As she wasroaming among the ruins, she held the feather closer to her heart. She couldstill remember the last conversation she had with him.

“Don’tworry” he told her. “I’ll be back” he smiled to her and she was foolish enoughto believe him.

“Just besafe” she whispered as she embraced him “Promise me that you’ll keep yourselfsafe. That’s all I ask” .

“Of courseI will. I’m a proud knight of Sasan after all!” while saying that he left herembrace so he could look her in the eye. “Here, take it” he took off theheather from his head and offered it her “take care of it while I’m gone”.

Piprikawould never have guessed that this would be the last time to see him. Neitherwould she have guessed that the heather would be the only thing left behindfrom him. But those who witnessed his ending told her that the fire hadconsumed him.

“You are aliar, Mystoras!” she shouted from the bottom of her lungs “You promised youwould be back, but you couldn’t keep your promise!”

She stoppedwalking. She felt her strength failing her and she fell into her knees.

“I reallyhate that about you!” She felt something hot burning her cheek and she realizedshe was crying. As the hot tears were falling down she continued “I hate thatand yet I still love you. And I miss you. Please, please come back”

Now thedate was about to end and all the usually talkative Mystoras had managed to dowas nodding after her sentences and give one word replies every now and then.

Surely she must be bored to death by me! That was all he could think.

As theywere slowly approaching the Sindria Company, Mystoras remembered another pieceof advice his friend had offered him.

“Asuccessful date always ends up with a kiss. That’s a rule everyone accepts”Sinbad had told him while giving him a completely serious look “This isprobably the most important advice I’m giving you today”

Sinbad’swords were ringing inside Mystoras’ head as he remembered their conversation.In theory he could understand why a kiss was very important. But in action, hewas completely clueless how he was supposed to share a kiss with Piprika.

Forstarters, their date so far seemed far from successful. And the fact thatPiprika was currently looking down with a slightly blush could only mean thatshe was bored by him. Right?

Then, therewas also their height difference. Piprika was at least a head taller thanMystoras and he couldn’t think a way he could stand at the same height with herunless he was standing on a stool. He couldn’t see any stool around, andbesides he was sure he would look completely ridiculous if he suddenly griped astool and stood on it. He needed to think of another plan.

As Mystoraswas looking around trying to think of something that could help his situation,Piprika kept blushing while she was silently walking next to him.

The onlysolution would be to make her bent down. But how he was supposed to do that? Should he kick her to her leg? Thatwould make her bent down but it was a way too cruel method- besides if he wasthe one who kicked her, she wouldn’t like to be kissed by him at all!

Oh, no!This situation was way too difficult and his head was about to explode! Heneeded to think something else.

The flowersblooming at the edge of the street caught his eye. He could tell her to benddown to have a better look at the flowers and then attempt to kiss her. Butthen again, he had never seen Piprika expressing any love for flowers. Wouldshe care enough for them now?

With allthose thoughts occupying his mind he hadn’t realize that they were standing infront of the Sindria Company’s gate. Their date was official to end now.

Mystoraslet a sigh accepting his loss and he finally turned to face Piprika. He couldsee that her blushing was even heavier than before.

“It seemsthat we finally reached the Company” he told her. He wished he could saysomething wittier but frankly speaking even the fact that he was able to say awhole sentence to her was a miracle by itself.

“Yes…” shereplied while avoiding his gaze.

Mystoraswas sure that was because she really disliked him after that fiasco of a date.  The only reason she hadn’t said somethingmean to him was because she was too polite and kind to do so.

“I reallyenjoyed our date” she simply told him.

Wait… what?Did he hear correctly? Did Piprika just say that she enjoyed their date? Or washe dreaming?

A look ather convinced him that he had heard correctly. Piprika slightly bent down andcaptured his lips in a kiss. Mystoras was taken aback for a moment and then hefinally gave in to the kiss.

Manyromance novels describe vividly how someone how those books portrayed it.Mystoras mind was filled with a single thought: Piprika.

(Bonus)

From one ofthe Company’s widows three figures were visible looking down at the couple thatwas kissing.

“Yes!”Sinbad shouted. “I told you that they would kiss. Now give me the money~”

He turnedto Vittel who sighed and reluctantly gave him a couple of coins while he wasmurmuring something about how he should never bet against Sinbad again.

“Have youno shame? Making bets on your friend’s first date! You frustrate me!!”  Ja’far yelled to them both.