◇Houghtow City—Flio's House◇
Garyl sat up awake in bed in his room. There was a time when Garyl
was younger that he slept in the same room as Elinàsze and the other
children, but now that he was more or less grown up he had a room all to
himself. There was a knock on the door, and Elinàsze showed herself in. "I
hope I haven't kept you waiting long?"
"No, not at all!" said Garyl, greeting his sister with a smile.
"Well then, what is this about?" Elinàsze asked. "You said you had
something you needed to speak to me about?"
"That's right..." Garyl said, scratching the tip of his nose in a bashful
gesture. "It's something I can't really talk about with mom and dad..."
That expression... Elinàsze thought, glancing at her brother's face as she
sat down on the bed beside him. This must be about Miss Ellie... "So," she
asked, folding her arms, "what seems to be the matter?" She thought she
had a pretty good idea as to what was going on.
"Well..." Garyl hesitated. "Actually, I told Miss Ellie that I'd take her
out somewhere next time. But I have no idea where to go!"
"In other words, you need a date plan?" Elinàsze offered.
"A d-d-d-date?!" Garyl said, waving his hands frantically. "N-No! It's
nothing like that! It's just...you know..."
Oh, Garyl... Elinàsze thought, smirking. Look at how flustered he is!
That brother of mine couldn't hide how he was feeling if his life depended
on it! "I see..." she said. "Well, I'm afraid I don't have any experience when
it comes to dates myself. Why don't you try asking papa and mama?
They're still going on regular dates, if I'm not mistaken..."
Garyl frowned. "I mean, I thought about that... But, well, mom and dad's
dates are just a bit...you know..."
"Ah..." Suddenly, Elinàsze understood Garyl's predicament. Now that he
mentions it, when papa and mama say the word "date," usually what they
mean is that the two of them went hunting together...
In the back of her mind, Elinàsze recalled the image of her mother
cheerfully hauling a slain magic beast, saying, "We caught this one on
today's date!"
"I'm fine with hunting, personally..." Garyl said. "But..."
Elinàsze let out a small sigh and refolded her arms. "Yes. It's hard to
imagine that Miss Ellie would have much fun hunting, isn't it? In that case,
I suppose we'll have to use this." She held out her right hand and
summoned a magic circle, plunging her hand all the way inside and
retrieving a single book. On its cover was written, Magical Kingdom of
Klyrode: Travel Guide. "I bought this from a bookstore in the capital the
other day. Why don't we look for a sightseeing destination Miss Ellie might
enjoy?"
"That sounds great!" said Garyl. "Thanks, big sis Elinàsze. I owe you
one."
Elinàsze opened the book and placed it on the bed, while Garyl read
over her shoulder with a smile. "I know!" said Elinàsze. "Miss Ellie is a
proper grown-up lady. She's even older than mama, you know. Perhaps
she'd like this café?"
"A café, huh...?" Garyl mused. "I've never really been anywhere like
that before..."
"Well, then. I suppose we'll just have to go investigate this café
ourselves?" proposed Elinàsze.
"That would be great!" Garyl agreed.
"In that case," Elinàsze suggested, "perhaps we should pay this
restaurant a visit afterwards as well..."
Garyl and Elinàsze pored through the book, talking about places that
might serve as likely date spots. The two siblings, it seemed, were as close
as ever.