Chapter 19: Shattered Glass
Anthony Simon—known to a select few in the underground by his alias, 'Mountain'—was the only son of Smith Simon, the founder of the Simon Co. construction empire. While history would eventually dictate a tragic downfall for the family, currently, they were one of the most powerful rising corporations in Columbia, enjoying a lucrative association with Rhine Lab.
"I presume today is your long-awaited date?" Anthony remarked smoothly, his sharp feline eyes taking in the couple's casual, stylish attire and their relaxed mood.
"Yeah. In fact, this is our first official date," Joshua smiled.
"Oh, I see. Congratulations are in order, then."
Just then, Saria's handbag vibrated softly. She checked the screen and offered an apologetic nod. "Excuse me, I need to take a private call." She stood up, gesturing toward the restaurant's luxurious interior. "Keep each other company for a bit."
Once Saria disappeared around the corner toward the restrooms, Joshua's relaxed demeanor instantly sharpened.
"So... did you bring 'the packages'?" he asked, lowering his voice.
"Of course. Right here," Anthony replied discreetly. From beside his chair, he hoisted up a heavy, reinforced metallic briefcase and handed it over, followed by a small, unassuming paper bag.
Joshua set the metallic briefcase securely by his feet before carefully reaching into the paper bag to retrieve a pristine, velvet-lined jewelry box.
He cracked the box open. Resting on the velvet cushion was a breathtaking, custom-made tennis bracelet. It was adorned with alternating white diamonds and amber jewels, and the inner band was delicately engraved in flowing Aslan script: Saria.
"It's perfect," Joshua breathed, his eyes lighting up. He knew a traditional ring might get damaged under Saria's heavy combat gauntlets, making this elegant bracelet the perfect alternative. Satisfied with the delivery, his mind began to race with fantasies of the upcoming proposal, but he quickly snapped himself back to the present to express his gratitude.
"Cough, thank you for handling this request, Anthony. I'll be sure to remember this."
"Don't mention it," Anthony shook his head, offering a polite smile. "You helped warn my family about a corporate mole nibbling at our assets before it could cause any real harm. Consider this a small return of the favor."
With his delivery complete, Anthony bid his farewells and wished Joshua luck.
Joshua looked down at the velvet box in his hands before snapping it shut and slipping it into his inner jacket pocket. He picked up the metallic briefcase by its handle and took a deep, steadying breath. This is it. It's time to take things to the next step. Steeling himself, he prepared to carry out the final act of the date—one he intended to make sure Saria would never forget.
Everything is going so well, Joshua thought to himself with a nervous smile. Surely nothing bad could happen now... right?
Meanwhile, Saria walked into the lavish, empty restroom. After checking beneath the stalls to confirm she was entirely alone, she walked up to the furthest stall, which had a yellow 'Out of Order' sign hanging on the door. She knocked twice.
The lock clicked open. Stepping out of the stall was a pristine water clone of Muelsyses, carefully holding a completely dry, navy-blue ring box.
"Hummph! So, how is the grand date going?" Mumu asked cheerfully, handing the box to the Vouivre.
"It is... going well," Saria admitted, a faint blush on her cheeks as she accepted it. "Thank you for bringing this in advance."
"Yep! Safe and sound. I've been hiding in this stall for almost an hour, so you had better make it count," Muelsyses teased.
Saria opened the box. Inside rested a stunning silver band, adorned with a ruby and a sapphire set closely next to each other. Engraved on the inner loop was the name of her beloved: Joshua.
Looking down at the ring, Saria's expression grew intensely complex. Her usual stoic confidence wavered. "Mumu... isn't this a bit too soon? For something of this magnitude?"
Muelsyses stared at her for a flat second before throwing her hands in the air.
"What nonsense are you talking about?!" the Elf whisper-yelled, her watery form bubbling with sheer exasperation. "Too soon? Saria, I have watched how you two act for the past three years! THREE YEARS!"
Muelsyses began ticking points off on her liquid fingers. "The way you look at each other, the absolute blind trust, the constant physical touch! Every single day you two cuddle on the couch, cook domestic meals together, and flirt so much it gives me cavities! It's practically old married couple behavior! The only thing missing is the actual paperwork!"
After venting her frustration, Muelsyses took a simulated breath and calmed down, placing a wet hand on Saria's shoulder.
"Look, all I'm saying is that given how popular and influential Joshua is—and how much more famous he will be from here on out—it's time to take the next step. Lock him down before some Columbian executive tries to arrange a marriage with him for his tech! Plus, we both know he loves you to death. He wouldn't say no."
Saria let the words sink in. She thought about Joshua's warmth, his unwavering support, and the family they were building together at Rhine Lab. Muelsyses was right.
"You're right. I shouldn't just sit back and wait for it to happen," Saria said, her golden eyes hardening with absolute resolve. She snapped the box shut and slipped it securely into her handbag, right next to her emergency water bottle. "If I want this future, I have to forge it myself."
She would propose to him at the end of this date.
"Alright! Now that you've got your courage back, be sure to tell me every detail afterward," Muelsyses cheered. "I'll be going now. There are some new cosmetics in the commercial district I want to check out. See ya!"
The delivery clone waved before instantly losing its shape, splashing harmlessly into the nearby sink and swirling down the drain.
Saria adjusted her dress and returned to the outdoor dining area to continue their date. Yet, as she walked back to the table, a strange, creeping sensation pooled in her stomach. Despite her optimism about her plan, her finely tuned combat instincts were tingling. Everything was perfect—so why was her gut screaming that something was wrong?
The couple reunited, and time flew by as the sun dipped beneath the Trimounts skyline, casting the city in hues of twilight purple and gold.
They were seated at a reserved, private table on the restaurant's outdoor terrace, overlooking the sprawling commercial district below. Outwardly, the pair appeared to be enjoying the peaceful evening, sipping wine and sharing quiet smiles.
Internally, however, both were an absolute chaotic mess, desperately trying to find the perfect opening to make their move.
As the minutes ticked by, the crushing weight of their mutual secret began to leak into their actions.
"Well… the scenery here is mesmerizing," Joshua said, his voice slightly strained as he nervously played with his fork.
"...Indeed. It's truly a sight worth seeing," Saria replied. Beneath the table, her heavy tail was swaying frantically despite her best efforts to keep it still.
A long, heavy silence fell over the table.
(This is going nowhere,) Joshua thought, his heart hammering against his ribs.
(I can't just keep stalling,) Saria thought, her hand inching toward her purse.
The stalemate had gone on long enough. It was now or never.
"Saria—"
"Joshua—"
They both spoke at the exact same time, their eyes locking across the candlelight.
"Oh, you have something to say? Please, you go first," Joshua offered, sensing the sudden urgency in her tone.
"No, no, you first. I can wait," Saria deflected, suddenly terrified.
"My dear, I insist. You first."
"No, you first. I really don't mind."
Seeing that neither of them was willing to back down, Joshua proposed a compromise, his cheeks burning red. "How about we say it at the exact same time? That way, both of us can hear it at once."
"...That would be the most efficient solution," Saria agreed numbly, her heart soaring into her throat.
Beneath the table, both of them carefully reached for their respective hidden boxes, ready to surprise the other.
"Ready?" Joshua asked softly. Saria nodded.
This was the moment.
"Joshua—"
"Saria—"
As a deep blush crawled over both of their faces, their voices remained firm, carrying three years of unwavering love and conviction.
"Will you mar—"
BOOOOOOM!
A deafening, thunderous roar ripped through the twilight, violently cutting off their words. The concussive shockwave slammed into the restaurant terrace, shattering the surrounding glass windows and raining shards down like a storm of deadly diamonds.
Combat instincts overriding their shock, both Joshua and Saria moved in a blur. They threw themselves across the table, wrapping their arms around one another to shield each other from the blast as the terrace violently shook.
Once the immediate shockwave passed and the ringing in their ears subsided, they peeked out from behind their overturned table.
What greeted them was absolute chaos. Plumes of thick black smoke were billowing into the sky from the commercial district below. The streets, which had been peaceful moments ago, were now a warzone. Panicked civilians were screaming and fleeing in all directions as armed, masked terrorists began swarming the avenues, firing Originium Arts into the storefronts.
"What the hell is this?!" Joshua yelled over the wailing sirens, his romantic fantasy instantly replaced by sheer horror. How did things turn into a warzone in a matter of seconds?
Saria was just as baffled, her eyes scanning for threats, until her discarded handbag suddenly began to shake violently against the floorboards.
She quickly reached in and pulled out her water bottle. The cap burst off on its own, and the emergency water reserve she kept inside frantically flowed out, forming into a miniature Muelsyses.
But this time, the clone was entirely wrong. Its form was unstable, glitching and shuddering as if struggling to hold itself together. The face of the water-elf was twisted in an expression of absolute agony and terror.
"Saria... Joshua..." the clone gasped, its watery voice gurgling and desperate.
"Help me..."
Before either of them could reach out, the clone lost its structural integrity, collapsing into a lifeless puddle of water on the shattered terrace floor.
The real Muelsyses was down there in the commercial district. And she was falling.