“How did it go with Minerva yesterday?” –asked Milana, sipping an iced mochaccino. She was having a virtual breakfast with Amelia, since they couldn't talk last night.
“Great!” –exclaimed Amelia. –“She's getting over it.”
“I still can't believe she agreed to go out for lunch.” –said Milana, excited. –“We have been trying for a long time... Well, two weeks, but it surely feels longer.”
“I think Minerva has been ready for a while.” –said Amelia, playing with the straw of her smoothie. –“She was just waiting for an excuse.”
“I see.” –said Milana. –“And what did it?”
“Let's say we caught her attention.” –replied Amelia, cryptically.
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“Whaa...”
As Milana was re-asking, the red button appeared suddenly on her display, startling her.
“Sorry, I just got a private talk notification.” –said Milana, flustered.
“Kyle?” –asked Amelia, teasingly.
“Yeah.” –answered Milana, deflated. –“Angela isn't logging today, so it'll be just the two of us.”
“Do you want me to go with you?”
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“Hi, my name is Amelia.” –said Amelia, with a beaming smile. –“I'm glad to finally meet you!”
“Hello, I'm Kyle.” –said Kyle. –“Glad to meet you too, Amelia.”
The girls were meeting with Kyle at the central plaza before deciding where to go for leveling.
“By the way, I won't be able to party with you since I'm already level 35.” –said Amelia. –“But I can give you some advice; even save your lives if it comes to that!”
They finally chose to go to the goblin burrows on Kyle's suggestion. They wouldn't be able to beat the boss without Angela but they could still level effectively in the ground floor.
“Just try to take on groups of less than six.” –suggested Amelia. –“Those small patrols tend to only have one shaman. If Milana can kill it from distance, it shouldn't get too dangerous.”
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“Now.” –whispered Kyle. He was crouching next to Milana, looking over a rock towards an ongoing patrol.
“Mana bolt!”
The magical girl jumped over the rock and shot the shaman point-blank. At the same time, Kyle was circling around to get between Milana and the rest of the goblins.
The dagger-wielding goblins turned with a hiss and jumped to attack Kyle. The shaman was knocked back from the Mana bolt and Milana shot it again to finish it.
Kyle defended against two goblins with his shield, repelling the third with his sword. The fourth one was slashing his armored right leg but he could take it for a bit.
Milana, having just finished with the only ranged menace, healed Kyle twice before bolting the closest goblin. She continued shooting and healing alternately, Kyle knocking back the goblins one at a time with his shield to let Milana have a clear shot.
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They kept fightning small patrols for a while, dispatching them easily. Even when caught unawares by a second shaman, Milana reacted quickly enough for them to get away without needing Amelia's help.
“I must say you have great coordination.” –said Amelia, admired. –“No wonder you already cleared the Tier 0 exp date.”
“It's all thanks to Kyle.” –said Milana, laughing. –“I'm just riding his coattails.”
“Nah, you might not realize it yet.” –said Kyle, serious. –“But you're actually a really good mage.”
“I agree.” –said Amelia. –“People think being a mage is easy, just stay in the back and shoot.”
“Yeah.” –said Milana, awkwardly.
“But that's not all there is.” –continued Amelia. –“A good mage should be aware of the battlefield at all times and react accordingly. Since you are protected at the back, the mage is responsible for quickly directing the party's actions if a problem arrises.”
“I see.” –said Milana, smiling. –“I'm glad that I haven't been dead weight afterall.”
“Sorry, I should go ahead.” –said Amelia, apologetically. –“I need to get ready for today's lunch.”
“Yeah, that's true.” –said Milana. –“See you later.”
“Bye”
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
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“Do you know each other in real life?” –asked Kyle, curious.
“Yeah.” –answered Milana. –“Actually, we are eating lunch together today.”
“Then, are you leaving too?” –asked Kyle.
“She'll be coming to my house first.” –answered Milana. –“So I still have some time.”
And, since I'm not really a girl, it won't take too much time to get ready.
“Enough for an exp date?” –asked Kyle. –“I'll be going out in the afternoon, so it might be difficult to meet again later.”
“Alright.”
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Kyle and Milana beat the exp date easily again, clearing all the rounds as they appeared. They couldn't wait to try the Tier 1 exp date.
“Finally level 18, just two to go.” –said Kyle, after storing the leisure date ticket.
“Yeah, this exp date has gotten really boring.” –said Milana, smiling.
“Tomorrow I'm going back to school.” –said Kyle, suddenly serious. –“I won't be able to play as much as in these last few days.”
“I understand.” –replied Milana. –“I still have a few weeks of summer break left myself but I'll have to cut my gaming time after that.”
“I guess you'll outlevel me soon.” –said Kyle, awkwardly. –“When I finally get to level 20, I hope we can do an exp date once in a while.”
“Of course!” –exclaimed Milana. –“I'm looking forward to doing the Tier 1 exp date with you; I don't think I'll ever find a better tank willing to go with me.”
“That's kinda hard to believe.” –said Kyle, deflated.
“Anyway, it isn't like we won't get together anymore.” –said Milana, trying an encouraging smile. –“Are you logging in tomorrow?”
“I guess I can play for a bit in the afternoon.” –answered Kyle, half-smiling.
“See you tomorrow!”
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“Hello!” –exclaimed Amelia, hugging mom, Minerva and Ricardo one by one. Everyone but father were already outside, waiting for him to take out the car.
“It'll be the mall's food court afterall.” –said Ricardo, mockingly.
“We can't ever agree on a restaurant, so it's the best option.” –said mom, apologectically eying Minerva.
“Don't look at me.” –said Minerva, frowning. –“If you really want pasta or BBQ ribs, I can stay at home and order delivery.”
“Food court is fine.” –said Amelia, flashing an angelic smile. –“The best is that we are all together.”
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“That cake must have more calories than my hamburger.” –said Ricardo, looking at Minerva's tray.
“Definitely.” –said Amelia, pretending to whisper to Ricardo's ear. –“Surely defeats the purpose of having salad for lunch.”
“I eat cake because I had salad for lunch.” –said Minerva, defensively, while cutting a small piece of her whipped cream-covered, marmelade-filled chocolate cake.
“Staying beautiful is all about making compromises.” –continued Minerva, in an sagely voice.
“Yes sensei.” –deadpanned Amelia.
“Now you know.” –said Minerva, half-smiling, while standing up and leaving. Her sky blue summer dress fluttered in the distance.
“Her mood seems to be improving.” –said father, taking advantage of Minerva's toilet break.
“Thank god!” –exclaimed mom. –“I was at my wits' end.”
“I need to go back soon.” –said father. –“But you youngsters should stay and have fun.”
“Yes, we'll do.” –said Amelia, decidedly.
“Karaoke?”
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“Ese sufrimiento, que te hace llorar.*” –sang Ricardo, finishing the song. He was sit next to Amelia, Minerva on the side of the karaoke box.
“Bravo!” –exclaimed Amelia, clapping. –“Enrique Iglesias is so dreamy.”
“Isn't he like 80?” –asked Minerva, mockingly.
“He's just around 50.” –answered Amelia, indignant.
“Besides, I have always liked older guys.” –finished Amelia with a smile.
“Amelia and I have sung for a while.” –said Ricardo, passing the microphone. –“Minerva, your turn.”
“I guess I should.” –said Minerva in a small voice, while going through the songlist.
“Oh my god.” –whispered Amelia to Ricardo, as the song was starting.
“Party girls don't get hurt, can't feel anything, when will I learn...**”
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* 'That suffering, that makes you cry.' Lyrics from 'Duele el corazón', by Enrique Iglesias.
** Lyrics from 'Chandelier', by Sia.
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Minerva proceeded to perform a downright awful rendition of Chandelier. She began with a small off key voice, getting louder as she went along. When she got to the belting, she started crying as she sang. Ricardo and Amelia just stared at her, not knowing what to do.
“Sorry.” –said Minerva, her makeup running down her face.
“Don't be.” –said Amelia, holding Minerva to her chest while patting her back.
“I guess we should call it...” –started saying Ricardo after a couple of minutes.
“No, we have time for one last song.” –interrupted Amelia, smiling saintly. –“Let's sing together.”
“Yeah, I'm ok now.” –said Minerva, looking apologetically at Amelia's blouse.
Amelia looked up the song and passed one mic to Ricardo, keeping the other one with her, while side-hugging Minerva.
“El amor es así, desde que te conozco...*” –started singing Amelia, looking towards Ricardo.
I guess I'm singing Gianmarco's verses.
After Amelia finished the first verse, she signaled Ricardo to continue.
“El amor es así, sé que somos amigos...**” –sang Ricardo, getting into character.
As the song picked up, Minerva starting singing too, finishing with the three of them in unison.
“Thank you.” –said Minerva, smiling without restraint.
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*'Love is like this, since I met you...'
**'Love is like this, I know we are friends...'
Lyrics from 'El ritmo de mi corazón' by Gianmarco and Grupo 5.