Night Talk

Alexis spent a couple of hours in the first hangar where his fighter was stationed. Mechanics were still up, tuning the machines, so he made sure everything was fine and checked the detection and magic amplifying systems afterwards. When he left it was around eleven. There was light in the second hangar.

«I wonder, who is still up there»,  he opened the door and looked inside.

"You put flowers in the cockpit again?!", it was Inna, scolding Lily for something at the corner of the building.

"Yep. Madonna lilies are a gift from an admirer and red roses… I just saw them on the market while going to the town. Aren’t they pretty?"

"Commander will scold you for this. Cockpit is not the place for bouquets!"

"Why so? It is my fighter, who cares?"

"I care! Anyway, the left magic amplifier is in a bad shape. I got my hands on proper spare parts at last, so I can fix it. It was damaged since you shot that guy…"

"Hans Waffe. Apparently, he was pretty famous, what a surprise! Only found out a few weeks later from the observers report. What he was doing so far away on the North-Eastern front?"

"Training, maybe. Alemania sends some of its aces to Western Republic to scare the local partisans from time to time".

"Sounds dumb to me, but whatever… ", she spotted Alexis near the hangar entrance, "wing leader, what brought you here?"

"I was checking my fighter. And where is comrade Slacker?"

"Kat went to sleep already. A pity, I wanted to chat for a bit, but she said she is to tired… Oh, Inna, you are going to the city tomorrow, fetch me some hydrogen peroxide from the hospital, I am running out of stock".

"Again? You should stop wasting medical supplies to bleach your hair, Lily?"

"Why so? A woman’s look is her weapon. You should hone it. And blond hair fits me more".

"Sorry to interrupt you, but it is getting late and we have a morning briefing and practice training tomorrow. You should go to bed".

"Don’t be so strict, comrade Gruel. Let the girls talk a bit more".

"Lily, you really should go to bed already. I know you try to look energetic, but the last two weeks were pretty harsh, and lack of sleep is bad for your performance. I will take care of the machine myself", Inna pushed starshina Leitis to the entrance.

"Ok, ok, but let me at least ask something from comrade wing-leader".

"Yes, what is it?"

"Each battle mage normally has a signature skill to use. What is yours, master lieutenant?"

"It is not that impressive and not useful in the actual combat…"

"But still, can you show me?", Lily was pretty persistent with her request.

"Ok, but only once. It requires concentration or the result may be quite… unpredictable", Alexis took a portable magic gun from the holster, closed his eyes and concentrated. Nothing happened for 30 seconds… 40… but then he abruptly disappeared from the sight.

"What? There are you, comrade?", Lily looked around in surprise only to see the officer a few steps behind her back.

"I am here. See, not that impressive. This teleportation spell is only good for emergencies and unless you calculate it properly, you can just end in the random location long away from your initial position".

"Still, can be useful. Should I show you mine?"

"No need, I already know it. You can do accelerated casting for a short time. This one is actually impressive as it boosts the speed and casting rate of your craft. But pretty risky as I heard".

"Yep, but I survived my fights so far. It means the lady luck favours me".

"Still, don’t be arrogant during the fight, comrade Leitis".

"Do not worry, I know my craft well enough. Anyway, it is pretty dark outside. Will you be so kind to walk this girl home?"

"Didn’t the girl in question say I am not her type?"

"Yes, but where are your manners? What if there are wolfs outside. Or a bear".

"I am sure you can kill a bear with one shot. But, as a gentleman, of course I will walk you home, milady".

Alexis offered Lily a hand, which she took, wearing her mischievous smile yet again, and they walked outside the hangar.

Newcomers received a separate cabin in the north-western part of the village as their quarters. It was pretty close to the hangar so the walk was not long.

"So, are you from here, comrade Gruel?", seems like Lily was bored and decided to keep the conversation.

"Alexis is fine, we are not on duty at the moment. No, I am from CSRC, same as commander Wheeler. Nothing to write about: I was born in a large peasant family, when repressions started in the 30-s, we moved to Free cities in the eastern SSRC just to be safe. Then in 1939 I joined the military as it was a good career for someone without much education under his belt. And when the war broke here, I ended up on front. And you?"

"Same here, though, my father actually got persecuted as the «enemy of the people». I never got why, he was just a normal railroad worker. Me and my mother fled here after, in 1937. And, as I always aimed for the sky, I joined the aviation school. First as a student, then as instructor and now I am here".

"Pretty harsh, I would say. You don’t seem to be bothered with it".

"People adapt to anything. And I am doing what I love now after all".

"Yeah, you can't argue with that… So you like flowers? Which are you favourite. Madonna lilies? As your namesake?"

" Nope, it is actually roses. I like to keep them nearby. To bad if I am flying with someone, they often throw the flowers away".

"Not everyone likes sweet smell in the cockpit…"

"Strange people. I find it nice".

"Oh, seems like we arrived to your cabin".

"Yes, good night Alexis, see you on a morning briefing", Lily opened the door and stepped inside, but turned back in the doorway, "but still, do not try to hit on me", and she hastily closed the door.

«What can you do with her?», Alexis shrugged and started walking to his cabin on the other side of the village.