy."
Lucia nodded, though a hint of laughter played on her lips. "It was intense," she admitted, glancing at Lars with a knowing smile. "But you did make a memorable experience for everyone."
"Well, that was the goal." Zoe gave a small, satisfied smile, then glanced back at Lars, her expression turning cool. "Hope you took something from it, Lars."
Lars frowned, a little thrown. But as they left the theatre, he couldn't shake the feeling that Zoe's script had been a strange kind of message.
…
It was evening now. Kian and Lyra had gone home, leaving just Lars and Lucia alone to contemplate the events of the day. They had immediately headed to the cliffs to watch the sunset, and Lars absentmindedly ran a hand through his hair as he met Lucia's gaze. She shifted closer to him as she laid her head on his shoulder, letting out a sigh of contentment.
"This feels great," she said, a large grin spreading across her face.
"You're just leaning on my shoulder," Lars replied, slightly teasing her. "What's so great about it?"
Lucia huffed, giving Lars a slight knock on the shoulder. "It's the sentimental value that makes it great! I thought you'd be able to understand! That's one of the highlights of a great relationship!"
"I've realised something," Lars interjected, putting a hand on Lucia's head. "You're really passionate about love and all that stuff, aren't you? When we were with Kian, even though you barely knew him and Lyra, you still chose to help them with their relationship problems. Why?"
"I just believe…" Lucia trailed off, deep in thought. Lars listened intently. She lifted her head off the mind mage's shoulder and turned to face him.
"I just believe everyone deserves a chance at long-lasting, enjoyable relationships, platonic or alike!" Lucia smiled at Lars.
"You're so pure," Lars laughed, wrapping his arms around the card mage, who laughed with him. They flopped down on the soft grass, looking up at the vermillion evening sky.
"You know, Lucia," Lars said, facing his girlfriend, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips, "it's my birthday soon. I'll turn 18, and be considered a legal adult."
"Oh, really? I didn't know, I'm so sorry!" Lucia apologised. Lars waved a dismissive hand, propping himself up.
"Don't worry. But you know, there is one thing you could do for me…" the mind mage smirked.
Lars leaned closer, his face lit by the soft glow of the setting sun, and whispered something in Lucia's ear, his voice low and teasing. Her face instantly flushed bright red, and her eyes widened in surprise.
"L-Lars!" she stammered, playfully swatting at him but unable to hide the grin forming on her lips. "You're terrible, you know that?"
Lars just laughed, leaning back into the grass with a satisfied smirk. "You brought up 'sentimental value,' didn't you?"
Lucia's cheeks only reddened further as she gave him an indignant look. But beneath it, her gaze softened. She settled back down beside him, her heart racing, as they lay together under the evening sky, caught in a moment of warmth and laughter.
"I love you, Lucia Moreau," Lars said, moving closer to Lucia.
"I love you too, Lars Mertens," Lucia said, pressing her lips against his as the two shared a brief yet passionate kiss. As they broke apart, slightly blushing, they were silent, and just looked at the sky for a few minutes, many thoughts racing through their minds.
A/N: Now the real mission can begin, since I'm done with (most of) the filler.