Warrior in battle!

Alex suddenly found himself parked and the first thing his eyes caught was a tall tower.

"The Eiffel tower?" 

<Welcome to Paris, monsieur Alex> June jokingly addressed him.

They had ended up teleporting to an alleyway, that way no one saw a car randomly appear out of nowhere.

"So we are like in Paris... Paris?!" Alex asked again, the scene unreal. 

Everything that had happened to him seemed like a surreal dream.

<Well, why don't you find out? You've got time on your hands. The gala is not until evening. So, what do say about exploring?> 

"Sounds like a great idea. Only problem is I might need to find a place where I can sleep over. If there's a huge gala going on in town, I could imagine rooms all booked. I better get to one before it's all booked completely," Alex said.

<So a hotel then? Hold on, there's one around the corner,> June said, self starting the truck.

The illusion was still on. As Alex drove by in the truck and looked at the reflection of the vehicle off of mirrors outside houses and shops he went by, he saw a different vehicle. A Mercedes Benz instead of the ugly truck he was currently inside.

'That is just cool,' he thought wondering if anyone else could do the things he now could. Was magic, as it seemed real after all? Or was he just the only one that knew there existed realms outside of the one they lived in and all it took was getting chased by a mad intergalactic driver?

As his thoughts continued to spiral on and on, June announced that they had arrived at their destination.

The hotel stood just at the corner. It was a grand structure that spoke of both classical elegance and modern luxury. Its façade, adorned with intricate details, spoke of the sophistication within. The golden letters spelling out the hotel's name glittered in the afternoon sun.

As Alex approached, the automatic glass doors gracefully slid open, inviting him into the opulent lobby. The polished marble floor reflected the ambient light, and a chandelier hung from the high ceiling, casting a warm glow.

"Bonjour, monsieur. How may I assist you?" greeted the concierge, a poised woman with a welcoming smile. Her uniform, a chic ensemble of dark burgundy and gold accents, complemented the refined ambiance.

"I'm in need of a room for the night," Alex replied, returning a polite smile.

"Certainly, monsieur. Allow me to check our availability." The concierge, with effortless grace, tapped a few keys on her computer.

While waiting, Alex glanced around the lobby. A plush sitting area with velvet couches invited guests to relax, and a piano in the corner was being played by an old guy in a fancy suit and bowtie.

The scent of fresh flowers wafted through the air, enhancing the overall ambience. And the different varieties of cologne that was worn around was like an aerial assault. Alex felt if they did a thorough check, he would be the only one that smelled like two hundred dollars and nothing more.

"Good news, monsieur. We have a room available for you. A deluxe suite with a view of the city," the concierge informed him.

"That sounds perfect," Alex replied, grateful for his stroke of luck. He followed her as she led the way to the elevator, the soft echo of his footsteps blending with the tranquil piano notes.

The elevator ascended smoothly, and as the doors opened on the designated floor, Alex marveled at the carpeted hallway adorned with tasteful artwork. The concierge guided him to his room, presenting an electronic key card with a flourish.

"Enjoy your stay, monsieur. Should you need anything, feel free to contact our concierge desk," she said, departing with a courteous nod.

Entering the room, Alex found himself thrown into a realm of luxury. The king-sized bed, adorned with plush pillows and silky sheets, dominated the space. A large window offered a panoramic view of the city, the Eiffel Tower standing proudly in the distance.

After settling in, Alex decided to explore the hotel's amenities. He descended to the ground floor and ventured into the hotel's renowned restaurant.

"Bonjour, monsieur. Table for one?" asked the maître d', a distinguished man with a white towel draped over one arm.

"Yes, please," Alex replied, appreciating the fine-dining atmosphere. The restaurant's interior exuded warmth, with dimmed lights creating an intimate ambiance. The clinking of cutlery and hushed conversations from other customers didn't get pass him as it formed a melodic backdrop. Everything was exuding class and he lived for it.

Seated by the window, Alex perused the menu that showcased French culinary expertise. He opted for escargot, coq au vin, bouillabaisse, and concluded the meal with crème brûlée.

Alex dived right into his food as it was served, he didn't even know what they were except that they looked good on the menu and it was cool to just pronounce each name so he ordered it.

The only food he had eaten and believed was of the French origin was french fries.But even that was wrong. So interestingly, this was his first french meal.

As he ate, he looked at the people around the restaurant, they all seemed Sophisticated in a way. 

He noticed a few looked his way and shook their heads in disgust. He assumed it had something to do with how he was eating. Perhaps a misuse of cutleries?

But that didn't bother him a single bit. As far as the food got into his mouth, he didn't see no problem in how he ate at all. After all, they weren't the ones paying for his meal. So he would eat how he wanted!

Midway through his meal however, a tunning brunette waitress approached his table with effortless grace. Her slender figure was bolstered by a form-fitting uniform that exuded an air of sophistication. Two strategically unbuttoned buttons revealed a glimpse of her cleavage, adding an alluring touch to her ensemble.

Alex immediately gulped hard on swallow as he sighted her.

"Is everything to your satisfaction, monsieur?" she inquired, her voice carrying a delightful French accent that only added to her charm.

Alex, momentarily caught off guard by her beauty, managed a nod before realizing he needed to speak. "Absolutely, everything is fantastic. You have exquisite recommendations."

A playful smile danced on her lips as she acknowledged his compliment. "I'm delighted to hear that, monsieur. If there's anything else you desire, don't hesitate to ask."

As she turned to depart, Alex couldn't help but admire the graceful sway of her hips. He watched as she disappeared out of sight. The enchanting fragrance of her presence that lingered in her wake sent Alex straight into the spirit world.

"Paris, the city of love. Could it be real?" He muttered to himself. But got quickly reminded by his stomach that he hadn't had his fill. A man who wasn't hungry was one that would have strenght to go chasing love or ass as the case may be.

He went on to finish the rest of his meal silently, his mind on the beauty he saw not so long ago. When it was time to pay the bills, it turned out they catered for international customers as well. Paying in dollars was not a problem at all for them. Alex was relieved because he didn't have any other money to settle them with.

However, when the debit alert dropped, his mouth was left sagging. 

/[Debit alert - 2000 dollars]\ 

Alex glanced at his phone, his eyes widening at the unexpected debit alert.

'Two thousand dollars?!' he exclaimed internally, his composed shock barely concealing the shockwaves rippling through his thoughts. He looked around to see if anyone saw the robbery that was going on right in broad day light.

But everyone seemed to be having a good time. Everyone except him.

<Ah, the price of a delightful evening,> June chimed in with a nonchalant tone.

"Delightful evening my foot!" Alex muttered under his breath, staring at the screen in disbelief.

Despite the unexpected dent in his funds, he couldn't deny the food tasted great. Perhaps the most he had spent on lunch. But he made a mental note never to try it again.

He was all done and was ready to leave the restaurant but not straight away. There was something on his mind he needed to do first. And this happened when he saw the brunnette walk by to attend to another customer. Summoning courage from an unknown reservoir, Alex signaled to the captivating brunette waitress. She approached with the same enchanting smile, ready to assist.

"Excuse me," Alex began, attempting to mask his nerves. "I was wondering if you'd be interested in spending the rest of the evening with me. That would be after you are done with work of course. Perhaps a walk around the city or something?"

Her eyes sparkled with surprise, and for a moment, time seemed to hang in the balance. Then, a subtle yet alluring grin formed on her lips.

"I'm flattered, monsieur. But I'm afraid I can't join you tonight," she replied with a hint of regret in her voice.

Undeterred, Alex mustered a charming grin. "No worries. Just thought it'd be a shame to spend a beautiful night in Paris alone. If you ever change your mind, here's my number." He scribbled his contact details on a napkin and handed it to her. There was no defeat in battle for the bravest of men. Alex proudly stuck his sword on a dead body and counted it as a kill!

She accepted the napkin with a playful glint in her eyes. "Perhaps another time, monsieur. Enjoy the rest of your evening."

As she walked away, Alex couldn't help but feel a mix of exhilaration and uncertainty. The bold move surprised even him, but there was no turning back. With the gala still on the agenda, there would be many more chance to try.