Chapter 100 - The Truth About The Evening
As they stepped out of the pub, Idin looked visibly pleased. He walked with a bit more bounce in his step, clearly thrilled that someone had finally listened to him talk about fashion for longer than thirty seconds. Meanwhile, Bral and Bao looked like they had just been through a war.
Bral let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair. "That took way longer than I expected."
Bao nodded, clearly drained. "I think I lost ten years of my life listening to all that."
Idin huffed, crossing his arms. "You two just don't appreciate fine aesthetics."
"We don't appreciate you not shutting up about fine aesthetics," Bral shot back. "I came here to eat, not to get a lecture on color coordination."
Idin smirked. "And yet, you're walking out of that pub knowing more about fashion than you did before. You should be thanking me."
Bao just groaned.
As they walked down the lively streets of Llyn, they passed by a high-end restaurant, the kind with polished wooden doors, gold-trimmed signage, and windows so clean they looked like portals to another world. The kind of place where nobles and high-class merchants went to dine, dressed in fine suits and elegant dresses.
Idin immediately wrapped an arm around Amukelo's neck, pulling him in close. "You see this place?" he asked, gesturing grandly toward the restaurant.
Amukelo blinked at it. "Yeah? What about it?"
Idin's grin widened. "Go there today. With Pao. With your new appearance, you'll fit in perfectly. She'll never forget this night."
Bral chuckled, clearly entertained by where this was going. He nudged Amukelo's ribs. "But remember—you have to pay for it. That's what men do. You can't let a lady pay for dinner. You wouldn't be a man then."
Amukelo stared at them, his expression flattening. "Pay for what? Why would she never forget this night? What are you two talking about!?" His frustration grew as he looked between them. "You two have been acting weird today!"
Bral and Idin shared a knowing look, their expressions mischievous. Bral then glanced back at Bao, who just let out a long, tired sigh.
Bral smirked. "We can't tell you yet, brother." He made a show of glancing around dramatically, lowering his voice. "They're watching."
Amukelo's eyes narrowed. "Who's watching!?" His voice rose in exasperation. "Why do you all keep being so cryptic!?"
Idin, barely containing his laughter, shook his head. "We can't tell you yet, brother. We can't." He said it with so much unnecessary mystery, it only fueled Amukelo's frustration further.
Amukelo threw his hands in the air. "I swear, if you guys keep this up, I'm going to—"
Bral clapped him on the shoulder, effectively cutting him off. "Come on, let's not ruin your big moment with unnecessary anger."
The bathhouse was a welcome change from the hustle of the town. A large stone building with a simple wooden sign out front.
Bral turned to Bao. "Okay, we have about an hour before evening, so in thirty minutes, be outside. We don't want to rush things."
Bao just nodded before heading toward the women's section, while Bral, Idin, and Amukelo made their way to the men's side.
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As they entered, steam filled the air, carrying the faint scent of lavender and herbal oils. The main bathing area was a large open hall with a central pool of steaming water. There were smaller private tubs at the edges, but since there were only a handful of people inside, the three of them practically had the place to themselves.
Bral immediately stretched as he walked toward the pool. "Ahh... So relaxing." He slid into the water, letting out a content sigh.
Idin followed, sinking into the water with a groan. "Yeah, this is exactly what I needed before class."
Amukelo, however, hesitated slightly, standing at the edge. The idea of bathing like this—in a public place—was strange to him. He wasn't used to this level of comfort. In the wild, he'd bathe in rivers or lakes, always alert for danger. This? This was... peaceful.
"Are you just going to stand there?" Bral called, grinning at him. "Or are you waiting for someone to carry you in?"
Amukelo rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath before stepping into the water. The instant warmth enveloped him, and his muscles immediately relaxed.
But before he could fully enjoy the moment, Idin grinned and turned to him. "So... now that Bao isn't here..." He leaned forward, resting his arms on the edge of the bath, his voice dripping with mischief. "...Do you want to learn the truth about your big evening?"
Amukelo, who had been waiting all this time for an answer, snapped his head toward him immediately. "Yes!" He sat up slightly. "Finally! The reason you two have been acting like lunatics all this time?"
Bral chuckled, leaning back against the edge of the bath, amused by Amukelo's eagerness.
Idin's smirk widened. "Alright, listen closely..."
Amukelo leaned in, anticipation rising.
Idin then took a deep breath, and grinned as he said, "You, my friend, are going on a date."
Amukelo stared at him silently for a moment, "...What?"
Bral grinned. "Oh, you heard him right."
Amukelo blinked, processing the words. His expression remained frozen. Then he laughed nervously. "Hah. Funny. No, seriously—what's going on?"
Idin and Bral just smiled knowingly, watching as realization slowly started sinking into Amukelo's face.
"You're telling me..." Amukelo's brow furrowed, his voice low, "...that I've been preparing all day... to go on a date?"
Bral leaned back against the bath, stretching his arms along the edges as he grinned mischievously at Amukelo. "You see, Amukelo," he began, his tone mockingly wise, "when a young lady asks a young man to go out, then that can mean only one thing."
Amukelo, still trying to process everything, murmured, "One thing?" His brow furrowed slightly.
Idin nodded sagely, keeping his face dead serious. "Yeah, only one."
Bral continued, smirking, "She wants to go on a date."
Amukelo scratched the back of his head, his confusion deepening. "I mean, she told me she just wanted to talk about something." He paused, thinking. "You know, she's been acting weird lately."
Bral sighed dramatically, shaking his head as if disappointed in Amukelo's sheer lack of understanding. "Ahh... how much do you have to learn about the world, young man." He spoke in a tone like a wise elder, making Idin snort in amusement.
Amukelo's face went flat. "Don't talk like you're some sage, Bral."
Bral ignored him entirely, waving a hand dismissively. "She probably has been trying to tell you how she really feels, but she just couldn't get the words out. So instead, she's been avoiding you out of embarrassment."
Amukelo frowned, his mind racing. He hadn't really thought of it like that before. But now that Bral put it that way... He started piecing things together. He remembered that moment outside the alchemy shop, when Pao had started to say something important, only for Bral to interrupt at the worst moment. She had looked so flustered, so nervous.
Bral, seeing the realization dawn on Amukelo's face, smirked wider. "See? You're starting to get it."
Amukelo's cheeks reddened slightly, but he still tried to deny it. "But... why would she feel anything for me?"
Then, without realizing it, his thoughts drifted—to Pao's smile, the way her eyes sparkled when she talked about magic, the way she had always been supportive, even when he was still getting used to being around people again. She was smart, kind, and incredibly helpful. And he had always enjoyed being around her. He blushed slightly as he thought about her.
Bral immediately caught it, his smirk turning devilish. "Ooooh, wait a second... You like her?"
Amukelo snapped out of his thoughts. "What?! I—I didn't say that!"
Bral laughed, nudging Idin. "Look at him! He totally likes her."
Idin shook his head, cutting Bral off before he could push further. "Come on, don't brainwash him. He's absorbing your nonsense like a sponge." Then he turned to Amukelo, his tone finally more serious. "She really just wants to talk about some important issue to her. That's all."
Amukelo blinked, puzzled. "How do you know? What issue?"
Idin sighed, his expression softening slightly. "Because Bao told us."
Amukelo tilted his head, confused. "Then why you just didn't tell?"
Idin shrugged. "Because Pao wants to tell you herself. Bao just wanted to make sure you two actually talked, since Pao couldn't bring herself to do it before."
Amukelo stared at them, his brain trying to process everything. So this whole thing... really was just about Pao needing to talk?
His expression suddenly darkened. "...Then why," he asked slowly, "did you two make me go through all of this?" His voice was dangerously calm. "Why did you make me buy clothes? Why did you drag me to a tailor? Why did you act like this was some huge, life-changing event?"
Bral and Idin exchanged glances. And then they grinned.
Bral, completely unapologetic, said, "Because it's funny."
Amukelo's eye twitched.
Bral continued cheerfully, "Your reactions were gold. Seriously, it was hilarious watching you panic like you were being sent off to war."
Amukelo groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Are you kidding me?!"
Idin, laughing now, added, "Aside from that, though..." He leaned forward, grinning. "If you're spending the evening together, then it's technically not... not a date. So you should be prepared."
Amukelo's face went completely blank. "...What."
Bral and Idin burst out laughing.
Amukelo threw his hands in the air. "And what for did I spend all that money?! The effort?! I could have just kept training!"
Bral, wiping a tear from his eye, clapped Amukelo on the back. "Oh, come on. If you're going out with her, why not make it the best it can be?"
Amukelo glared at him. "Because it's not a date."
Bral wagged his finger. "Technically."
Amukelo groaned again, massaging his temples.
But then—Bral's grin shifted slightly, genuine for once. "Besides. You like her. You said it yourself."
Amukelo froze.
Bral and Idin smirked at him.
And this time, he didn't deny it.