Oden ad victorem-XX
-
-
DATE:12th of June, the 70th year after the Coronation
LOCATION: Concord Metropolis
-------------------------------------------------
-
-
I woke up with my tongue feeling irritated. Could I have been alergic to one of the wines from yesterday? Or was it perhaps an omen?
I certainly dreaded my date tonight. While Ulkip was still celebrated for his efforts from yesterday I had to look up restaurants in the area. I thought about sabotaging this experience, but making her angry wouldn't help my situation at all. This made it even more stressful.
In the first place I never saw Alice as having a taste for certain food in particular, asking her only confirmed this.
I suggested five restaurant with different styles and she couldn't decide on anyone. Some would just choose at random at this point, and I was also of that opinion.
I etched roman letters with a marker on one side of 5 coins, then I shuffled them around before calling Alice to chose one. She got the "Al Vente" traditional restaurant. It served spaghetti.
Now with that part done there was the other itinerary.... Huuh, I liked it more when the prop department did these mundane tasks.
At some point I just gave up and saved the location of the park where I stood with the Changeling.
Am I really in sound mind to waste half a day on this stupid date? Not at all. I was surprised my reservation for tonight even was approved. Restaurants in Cordon work on a one week notice basis. Someone must have cancelled his booking last minute.
Util I had to leave I practiced more with the nicotine pouches. I say nicotine, but I have no idea what is in them. Whatever the case, they were surprisingly effective. Or better said I was wondrously resistant to their side effects. I used BT five times yesterday and about 7 times while waiting for Alice to prepare yet I didn't even feel light headed.
Eventually she decided to show up at my room.
She wore a knee-length, A-line dress that flowed softly around her petite frame, the light fabric catching the air as she moved. The subtle lace detailing along the bodice added an elegant touch, while thin straps rested delicately on her shoulders. In a gentle shade of blush pink, the dress highlighted her youthful energy, with a defined waistline emphasizing her figure. The delicate frills in her hair played off the airy elegance of the outfit, creating a balanced yet playful look. For once, Alice dressed elegantly. I probably should have bought another shirt, but I couldn't be bothered.
I took her hand and like a gentleman let her drive to the restaurant. It's not like I couldn't drive ve, but Alice can't read maps for her own life.
For a 10km distance, we spent about an hour on the road, choosing wrong lanes, Alice speeding past the needed ones... We eventually made our way to the restaurant.
The clerk at the entrance was really pompous. Actually the whole restaurant looked expensive. It's good I still had cash from my advance payment. Alice was really surprised I chose such a place. Perhaps out of her usual price bracket? Well, today was my treat.
As I said, the restaurant was really pretty. It exuded elegance from the moment one stepped inside. The warm glow of soft, amber lighting bathed the room in a romantic atmosphere, casting gentle shadows across the rich, wooden tables. Polished marble floors, inlaid with intricate mosaic designs, reflected the light from ornate chandeliers hanging overhead. Crisp white tablecloths draped each table, complemented by fine silverware and neatly folded cloth napkins.
Large arched windows framed with flowing curtains allowed views of a bustling cobblestone street, while the scent of fresh basil, garlic, and tomatoes filled the air. In one corner, a grand piano played soft, classical melodies, blending with the quiet murmur of conversation. The walls were adorned with classic Vental art and wine racks showcasing aged bottles, hinting at the restaurant's curated selection. The entire setting combined refined luxury with the rustic charm of Venta, offering an intimate and sophisticated dining experience.
Venta is a former country now conquered by the Unified Kingdom just like the County of Concord. Venta used to be an empire in ancient times, one that conquered most of the territories of the current unified Kingdom. Such a revenge.... Their rustic culture is really popular. Their olives became a national treasure due to the refined oil they produced.
We had a table near one of those pieces of art.
I was addressed with "domine" by the waiter, I remember it means sir. The Ventian language isn't really used anymore. Just like in Cordon, the state policy of "the Unified alphabet" reformed the language Sistem.
I speak Ventian and even for me it is hard to actually use it. They say it was a much more poetic language than our modern alphabet, but who actually recites poetry?
At least wasn't sure what to get from the varied menu full of specialized dishes she probably wouldn't get to try again. What kind of mental disorder is this? OCD? ADHD? The first place I don't understand her troubles. Came here for pasta so why not just order that?
You took her half an hour to decide and another hour for our food to arrive.
Mine was a traditional pasta dish, Spaghetti Aglio e Olio, made with long strands of spaghetti cooked al dente. The simplicity of the dish is its beauty: garlic, thinly sliced and lightly sautéed in golden olive oil, imparts a rich aroma. Red pepper flakes add a hint of heat, while freshly chopped parsley offers a vibrant touch of green. The spaghetti is tossed in the garlicky oil, coating each strand with its savory essence. Finished with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and a dash of sea salt, the dish is a perfect balance of bold flavors and delicate textures, representing the heart of Italian culinary tradition. My mother used to cook this. Man screw her.
Alice had a lasagna. Thin sheets of fresh pasta alternate between layers of rich, slow-cooked Bolognese sauce made with tender ground beef, tomatoes, and aromatic herbs. Creamy ricotta cheese and smooth béchamel sauce provide a luscious contrast, creating a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Mozzarella and parmesan cheese are generously spread throughout, melting into golden perfection as the lasagna bakes. The top layer is slightly crisp, with bubbling cheese and just the right amount of char. Each bite offers a satisfying mix of flavors: savory meat, tangy tomato, creamy cheese, and the comforting bite of perfectly cooked pasta.
Of course, I enjoyed my food, but I didn't get to finish it.
At some point a group of armed men rose up from between the other guests. They put on masks of desert demons. I knew them. They were the resurrected "Combine gang" from the news. Superior Woman was so useless...
The restaurant's serene ambiance shattered in an instant as the Combine gang revealed themselves among the unsuspecting guests. Emerging from different corners of the room, they moved with swift, calculated precision. Their masks—terrifying visages of desert demons—concealed their identities but amplified their menace. The masks, sculpted to resemble monstrous faces with sharp horns, cracked skin, and hollow eyes, seemed almost alive in the flickering candlelight, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
One by one, they stood up from their seats or appeared from behind pillars, their movements synchronized like a well-rehearsed play. The soft clinking of silverware and murmurs of conversation fell silent, replaced by the unmistakable tension of impending chaos. The gang wore dark, tactical clothing, a sharp contrast to the restaurant's elegant surroundings, with hidden weapons glinting beneath their coats.
The guests, frozen in shock, exchanged nervous glances, while the gang members moved with a predatory calm, their presence suffocating the room. Behind their demonic masks, their eyes scanned the room, ensuring every exit was covered, sealing the once-luxurious space in a cloak of fear. In that moment, the refined Italian restaurant transformed into a stage for something far more sinister, the gentle hum of the piano now a distant memory.
I wanted to finish my pasta, but I obviously couldn't with a gun pointed at my head.
They wanted our money, the guests supposedly being rich people. That wasn't wrong, but most rich people pay by checks. Doing a stick up when they only have the unwritten papers on them is kind of moronic from my perspective.
Alice gave me a look if she wanted to intervene, but from my perspective we were better off just waiting for them to steal the registry. They'll barely find any cash on the guests.
She leaned to my ear and whispered her intent to fight them.
"Shouldn't we wait for the heroes?
" We are the heroes Will." Damn. Guess I lost this one.
" So what is the plan?"
Alice explained that she would increase the gravity for the gangsters while I disarmed them. Not bad, except there were about 30 of them. Could Alice discern between both so many people and the guests?
Guess it was her fault if we failed.
Her signal was tapping her foot and we went into action.
The gravity was massive judging by how the floor rippled under the feet of the gangsters and I activated my ability.
I could seesome of them preparing to shoot so I went in order of danger. First the people with their guns raised, I smashed their necks with my fist to make them let go whatever they had in hand. I threw those at the less crowded piano area.
The ones with their guns downwards I jumped and kicked at their hands to let go, before doing the same with the weapons. I also gave all of the gangsters a few kicks to the groin to make sure they stayed down.
It was pretty difficult to juggle between all of them, especially because they weren't that much slower under the mini BT.
Amazingly, I put on the ground about 20 of them before I lost my breath and time resumed as normal.
The leader of the Combine gang stood at the center of the room, commanding attention with an effortless authority. His mask, more elaborate than the others, depicted a desert demon with jagged horns that curved menacingly around the sides of his face. The mask's intricate design showed deep, cracked lines across its surface, giving it the appearance of ancient, sun-scorched rock. Its hollow eyes were large and shadowed, but behind them, a piercing gaze shone with cold calculation.
He was tall, his figure imposing despite the dim light, wearing a fitted black leather jacket over a tactical vest. Unlike his companions, his movements were slow, deliberate, as if he had complete control of the situation. Every step echoed with an air of confidence, and as he surveyed the room, a chilling calmness settled around him, the kind that comes from someone used to command—and violence.
A slight smirk played at the edges of his lips, barely visible beneath the mask, suggesting that he relished the fear spreading through the room. His voice, when he spoke, was deep and steady, cutting through the silence with a tone that brooked no argument. There was no need for theatrics; his presence alone carried a heavy, unspoken threat, as though he could unleash chaos with a mere gesture. His very demeanor spoke of a man who had seen much, controlled more, and feared nothing.
I didn't even bother to get close to him as he was much more powerful than me.
He said to me, standing between his fallen grunts:
"What hero do we owe the pleasure?"
"A no one." Recovering my stamina, I breathed in once again. But that was useless. In a flash his fist traveled up to my face. I couldn't dodge it, not even raise my arms in time. He launched me off my feet.
It was useless to even hold my breath while in the air so I let go.
His force planted me into a wall, breaking away the paint which fell on my head.
I don't know who this was, but he was certainly out of my league.
Alice tried to increase his gravity even more, but if five times was useless then 10 barely made a difference. He walked undeterred.
I grabbed one of the machine guns his grunts lost and fired a whole magazine under BT, and while the bullets pierced his body and he visibly whinced, The boss was undeterred in breaking my skull. He ran right through my bullets, hitting my jaw with a powerful kick that lifted me into the ceeling. My back really doesn't like this date.
Alice jumped through the room with her quasi flight to fight the boss herself.
What secret identity? This whole situation was Soo sloppy....
She was faster than the beast, but he was even more powerful. I stayed there, groaning in pain for a minute, before I realized that her diverted attention meant that the grunts were starting to recover.
I was reinforced by the guards of the Restaurant and some quick response police units, but it was still tough. Each of these gangsters had years of experience and it was hard to avoid the fleeing guests they started taking as hostages.
I had to put my all in subduing them, using all kinds of forbidden fighting moves like Seiken punches and Roundhouse kicks to the solar plexus, groin kicks... It's not like the grunts were any more honorable. I had to save a policeman who was getting choked while another gangster was playing sandbag with his chest to accelerate his Asphyxiation. They had blades and I avoided fighting those. Better for another cop to "die like a hero".
Looking back, Alice was struggling with the Boss. I could see quite a few bruises on her body. I took one of the blades and went on to help "Liliam".
When the boss was distracted, I activated my mini BT and lunged my blade in his Achilles tendon. No matter how powerful, he was still a human.
He tried to grab me, but I was faster and doged. Alice used this opportunity to give him a kick to the temple, making the boss stumble on the ground.
I distracted him again by feinting another stab to his leg, but he turned around in time to give me a big slap which I blocked with both hands. It still made me fall backwards on the ground, but this gave Alice the chance for a finishing strike to the temple, making the Brute lose consciousness. Not a minute later and we were approached by Blazer, filling the room in a red, fiery light.
He came together with other heroes of UltraMan's league and we were called to report what happened.
Apparently This brute was just a lieutenant of the Combine Gang who were currently trying to get funds for some special project. Just a lieutenant? What the hell are modern villains made out of? In my day they were common people oppressed by society....
How things changed.
Alice and I changed our ripped clothes for some baggy ones I got from the heroes. She was pretty dissapointed for not being able to get a desert, despite what happened.
I suggested to take a walk through the alleys in those flip flops to ease her mind.
It was surprisingly relaxing. I mean, my body still hurt all over, but for once Alice was quiet. She seems to like these quiet occasions as she grabbed my hand at some point while still silent.
We got to a 24/7 store called "Timble" and I bought her some Ice cream before going to the park. It was quite nice.
The park wasn't as empty as before, but the rich residents of Cordon aren't rowdy like how I am used with normally. Mostly pet owners taking a walk with their "treasures".
We sat on a bench. Due to how chilly it got Alice glued herself to my arm. For once I didn't dislike it.
Oh, how much of a difference being quiet makes?
Now for the finishing touches! At about 12'o clock I pulled her for a kiss before suggesting we stroll back to the car as it was pretty windy.
We parted ways at the dorm as my body hurt.... A lot. I wouldn't be able to take on both the brute and Alice's insane stamina in the same night.
That night I found myself back in the void.