Chapter 397: Are You Asking Me on a Date?

By Friday afternoon, Arthur had finished another training exercise without losing a single objective. Principal Steven had praised his coordination, Vedas had declared the week productive, and Star was celebrating by bouncing on Arthur’s shoulder.

Arthur kept looking toward the Academy courtyard.

Vedas noticed on the fourth glance. "Are you expecting another test?"

"No. Steven said the final review can wait until next week." Arthur adjusted his collar. "I wanted to ask Mithra something."

Eden drifted closer, her wings moving gently. She had spent the morning watching rather than exerting herself, as Arthur had insisted. "Is it about the festival? I saw the posters!"

"Actually, yes." Arthur smiled. "There’s a lantern festival outside the Academy tomorrow evening. I thought Mithra and I could go together."

Vedas studied him. "You’ve gone places with Mithra before. Why are you behaving as though this is a difficult battle?"

"Because those were missions or training sessions. This time, I want it to be a date." Arthur looked toward the courtyard again. "I don’t want her thinking I’m inviting her to research another ancient ruin."

Eden gasped. "You’re asking Mithra on a date?"

Star bounced so hard Arthur had to catch it. Vedas glanced toward two students who had overheard.

"Perhaps a little quieter," Vedas suggested.

Eden covered her mouth, smiling behind her hands.

Arthur laughed. "It’s fine. I just need to figure out how to ask. Should I explain the festival first? Or tell her I want to spend time with her?"

"Both, preferably in fewer than twenty sentences," Vedas replied. "You can face a dangerous Beast without preparing a speech. I believe you can manage one invitation."

Arthur nodded. "Right. I’ll just ask her."

He started walking, then stopped to straighten his collar again.

Vedas sighed. "We may need another week of training."

...

Mithra was sitting beside the courtyard fountain with her notebook open. Melo floated above the pages, although her attention was fixed on Arthur approaching from the opposite path.

"He’s coming over," Melo announced.

Mithra looked up. "Good. I wanted to ask how the last exercise went."

"Is that why you’re fixing your hair?"

Mithra lowered her hand immediately. "I wasn’t."

"Of course not. And Arthur definitely hasn’t adjusted his collar five times."

Mithra glanced across the courtyard. Arthur was doing exactly that, while Vedas appeared to be offering advice. Eden hovered nearby with an enormous smile.

"Maybe he’s nervous about Steven’s review," Mithra suggested.

Melo gave her an incredulous look. "Your father has spent the entire week praising his progress. Try again."

Mithra closed her notebook. She remembered Wednesday’s rescue, when Arthur thanked her for noticing the hidden mechanism. His sincerity still made her smile.

Arthur reached the fountain. "Hey, Mithra. Got a minute?"

"For you? Sure." She tucked the notebook into her bag. "How was training?"

"Great. Steven says I’ve improved a lot. Vedas and Star did most of the clever stuff, though."

"That sounds like you learned exactly what he wanted," Mithra said. "So what’s on your mind?"

Arthur glanced toward a colorful festival poster hanging near the courtyard entrance. "Are you free tomorrow evening?"

Mithra tilted her head. "Tomorrow? Do you want to practice together?"

"Not training this time."

"Then did you find something about that strange fragment?"

"No. Steven’s still waiting for the old expedition records."

Mithra smiled slightly. "Shopping for evolution materials?"

Arthur laughed. "No research, no training, no ancient mysteries. I thought we could visit the lantern festival. Try the food, watch the Beast performances, walk around together. Just us."

Mithra went quiet. The fountain splashed behind them. Melo looked delighted.

"Arthur," Mithra asked, "are you asking me on a date?"

He met her eyes and smiled. "Yeah. I am. I like spending time with you, and I’d like to do something together because we want to, not because there’s a mission."

Mithra’s cheeks warmed. She glanced down, then looked at him again. "You could’ve asked sooner, you know."

"I know. I probably should have." Arthur grinned. "So, will you come?"

"I’d love to," Mithra answered. "Saturday evening sounds wonderful."

Arthur’s expression brightened. "Really? Great! I was hoping you’d say yes."

Melo spun through the air. "Finally! I thought I’d have to arrange a date myself!"

"Melo!" Mithra reached for her, but the little illusionist floated out of reach.

"What? I’ve watched you two find excuses to spend time together for ages. I’m allowed to celebrate!"

Arthur laughed. "Apparently Melo’s been waiting longer than I have."

"She’s exaggerating," Mithra said, although she couldn’t stop smiling.

Eden flew over from Vedas’s side. "She said yes? Mithra, you’re going on a date with Arthur!"

"I am," Mithra admitted, laughing at Eden’s excitement.

Star stretched from Arthur’s shoulder toward her. Mithra gently patted its head, and the slime bounced against her fingers.

Vedas joined them. "Congratulations. The invitation required fewer instructions than I expected."

Arthur gave him an amused look. "Thanks for the confidence."

...

Sun and Athena emerged from the library path with Kong and Athy just as everyone began to settle down. Sun noticed Arthur’s grin immediately.

"What happened? Did Steven give you another reward?"

"Something better," Arthur replied. "Mithra and I have a date tomorrow."

Sun stopped with his hand halfway into Kong’s snack bag. "Wait. You two? An actual date?"

Mithra folded her arms. "Is that a problem?"

"No! Of course not!" Sun shook his head. "I just thought Arthur would take another year to figure it out!"

Athena closed her book. "I gave him until the end of the semester. It appears I underestimated him."

"You were betting on me?" Arthur asked, laughing.

"Not officially," Athena replied. "Athy and I were discussing probabilities."

Athy nodded. "The evidence was extensive. The delay was puzzling."

Kong looked up. "Will there be food on this date?"

"Definitely," Arthur answered.

"Then it’s a good plan," Kong declared, reaching for another snack.

Melo drifted beside Sun. "Perhaps next time you’ll notice when your friends like each other."

"I noticed!" Sun protested. "I just didn’t think Arthur noticed!"

Mithra smiled sweetly. "Would you like to spend tomorrow evening training against Melo’s illusions instead?"

"Absolutely not," Sun answered, and everyone laughed.

Eden tugged Arthur’s sleeve. "Can we all go to the festival too?"

Arthur crouched beside her. "We can go together another day. Tomorrow, I’d like some time with Mithra. And you’re still supposed to rest."

Eden considered this, then nodded. "Okay. But you have to tell me about the lanterns afterward."

"Deal." Arthur offered his little finger, and Eden wrapped both hands around it.

Mithra watched with a fond smile. When Arthur stood, she asked, "Where should we meet?"

"The Academy’s south gate, just before sunset. I heard the lanterns look best after dark."

"Then I’ll be there." Mithra hesitated before adding, "Arthur, I’m glad you asked me."

He smiled warmly. "Me too. I’m looking forward to it."

She walked away with Melo, trying not to look quite as delighted as she felt.

Arthur turned to Vedas. "That went pretty well."

"Remarkably," Vedas replied. "And you didn’t need a formation."

Arthur chuckled. "I was worried it might make things awkward. We spend so much time together already."

Vedas glanced toward Mithra. "She looked happy, Arthur. I think you can stop worrying."

...

Later that afternoon, Mithra visited a small clothing shop on the Academy grounds. She held two outfits in front of a mirror while Melo floated between the displays.

"You’ve changed your mind four times," Melo observed. "At this rate, you’ll still be choosing when the festival ends."

"I want something comfortable," Mithra replied, holding up a pale dress. "We’re going to be walking around all evening."

"Naturally. Comfort is why you’ve checked your reflection six times."

Mithra blushed. "I just want to look nice. Is that so terrible?"

"Not at all," a familiar voice answered from behind them. "Although I didn’t realize choosing an outfit required this much strategy."

Mithra turned and froze. Steven stood near the shop entrance, carrying a folder from the administration building. He wore his familiar, mischievous smile.

"Father!" Mithra exclaimed. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to hear that you’re planning something important." Steven glanced at the dress. "An Academy ceremony? Another tournament?"

Melo looked delighted. "A date! With Arthur!"

Mithra covered her face. "Melo, please!"

Steven’s eyebrows rose. Then his smile widened. "Ah. So that’s why Arthur kept looking toward the courtyard after training. I wondered whether I’d forgotten to give him another assignment."

"Father!" Mithra protested, laughing despite herself. "You noticed that?"

"I’m the principal. Noticing distracted students is part of my job." Steven considered the dress. "And apparently noticing distracted daughters too."

Mithra lowered her hands. "He asked me properly. He said he wanted to spend time together, without training or investigating anything."

Steven softened. "Then I’m glad he was clear. You deserve to know when someone wants to be with you."

Mithra smiled down at the dress. "I’m excited. I want tomorrow to be special, even if we only walk around and eat festival food."

"Then don’t turn it into another examination," Steven advised. "Arthur already enjoys your company. You don’t need a perfect plan to prove anything."

Melo nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly what I’ve been telling her!"

Steven glanced at the two outfits again. "For what it’s worth, I think the pale one suits you. But don’t tell Arthur I helped. He may ask me to grade his choice of clothes next."

Mithra burst out laughing. "You’d probably give him a training exercise for that too."

"Only if he arrived unprepared," Steven replied solemnly.

Steven headed toward the administration building, then paused at the door.

"Enjoy your first date, Mithra. And if Arthur starts discussing ancient relics, remind him that tomorrow is supposed to be about you two."

"I will, Father," Mithra answered.

After he left, she examined the pale dress. Melo floated beside her, unusually quiet.

Mithra smiled to herself. "I think I’ll take this one."