Bonus Short Stories: Garyl’s Date Plan

◇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.