We journey through the landscape and enter a semi-crowded city. It had a larger population than Tara Continent. Buildings had many different aesthetics along with its people who shared similar aesthetics to Date, wearing purples, oranges, and blacks. Many of the buildings had magnificent dècor and lighting, making some of the neighboring ones look bland and obsolete. Each building had a personality of its own, and it was difficult to take in the beauty with Date trying to drag me around.
I take a moment to stop, take a gaze along the horizon, and take in the wonderful air, it really did feel like we were in slow motion. Then I'm met with Date yanking me, making me snap out of my momentary rapture. As we continued, her fingers added pressure in between my knuckles.
A strange mix of happiness, yet regret, floods my mind. I've never seen people this happy before. Partying, yelling, having fun with each other, and just doing whatever made them smile. I couldn't help but wonder what other marvels were hidden in this paradise. Could I possibly find contentment here?
With a grin as radiant as the sun, Date finally slows a bit to match my gaze, saying, "you know, most people here call this realm Hell. I think it was adopted because it seemed like unfortunate souls got tossed here for ill behavior, but I actually don't think that at all."
"Really?" I tilt my head in interest.
"Yup! I think people are sent here because it's where souls can atone or repent for their deeds. Morals will always be a gray subject though. Even in the Light realm people have their differences and opinions," she goes on to explain.
Her words definitely piqued my interest. "Is the Light realm considered a Heaven of sorts, then?"
Date nodded while swinging our arms in unison. "I think people in the Light realm don't like the nickname. It's a place for rule followers and their respective enforcers. For example, it's people who can't live without guidance. Souls don't necessarily want to be there, but people will always find comfort in 'God'." She quotes God with her fingers. "This place, on the other hand," she gestured around us, "is different. You can be whoever you wanna be and do whatever you want to do." Realization dawns on Date's face. "Within reason! Of course. Don't try to kill people and uh, stuff. Very annoying to have to deal with., uhm...
"That makes sense." I allow myself to float into my own thoughts for a moment. "Rule follower" really resonated with me. I feel like all my life that's all I ever tried to do. But, did I truly love it? I wonder...
"If that's the case though," I bring my focus back to Date. "Why didn't I make it to the Light realm?"
Date teeters her head, but she swiftly responds with, "I'm not sure. I wouldn't attribute it to wrongdoing. Maybe you're here because you challenged Gods instead of following them. Then again, who knows. Only the one in purgatory does!"
This only sparked a flurry of questions in my mind.
"Gods? Like, multiple? Purgatory? I'm not really understanding..." I never followed religions, especially enough to note that there's multiple. I wasn't one to decline the idea either, reality really could be anything.
"Oh yeah. There's multiple. And that's if you even wanna call her that," she spat venom off her tongue. She scowls with disgust as she continues, "I don't like a certain Angel. She pisses me off, ugh, such a day ruiner!" Her once fast pace then came to an aggravated stomp as the subject grew more grim.
A part of me was left unsatisfied and left wondering: Who were the gods? Who was this Angel? Before I could press further, Date's face grew in excitement as we approached a vibrant section of neon lights.
"Look!" She points while swinging me around to her side. A sign flashes "Lü Bu's Inn" and is adorned with fuchsia LEDs then surrounded with stars and dots flashing miscellaneous colors. The frame of the sign itself had a lacy border and sprouted out a logo of a lady with black and red hair.
The inn building itself was encased with tangled vines and tentacle like flowers growing from them. Iron fencing also twisted around the area, enriched with potted plants in every corner. Overall, it gave a charming and earthy appeal, one that I was quite fond of.
"C'monnn! Let's go inside, hurry!" Date giggles and rushes us in while bouncing around on the balls of her feet. She leads me inside and a chee rful bell rings greets us as the both of us enter.
The white brick walls of the room are embellished with lush vines that have grown through the cracks. White flowers sprout along the vines, giving the inside a nice floral smell. In front of us lies a long bar with a marbled countertop, lined with black and red bar stools. Behind the bar stools, there are several tables of varying sizes and their corresponding chairs.
"Holy shit Date, you weren't kidding. This place is absolutely divine!" I gape, taking in every miniscule detail the interior had to offer. "Also, you called this a café earlier, but the sign says that this is an inn."
Date purses her lips innocently. "It's a café, hotel, bar, lounge all rolled into one! Really convenient for those who get a bit too tipsy and want a place to stay!" She blinks a few times before retracting, "not that I would know! I don't drink. Except the boba. What's not to love?"
"Welcome in!" A silvery, boisterous voice greets us from a hallway behind the counter. A man with purple tinted hair appears from behind a curtain. The edge of his lip was smudged with a glossy red.
He picks up a wine glass along with a rag, as he approaches us, and he begins to clean the glass. "How can I help you beautiful ladies tonight, hm? I have tea, coffee, juice, and even sandwiches."
I wait to see if Date would respond. As I peer over, a frozen, stuttering Date appears before me. "B-B-Boba... B-" She stammers while her head is basically facing the ground.
I whisper, "what's wrong?" I walk in front of her to hopefully ease the anxiety.
"I-I'm-!" Date shakes her head. "Scared of men!" She confesses with a turned lip.
I take a hold of Date's unoccupied hand and squeeze mine into her palm so I could hopefully ground her. "I see. Would me ordering for the both of us help aid your anxiety?"
She rapidly nodded her head, showing her pleading, but she kept her head low. "Would you really do that for me?"
"Of course. Doesn't bother me, none."
"Okay..." Date glances at the menu and then says, "Can you order two Rose milk teas with Strawberry popping boba, please?" Her face finally begins to relax.
"Alright, Hun. Just stay put, okay?" I flash her a smile before letting our hands naturally part, but Date still grasped at the tips of my fingers.
I walk up to the counter, scanning the menu just to review what I was supposed to order.
"Is your girlfriend okay?" The guy behind the counter asks with a vexatious smirk.
I cock an eyebrow in confusion. "Uhm." I kinda squint, unsure of how to respond. "What? Sure, uh, nevermind, she's fine. I'd like two Rose milk teas with Strawberry popping boba. Both in medium cups, please."
"Gotcha. That will be fourteen thousand Tala coins," he sizes me up and the smirk only grows wider.
Shit. Do I still have any...?
As I'm lost in thought trying to rummage through my pockets, and in general looking around for any kind of currency, a velvet, purple pouch flies over my head and lands in front of me on the counter. The guy doesn't question it and naturally picks it up. He begins to open the pouch and spread the coins out to count them.
I turn around only to see Date with a mischievous grin on her face. "I got it covered!" She mouths with a thumbs up and a wink.
Following a titter, I turn around to face the bartender again.
He continues to count the coins, but then he kinda shrugs and places the coins back into the pouch. He nonchalantly stashes it into his pocket while he rings the payment through.
"Thank you! I hope you enjoy your drinks, ladies!" He coos and walks back into the curtain, disappearing from our sight.
I bow from the shoulders. "Thank you." I bring myself back up and start heading back towards Date. However, she had other plans.
She grips onto my arm and instantly drags me over into the back of the café. I'm faced with mahogany wood tables with purple booths. On top of the table lay a candle, paper towels, and pre-wrapped silverware.
Date lets go of my arm; she settles into her seat and extends her hand to the other side of the booth. I take this as a notion to sit down, so I take a seat as well. As I adjusted myself, I couldn't help but to glance towards Date. She had her usual smile back, it was like the atmosphere finally shifted back to comfort and familiarity.
Her head started to shift down though, as if she was deep in thought about something. "...heard that before. Jing definitely... familiar... which book?" She murmurs unconnected pieces of sentences while rolling her index finger over the lines of the wood.
"What about me?" I gently ask her, being careful not to disturb her.
"Oh! Whoops." Date snaps back to reality. "I was just thinkin's out loud." She sinks into her seat with her forehead downcast.
"Oh. My apologies." I lay my hands comfortably on the table, but make sure to avoid setting my elbows onto it.
We exchange a few glances as a silence falls between the two of us.
Date increasingly becomes more shaky while fidgeting more and more. Eventually, she chews on her lip while widening her eye at me. The aura between us gradually becomes more intense.
I tilt my head, wondering what she wants from–
"Well! Since you've asked so politely, I suppose I'll tell you," She says while straightening her back, seemingly getting ready for a lengthy storytime. "I was trying to recall which book I read your name in. It's been stuck in my head since you've said it! Ah, I guess for some context, I should explain.
"Each of us represents a piece of unfathomable history. Ancient books and items from thousands of years ago. Our great great great great great grandparents probably couldn't keep track of the historical documents!
"Now, you're probably wondering: What piece of history do I represent? Which piece of history do I have? Well. We were important historical markers and leaders. We created art, fought against oppression, or maybe even both. We all walked a line of fame and ingenuity. In short? We're historical figures." Date ultimately shrugs. "That's my guess though. From the research I've conducted."
"There's no way..." I cross my arms and fidget with the loose ends of my dress.
"I could tell you a bit of my history! My full name is Date Masamune. I replicate a leader, a Japanese fighter, a samurai from the Edo period. He contracted smallpox and lost an eye, earning the nickname 'One-Eyed Dragon,'" she says, her eye glowing with enthusiasm as she gestures to her eyepatch with her finger. "Doesn't that sound familiar?! I think it's super cool. I also found common findings for Loki and even–" She stops herself. She flashes a grimace, but she goes back to grinning.
"That's really impressive. This must have taken you a long time to learn, much more to memorize, right?" I admire. "How did you learn all this anyway?"
"I did spend countless hours reading, translating, understanding, and then hypothesizing," she replies with a tinge of embarrassment. "I can tell you about Jing Ke. If you dare!" She wiggles her fingers towards me with a smirk.
"You have made me curious, I will admit."
Date's eyebrows twitch and a devilish smirk etches itself wider across her face.
"What? Go on then!" I push eagerly, waiting for her response.
"Okay, okay. Jing Ke is very similar to my story. Differences? He was a Chinese fighter, an assassin of sorts."
Something clicked in me as she said assassin. A rush of adrenaline courses through my nerves and my heart begins to pound against my chest.
It's hard to breathe.
I can't breathe.
Suddenly, I'm overwhelmed by a series of flashbacks, my consciousness flickering in and out.
Images of my mistress flood my head. I could hear my own voice, trying to warn... someone? Ugh, but who? She's blonde and scared, wearing a tiara, one that looks so familiar.
"Princess Richard!" I attempt to grasp towards her, trying to grab onto her. Her blue eyes were huge, but she also reached out towards me.
"Don Quixote! She's coming to..." I keep trying to urge her, but then a large protruding feeling inserts itself through my back and impels me through my stomach.
In due time, my vision finally returns back to normal, but the lingering headache from before only grows in resilience.
"He actually attempted to assassinate his emperor at the time. Because of it, he became infamous for it! Regardless, he was a brilliant worker," Date was still explaining, her hands moving with each verb.
I spring my hands outwards. A weird feeling dwells in my core. How could I have betrayed my mistress? It's impossible. She– She saved me. She took care of me. Why...
"Fuck, my head..." I'm able to mutter as I groan in agony. I rub my throbbing temples, yet nothing is soothing the pain that continues to sting.
"Oh god!" Date's voice rises with concern. "A-Are you okay?" She was about to bring herself on the table, but a masculine voice was approaching behind us..
The server comes to our side, holding two drinks in his hand. "Here's your drink ladies!" He says with a sleazy tone. After, he begins sliding the two drinks onto the middle of the table.
Even though I was focused on my pain, I couldn't help but pivot to the clear, pink boba balls that settled at the bottom of the pink drink. A beautiful white foam rests at the top with a striped straw going through it.
Date, on the other hand, recoils in fear and avoids eye contact as the server approaches, her hands fidgeting and her foot tapping nervously against the leg of the table. She was obviously uncomfortable during the entire exchange.
"If you need anything, just let me know! My name is Rex," the server says with a suggestive wink before sauntering off.
Within seconds after he's gone, Date jumps onto the table, her hands frantically examining my face. "What's wrong? What happened? I'm sorry if I said something wrong!" Despite the anxiety inscribed into her lapis eye, it still twinkled with concern.
"I... can't even." My voice quivers as the memories press against my forehead. "I think... I think I was killed by my mistress? I'm not sure, it's all so hazy." I trail off–still overwhelmed by the flood of emotions and images.
"Huh? Murdered!?" Date scrunches her eyebrows; her eye squint.
"I was trying to warn Princess Richard of the Tara Continent," I continued, squinting as I tried to remember. "My mistress was after her, trying to kill her. Then she ended up killing me. Octavius and... Ugh." I ball my hands into fists, my nails digging into my skin and drawing blood. "I just can't remember!"
"Sounds like the princess pissed off the wrong group of people," Date says while running her fingers through my hair. The tingles in my scalp actually helping the headache.
"I want to go back. I need to help the princess!" I grasp onto Date, but her face drops.
"So that's why you're not in the Light realm..." Date mumbles. "You can't. I'm sorry," she replies with compassion.
"What? If I came here, then there has to be a way back, right?"
"Technically, yes. However, you need to be able to harbor Dark and/or Light matter to cross the threshold of this realm. In fact, I doubt you have any Dark matter in you at all. Even if you did, it would strain you way too much, just look at you!"
An aggressive "nothing" comes out of either of us. I take a moment to let her words sink in. As I do so, Date retreats back onto her side of the table, and I slump back into my own seat, feeling a new wave of defeat.
"I'm jealous of people like you. I envy you all with every atom of my being." Date finally breaks the thread between us. "You're lucky."
"How? Why? You're a ruler of a realm, isn't that beneficial within itself?" I crinkle my nose.
"No, you don't understand! I never got a life like yours, I was never really alive. I was born here. I have to watch over this realm for the rest of my eternal life and fight for those who can't."
I soften my face. A pang of guilt forms in my chest and spirals to my core. "Really?"
"Remember when you first noticed my eyepatch?" Date's voice wavers slightly as she speaks, and she fidgets with her fingers, her head hanging in embarrassment. "It actually houses the Demon King himself. Whenever we're summoned, I have to share a piece of my personality with him. When my mother was pregnant and she conceived me, he passed onto me."
"Why?" My past frustration was replaced with genuine curiosity.
"Because without him, I'm nothing. I'm weak and powerless, and everyone in this realm knows that." Date's voice rises with emotion, her eye widening. She bites down on her bottom lip in irritation.
"Who else could be summoned when the surface needs help?" I ask softly, reaching across the table to take her hand in mine.
"The Gods of both realms. They're probably the last to go unless it's super serious. Like, when the people in Guild league take it too far. Doesn't happen often though," Date's anger flattens into a sadness.
I give her hand a gentle squeeze, and she looks up to meet my gaze. I intertwine my fingers with hers, rubbing my thumb over her knuckles, trying to ease her anxiety in any way I can.
Her expression begins to relax, and her breathing becomes less erratic. However, her lips remain downturned, indicating that she is still troubled by the topic at hand.
"Can you tell me more about the Gods?" I ask, hoping to redirect her thoughts. She always got excited anytime she got to explain anything.
Like I predicted, Date's lips finally curve up. "Well, there are technically only two of them, although Saints and Archdemons also exist and are fairly common. However, I wouldn't classify myself as an Archdemon, either," Date explains. "Loki is the Chief of the Demon realm, but one of the princesses, Caesar, helps carry out most of the orders. Then there's Lü Bu who's basically a celebrity here." Date licks her lips and her eye direct themselves upwards in thought. "Sima Yi is a well known Archdemon, along with Dante. Usually I work along Sima Yi, she's very kind."
I nod, absorbing the new information. "What about their counterparts?" I inquired, happy that distracting her is actually working.
"I'm not very knowledgeable about the Angelic realm," she responds. "However, I do know that their leader is Thor, and she's not someone to mess with unless you're serious about it. Although, there are a pair of twins who have crazy rehabilitation magic, like, I mean crazy, insane, bonkers kinda healing stuff. Er, I wouldn't say healing." Date taps her lips, letting her gaze float around naturally while in thought. "You said your Princess was Princess Richard, right?"
I cock my head to the side.
"I'm pretty sure she has connections to Heaven, but I guess she relies heavily on Arthur for that one..."
I furrow my brow in thought. "Didn't you mention her assistant before?"
Suddenly, Date's grip on my hand tightens, and her lips tremble with a mix of frustration and hurt. Tears begin to form in her eyes, and she immediately holds her head down.
"Her name is Reginleif. They call her 'Angel'. She's my direct counterpart," Date's voice wavers with misery. "She's Thor's right-hand gal. They're always together. I still can't believe she would betray me for that... that... fool."
"What happened between the Dark and Light realms? What made you so scared of—" I begin to ask.
"It was an altercation between the Dark and Light realms," she huffs. "We went through a Great divide and that's how the 'Split' happened." She rolls her eye.
I'm stunned. "Like a Holy war?" My voice cracks in shock.
"You could describe it as such. But it's more like a Holy 'grudge'," she strains.
I take this moment to use my other hand to lift the drink, still keeping my hand intertwined with hers.
The drink is a stunning shade of pink. Finally, I could take a closer look. A strawberry and mint garnish sits on the sugar rim, adding to its visual appeal. However, the aroma is cloyingly sweet, making it almost impossible to not make my nose scrunch up.
I take a sip of the drink through the pink and white striped straw, and the overpowering sweetness instantly coats my tongue. Despite this, I take a few more sips out of courtesy, aware of Date's watchful eye.
"It's a bit too sweet for my liking, unfortunately," I comment, placing the drink back down on the table. "I think the drink itself is very appealing to the eye though. It shows this place truly cares about their craft."
Date's eye drop. "Bitter," she suddenly says with pressure on her tongue.
"Pardon?"
"You like your coffee without creamer, don't you?" She accuses me, leaning closer with a finger extended towards me. "I love sweet things–" she places her hand down–"I have a major sweet tooth!" Date smiles, and a small giggle escapes her lips. I grin without knowing it. "Huh. Sweet, just like you."
Date's face lights up with a thick pink blush blooming across her cheeks and connecting on her nose bridge. "Well, you know what they say, opposites attract," she says, stumbling over her words.
I smile sheepishly, feeling a light blush of my own form. I hadn't realized the implications of my words, but I suppose there's no taking it back now.
"W-Wait!" Date covers her face with her long sleeve-cuffs upon realizing what both she and I had just insinuated. "Wh-what?! Hey! Sorry, I didn't fully grasp what that meant..."
"I meant that you have a sweet personality, as in you're kind and dependable," I clarify, trying to ease the tension.
Date's eye twitches. She brings her glass to her lips but takes a deep breath before guzzling it down with surprising speed. Her eye squish together as she tilts the glass back, and a droplet overflows from the corner of her lip, lining her chin which she quickly wipes away with the back of her hand after she takes a very short break.
Trying to ease the tension in the air, I quickly take a few sips from my own drink, but my eyes remain fixed on her. I can't help but be impressed by her ability to down her drink in such an impressive manner.
After a heavy breath, Date's empty glass clinks onto the table, breaking the awkward silence that I, probably, only felt.
She then clasps her free hand onto mine, a wide grin spreading across her face. "I suppose that was quite the lore dump! Let's head over to my place," she proposes.
I raise an eyebrow. "Why?"
Date rolls her eye. "You always ask that. It's getting late, and I don't want you to get lost. Plus, it's more comfortable at my place. Don't worry, I won't bite," she sings.
"Is there a daytime/nighttime system here?" I mostly ask as a joke.
Date shrugs. "Technically, yes. But it's more like a suggestion than a rule. Just go with the flow and don't think about it too much." She purses her lips, then stands up, tugging at my arm to follow her. "C'mon! Let's go."
"I hope I'm not being too presumptuous by accepting your invitation to your living quarters, considering we don't know each other that well," I express my concerns.
"What are you, British? There's no need to be so formal. Besides, I don't mind at all. Actually..." She hesitates for a moment, looking down. "I would like to get to know you better, if you would be willing. I wanna have you at my house."
I pondered the thought. Is this truly appropriate for someone who just met today? Barely even hours ago? "Well, I wouldn't want to decline an invitation from a charming lady like yourself," I responded and I gave her a gentle squeeze.
"Oh, good!" Date begins to stand up from the table, but she does a sudden double take. "What?" I watch her eye widen. "What did you say? Towards the end?"
I chuckle with a wave. "Nothing! Let's go," I say while standing up and joining her side. She magnetizes herself around me and she points to the door.
The same bell from us entering leads us out once we exit the building. The sky did seem deeper and its people retired to their homes. Lights still glisten against the galaxies, but a good few were muted in the distance.