Chapter 15: Short Date

"So…you needed help with your love life and you came to me." Grent looked at Barbados with a raised eyebrow. "Not only that, but you also dragged an uninvited guest here too." Grog smiled awkwardly.

"Sorry for barging in. Ha ha…"

"You don't have to apologise. He has too." Grent said while pointing at the Sinborn. "I did drop the odd flirty comment."

"Really?" Barbados said while lifting his head. "Yeah," Grent said smiling, then changing his tone monotone, "As a spirit. Why are you even asking me, don't you have experience?"

"I do. I was once married."

"SO WHY ARE YOU ASKING ME??" the Spirit yelled at him. Grog coughed to stop the comic relief skit from continuing.

"Why did you drag me here on my weekend Barb. If you're having issues with women you could have just asked Okia to help out."

Barbados starred obliviously.

"Okia is a woman?"

"Barbados you work with her!" Grog yelled at him.

"They're always wearing that black armour with the strange ritualistic masks. And there's always black smoke covering any openings. Even her voice sounded androgynous!" The two argued about her. Grent coughed to bring the conversation back to the original topic.

"When did you receive the text?"

"2 days ago." The Spirit had to be held back by Grog to not smack Barbados.

"What did you reply with?" asked Grog.

"Nothing yet." An Ent had to reach its branches through the door to stop the 2 comrades from smacking Barbados.

"Thanks Arn." the Sinborn said to the Ent, as he slowly unhinged his branches to free Grog and Grent.

"Gimme that," Grent commanded as he pried the phone from Barbados's hands, "Sorry for the late reply, I have been extremely busy planning classes."

"But I haven't." interrupted Barbados.

"Well what have you been doing?"

"Make them fight."

"Isn't that barbarick?" asked Grog concerned.

"Nonsense. Fighting is the best way to improve skill."

"Ahem," coughed Grent, "I have been busy with teaching. I would love to go on a date. There, not hard." he said as he gave the phone back.

"But where should I take her?" he asked as he placed it facing downwards.

"What do you mean?" asked both listeners.

"Doesn't the man have to take the lady to a place?"

"Tsk tsk Barbados, you old-fashioned fool. The one to ask is the one that plans the event. It's tradition here in Germania."

A cheerful ring echoed through the room. The men put on their best poker face as they flipped over the device. They cheered as the text read 'Awesome!' with further details for the date, time and location. Even Arn cheered for the Sinborn. The date was set and all Barbados had to do was wear some nice clothes.

"Wait. What's her name?" asked Barbados. 3 synchronised fists punched his face in a blitz barrage.

"Just add her number to WhensApp and check her profile." said Grent while wiping blood from his hand. Grog looked through the profile and found something that caught his eye.

"She's a politician representing the druid popullace. Her name is Alija."

****

Barbados met up with Alija and walked into the mechanised circus together. People screamed as they travelled on electric carts through the air, while others enjoyed a peaceful swing on the cup shaped ride.

"My goodness," Barbados exclaimed as the vibrant light and surreal sounds fried his receptors, "What ride would you like to go on first?" Alija thought and pointed to one in the back that was decorated with coal and mining equipment.

"Rocky road. It's an amazing ride. Let's go quickly before a line builds." It was still early in the morning and not many people were around, to the point of suspicion coming to the Sinborn's mind as it felt like the two of them were the only guests.

Alija boarded the cart and Barbados almost got in, but was stopped by a member of staff on the concerns of him injuring himself. In response, Barbados summoned a knife and cut his hand, showing the worker the quick healing process, which did the trick as they found themselves going deep underground, with smoke and yellow warning signs setting the adventurous mood. Through twisting tunnels and claustrophobic corridors, they came to a halt and slowly traversed upward, going out of the mine and into the sky. A large booming voice yeller out at them.

"NOW DESCENDING INTO THE HELL HOLE." Barbados didn't have time to process it as the two were accelerating downwards, at an unimaginable speed. Red flames spewed and piercing screams echoed in the chasam.

"A bit stereotypical." muttered the Simborn.

"Did you say anything?" yelled Alija over the loud sounds.

"Nothing." he yelled back trying to put in the effort to look amused.

The ride ended smoothly and they walked to a different ride. And just as he was refused entry for his own concern, he hurt his body once again. This was a shared ride, so Alija had to lean on his wings.

"Hm, quite soft." she said as she stroked a feather. The cart began spinning around while slowing, while it carefully lifted itself in the air.

"How is it floating?" asked Barbados with his jaw open.

"I'm not too sure myself but I've heard it's something to do with mana being converted into static electricity. Oh mind your halo." Alija pointed as a glass dome slowly descended. Barbados pulled on his cracked halo and adjusted it like a bowler hat. The cage flew gently into the air, still spinning calmly.

"What if it malfunctions and we keep floating? I know I could survive the fall but I worry for your safety."

"The actual cart is attached to a chain so we won't be flying to space. But falling? I guess we just pray."

"Lovely." Barbados said as he stared and looked at the bright city below. The two talked about their jobs, hobbies and life. Barbados found that her father was a peace fighter and played a major role in reforming the views that other races held of them. Druid kind used to be seen as unintelligent beings only obsessed with worshipping their god.

"That was about 200 years ago. I was lucky to be born in this peaceful era." Alija said. "What about you? Considering what you said during our first meeting, I'm guessing you've been alive for a long time."

"Honestly, I can't even remember my age. I've only just gotten freed from my prison. So I have no recollection of the past couple thousand years."

"Why were you in prison?" asked Alija.

"I didn't conform to my mother's beliefs."

"Well that's something we can both relate to. A drink to horrible mothers?" she said as she pulled a bottle of luxury alcohol.

"This early in the day? Yes please." It was a vodka made from 90% alcohol. "Finally, a good drink." They savoured only 3 drinks as they soon found themselves back on the ground. They sat around for an hour, enjoying a picnic before returning to the rides. Many rides after didn't allow him on, even if he proved his regenerative power due to his wings being too large.

"It's fine," said Alija, "It's my fault for forgetting to check the size requirements and restrictions. What about that ride?" She pointed at a large dish. They entered easily and were told to lean on the walls. It quickly spun around and constantly accelerated. Both yelled with excitement.

****

Barbados comforted Alija as she vomited in a nearby trash can.

"You're lucky you're not affected by our normal struggles." she said as she stretched her hands in the air.

"Yeah. But you get to enjoy every struggle and feel accomplished afterwards."

"Yeah…no. Hey, what's that?" A pink heart began to glow as the darkness grew. In cursive writing it read 'Love and Trials". It was a floating rubber ride that bobbled in a stream of water made of different blue hues.

"Sorry sir, unless the lady sits in between your legs, you will need to go on a separate cart." Alija looked at him.

"What's the worst that can happen?" They began to slowly make their way down into the dark tunnel. Pink stones lit up the cave, leaving large gaps still stuck in darkness. A soothing voice spoke through hidden speakers, painting a vivid imagery of a love-struck couple overcoming trials for their love.

"Sounds pretty easy." Barbados said. Light mimicked the night sky, showing vast galaxies and shooting skies inside.

"Wow!" Alija said, mesmerised.

"Now this is something you didn't see in the past," he said, "look over there." Swirling blues and purples created large gaseous structures. "How grandiose." But as he said that, an arrow was shot and he deflected it, shooting one back. It pierced the unknown entity and caused a large explosion that caused all the lights to flicker on. Mechanical bodies were located in every corner, holding pink bows with silver arrows. The arrow heads were shaped like hearts.

"What happened Barbados?" asked Alija.

"It seems someone may have a vendetta against you. Look" He showed her the hand he used to block the arrow that had now turned purple and swelling with decaying blood.

They got off the ride and an entire investigation had to take place. Alijah apologised for having to cut the date early, but Barbados understood.

"There's always the next time." he told her.