A Party

Next day Alexis was waiting near women’s cabin for Lily to show up. Once she finally showed at the doors, he approached her:

"Oh, Lily? Going for a walk now? This is for you", he gave her a nice bouquet of white roses, "Unfortunately, the local town marked did not have any red ones".

"How nice of you, Alexis. But why all of sudden?"

"We have a party this evening. Maybe you are fine with us going together?.."

"I already said that you are not my type. Sorry, but I would rather go with someone like comrade Martinson. If you excuse me, I want to do some flying practice".

"Like not a chance? I am sure, Alex already has a partner for the evening, so maybe you at least think about it?"

"Ok, if you can beat me at the target practice, I will consider it".

…Alexis’s plane downed on the last two targets. A huge fireball destroyed the first one while, in a couple of seconds, another crushed the second one. It was not a perfect hit but what done is done.

"2:13. Great time, wing-leader", serviceman John, who tracked the time, informed him as he landed.

"Now its my turn, master lieutenant", Lily jumped into the training plane and took off.

She took a bit to prepare the incarnation and then dived to the ground. A rapid stream of ice shards launched from fighter guns. First three targets got sliced with one stream of magic missiles. Then she levelled her fighter and shot the forth target with another barrage. The fifth one took a bit to hit but soon it was also destroyed.

"1:57. You are good, comrade Leitis!"

"Looks like I won Alexis, so no date for you".

"We’ll see, I have not given up yet", and they left, leaving  confused John behind.

In the afternoon Lily was getting back from a walk when she saw Alexis, waiting near her cabin yet again.

"Chocolates from the famous confectionary in Benthorn City", he gave her a box of fancy chocolates.  "How about another chance? A shooting range practice this time?"

"You don’t know when to give up", Lily hesitated, but took the box, "but deal, I will give you another chance. Three tries, only the most basic spells. Whenever scores more wins".

…Alexis stood at his shooting row and aimed the magic pistol. He calculated the aim for a few seconds and then shot a simple tiny fireball. The first one barely missed the bulls eye. The second shot hit perfectly in the centre. It took a few more seconds for him to aim the last one. Unfortunately, a small gust of wind blowed during the shot and it also barely missed the centre.

"Almost perfect score, comrade Gruel", it was John again checking their results.

"Hard to beat it but I’ll try", Lily went to her line.

A tiny magic pebble barely missed the centre. Then the second one hit perfectly. She also took some time to aim the last shot. When she shot it, a blast of wind blowed again but the pebble did not budge due to balancing magic and layed almost perfectly in the centre or the target.

"Another win for comrade Leitis. Though, it was close".

"You should give up now, wind leader", Lily started walking away when she got called by Alexis.

"The last chance, please. I know you liked a few hats in that clothing shop the other day. I will buy you any of them if you win!"

"Two! When it’s a deal. What are the rules this time?"

"Ok, two. Athletic competition. You know that big oak on the edge of the forest. Who gets there first wins. You can use any spells".

"I know you will try to cheat, master lieutenant, but I agree. Good opportunity to cool you down".

Alexis stood on the starting line and closed his eyes. He began preparing the incarnation. Lily checked her boots, tightened the laces and her aura also started to fluctuate.

«This time I won’t lose, I can calculate the teleportation spell perfectly before she gets there», he finished preparing the incarnation, added the formula, and embed it with mental magic…

…But the same moment he materialised near the oak, Lily crushed into the tree just near him. Looks like she used water magic to slide with the extra fast speed and the wind cushion to avoid the crash.

"Seems like it is a draw, comrade. You made me seriously risk this time. No need to buy me any hats but no date for you also".

"I will still buy you one as I did not win. But I give up this time. Sorry for challenging you due to my selfishness", he straightened his clothes and went away.

"Maybe I should also invite someone to a dance…", John looked at them from the side and sighed.

The party started at 21:00 in the village club. A bunch of tables were put in the meadow opposing it, while most of the club house itself was used as a dance floor. Some musicians from the nearby regimental band entertained the guests.

"You know how many gruges.. irk… we have over yu, march dwellers!", John Tanner poured another glass of vodka and continued complaining to Wheeler. "Durin’ the famine here it was a nightmare. You know… irk… how many people died… how many ate copses… All because of ya stupid govament…"

"Yeah, yeah, I know. It was as bad in the southern parts of Central Republic. But cowlicks think only you got the worst of it", Alex was listening to him calmly, he barely touched his glass.

"Ya came here and now ya complainin’? How dare ya?!"

"You should not drink as much today, John. There is a military briefing tomorrow", Mary joined them, a glass of wine in her hand. "Mind if I take Alec for a dance?"

"Go ahead! I will drink wiz comrade general!", John took his glass and slightly unsteadily walked to the general Timothys table.

The general was also drunk but in a good mood. His aide looked at him suspiciously but continued to poor a drink in his glass. Simeon smiled to John and invited him to join.

Kate was chatting with some officers from the senior lieutenant Martinson's wing. They had a bunch of beer glasses on the table. Martinson himself was deep in thought and glancing at the bench across the dance floor, where two girls were sitting with a sad look on their faces. One wore a pretty blue dress, while the other one had yellow.

Lily in a white dress with a nice pearl brooch on the chest approached the first girl,  "You look great today, Inna, I barely recognised you. Do not have a partner for a dance? Should I introduce you to one of the junior officers?"

"Thanks, Lily but no need. I would rather have a drink now, I am just not in the mood".

"As you wish", Lily gave up, "but it is a party after all. Cheer up!", and she left to chat with some pilots on the other side of the dance floor.

"Sorry, lady, have we met before?", Inna heard a hesitating voice near her. When she rised her eyes she saw a handsome guy with black curly hair and eyes.

"Comrade Martinson! Yes, we met before. I am Lily's personal mechanic".

"Comrade Waypass, I have not recognised you. You look stunning today! Mind if I invite you for a dance?"

"You know, why not. It is a party after all! I should not sulk all evening. But I should warn you, I am not a good dancer", she took his hand and joined him on a dance floor.

"It is fine, I will teach you".

"M-mind if I invite y-you for a dance?", next to them serviceman John dressed in a grey suit asked the other girl.

"Why the hell not?!", she also accepted the invitation.

"Oh, looks like Kates mechanic also got a partner for the evening. Good for her", Alexis was sitting at the table across, drinking wine. He was chatting with two other officers.

"Mind to dance with a lady?", he heard a voice from above, rised his eyes and saw Lily smiling.

"But I could not win today?"

"Consider it a consolation prize. But just one dance", she took his hand and led him to the dance floor.

«Night is so bright today, sky is so full of starts,

Everything seen from above,

Come my beloved to me after the tiring day,

Come for a minute in grove»

Musicians played a slow local love song...

«You tricked me one more time and you let me down again!

You, oh you drove me crazy, how can I live my life when?»

Comrade Tanner and general Timothy, drunk, were singing in their corner...

Couples were dancing, the night was still long, but duty waited for them tomorrow…