Chapter 28: A Date

  Rain clouds loomed over Prismara city, their dark masses hiding the sun's grace. The gathering storm made rad's heart ache for the people huddled beside the streets, their faces marked by hunger and desperation. Though the thought weighed heavily, it dissolved like mist as the sery shifted around him.

  "Cra is still in school. I could go shopping but..." rad's eyes drifted toward two wrinkled notes and a handful of tarnished sili s in his palm. The touch of silver felt cold in his palm.

  A heavy sigh escaped his lips.

  "I sometimes fet I am poor. Living on my sister's money... That is just embarrassing for a big brother like me to leey younger sister. Even Cra earns through her small business, but me, I am just useless..." rad slipped the money bato his pocket, the s king softly as he started walking.

  I wonder how I earn more money. After I get official ownership of the business from Neo and Kalifa, I might make somethi, but I ot trust them fully. I should sider other ventures.

  Ring! ring!

  A cycle whizzed past, its bell chiming through the humid air. At the nearby mp post, a horse carriage halted with a geer, and a well-dressed couple stepped down, passing gleaming s to the driver. A boy in a worn Victorian-style detective cap darted past, neers clutched to his chest.

  "Breaking news! Breaking news! New bounty issued by National Civil Guards—a mysterious thief of the night!"

  rad's hand shot out to stop the boy, He paused for a moment but his curiosity got the better of him. New bounty? Iing.

  The front page made his breath catch—it was him. A special Blid installed ihe museum had captured a blurry image of The Observer, the shadows pying across his masked figure like a dancer's veil.

  So finally The Observer will debut in the public eye. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. Though I must say, I am quite the handsome mysterious figure.

  His eyes traced the bounty hat screamed from the page.

  100 kata.

  1000 Atana is not bad. As he absorbed the article's details, a thought crystallized: Wait, how would one collect the bounty? Are there official bounty hunters? I'm curious, but whom should I ask? Kalifa might know about these things better, but I think I should first sult with my most trusted partner. A small ugh escaped as he remembered Anira's fierce determination from the previous night.

  "rad?"

  The voice struck him like thunder on some sunny day. He turo find a vision of beauty—a young woman with eyes like winter sky, radiating ahereal charm that seemed to bend the very air around her. Her wide-brimmed straw hat cast gentle shadows across her face,fine dark hair flowing like silk in the breeze. Her preseirred memories in rad's heart that didn't belong to him. Whether from the former owner of this body or his current self, his feelings ran deep and true for this one woman.

  Xie Lianhua.

  "Xie... what brings you here?" rad asked, his voice softer than intended.

  "I live nearby..." Xie's gaze danced away from his, carrying the weight of unspoken burdens. Her face bore traces of a night-long struggle, something dark and heavy pressing against her spirit. Two bodyguards guarding her like living shadows—a male with features carved from stone and muscles built for violence, and a female with skin like polished ebony. Both wore maery on their hands that rad reized as advanced projectile ons, while traditional swords hung at their waists, their eyes stantly sing for threats.

  If I remember correctly, Xie's family ands the rgest business empire in Prismara. The Lianhua Enterprises, famous for their designer clothes. After that tragic act cimed her parents and only brother, she ied everything. Such a burden for someone so young. The memories floated up from rad's mind like leaves in a gentle current.

  "I heard you never leave your house except for csses... has something special brought you out today?" rad asked, noting how her fingers nervously traced the rim of her hat.

  A shadow of hesitation crossed her face. "Home was getting too stuffy. The walls seem to close in sometimes, so I thought to taste the air of our beautiful city." Her eyes briefly met his before darting away. "And you, rad?"

  "I was just about to pick up my sister but Cra will be still in school for a few hours, so I thought I'd explore a bit." He ran a hand through his dark hair with brown patches, acutely aware of how his worn jacket trasted with her elegant attire. Why does talking to my own girlfriend feel so awkward? There's something different about her today she looks kind of tired. I might o take care of her problem soohan expected.

  The air between them grew heavy with unspoken words. A distant rumble of thunder halts their silence.

  Xie turo the male bodyguard, her voice carrying the authority of her position. "Bulga, take the car back to the Lianhua residence. I wish to spend time with my boyfriend." Her tone softened slightly. "I know discretion is necessary, so Shara will stay."

  rad felt his pulse qui at her sudden decision. A date? Now ? Wait, did she read my mind or something? I'm hardly prepared, but... His thoughts scattered like autumn leaves. Woman’s intuition is really equivalent to any Essentia.

  Shara's eyes narrowed as she studied rad, her hand unsciously sliding closer to her on. Him? Madam's boyfriend…?

  Bulga bowed with military precision. "As you wish, my dy." His stern gaze locked onto Shara. "Remember your duty. At all times."

  Sutensity for a simple walk, rad mused. Though if they knew I am the man with 100 Kata bounty on my head, they might have drawn their ons in an instant … A small smile pyed on his lips.

  They walked side by side through streets that seemed to grow quieter, as if the city itself held its breath. The clouds hung lower now, their darkness a perfect mirror to the tension building in rad's chest. Something wasn't right—he could feel it in the air, see it in the way Xie's shoulders carried an invisible weight.

  "Shara," Xie's voice cut through his thoughts, "would you get us ice cream from that shop? Take your time." Her words were casual, but rad caught the slight tremor in them.

  "Yes, my dy." Shara's departure was marked by a warning ghat sent an involuntary shiver down rad's spine.

  Such fierce prote, it's not like I am going to hurt my own girlfriend, he thought. Though if Anira were here…He couldn't help but ugh internally at the thought. "Or maybe worse."

  "Worse?" Xie's question caught him off guard.

  "Nothing. Just talking to myself," he offered a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

  Xie studied him with an iy that made his skin prickle. "rad, you better not hide anything from me, or I'll bite you." Her face remained perfectly serious.

  "Bite? What are you, some kind of animal?" He tried to keep his tone light, fighting the urge to pull her close and demand answers about what was really troubling her.

  "Who knows?" She walked ahead, her hat casting faint dang shadows oreets of Prismara.

  rad matched her pace, his mind rag. "Hey, where are we going? Your bodyguard—"

  "Don't worry about Shara," Xie cut him off, turning to face him. "She knows what I want." A pause, heavy with meaning. "Isn't that what you want too?"

  The words caught in his throat. She's so beautiful it hurts. "You really are beautiful," he breathed.

  "Huh?"

  "Huh?"

  "What did you say?" Her cheeks colored slightly.

  Heat rushed to his face. "Did I say that out loud?" Smooth, rad. Real smooth. "I... I didn't—"

  Xie turned away, but not before he caught the faint touch of a smile on her lips.

  "Wait... Xie!" His hand found hers, warm despite the cool air. She didn't pull away, but her did she turn.

  "Look at me," he pleaded softly. "Please."

  When she finally faced him, the redness in her cheeks made his heart skip. She's blushing... or is she?

  "There's a pearby," he said, gathering his posure.

  Xie and rad entered a nearby restaurant which reviously visited by rad, Nadeko and team. rad pulls Xie towards an avaible table.

  "A friend ree."

  "A friend?" Her voice carried an odd hat tall one who's always with you?"

  "Isaao, actually it's Nadeko, from my department." He guided her to a chair, pying the gentlemae his worn clothes.

  "A girl...?" The weight in those two words could felt little heavy on Xie’s heart.

  "Is something wrong?" He tilted his head, studying her rea.

  "No... not at all." The force with which she sat belied her words.

  Is she... jealous? No, there has to be more to it...

  rad ordered pastries and refreshments, though Xie requested tea instead. The waiter's eyes widened in reition of the Lianhua heir, and their order arrived with unpreted speed.

  "Your fame precedes you," rad observed, sipping his drink.

  "The burden of being Prismara's rgest stakeholder," she replied with practiced grace, but something in her eyes spoke of a deeper burden.

  "You must have many suitors then?" The question slipped out before he could stop it.

  Xie's winter-blue eyes met his, holdis like deep ice. "There was a time... but now..." She let the words fade into silence.

  After her family's death, the rumors started. Every suitor meets a tragedy within a month. Not a ce—I feel it. The supernatural leaves marks that most 't see, in order to iigate the report has to be made first but it seems like most people do not like to report supernatural things because it might sound silly. Pretty soon, Anira and I will iigate. Whatever haunts Xie, whatever forces her to push me away... it ends soon.

  "rad?" Her voice pulled him from his thoughts.

  "Sorry, was lost in thought." He smiled apologetically.

  "About anirl?" The anger in her voice carried uones of fear.

  "No... I was thinking about you." His hoy surprised them both.

  Xie's face softened for a moment before hardening into resolve. "rad... about breaking up..."

  He set down his pastry, meeting her gaze. "Is that still what you want?"

  She nodded, pain evident in every movement.

  "Then I refuse." His voice was ge firm. "I'll be your boyfriend whether you want it or not. I'll chase you forever if I have to."

  "You don't uand!" Frustration colored her words. "You 't possibly uand—"

  "I don't o uand everything. I just o uand this: I'm not letting you go."

  Her posure cracked. "You... you're just like all the others! Chasing me for eai, for money!" She threw bills at him, her hands shaking. "There! Take it, you filthy poor! Now leave me alone!" She rushed from the restaurant, leaving her hat behind.

  rad remained seated, watg her go. Good performance, Xie. But I saw your tears. Whatever darkness surrounds you, whatever forpels you to push me away... I will free you. Being a knight firl is really hard especially if that knight only works at night.

  rad scratched his head “that souotally wrong even in my head”

  He could se now—something malicious and hungry cirg just beyond normal sight. But it wouldn't approaot in daylight. The Essentarii's fear of UG makes them cautious. But Xie... she sehem too. Iing.

  "Time to get Cra," he murmured, paying both bills and leaving a generous tip. The storm was ing, but he was ready.

  Xie ran until her lungs burears streaming down her face. Her carefully maintained image shattered like gss, leaving only the frightened girl beh.

  "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I don't deserve you... please five me..."

  She ran faster, as if speed could outpace her guilt. Then Shara appeared before her, solid as a roteg her friend and dy.

  "Shara..." The name came out as a whimper.

  "Yes, my dy?"

  "I'm cursed... I told him such horrible things... He hates me so muow..." Her words dissolved into sobs.

  Shara stood silent, a guardian watg her dy break down.

  "My dy, you did the right thing. You did well." She stroked Xie's hair with surprisileness.

  Xie's cry turned desperate. "I love him! I 't let him die... please, Shara, save him! I'll do anything!"

  Shara's silence spoke volumes before she finally offered, "There is a way, but..."

  Hope flickered iear-stained face. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

  "It requires... obeying their demand. It's the only way to save that young man." Shara's voice carried the weight of impossible choices.

  "I..." Xie's response hung in the air, as thunder finally broke above Prismara.