Mavis POV:
“Termination complete.”
Marton slid a metal plate forward. Turquoise flowers bloomed around the name MAVIS engraved in a maroon colour.
“A handsome man was asking about you.”
I placed the license in my pocket before staring into Marton’s drained eyes. His dishevelled hair and haggard appearance came from the workload he took on to spend more time with a female colleague who only saw him as a friend.
He organised the papers behind the desk; wooden bars extended toward the ceiling, holding an intricate pattern of various monster symbols crafted across the spaces in between each column. The walls of the Hunter Agency were similar in content: images of monsters, underlined with brief descriptions for the inexperienced, hung from different positions.
“He wasn’t like other men looking for you, Mavis.”
“Mavis will think about it after the next job.”
Marton handed over a detailed report regarding an army of Bingfen in the North. The difficulty of extermination was ranked at SS+, the same grade as my Hunter License, so I could expect these monsters to be remnants of a high-ranked Dungeon Break.
“Thank you for your services. I wish you happy hunting.”
Marton bowed his head before scooting the chair over to the right to reduce the growing lines at the front desk. I flickered out of the building and made my way home. The stove ignited. Pre-made food arranged itself on a white plate that soon sat alone on a large dining table; Mavis did the same.
A framed picture stood on a small cabinet. Mother and Father. Two brothers and three sisters. It was a complete family, if you included the blurred finger poking past the side of the border.
‘Mavis is happy.’
I bit my quivering lip and continued eating; they were happy in Shako too. Mavis provided them with money every month. Mavis looked after them even though they didn’t want to be close with her.
I washed the dishes, prepared the bath upstairs, and sat in it. The water splashed once Mavis pulled in her knees. The water became still once Mavis buried her head into her thighs; it reflected memories of a young girl covered in blood.
‘…’
Soap carried the dirt away when I moved again. A towel dried wet skin before I threw on some simple underwear and got into bed. The next day started with me combing out my long turquoise hair, putting on some lip balm, then getting dressed for work.
Mavis killed monsters.
Mavis reported to the Agency.
Mavis ate alone, and then Mavis slept.
Sometimes she worked with other Monster Hunters, but most times she worked by herself. Her rapid progress through the Hunter Ranks drew the wrong kind of attention. Some were jealous. Most feared her methods, but many—many objectified her because of a body she didn’t ask for.
‘Acknowledgement…’
I added a variety of vegetables and preserved meat to the basket. The cashier calculated the cost when she looked again at who was standing in front of her.
“L-Lady Mavis?! O-oh, my apologies!”
Her head almost hit the counter in shock. Sweat turned her white collar darker shades of grey until I parted my lips.
“Mavis doesn’t mind. Mavis is only here to buy some ingredients.”
“Y-yes… L-Lady Mavis… A-also a stunning man was asking about you.”
“Mavis isn’t interested.”
The cashier stopped counting the silver coins and fluttered her eyelashes toward the doorway.
“This man was polite, attractive, and carried himself with an air of grandeur. He also seemed unfamiliar with Hibe but declined my invitation to show him around.”
I picked up the shopping bags and let the woman enjoy her daydream. I reached home—the cycle went on. Months flew by when I examined which flowers would look best with the new decorations I planned to buy.
“Mavis, a wonderful man has been looking around for you.”
‘Again?’
I narrowed my eyes at Ms Moran. She was Marton’s grandaunt, a popular florist, and someone Mavis spoke to quite often. Her sagging cheeks darkened while a deep gaze was captivated on a person no longer in front of her.
“What does he want with Mavis?”
The elderly woman covered her mouth and spun around.
“I… know nothing!”
Ms Moran hurried back inside the shop, leaving me near the front, where I observed the bright flowers for a little longer. I decided not to buy anything today; this mysterious man was beginning to make Mavis angry.
I walked through the plaza and down a few more streets until a hot man stood outside my front gate. He looked down at a piece of paper before looking back at the large house. His other hand held a beautiful flower bouquet, but his casual attire was strange. It added depth to transcendent looks: a mixture of regality and cuteness bundled into the perfect package.
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“What are you doing in front of Mavis’s home?”
The distance closed when the attractive man took his cap off. Long hair fell to soften the sides of his angular face, while sharp eyes would make any woman’s heart skip a beat. He bowed his head first before thin lips parted.
“My name is Changha, and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I have spent the last three months manoeuvring through the city of Hibe in order to contact you.”
The young man stretched out the bouquet; he paired it with a faint smile that forced me to accept the unique arrangement of flowers. Chrysanthemum circled the outer edges in a bowing motion toward a turquoise Reverie blooming in the middle.
“What do you want with Mavis?”
“I have every interest in courting you with the intention of proposing once I have learned more about Mavis, the human, not Mavis, the Monster Hunter.”
‘!’
“…”
I watched him fidget, not out of nervousness but from the discomfort his clothes seemed to give him. His slender fingers adjusted the hoodie in different places before doing the same to the loose bottoms he wore. It was a clothing style more popular in Outer Astril and other countries in Xera.
“Mavis thinks you’re a liar. A liar who’s trying to trick her by being nice at first, only to want to touch her body and sleep with her.”
Changha’s expression turned solemn, since Mavis saw through his true thoughts.
“I hope you have a good night, Lady Mavis.”
‘!’
He dipped his head and walked away without saying another word. My eyebrows dived toward the pavement before I flickered in front of him.
“Is that all you have to say to Mavis? You won’t deny it at all?”
“Your words are false.”
Changha lowered his head once more. His tall frame passed mine, carrying a fresh scent of the sea blended with the earth, sage, and a floral touch. It had to be from a luxury perfume brand, but the fragrance was too raw—too natural to be contained inside a cage.
I watched his back disappear down the street when a light breeze illuminated the turquoise Reverie, which was almost impossible to find even in the Visala Rainforest. I closed the door behind me and put the flowers in a vase.
Then, the daily routine continued on as normal.
I woke up to the sound of letters hitting the doormat. One was about the quarterly water bill, others were about updates to the Hunter Agency policy and a promotion to the SSS tier, while another came from Changha. His handwriting resembled Katherine Brightfield’s but with a different flare to it. He requested a meeting at Yinvi Cafe at 11:30am today.
‘…Mavis has never received a letter like this before.’
Marton used to hand over hundreds a day until I became fed up with the fantasies of others. I left home to complete a few extermination requests but gave myself enough time to shower and wear some casual clothes.
‘!!’
Changha stood the moment he noticed me in the distance. He pulled out the chair in advance before dusting off the seat.
“Thank you for coming, Lady Mavis.”
“Mavis knows what you’re doing, so Mavis won’t lower her guard.”
I stared into his serene eyes that stayed consistent. A gentle nod was the only reply I received when a delicate hand directed me to sit. Changha slid the menu forward and ordered light juice with lunch after I chose what I wanted to eat.
“What are your hobbies?”
“Mavis loves killing monsters and being drenched in their blood.”
I cocked my head to the side, sick of playing this childish game with him.
“You are enthusiastic about your job. I understand but wish to know more about what you like to do outside of work.”
“…Mavis likes flower arrangements, decorating, and cooking. Mavis enjoys taking care of her family and is happy to provide for them.”
Plates tapped against the table.
“Then what are your thoughts on the rustic arrangement I gave you? Green chrysanthemum encompassed a vibrant turquoise reverie, ascending toward the heavens.”
“…Rustic? Mavis is curious to know what millennium you’re living in.”
“I thought it would appeal to your tastes.”
“Mavis didn’t say she didn’t like it…”
…
..
.
I put a hand over my mouth to stop the laughter. I lowered the glass, cutting the words short about dreams and aspirations. My gaze fell to the clear table, knowing what would come next: an offer to head home together.
“What do you want to do with Mavis now?”
“Are you perhaps free this Saturday in the early afternoon?”
“…Yes.”
Changha organised another date. Throughout the entire meeting, he remained dignified, cordial, and receptive to every statement I made. He didn’t try to touch me—he didn’t even hug me after walking me home.
“Thank you for your time, Lady Mavis. It was an honour to learn more about you on a personal level, and I hope this experience will only improve going forward. Please enjoy the rest of your evening.”
That was all he said before leaving, but Mavis wasn’t stupid.
3rd date.
Mavis wasn’t stupid!
6th date.
Mavis… wasn’t stupid.
9th date.
Long turquoise hair curled down to a thin waist from the front. It stood out against a burgundy dress—exposing the arms with a neckline that fell below the collarbone. Fair skin enhanced the scarlet necklace and drew attention to a turquoise pendant. Rose embroidery contained darker hues; they matched high heels hidden beneath the table while highlighting maroon irises.
The reserved room was spacious. Curtains were half-drawn, letting the light from the moon observe romance trying to bloom. Changha wore a black and white raglan shirt that didn’t conceal the lean body underneath. His discomfort became apparent when he tucked part of a serviette behind the fabric.
‘…Beautiful and smart.’
Changha made casual clothes look classy. His natural looks overpowered the need to put effort into any outfit he wore. We spoke about different topics until the plates were pushed to the side.
‘!’
A compact velvet case graced the centre of the table. Slender fingers opened the red lid and revealed a reinforced cream padding that protected an ornament fit for a sovereign. Pink hues blew life into scarlet scales, refracting the light to simulate a coiling movement toward a realistic eastern dragon head. Its open mouth gripped an orb when winding branches flew past before curving inward; they connected everything to a thin bracket: each section engraved with one letter of the name MAVIS. Flower patterns flowed down the scarlet metal until it reached the tip.
The luxury hairpin shimmered beneath the moonlight. It was made from one of the most valuable metals on Ayadell, Sillin. Only Okan, blacksmiths trained in a special forging method called Silling, could handle the delicate mineral. Sillin accessories were an undeniable sign of pure wealth and royalty.
‘This… must have cost tens of thousands of gold to make for Mavis…’
My eyes wobbled at the endless sincerity Changha showed me; it wasn’t about the gifts themselves—it was the directness and care behind each one. They weren’t chosen to show off his riches but to demonstrate how much he valued this… relationship.
‘First, the necklace. Then, earrings. Now, this…’
The Cotis Empire specialised in Sillin Accessories and raised the best Okan in the world, but this hairpin wasn’t something that could be prepared in a few days; Changha requested this months in advance.
‘…’
I closed the velvet lid and stared deep into his pale grey eyes.
“Why are you giving me this?”
Changha’s thin lips smoothed into a warm smile before parting.
“Happy Birthday, Mavis.”
“!”
Something wet escaped my eyes; I couldn’t deny the truth in front of me anymore. Changha looked at Mavis and no one else. Changha gave Mavis more presents than she ever received from her own family, but all Changha wanted in return was to spend time with Mavis.
‘I understand you now.’
Mavis’s eyes softened with the rise of my cheeks.
“Thank you, Changha.”