In this world, Magic is Everything. All people, all races, are granted with the power to perform mystical and magical feats via grimories, mystical tomes granted to each and every child on their 15th birthday. Those blessed by the mana can have their names written down in legend.
Shattered Grimoires is the work of the mind(s) of Ardere & Shattered Grimoire's staff. All characters and content are copyright their creators, and may not be replicated without their creators' permission. Black Clover is owned by Yuki Tabata and published by Viz Shonen Jump. All images belong to their original owners. The theme you are currently viewing was made by Eliza of ElizaCodes exclusively for Shattered Grimoires.
"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back."
The Golden Lotus, one of the Royal Capital's many fancy...and expensive restaurants. It was a place where many of the kingdom's wealthiest nobles would go to. To most of them, dining there would probably be their equivalent of an ordinary lunch or dinner, but for those who were not as wealthy, but lucky find this to be an experience of a lifetime! Hans was one of those people, having been planning this for a while. He secretly saved upon his yul to prepare for this evening, along with hiring one of those fancy horse-drawn carriages, which was an upgrade from the normal ones he tends to hire. With the carriage and the restaurant, Hans could already feel his yul plummeting...but it may all be worth it in the end...
....since those weren't the only things the dark mage bought in secret...
The carriage would roll up to its destination and as it stopped, the driver who looked just as fancy as the carriage itself would step off of it and open the door for Hans and presumably, Suna. The merc would step out wearing a fancy dark suit, perfectly matching the magic that he possesses. Despite his attire, the man's hair would still be running wild, something that he couldn't really fix...not that he saw it as an issue. He did not bring any of his swords with him, but his grimoire still rested on his hip tucked away in its holster. His cosmic necklace was also wrapped neatly around his neck, perfectly matching his attire. At first, the merc did not really care for this sort of attire, but after wearing something similar during the Spirit Ball, Hans was starting to enjoy how sharp he looked in these kinds of clothes even though it might not be something he'd admit to...
The carriage driver would then attempt to help Suna out, but the merc patted the guy on the shoulder and shook his head a bit. "Thank you, but I got this." the merc said, causing the driver to nod before backing away. With a small smile, Hans held his hand out, awaiting Suna's own. He did it in such a fashion that it could rival actual nobles...true gentlemen. The dark mage was practicing for this day, and now he needed to show his lady the results.
Assuming that the elf came out, Hans would pay the driver before escorting his beloved inside the large and quite beautiful-looking buildings...
The inside was just as expansive and lovely as the outside, filled with many finely dressed customers as well as employees. Music was playing through the area, complementing the nice atmosphere that it already has. Hans scoped this place out before, but he has only ever looked at the outside. He was very impressed by how the place looked, but these feelings were also being mixed in with his nervousness. He wasn't worried about the nobles here...but rather with impressing his lady. Previous attempts at dates didn't seem to end well for the couple...or at least in the way Hans desired. He didn't want anything going wrong...especially on this evening.
Hans would then find and approach the receptionist who then locked eyes with the dark mage. "Good evening, do you have a reservation?" the woman asked as she started to look at her papers. "Uh..yeah. Party of two, Walker." the merc claimed as he put two fingers up, still obviously new to this stuff. "Walker....Walker..." the woman went through the paper before perking her head up a bit. "Ah yes, Hans. Just this way you two. Find yourselves an empty table, and enjoy your stay!" the woman claimed as she made a gesture.
With that, Hans smiled a bit before looking over at Suna and made a gesture of his own. "After you."
Butterflies flitted in her stomach. It was not everyday that one was going to the Golden Lotus. Actually, not everyone got a chance to visit that fancy and upscale restaurant. It was nestled within the Royal Capital, one of the most well-known places where dignitaries were often seen dining in. Just being able to glimpse the inside was also a treat in itself, as rumors had said it was quite extravagantly and lavishly designed and decorated.
Just thinking about it made the young woman twist her hands in her lap—out of nerves and excitement. It felt much like the last time when she and Hans were on their way to the Spirit Ball, though this time, it was specifically just for the two. It seemed like every time they were traveling by carriage, it always led to making memories, and with such a nice horse-drawn carriage like this, she had no idea what the evening could hold.
In all honesty, the elf had been quite surprised when the mercenary told her about this. It was a place that few commoners such as themselves would only dream about visiting, much less dining in there like some high ranking noble. She could also imagine what kind of expenses he had, with the reservation and all. Not to mention this carriage ride as well. He had always been so thoughtful about her comfort, even when they could have easily flown over to their destination. But she was intensely grateful for his consideration, and she rather liked the slow pace of it all.
Speaking of which, the carriage slowed down to a halt, and Hans had climbed out first. Gathering her dress, Suna also prepared to get out. Her dress she had chosen to wear tonight was by no means garish or showy, but leaned more towards graceful elegance. It had various layers of silk and chiffon, and of course, in varying shades of blue. A dark blue trim lined the collar, a white wave-like pattern on the top of the bodice, and swirling designs were embroidered on its wide sleeves. An accent tassel hung from her right side, swinging with every slight movement its wearer made.
The top part of the dress hugged onto her lithe frame, while the bottom half flowed freely around her like ripples of water. Of course she always brought Sapphire Heart on her, though it was currently hidden underneath the high neckline. On the last minute, she had also slipped a dainty hairpin in her hair, which she had also put up in a different way compared to her usual half-up braided look. It was not every day she got to dress up like this, and this was the perfect opportunity to change things up a little.
Azure eyes flickered over at the dark-haired man, and she could not help but smile shyly as he extended his hand out to her. Of course she took the proffered hand, and with the other hand, lifted her dress so she would not trip and fall on her face and embarrass herself in public. That would be the last thing she wanted to happen here. She barely heard what he said to the driver or knew when he paid him, as her eyes were wide in wonder at their destination. Even the outside of the building was a sight to behold, and she could only imagine how much it would cost to dine even once in there.
But what a gentleman Hans was, and he certainly looked every inch like a gentleman tonight, in his sharp suit and fancy manners. She did not know how much he had been practicing these moves, but those chivalrous actions felt very natural and sent warm tingles throughout her body. He moved much more easily now, in these types of situations.
Upon entering the establishment, the first thing the sound mage noticed was the music. It was smooth jazz, with just enough upbeats to lift the atmosphere and keep it cheery and light. If it was possible, her eyes sparkled even more brightly. Usually, she would have protested and said that they could eat wherever, but this was the Golden Lotus. Nobody would pass up an opportunity like this.
"Good evening, do you have a reservation?"
It was all very refined, with reservations and all. The dark mage had confirmed the reservation, and they were being guided towards several empty tables. Suna was still in awe of everything. All the colors, the sounds, the atmosphere. It was a good thing that Hans was leading her, otherwise she might have just stood there gawking at it all.
"After you."
"Why, thank you, kind sir." The blue-haired femme responded lightly, then chose a table near the windows, in a more quiet area.
As soon as they were both seated, Suna gave another shy smile at the man sitting opposite her, assuming he took a seat there. "You really outdid yourself, Hans." She murmured. "This is lovely and so fancy...I hope I don't do something dumb and knock anything over." Her smile may be shy, but her eyes laughed good-naturedly.
As if on cue, a waiter came by and set two menus before the duo. He was dressed in a white shirt with a black vest, and a white towel was draped over one of his arms. Very neat and professional. "Welcome to the Golden Lotus. My name is Vincent and I will be serving you two tonight. Could I get you any drinks to start off?"
"Would you happen to have any ice tea?" Old habits died hard. Even in this fancy restaurant, the elf found herself asking for something that was fairly common, but something she knew she was comfortable with. She also noticed that the waiter did not have a notepad or anything to write their order. So it was true that in these more sophisticated establishments, orders were memorized.
"Certainly, ma'am. And you, sir?" He then turned to Hans, awaiting for his drink order, if any.
"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back."
The dark mage did not need ki to tell how nervous Suna was. He could tell from how she was messing with her dress to that look on her face. Hans was nervous as well, perhaps a bit more so because of what he had planned. One small slip up and all that the dark mage was working on would be for naught...but he did not let that discourage him. While still in the carriage, Hans gently placed a hand over top of one of Suna's and smiled softly. He did not say a word and just looked at her for a bit before looking out of the window, rubbing his thumb gently against her knuckles. Hans may not be the type to express most things through words, but he sure makes up for that with his actions alone.
Approaching their destination, Hans was already out of the carriage and made sure to help his blue-haired lady down in the process. He kept up a soft expression that was brimming with confidence...with a hint of mysteriousness. Once Suna was fully out of the carriage, Hans took a good look at her. He had already seen the woman's dress during the carriage ride, but he still couldn't get over how captivating she looks in it. The sound mage was practically radiating with beauty and grace in the eyes of the dark mage in such a fashion to rival even the fairest of noblewomen. She looked the part...and so did Hans, evident by how they weren't attracting any unwanted attention. This was the first time that Hans actually felt like he fit in with these sort of folks...but none of that mattered to him. He was not here to impress any snobby nobles, nor was he here on some job.
This night was about Suna alone...and he intended to keep it that way.
Entering the fancy building, Hans had gotten their reservations sorted out before heading further in with his beloved. As he looked around, Hans peeked over at his lady a few times to try and see her reaction to all of this. She seemed to be very much enjoying herself, and they haven't even gotten to a table yet. That was something Hans always enjoyed about the sound mage, her habit of getting captivated by a lot of things. She looked at things with such wonder that managed to get a chuckle out of the dark mage every now and again. Without even trying, she brought out the best in Hans...and the merc was happy to have her.
Upon Suna's choice, the couple found themselves a nice table by the window, giving a good view of the outside. "Allow me." Before Suna could do it, Hans held out the chair for her, and would gently push it in if she decided to sit. He'd then smile lightly and steal one quick peck to her cheek before going over to take his seat.
"You really outdid yourself, Hans."
"Hm?" Hans rose an eyebrow as the elf continued with her talking. "You'll do fine, Suna, don't worry." the merc claimed before rubbing the back of his neck. "If anyone should be worried, it should be me." he claimed with a hint of sheepishness. His words were mostly done in jest to try and lighten things...but he still had his worries of course. "We're not here to impress anyone..." says the guy who went a little all out to impress his lady..."...We're only here to enjoy ourselves, so just relax." If she had her hand on the table, Hans would reach over and gently place his hand on top of hers again. "It's just you...and me." He then flashed another light smile. He meant everything that he said...but those words were just as much for him as they were for her.
"Welcome to the Golden Lotus. My name is Vincent and I will be serving you two tonight. Could I get you any drinks to start off?"
A waiter had approached the table, causing Hans to look up at him. The first thing the dark mage noticed about the guy was the lack of something to write down their orders with. Did he really intend on memorizing this? The merc may have scoped this place out beforehand...but he was still amazed by some of these things.
Hearing Suna make her order, knocked Hans out of his thoughts, causing him to look over to her for a second before looking back at the waiter. "I will take a glass of water." Not something that would ideally be Hans' first choice...but he'd rather be completely focused for tonight. "Very well. I shall be back with your beverages." Vincent said with a bow before walking off.
Hans watched the waiter walk off for a bit before tilting his head a little. "Don't think I could ever see myself being a waiter." the merc claimed before glancing down at the menu, scanning it for a bit. "Hmm, the food here looks good..." He then peeked up at Suna, and smirked a bit. "But I could think of something tastier..." Bolder words have never been spoken by the mercenary before...and in public of all places. "You look beautiful in that dress, Suna....It suits you." Hans added afterward.
Not taking long at all, Vincent returned with a plate holding both beverages, balancing said plate perfectly with his hand. "Here are your drinks, sir and madame." He took the glass of ice tea and placed it gently on Suna's side before doing the same for Hans. "Have you both decided on what you would like to order?" the waiter asked. "Hmm..." the dark mage took one more look at the menu before something on it caught his attention. "I'll take the...Garlic Butter Grilled Steak and Shrimp, Vincent." Hans said, causing Vincent to nod. "An excellent choice, and you also don't need to be so formal...You can call me Vinny if you like." he'd add before turning his attention to Suna. "And for you, miss?"
It was then Hans realized he made a bit of a blunder...He forgot to request Suna's order himself, like a proper gentleman!!
"Oh. She'll have the..." The merc brought his finger up...but slowly started to lower it...as he had no clue what Suna wanted in the first place.
Hans must have picked up on her nerves, as she felt his hand cover one of hers. He was always so observant. It was warm and subtle, but did help ease some of her anxiety. Suna flipped her hand around so that it would be palms up. She curled her fingers up around his, squeezing it a little. Such a small action, but spoke volumes without a word uttered. She held onto the comforting touch until their carriage ride came to an end.
They were ushered into the restaurant, and ever the gentleman, her man pulled the chair out for her. Then he sneaked a peck on her cheek—chaste yet still sweet. "Sneaky..." She murmured underneath her breath, but he was already pulling out his own seat across from her, so he probably did not hear that last bit. It was only now that they were seated that she got to her real first good look at her man's full attired glory tonight. He certainly cut a fine figure, with his sharp suit and tie. He really went all the way with the tie, vest, and jacket.
"We're not here to impress anyone. We're only here to enjoy ourselves, so just relax."
Not here to impress anyone? Well, she was already duly impressed. "Yes, sir." He seemed fairly at ease, so that bled through and she started to relax as well. Just like in the carriage, he reached over and laid his hand over hers on the table. It was so sweet, and she acutely felt the back of her hand tingling. "Just you and me." She echoed with a bashful flush. It was just the two of them tonight, enjoying time together over a nice and fancy dinner. How blessed she was to have him in her life.
Her eyes went back to appraising the dark mage. Honestly, he could have just shown up in a shirt and black trousers and she would have applauded him for going out of his way to dress up nice. Not that she did not enjoy his usual rugged look, but this made her view him in a different light...something almost akin to awe. Of course, she saw something similar at the ball, but this somehow looked different. His aura was slightly different as well, though she could not quite lay a finger as to what it was. He seemed to exclude more confidence, but also with something else that she could not quite place. Was it just her, or was he growing more dashing and handsome every day?
Suna was sorely tempted to duck her head away in embarrassment. Surely he had caught her staring—or more like admiring, really. It was like the first few times they had stumbled across each other's paths, all shy and flustered. Yet Fate had deemed them to continually cross paths, until finally realized that they were more than just acquaintances and friends. What a long and eventful journey they had gone through together.
Then the waiter came and got their drink orders. Knowing the mercenary's affinity with hard liquor, she was slightly surprised to hear him ask for water. Guess he was staying away from Mistress Alcohol tonight. As the waiter left, Hans made a comment about not seeing himself as a waiter. "Why not? I think you have the looks and manners for it." She raised an eyebrow. "We just have to find out what else those arms could do." She said a little bit mischievously, only a reference the mercenary would understand.
But now he was going through the menu, and she took a look at hers as well. He then made a comment that took her aback. "What else is tastier?" She frowned slightly, eyes still glued to the menu before her. Obviously, she did not pick up on the hint...not until she looked back up and caught the slight smirk. Immediately, her confused expression cleared and she flushed in a deep shade of crimson.
"H-Hans!" She sputtered, and instinctively looked around them. It was a good thing the only occupied table in their area was a few tables away, and the elderly couple was unlikely to have picked up on that last saucy bit. "Hans..." She tried to make it sound disapproving, like she was chastising him, but it came out a little weak. The femme knew what he meant by that now, and she was both thrilled and astounded at that sudden burst of boldness. But he was not done yet.
"You look beautiful in that dress, Suna....It suits you."
A tease, now a compliment. Where was he getting all this from? "You look really handsome in that suit, too." Like she had not just spent a good while studying him earlier like some lovestruck schoolgirl. "It's different from what you usually wear, but I really like it. You look better than any of the nobles here." In her eyes, he stood above any of the other men in the room.
It was around this time that the Vincent waiter came back with their drinks and proceeded to ask what they would like to order. As Hans looked over the menu, the elf followed suit. A few dish names caught her eye, and for a split second, she agonized over the choices. She heard Hans order the steak and shrimp, then it was her turn.
"Oh. She'll have the..."
"...Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon Steak, please," she continued on smoothly, then turned to the dark mage. "Sorry, dear, I keep changing my mind." She shrugged lightly in apology, as if it was strictly her fault for being indecisive. Which was completely the truth for a split second back then.
"An excellent choice as well. Our house specialty does not disappoint." Vincent nodded. "Anything else?" To this, Suna would shake her head and look at Hans, giving him an opening if he wanted to add something. If he did, the waiter would nod again and start taking their menus. "Both orders come with a side salad and our soup for the day. They will be out shortly, and I will be nearby if you require anything." With a slight bow from the waist, Vincent left with their orders.
"I'm excited! I can't wait to try their salmon." The elf unfolded the napkin before her and laid it neatly on her lap. "Your steak and shrimp sounds really good as well! Did your mother make that for you before?" Suna was just about to prop both elbows up on the table...until she remembered that she was not at her wooden table at home and should probably act more refined and proper. So instead, she propped only one elbow and rested the side of her face against her palm. The mercenary was not the only one learning and adjusting as the night went on.
"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back."
"Why not? I think you have the looks and manners for it."
"Hmm.." Could Hans really pass off as a waiter? He thought about it for a second...but ended up dismissing it. The dark mage is a warrior, a mercenary...He was no waiter material, especially for some fancy restaurant. But even so, Suna's words caused Hans to crack a small smile. Perhaps the man could be a waiter...Suna's personal waiter that is.
"We just have to find out what else those arms could do."
"Oh?" Hans was quick to pick up on the elf's words...knowing exactly what she was on about. "Well, these arms are pretty versatile..." he claimed before jokingly flexing one of his arms like some dork. "But I suppose you're already...aware of this." he added, his face beaming with confidence. Those arms are quite versatile alright...and the man isn't just talking with swords....
Seems that Suna was in a bit of a teasing mood...and that only furthered Hans' attempts. He read the menu and made an interesting comment that the elf didn't seem to pick up on at first. But Hans knew she'd get it eventually and just sat there and smirked playfully at the sound mage, waiting for her to look up. The moment Suna looked up and had that flushed expression on her adorable face, Hans' smirk widened, his eyes still on the poor blue-haired elf.
"H-Hans!"
"Hm?" Hans continued to smile a little at Suna as she looked around. Unlike her, Hans didn't seem the least bit concerned about them being in public...but the merc would've held some restraint if they were surrounded by more folks. He may have gotten a little better at being playful...but there are still times when he gets caught off guard. But now the merc's tone shifted, going from spicy...to sweet with his next words. He meant every word of his comment regarding the woman's dress. Hans thinks that Suna always looks wonderful in whatever she's wearing, seemingly able to find something for the right occasion. Hans wasn't much for dressing to impress, but after meeting Suna, he has been subtly learning from her about dress codes, finding just the right thing to wear.
Seems like Hans' efforts were paying off too judging by Suna's comments. "You're saying that I could pass off as royalty then?" Hans' jested before shaking his head a bit. "Thank you, Suna." His playful smirk formed into a little smile, a genuine one.
Vincent had returned with the couple's beverages, and merc gave him a nod. "Thanks." Hans said as he got his water. Vincent was now asking for their orders, and Hans gave his. Things were going smooth so far...but then Hans made one small error in his attempt at being a true gentleman. He did not order for his lady...
Hans attempted to do this, but he had no idea what Suna wanted. He could've just asked, but it simply didn't occur to the man at first as he got a little nervous about this. The dark mage was at a loss for words.
Until...
"...Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon Steak, please,"
The merc looked over at Suna just as she looked back at him.
"Sorry, dear, I keep changing my mind."
"U-uh..." Before Hans could say anything, Vincent spoke up once more, informing the two of the sides and such before walking off. This all left Hans a little puzzled, causing him to blink a few times as Suna spoke about the salmon. "I-...Hm...Th-thanks..." Hans added a bit sheepishly as he looked away, scratching the side of his cheek with a finger. This probably wasn't a big deal to most, but Hans practiced hard on stuff like this during the week leading up to this dinner. He did not want to make any mistakes, especially with what he has planned...but of course the merc was no perfect gentleman. He felt a little discouraged...but he wasn't going to let one little mistake ruin tonight....
"Not exactly." Hans answered. "My mother has made steak before, but not anything really fancy....It was still mouthwatering to look at." Hans claimed, reminiscing a bit about the food his mom use to make as he lifted his glass of water up and sipped it. "I've never had shrimp before." Hans tried to recall if he ever did eat shrimp in the past, but nothing was coming up. It was probably just something that never came up. "I don't believe I've ever heard of salmon steak before." Hans said as he tried to wrap his mind around this. Was it made from a cow...or a fish? Suppose the merc will get his answer on that soon enough. "Have you ever had it before?" the merc asked, wanting to keep this little conversation going.
Soon, another waiter would arrive with the sides. "Here you go." the waiter said before placing the two side salads and soups onto the table. "The main dishes will be here shortly." With a bow, the waiter was off. Hans' attention was mostly on his soup instead of the salad, however. He had never seen soup like this before, silently wondering what it was. He glanced up at Suna for a second before looking straight back down at the soup. He picked up the spoon for it, and slowly dipped it into the bowl before raising it back up. A bit of steam was coming from that spoonful and Hans blew gently on it before putting it in his mouth. One could tell from his expression that Hans...wasn't a fan of how this soup tasted. His face scrunched up a bit, but he quickly fixed his expression as he took the spoon out of his mouth. "This soup is...something." Hans added before taking another spoonful into his mouth...with a hint of reluctance. The merc wasn't a fan of wasting food, and he's able to at least stomach this soup....but will probably never understand why a lot of these nobles like it.
Hopefully, the main course will make up for this...
Suna could only shake her head as she watched the mercenary flex his arms. Men and their need to impress. She was already more than impressed by him, so that had been unnecessary. Unnecessary, but adorable all the same. Of course, those arms were more than versatile in the physical activity area, as she knew very well. Hans seemed so much more confident tonight as well: his body posture, his tone, his manners. Even his teasing comment, which she definitely did not expect, nor did she get it right away. Playful and mischievous, even a little suave. When did this change happen?
"Hm?"
He also did not seem the least concerned for the fact that they were in public. "Someone's saucy tonight..." The female elf bit down on her lower lip, trying to look disapproving—which she could have pulled off, if only her bashful flush did not give her away. Very effective indeed. And he had the decency to smirk at her, for heaven's sake. But not for long.
"You're saying that I could pass off as royalty then?"
"Of course." She responded, as if it was the most natural thing. Then she looked up at him beneath lowered lashes. "You're my prince, after all..." It was not the clothes that made the man...though they helped.
Now the waiter was back and asking for their orders. Suna had barely picked up on Hans' discomfort, though she noticed it more after their server left. The poor guy looked so uncomfortable over such a trivial thing. Trivial to her, at least. Even if he had tried to say something else, she would have brushed it off as a mere oversight. At the moment, she could only see the world through rose-colored lenses.
As the mercenary talked about his fond childhood memories about his mother's legendary cooking, Suna propped an elbow up on the table and leaned her cheek against her hand. She nodded at turns, listening intently. "Still sounds good. Food doesn't have to be fancy to be delicious." A paradox, considering where they were currently at, but he could have brought her to any random street food stall and she would have still enjoyed it thoroughly.
"You've never had shrimp before?" Suna pursed her lips at this new piece of information. "Think fish meat." Kind of...but not quite. "Well, I don't know how good it is here, but I'm sure it's exceptional quality." There was no doubt that their palates would be in for a treat tonight. "Salmon steak? I'm pretty sure it's just salmon...but it sounds fancy so I wanted to pick that." It was actually the direction of the cut of the fish, but she was not aware of that fact. "I've had salmon before, but not salmon steak. I guess we'll see what it looks like!"
It was around this time that another waiter appeared, this time with their sides. Like her dining partner, Suna's attention was quickly captured by the soup that was served. She raised a curious eyebrow, catching the dubious look from Hans. At that, she only smiled and shrugged. It looked pretty, at least. Gracefully, she spooned some into her mouth and looked on thoughtfully. "Mmm, it is quite interesting." It was thin like a broth, but still savory and pungent. There was not much in terms of content, but the tomatoes and lentils and hints of basil added to the overall flavor.
"Not bad..." She went back for more, before sneaking a glance up at Hans. She had missed his momentary face scrunch, but judging by how slow he was taking it, it was probably not going on his list of most favorite soups. The salad, at least, looked "normal" enough. Maybe it was just being in this atmosphere, but everything felt so high class—even if the salad was just the common green leaves with some toppings and dressing. She could not even begin to imagine how much the single meal would cost. Perhaps she could try covering some of it discreetly when Hans was not watching...
"What made you pick this place?" She asked curiously in between spoonfuls. "I know you said to dress up nice, but to think it was here..." There was no way she would have guessed it would be the Golden Lotus, but it was very special. A very special place for a very special event, though she did not know what it was yet. She had figured that it must be some sort of celebration...has it been two years already since the first time they met? It felt both like yesterday and a memory. She could remember that day in Sivert Lake, yet at the same time, could not imagine life without him now. It definitely took a while for her to understand her own feelings, but when she did, she had not regretted it since.
Suna was not even halfway through her salad before Vincent appeared again, and in each hand were two plates covered with a domed lid. "Such fast service," she remarked quietly, then moved her salad and empty soup bowl to the side so he could place hers in front of her. She looked up at Hans, blue eyes shining with excitement. They would not be disappointed. With a flourish, the waiter took off both covers. Immediately, the delicious scent hit her nose, almost as fast as her eyes greedily took up the beautifully glazed salmon lying upon a bed of rice and veggies. Definitely a feast for the senses, and she had not even picked up her fork yet. She glanced over at Hans and his plate, eager to see what his choice looked like.
"Is there anything else the gentleman or lady needs?"
Suna shook her head briefly. "Not at the moment, thank you." Vincent paused to await the mercenary's answer before nodding and leaving, again with a slight bow. "Do you want to try some, Hans?" She offered. "I don't think I'll be able to finish it all by myself..."
"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back."
Hans may have been acting...a little too confident. Part of it was from his research on how to be a better gentleman for this occasion...but it was also because of how nervous he was deep down. The merc was no stranger to keeping a strong front, something he had to pull off at a young age to make himself a better mercenary. Even in the most heated of battles, the dark mage finds a way to show no weakness...but with Suna, it tends to be challenging...especially for this night, and with what he has planned.
"Of course. You're my prince, after all..."
That alone was enough to make Hans' 'manly confidence' falter for a bit. He looked quietly into the sound mage's eyes, his expression showing that he wasn't expecting such a comment. The two have been together for so long now, yet Hans still finds himself getting caught off guard. Suna really was something else. The merc formed a soft smile before nodding lightly. "And you are my princess." Hans said with absolute sincerity. But if all goes right tonight...the 'princess' will become his 'queen'....
With the small crisis involving the orders taken care of, Hans was able to relax once more. To most people, this probably wouldn't be a big deal, even Hans would normally not think twice about this, but the dark mage really wants things to go right, feeling that there should be little to no room for error on his part. This fancy restaurant, the upper-class atmosphere...proposing, it was all new territory for him...a new challenge. Unfortunately, he cannot cut his way through this obstacle like it were some mana beast or daemon. The woman in front of Hans was a far more intimidating opponent compared to the others...This was a 'battle' Hans needed to win. Of course, what Hans needed to do next...is stop seeing this as a battle, and as an actual date!
The dark mage shook his head at Suna's question regarding shrimp. The was the sound mage pursed her lips, made Hans raise an eyebrow a little. He wondered if it was really that strange that he hadn't had shrimp before. Seems like a fairly common thing to eat, but the merc had never once touched it. It isn't exactly like he hated how they look or thought they were disgusting-looking....It was just a thing he has never had. But it looks like he was going to get his first taste of it very soon. "I see..." Suna claims that it's fish-like, causing Hans to stroke his chin a little as he pondered. He had different kinds of fish before, so this information was enough to make him a little more curious about his dish.
In turn, Hans asked Suna about her dish. Like with most of the things on that menu, he had never heard of salmon steak before and was starting to wonder if it was some sort of combination. If so...how could such a thing exist? Suna's reply made more sense though....but if it was just salmon, then why the steak part? The dark mage might just be reading a little too much into this. In the end of the day, it was all just food, no questions asked.
Hans was honestly not expecting Suna to like the soup, looking a bit surprised at how she ate it. To him, it didn't seem all that good evident by the scrunched look on his face. "Yeah it's uh...soup alright..." Still, he wasn't the type to waste food...unless it was completely inedible so he continued to eat it, not being as fast as Suna. This felt like something only royalty could truly appreciate, further proving how much of a natural Suna was in this sort of environment, at least in Hans' eyes.
"What made you pick this place?"
Hans was just about to put another spoonful in his mouth, but stopped and glanced up at Suna as she asked this. He slowly lowered his spoon back into the bowl, waiting for his significant other to finish talking before speaking up. "Well..." He then looked out of the window, taking in the wonderful view outside. "I just wanted to take you somewhere...actually special." he claimed before his eyes shifted up at the dark sky riddled with stars. "This place is beautiful...Fitting for someone like you." He finally brought his attention back to Suna, finding it hard to contain that soft smile of his. Although this wasn't the complete reason why he chose here, this was still all true. As far as previous dates went, Hans never took Suna anywhere truly fancy unless they wanted to count the Spirit Ball...But this felt a little more special in comparison.
With the soup finally...and thankfully done in Hans' case, the merc pushed his bowl gently to the side as Vincent returned with the main course. "You are too kind." the waiter said to Suna with a smile on his face. Vincent placed the dishes onto the table and opened them up. The very first thing Hans took from his dish was the smell. Hans' nostrils were invaded by that garlic scent mixed in with the steak and salmon. This scent was foreign to Hans but very welcomed. Next was how it looked, enough to make even the most sophisticated of people's mouths water. The steak which was well-done and shrimp was decorated with little greenery which the merc assumed were spices along with some vegetables on the side. At this point, the dark mage's hand was already hovering over his fork without him even noticing.
"H-Hm?" It wasn't until Hans heard the waiter that he snapped out of his little trance. "Ah, I'm fine as well. Thanks." With that, Vincent was off...but not without giving the merc a knowing nod...for something that was going to come into play later.
Hans was about ready to dig into his until the sound mage offered some of hers. "Ah." He had to admit, Suna's dish looked just as enticing...which gave him a little bit of an idea.
"If only..." He then picked up one of the shrimp with his fork and brought it up a bit towards Suna. "...you try some of mine as well?" What better way to start this great meal off than to have the couple try each other's food first?
Behind that playful smile of Hans' hid his racing heart, beating harder and harder. The time was drawing near, and Hans needed to prepare himself....Once dessert comes, it'll be time for Hans to set his plan into motion...
"Well...I just wanted to take you somewhere...actually special. This place is beautiful...fitting for someone like you."
"Thank you for bringing me here," The young woman smiled warmly at her partner across the table, completely oblivious to what might have been going on in his mind. "And you're the one who makes this place special." For all she knew, it was just an extremely sweet gesture that her beloved was doing, taking her to this fancy place. If she had come here by herself, it definitely would not have felt quite so significant nor meaningful. Little did she know that they were not just here for the food.
Suna smoothed the napkin over her nap as the waiter came and left with their orders. The salmon was steaming in all its reddish-pink glory, beautifully glazed with the honey and garlic sauce. It looked delicious, and her stomach gave a funny little gurgle. If she was not hungry before, she was now. Then she had offered some to the mercenary, which he accepted...on the condition that she also tried some of his.
"Deal." She leaned forward to take the proffered shrimp. Her eyes widened and she started nodding vigorously. "Mmm..." She chewed it thoroughly and swallowed it before continuing to say, "It's really good and flavorful, I think you'd like it!" But now it was her turn. She got some salmon on her fork and held it out to the mercenary. "Is it too sweet?" She asked, watching his expression carefully.
Assuming that he answered, she would then try some for herself. "Mmmm..." Her eyes half-closed as she enjoyed the sweet and delicate flavors that flooded her taste buds. It was just as good as she thought it would taste, and even the iced tea paired nicely with the main course. They would make small talk, or perhaps the pair would be totally engrossed in their meal. Either way, the soft jazz continued to play in the background, lulling its listeners into pleasant company. If there was one thing she can appreciate even more than the salmon she just had, it would be dessert. With her being a sweet tooth, of course she would look forward to ending the meal on a sweet note.
As if by magic, the waiter appeared again, this time with smaller menus showcasing all their dessert choices. The elf pursed her lips, eyes darting up and down the selections. "Which one do you want to get?" There were too many choices, it was going to be a tough decision. Figuring what to get for dessert was more difficult than engaging in a sword fight. For the latter, it was either defend or attack. Easy. But choosing between chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream or a strawberry and blueberry crepe or creme brulee? There was no right answer.
"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back."
"Thank you for bringing me here, And you're the one who makes this place special."
Hans smiled softly and nodded at his beloved. She always did have a way with words, enough to pull at the dark mage's heartstrings like it were her harp. The merc always felt so relax, and at ease with the sound mage around. It wasn't like their early days where Hans felt almost always nervous and stiff around the elf...but with what he has planned drawing closer...he couldn't help but feel that nervousness rising up behind his "charming" demeanor.
But of course, he did not need to worry about that just yet. Just like Suna, Hans' stomach whimpering for food too, and the merc couldn't pop the question on an empty stomach.
The dark mage brought his fork towards Suna's mouth and fed her some of his shrimp. As Suna described how the food tastes, Hans placed a hand under his chin in a bit of a mocking fashion. "Hmm, glad to know it isn't poisoned then." he jested, giving his beloved a wink before taking a bite from the sound mage's food. Hans chewed the salmon, his expression a bit hard to read as he tries to figure out the taste of this salmon. As Suna asked her question, Hans' expression shifted to a more satisfying look. "I think it's sweet enough for your tastes." The dark mage claimed before taking a sip of his water. "The salmon here tastes...different compared to the salmon I've eaten. Unfortunately, I'm no food expert like my mother, or you...so I can't give you a better description." he added before chuckling lightly.
The couple was now enjoying their own dishes while getting lost in conversation, and the pleasant music. Hans wasn't as knowledgeable or passionate about music as his better half, but he really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere this jazz music was bringing. It was easy to get caught up in it, causing the merc to go quiet and just listen when not talking with Suna. The silence was not awkward, at least not on Hans' part. It felt natural and pleasing. This also helped relax Hans' mind a bit which is something he truly needs.
Soon, their plates were empty, but that wouldn't last for long. Right on cue, the waiter returned with a small menu of desserts. Hans didn't have much of a sweet tooth, preferring the bitterness of booze and such, but he didn't outright hate sweets.
Even before Suna asked, Hans could tell from her face alone that she was having trouble choosing, amusing the man a little. "That hmm...chocolate...lava cake...with ice cream sounds good." Hans said as he looked down at the menu, making sure he actually read that right. It was clear that he knows even less about sweets compared to other food.
With that, the waiter nodded and took the menus back. "These will not take long." the waiter claimed before walking off. Now it was time to eat some sweets together...or is it?
"Oh, excuse me, Suna." Hans said before standing up. "I think I drank a little too much water." he claimed with a bit of a nervous chuckle. He then walked over to Suna to lean over and kiss her on the cheek. "I won't be long." he added before heading to the restroom...assumingly.
A bit of time would pass since Hans left, probably a little too much for someone who claims that they are just going to the restroom. It was even taking the waiter a bit longer to bring the desserts, evident by other waiters bringing desserts to the other tables. Finally, the waiter would arrive with two dishes of that dessert Hans ordered. "My apologise for the delay." the waiter would say....assuming that Suna was even still there.
As the waiter placed both dishes on each side of the table, the music filling the restaurant would slowly start to die down until it became completely quiet, save for the confused hushed whispers of some of the other folks. Then, different music(Third song) would begin to play. A much more romantic tune was now filling the air. This music however appeared to be getting louder...or rather closer towards the area Suna was at. Heads started to turn as a small group of musicians playing violins, and saxophones slowly walked over to the table while playing. The musicians stopped walking when they were close enough and continued to play as the waiter msiled, moving out of the way.
Slowly walking past the musicians...was Hans with a knowing smirk on his face. He also has something hidden in his hand, but made sure not to reveal it. He just looked down at his beloved quietly as the music continued to play for a little more until they finished. With that, everything went quiet once more. At this point, the dark mage's heart was practically beating out of his chest despite the comforting look he was trying to maintain. The moment has come....and there was no turning back on it now.
"Suna...." The merc sighed lightly, trying to gather himself. "Suna, I know I promised you no more secrets...but I did not bring you here just for the food." he claimed, chuckling a little. "I hope you enjoyed the song. I cannot help but think of you when hearing it." Hans added, taking a deep breath. "You have been a very important part of my life, Suna, and I cannot imagine a world where you are not by my side....You are my light, my love...my everything." He would then step closer. "Which is why I want to ask you this..." He'd then slowly get down on one knee..."Suna Hoshi....will you do me the honor of being my Mrs. Suna Walker?" He'd then reveal what he was hiding in his hand, a small black box which he would then open to reveal....a ring.
Suna wrinkled her nose in mock annoyance at that comment. "You're welcome." Then she stuck her tongue out in response to his wink. It was just some light bantering back and forth, something she never knew she would enjoy until she met Hans. He was probably not the type for this sort of conversation either, so he must be making a major exception for her. He may look all serious and tough on the outside, but he really was such a sweetheart once she got to know him more.
Now he was trying out her salmon, and he seemed to find it satisfactory. She took a bite and nodded her confirmation. It was indeed sweet from the honey, but not overpoweringly so. It had just the right balance of savory and sweet, pungent and delicacy. No wonder this place was often frequented by the upperclassmen. She only hoped it did not cost a small fortune just for this one meal and dessert.
Speaking of which... "You're right, the chocolate lava cake does sound tempting." Thank goodness he made the decision for her, otherwise they would probably be sitting there for another ten minutes while she went back and forth on those options.
As she handed the menus back to the waiter, the mercenary also got up from his seat. "Hmm?" Suna looked up curiously. "Oh, go ahead." The kiss on her cheek was chaste but warm, and she smiled fondly as she watched the mercenary go towards the restroom. Or what she assumed he did. Either way, she slowly sipped on her iced tea and used this time to look around at the restaurant.
Golden drapes hung in elegant waves around the parameters, and the walls and carpets were of a similar hue. Lush velvet chairs and couches added to the lavish interior, and even the tableware were fancy accents to the overall atmosphere. The chandeliers gave off their lively yet non-intrusive light, bathing the area with its classy style. Subtly, she also studied the other diners. Most of them were definitely nobles, judging by their dress and behavior. Some looked right at home here with their clinking glasses and slightly louder conversations, whereas others had a dazed and awed look on their faces. Was that what she looked like?
Her quiet musings were interrupted by the waiter coming back with the two plates of dessert. Already? That was fast, even though the waiter claimed otherwise. Or perhaps she was just distracted. "Thank you." She said to the waiter, looking at the chocolate cake and ice cream in delight. It certainly looked delicious, all gooey and both hot and cold. Where was Hans, though? Hopefully he was doing all right—he did not have a seafood allergy, did he?
But now the background music gradually lessened, until it was almost dead silence. Where did the music go? Did something happen? She looked around in bewilderment, like the other diners. Then another tune started, something more soothing and different. And it was getting louder? Suna looked up to see the group of musicians playing on violins and saxophones. Then the dark mage stepping out from the group, a smirk on his face. What was going on?
"Suna, I know I promised you no more secrets...but I did not bring you here just for the food."
Eyebrows knitted in confusion. "W-What do you mean?" Her eyes darted nervously around them. If they had not already attracted the stares of the other people in the room, they definitely did now. But then Hans continued speaking, and with each word, her attention focused on only him. His light, his love, his everything...
Then it hit her.
The reason why he was doing this.
Blue eyes widened until they were as round as the moon outside. Her heart was racing, but time seemed to stand still. Everything else has fallen away—the waiters, the musicians, the other diners—she only saw the dark mage. Her beloved was down on one knee, his expression a mixture of so many things while he held out a small box with a ring inside. Her breath caught.
"Which is why I want to ask you this..."
Her hands reached up, clutching at her chest. She could feel her heart beating so hard, it was a wonder she was not having a heart attack right now. "H-Hans?" She squeaked, hardly believing her eyes and ears. Was she dreaming? Was this even real?
"Suna Hoshi....will you do me the honor of being my Mrs. Suna Walker?"
This...this was real.
To think that...nay, it was not the time to think. It was a time to feel. Her sapphire eyes were shiny with wonder and love and everything in between.
"Will you marry me?"
"Yes..." She whispered, then threw her arms around the dark mage's neck. "A million times yes!" She buried her head against the crook of his neck and murmured into his ear. "I love you, Hans Walker..."
"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back."
The time has finally come. Two months of preparation, the planning...the awkward practices in front of a mirror. It has all accumulated to this very moment. A lot of the Yul the dark mage was saving up went into not only this restaurant, but to the musicians he hired as well as the ring he presented to his beloved. The ring itself was beautiful, and flawless...just like the elf in front of him. Not only that, but it had magical properties to it, a feint mana source coming from the blue jewel. Despite how much of a nervous wreck he felt deep down about all of this, Hans' confident demeanor wasn't shaken. He was able to get the words out, and pop the question. Now, he...and some nosey onlookers awaited the elf's answer.
"Yes..."
Fortunately, he did not have to wait long as Suna practically pounced on him, wrapping her loving arms around the guy's neck!
"A million times yes!"
Hans looked a little surprised at first. Part of him thought that she was going to refuse, or that he would royally screw up in some way! The dark mage's heart continued to beat fast, but it wasn't from being nervous....but through the joy, and relief he was feeling right now. "I love you too, Suna Hoshi." Hans whispered in return as his arms finally went around the woman, lifting both himself up, and his lady off of her feet! Clapping could be heard coming from all around the couple now. Hans took a look around, seeing the various customers, waiters, and even the musicians applauding as well as cheering! Hans normally didn't like the attention, but it didn't matter to him now. The only thing he saw right now....was her.
With his dark eyes back on Suna, Hans leaned his head down and attempted to lock his lips with the sound mage's. Words were not enough to express how Hans felt right now. All he could do was hold his beloved close and let his actions do the talking. The others could continue to watch all they want, this wasn't going to stop Hans from expressing his love. Hans gently caressed Suna's cheek with one of his hands as he deepened the kiss a bit before slowly breaking his lips away. He then gently kissed the top of one of her hands before resting his forehead against her own with a soft smile growing on his face. Hans felt like he could stay like this forever...but this was still probably not the best place.
Finally taking his eyes off of Suna, Hans looked down at the dessert, having nearly forgotten about it. "We'll...take those to go." Hans said to one of the waiters who then nodded happily.
With the dessert now in a bag, Hans looked over at his...fiancee and stole one more kiss. "Ready?" he asked before attempting to hold onto the sound mage's hand with his free one.
Despite having planned all of this, Hans was still completely surprised by how it all turned out....and he has never been happier.
That was all she heard before she was literally swept off her feet, held securely in the arms of her beloved. If the world was burning outside, Suna would not have noticed...nor cared. If the mercenary had been nervous about all this, he had done a good job hiding it. It was a miracle that the ring he had did not go flying out. So caught up in the excitement, she did not notice the faint mana coming from the ring—but she eventually would.
Then she felt his lips on hers, and she melted against his sturdy frame. His hands caressed her cheek, and her arms instinctively wrapped themselves around him. His mouth and touches were warm and gentle, just like him. She felt like her heart was about to burst right out of her chest. The dark mage saw beyond her shy and clumsy self, and brought out things in her that she never realized she had. He always made her feel like royalty, and there was no one she trusted more than him, whether in battle or anywhere else.
It was not until he pulled back from the kiss that she finally heard the clapping and cheering in the background. Immediately, the elf blushed rosily. Right, they had an audience. She ducked her head in embarrassment at their public display of affection. But at the loving look from her man—her fiancé—the momentary feeling of awkwardness faded away. He was kissing her hand softly and now they were forehead to forehead. Her blue eyes sparkled as she gazed at him adoringly. Who cared about the other people? The only thing that mattered was her man in front of her. Her love.
She could stay like this forever, but this was probably not the best place nor time for it. They were still in the Golden Lotus, after all. Hans then said something about the dessert, and she let him handle it. That cheeky mage also stole another kiss from her before asking if she was ready to go. Suna nodded and slipped her hand into his. She did not trust herself to speak at the moment, as words were currently failing her. Honestly, he could take her anywhere and she would be happy. As long as she could be with him, nothing else mattered.
She could not wait to spend the rest of her life with him...and this was only the beginning.
