Our First Date Part 1

We continue on the road, trying to catch a chancho and training with the adventurers. I’m not gonna lie, I’m missing home and Mom.

“Dad, how was your first date with Mom? How did you two get married? I know you two met because she would come to your father’s blacksmith shop, but what happened?”

“Ha ha ah, you are making me blush with these questions. Your Mom defended me from some people who were trying to take advantage of me. And so, I thought of doing something for her, but she suggested inviting her on a date.”

“Tell me, how did that date go?”

…

For the gods, I can't believe I’m going on a date with Miss Antonina. I’m nervous. I arrived downtown 30 minutes before the scheduled time. I’m wearing a light brown, loose-fit cotton linen pant and a vintage olive-green button-down knit shirt with short sleeves. This loose-fit outfit should cover my huge body.

I have everything ready. Nilus, one of the slave servants, is following me just in case someone makes trouble for us. We will walk through the plaza, enjoying some characteristic snacks ot the capital together. Then, we will take a look at some apparel stores. I brought money to buy her some clothing. And finally, we will go to have dinner at a high-end restaurant that I made reservations for with the help of my father. It’s almost time.

So, I waited on a bench in the plaza. Five minutes passed, then 10, then 20 minutes. Who am I kidding? Of course, she wasn't going to show up. Who would go on a date with a low-affinity, good-for-nothing sapien? She is hot, powerful, and likely from a good family; she was obviously playing a prank on me. Whatever, I can enjoy the day by myself.

“Paulus! Sorry, I’m late!”

When I looked back, I saw a 5,7 beauty running towards me. She has light purple hair, pale skin, purple eyes, and delicate facial features. She has a slender body frame, characterized by long legs, arms, and a feminine physique. She is dressed in khaki bootcut fitted pants that highlight her hips, wearing lavender high heels, and a ribbed white slim tank top with a high neck and sleeveless design that accentuates her shoulders and delicate chest. A goddess is blinding my eyes.

“Sorry, I’m late, I was busy in the adventurers guild, then ran back home to change, and then came here. Ack, I feel the sweat dropping down my neck.”

“Gulp- No worries. You look beautiful.”

“Thanks. Can we rest for a bit?”

“Sure, let me get you something cold to drink.”

“Thanks.”

I went to look around the plaza and found cold peach tea. I got it for both of us. It’s too hot being around Antonina. I should get her a churro, too. As I walked back, I heard what sounded like a fight breaking out and people gossiping. I hurried.

“Antonina, are you Alr-” She was kicking some random dude in the floor. “What happened?”

“This guy does not understand a no for an answer. So, I have to give it to him. See, buddy, I’m on a date, so now get out of my face.”

“I’m so sorry!” The dude ran away.

“Here, I got you a cold peach tea and a churro.” Should I be worried? Is this a sign by the gods that I should be worried about?

“Thank you, Paulus. I love these.” She said with a smile that warmed my heart.

We walk around the plaza of Eleutheria. The plaza is a vast city park featuring trees, grass, and benches, statues of heroes, food stalls, and an amphitheater for special events. The shopping district surrounds this place.

“So, tell me about yourself, Paulus.”

“Well, I come from a family of blacksmiths.”

“Pfft, I know that.”

“Ha ha ha you are right. I went to the Academy for two years, but it didn’t work out.”

“Is it because you have no magical affinity?”

“I have low magical affinity. It’s not like I can’t use magic, I can only use a little.”

“How do you work as a blacksmith if you can only use a little magic?”

“With brute force and a little magic, ha ha ha! I have trained to have fine dexterity with my magic. Thus, the little magic I can use, I used it as precisely as possible.”

“Show me.”

“For example, hold my hand.” Antonina blushes, putting her hand over mine.

“What do you feel?” I said, looking Antonina in the eyes.

“I feel you’re your warm hand and the calluses of your hard work.”

“That’s right. However, I mean magic!” Now I was blushing. 

“Oh, Pfft, right, sorry. Let me touch a little more. Maybe with both hands. No magic.” She said, smiling.

“What about now?”

“Oh, it got harder, I feel it now.”

“I can cover both my palms with magic. So, I can cover the end of the hammer and the palm of my hand. For example, I can also use small tools called Leptophos to work with the metal. However, I can’t use magic to attack or defend people. Thus, I could not continue in the Academy.”

“I’m sorry, it seems you really want it to be a soldier.”

“That's right, because I have fallen in love now…” I said, looking Antonina in the eyes. “Fallen in love with forging. So, I’m okay.”

“That’s good.”

“What about yourself? Why are you on a date with someone like me? Why are you an adventurer? You are not a slave, and you are pretty strong.”

“How do you know I’m strong?”

“Your knives, I can tell the poor monsters that jump in your way get destroyed.”

“He he he. Yeah, you are right. Why don’t we leave that talk for after dinner?”

“I’m okay with that. Let’s go then.” We walked towards the apparel stores.

“I thought we could have some fun here.”

“Oh, I have never been here. I always wanted to try it.” She rushed inside the building, but it was the wrong building. “The Coliseum Mini Games, yes, I’m ready. Let’s go, Paul.”

“Let me pay for the tickets,” I said, still in shock. The Coliseum Mini Games is a place where people from the Academy or those learning a profession usually come to have fun. Everything functions based on the magic that the user puts into the tools to make them work. There are all sorts of games, like batting cages, arm wrestling tables, and different kinds of hitting targets with balls, knives, or darts. There is a mini golf, wrestling arena, ring toss, rope ladder, and spin the wheel. Other games involve caching animals in mud, too. There are plenty of games. Of course, I have never been in one of these before because of my low magic affinity. What am I going to do? I’m going to be so bad in all of these games. I’m not even going to be able to play most of them.

“Why don’t we make this more fun. Whoever loses the most games has to do whatever the winner wants,” said Antonina. But what's the point? There is no way I'm going to win against her. However, this is an excellent opportunity to k- k- kiii… no, no, no. I would be happy with another date.

“I accept your challenge.”

“Let’s use the batting cage first. Let’s see who gets the most hits.”

We went to the batting cage and picked our bats. The batting cages have a wooden conduit that, when you put magic in the palm of your hand, sends magic to a wooden box that uses air to throw 10 balls at you to hit.

“Okay, the weak go first,” Antonina said, looking at me. I hold my bat and stand next to the wooden conduit, pressing it with the magic I have, knowing it's not going to work.

“Maybe you could go first. I-”

“Don’t move, I got it.” She came closer and put her palm over my hand, sending magic through my hand to the magic conduit.

“Alright, get ready,” said Antonina. I hit all ten balls with precision.

“Ack, it must be easy. It’s okay, I got this.” She missed the first two balls.

“Ha ha ha, are you going easy on me?”

“That was just bad luck. Let’s continue.”

We had a blast. We played multiple games, and the score was tied. It was so much fun.

“Okay, we are tied, and it’s about time to go for dinner. Let’s play one last game.” I need a game I can win. This is my chance. “You picked the first game, so what about I pick the last one?”

“Sure, we play whatever you like,” said Anto. Okay, in what game can I easily beat her? I know!

“What about arm wrestling?”

“I’m gonna beat you easily.”

“No magic.”

“No magic?”

“It’s magic, all you got, Anto?”

“You are right. Let's do arm wrestling, no magic allowed.”

We both sat down at the table, palm to palm and thumbs linked. Let's go ahead and win this quickly.

“Ready? Set-”

“Wait a minute, let me get more comfortable.” Anto stood up and took off her tank top. Her shoulders, arms, chest, and core were all well-defined. I could clearly see the shape of her muscles, low body fat, and toned appearance. She was wearing a tube sports bra. What can I say, a goddess. Okay, maybe I will take my time to win. She sat down, palm to palm and thumbs linked.

“Ready, Paul?”

“Gulp- ready.”

She gave it her all. We wrestle for like five minutes. Sweat was going down her neck, and the more she pushed, the more beautiful she looked.

“Ah, you beat me. I give up.”

“What happened, Paul? Why are you giving up?”

“I’m gonna let you win this time. Plus, we have to go or we will be late.”