Aric noticed her subtle change in demeanor and concern crept into his expression. "Hey, Maki, are you okay?" he asked softly, leaning in slightly across the table.

Maki hesitated for a moment, her fingers tracing the edge of her teacup. Finally, she spoke in a quiet voice, barely audible over the ambient noise of the shop. "Um, it kind of feels like... like a date," she admitted, her cheeks flushing deeper.

Aric's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by her words. He coughed awkwardly into his hand, his own cheeks coloring faintly. "Oh, um... I didn't mean... I mean, we're just..." He stumbled over his words, trying to find the right way to respond.

After a moment of silence, Aric took a deep breath and met Maki's gaze with sincerity. "If that's how it feels for you, Maki, then... the next destination will be better," he said. "I didn't intend for it to come across that way, but... I'm glad we're here together."

Maki nodded slowly, a shy smile playing on her lips. "Yeah," she murmured, her eyes dropping to her tea before looking back up at him. "It's nice... being here with you.”

Just then, the server approached their table and pulled up a chair, sitting down next to Aric. He turned to look at her, feeling a jolt of surprise when he recognized Elaine. His mind raced with questions about whether she recognized him too, but before he could speak, an elderly woman emerged from the back of the shop and addressed him.

"Excuse me," the old woman said sharply. She walked towards him slowly, her expression stern. Aric felt a pang of unease as she reached him and grabbed his ear firmly.

Aric winced with pain, surprised by the sudden grasp. "Ow! What—"

"Apologize to Elaine," the old woman demanded, her voice carrying authority.

Elaine looked slightly bemused but waved her hand. "Oh, there's no need for that.”

The old woman ignored her and twisted Aric's ear more firmly. "Apologize!"

"Ow, okay, okay, I'm sorry!" Aric exclaimed, his face turning red with embarrassment. He dropped to his knees, still holding his ear where the woman had gripped it.

The old woman nodded approvingly and released his ear. "Good. Now, sit properly." Aric sat back in his chair, rubbing his ear and shooting a glance at Maki, who looked puzzled by the strange turn of events. He straightened his throat and stared daggers at the two of them. Standing up, he excused himself, walking with the two of them to the back.

Aric's patience wore thin as he stood with Elaine, now accompanied by the imposing old woman. He leaned in, his voice terse with frustration. "What gives you the right to interrupt like this?"

The old woman regarded him sternly, her eyes unwavering. "You have something else to say to me and her."

Aric frowned, caught off guard by her words. He hesitated, the weight of the moment settling in. After a few seconds of internal struggle, he sighed heavily and turned to Elaine and the server. "I... I'm sorry for my rudeness. Thank you for what you did a few days ago," he admitted, his voice quieter now, tinged with humility. "It... it gave me the confidence I needed."

Elaine's expression softened, a hint of understanding in her eyes. "You're welcome, Aric. No hard feelings."

The server nodded politely, her features composed. "It was our pleasure."

Aric's frustration simmered beneath the surface as he stood awkwardly with Elaine, the old woman's presence looming over them. He leaned in, his voice tight with tension. "Can't you not use my real name? People could hunt me for it."

The old woman regarded him with a hint of sympathy, her gaze softening slightly. "I trust the law's judgment. You didn't seem like a murderer when I saw you—more like a lost soul."

Aric swallowed, the weight of her words sinking in. He nodded slowly, grateful yet wary of her understanding. "Thank you... for trusting."

Elaine interjected gently, her voice calm. "It's okay. We understand."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Aric glanced at her gratefully before turning back to the old woman. "I... I was so rude last time. Especially after you were trying to help by talking to me."

The server nodded understandingly, her demeanor warm. "It's alright. Stop apologizing already."

Aric exhaled deeply, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. "Still, thank you," he repeated, his voice steadier now. "For what you did... it really did help."

Elaine smiled softly. "Anytime.."

With a nod of gratitude to the old woman and the server, Aric finally felt a sense of closure to the unexpected encounter. As he returned to his seat, Maki looked at him with concern, but he offered her a reassuring smile, silently conveying that he was alright.

After a few more minutes of conversation and the exchange of polite goodbyes, Aric and Maki gathered their things to leave the quaint tea shop. Just as they were about to step out into the light, Elaine hurriedly emerged from the shop's entrance, holding out a small parcel wrapped in brown paper.

"Wait!" Elaine called out, her voice gentle yet urgent.

Aric turned back, surprise flickering across his face as he saw Elaine approaching with a parcel in hand. She extended it towards him with a warm smile. "Here, I almost forgot. This is for you."

Confusion clouded Aric's expression as he accepted the parcel. Unwrapping it carefully, he discovered the mask he had left and a compact umbrella. Turning the umbrella over, he saw a delicate pink heart painted on its surface. His eyes widened in realization.

"This..." Aric began, his voice catching with emotion. "This is..."

Elaine nodded knowingly. "You dropped it a few seconds ago. I thought you might want it back. Although the mask was a few days ago."

Aric's heart swelled with gratitude. Without a word, he stepped forward and enveloped Elaine in a heartfelt hug, surprising her momentarily. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice choked with emotion. "If I had lost it... I would have had nothing left."

Elaine returned the hug gently, patting his back reassuringly. "It's okay. I'm glad we could return it to you."

He bowed, assuring the two that he would return and leave a hefty tip.

As they walked away from the tea shop, the weight of the evening's unexpected events lingered in the air. Aric carried the parcel containing his mask and the umbrella, his heart warmed by Elaine's gesture of kindness. Maki walked beside him, glancing at him occasionally with concern still etched in her features.

Aric sensed her worry and paused, turning to face her with a gentle smile. "Hey, Maki. I'm sorry if I seemed distant back there. It was... a lot to process. But I'm okay, really."

Maki returned his smile, her eyes softening with understanding. "I understand, Aric. It was quite an unusual evening."

"Yeah," Aric chuckled softly, a hint of relief in his voice. "But the next stop we're heading to will be more fun, I promise."

Maki's curiosity piqued, she tilted her head slightly. "Where are we going next?"

Aric's eyes twinkled with excitement. "There's a night market just a few blocks from here. It's filled with all kinds of stalls—food, games. I think you'll love it."

Maki's face lit up with anticipation. "That sounds wonderful! I've always enjoyed night markets."

They continued their stroll, the streets gradually becoming livelier as they neared the market. Colorful lanterns hung above the narrow alleyways, casting a warm, inviting glow. The air was filled with the mouth-watering aroma of street food and the cheerful chatter of vendors and patrons alike.

As they entered the bustling market, Aric felt a renewed sense of energy. He turned to Maki with a grin. "Let's start with some food. I'm starving."

Maki laughed, her earlier concern melting away. "Lead the way, Aric."

Aric and Maki continued to explore the night market, reveling in the lively atmosphere and the array of sights, sounds, and smells. As they moved from stall to stall, Aric couldn't help but notice the joy on Maki's face, which made the evening even more special for him.

When Aric handed Maki a delicate bracelet adorned with intricate charms, her eyes sparkled with delight as she accepted the gift. "It's beautiful," she said, slipping it onto her left arm. Aric was a bit surprised, but he smiled, happy that she liked it.

They wandered through the market for a while longer, enjoying each other's company and the vibrant energy around them. Eventually, the night began to wind down, and they decided it was time to head home.

As they walked towards the edge of the market, Maki turned to Aric. "I think I'll go back to my house now," she said, a hint of reluctance in her voice.

Aric nodded, understanding. "That's fine. Please be careful on your way home."

Maki smiled appreciatively. "I will, don't worry."

Aric looked at her with a touch of concern. "And try not to strain yourself with your studies too much. It's important to take care of yourself."

Maki chuckled softly, touched by his concern. "I promise I'll take it easy. Thank you for tonight, Aric. It was wonderful."

"Thank you.," Aric replied, his voice sincere.

They stood there for a moment, the night air cool around them, before Maki gave him a quick hug. "Goodnight, Aric."

"Goodnight. See you tomorrow," Aric said, watching as she walked away. From a young age, his master had taught him all of the arts, so he had no trouble in school at all. In fact, Aric could have gotten perfect scores, but chose to not stand out. But the one thing that he had failed at since he had started training was bringing out his magical energy.