Helmut and Alea greeted Alan and Patricia calmly when they noticed them. Patricia, in a panic, raised her hands to clarify.
"Oh, don't get it wrong! This isn't what it looks like..."
"We're not misunderstanding anything," Helmut cut in sharply. There was no need for explanations; what they saw was enough, and anything beyond that didn't interest them.
Alea glanced at the two coaches and added, "We'll turn a blind eye to this."
Her tone implied a subtle threat.
Alan, trying to regain his composure, frowned and explained, "This isn't a secret affair... And for the record, I've been divorced for years now. It's not what you think."
"Why the surprise then?" Alea probed.
"Well, it's just that...," Alan and Patricia exchanged glances. Patricia hastily added, "We thought it was too soon to let students know... we've only recently started seeing each other."
Their reaction seemed to be more about being caught unexpectedly in a public place than anything else. While it's not unusual for faculty members to dine together, the issue was their romantic demeanor.
Alea smiled slyly, "So, you wouldn't mind the gossip then."
Alan solemnly offered, "I'll cover your meal."
Quickly, Helmut and Alea left the restaurant, enjoying a meal on an unexpectedly good fortune. Helmut glanced at Alea, puzzled by the coaches' behavior.
"Why did they react like that?"
He was curious why Alan felt the need to silence them.
Alea explained, "It seems Alan's divorce was against his family's wishes. Also, Baden's noble families are conservative. Patricia being an outsider makes their relationship somewhat problematic."
"Trouble if it becomes public?"
"Exactly."
"But I was supposed to pay today."
"We'll settle that next time," Alea insisted, not letting the matter slide so easily, leading to an agreement for another outing. Helmut wondered if this was for the best but decided not to dwell on it.
They enjoyed their free meal, but something felt off to Helmut.
"Why isn't everyone staring at you?"
Alea simply smiled, a frequent expression lately.
"Any guesses?"
Helmut soon realized, "Your magic... it's being suppressed."
Alea's natural allure, akin to pheromones, usually drew crowds, but today, its usual intensity seemed diminished.
"Right, I've been busy over the break."
Helmut finally understood Alea's efforts to temper her magical allure, allowing her to step out into the open more freely.
"Being normal is this difficult," Alea sighed.
Helmut thought despite her efforts, Alea could never truly blend in. Even if her magic was fully suppressed, her distinct presence was inescapable.
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After eating, they browsed shops and stopped by a dessert cafe known for its shaved ice. Alea's choice, as expected, was pricey but popular.
"Ever tried shaved ice?"
"No."
"You'll like it."
They ordered different flavors and waited. That's when they heard footsteps approaching.
"May we sit here?"
Without waiting for an answer, Teresa, a senior from the magic department, took a seat beside Helmut, and her friend beside Alea. Alea's demeanor immediately turned icy.
"There are seats over there."
Helmut recognized Teresa, whose presence had always been a nuisance. Now, she was blatantly overstepping boundaries.
"Why are you here?" Helmut wondered.
Teresa, unbothered by the cold reception, tried to justify their intrusion. "We thought joining you would be fun."
Alea and Helmut disagreed, seeing no reason for this forced interaction.
Tensions escalated until Alea bluntly told Teresa to leave. The confrontation could have escalated further if not for the staff intervening, reminding everyone to keep the peace.
Eventually, Teresa and her friend left, allowing Helut and Alea to enjoy their dessert in peace.
"Is this okay?" Helmut worried about potential repercussions within the magic department.
"It'll be fine," he concluded, deciding not to overthink it. "Alea can handle it."
Why Teresa and Alea were at odds remained a mystery to him, but for now, he chose to focus on the present, enjoying the sweet dessert before them.