438 Store Hopping Date, The Rest of the Day in Laguna Province (1/2)

Day 80 - 2:12 PM - Mountain Base, Mount Malabito, General Nakar, Quezon

”Ma'am Odel, what do people do in a date?”

Spera asked as she washed the dishes they used for lunch.

Odelina, who was doing some laundry just outside the kitchen, stopped and looked at Spera.

”Hmm...” Odelina tapped her chin. ”Different couples do different things. There are too many possible things to do. Most common is spending time together in activities they liked.”

”What for? Couples can spend time together as usual. There's no need to go on a date.”

Spera asked. She could not understand the concept at all. She was not just talking about Mark and Mei but other couples she had seen before.

To her statement, Odelina smiled.

”You might be right in a sense. However, dates are special in many ways. When going out on a date, a couple will do something different than usual. Example, watching movies, a picnic, eating in a restaurant, or just walking around a park. By doing different things than usual, the couple will see new sides of their partner. That is the most important thing on a date. It is to learn new things that you don't know about the person you like. At least, that's what I think.”

”It is that complicated, huh.”

Spera looked down while in deep thought.

Seeing that, Odelina continued on sorting the clothes she wanted to wash.

While in deep thought, Spera did not realize that she was flexing her right hand, subconsciously. Realizing what she was doing, she hurriedly stopped it.

It was a mannerism she had not fixed yet. It was because when she still had the ability to open portals, she would do this from time to time to practice while concentrating her powers on her hand. As she got used to this, she would unknowingly do this every now and then. It was even though her ability was already taken away from her.

Nevertheless, it was nothing but pure mannerisms now. In fact, she did not care anymore whether she would get that ability back or not. After Mark and his group took her in, they did not treat her any differently from others. She felt that she already found a place where she was valued, not as an item or tool, but as a person.

”Spera, what are you thinking about?”

A voice was heard as a person entered the kitchen. The person that entered was, the now lively, Emi.

Awakening her dormant blood as a Blood Demon, the connection between her mind and body was fixed. The Emi that was only staring blankly in front of her was no more. She returned to her previous personality. Of course, she still exhibiting some symptoms of trauma. Nevertheless, she was already better.

Now, Emi was helping around the base. She even volunteered to join Spera and Odelina and serve as a maid. Even Emi was oblivious of the reason. As far as she knew, she just felt like it.

That was why, while Edward was leading the training of the combatants, she was here helping do some chores. Like right now, she was carrying new materials acquired from the bodies of the hunted animals this morning. She was passing by to bring the materials into Mark's workshop.

”Ah, Miss Emi.” Spera looked to the side. ”I'm just thinking about the Master and the Miss.”

”Oh, they went on a date, right?” Emi smiled. ”I'm kind of envious. It's been a long time since Edward brought me out. It's not possible anymore though.”

Emi had a nostalgic expression on her face. It made Spera press more questions about the custom of dating among couples.

Their conversation made the two finish their chores longer than usual giving Odelina quite a headache.

***

Day 80 - 2:31 PM - Spirit Sanctuary, Mount Banahaw, Tayabas, Quezon

After spending about an hour relaxing in the middle of the field surrounded by flowers, Mark and Mei decided to leave. It was not because they were already tired of the scenery, rather, they wanted to do more things before sunset.

Seeing that they decided to leave, the Diwata felt relieved. Most demons were unstable beings. If not for the fact that she was afraid of Mark's ability to control Miasma, she would not let anyone with a demon's decent inside the Sanctuary.

Still, the Diwata could not believe that a Demon was really dating a human woman. If not for her seeing the interaction between Mark and Mei, she would never believe it.

”We are leaving.”

Mark said to the Diwata which made her nod and open the portal going outside the sanctuary.

Then Mark said something that made her freeze.

”We're going to visit again sometime.”

But while she lamented...

”Here, as thanks.”

A marble-sized crystal flew towards the Diwata. Surprised, she reflexively caught it.

Seeing the crystal in her hand, the Diwata was shocked. It was not hard for her to realize that the crystal on her hand was created with pure magical energy.

For humans, this crystal would have minimal effects. To her and other spirits, however, this was a very precious treasure that could raise her powers.

It was too precious that she wanted to return it. Even if it was a payment for Mark and Mei to enter the sanctuary, it was too much.

As she was about to return it, Mark and Mei were already gone and passed through the portal. She hurriedly followed out, however, she was not able to see any traces of the two anymore.

She had no choice but to accept it. The next time that she saw the two, she would openly welcome them to the sanctuary.

With this crystal, she would have more power to protect their home mountain.

***

”Gege, you're being generous to give her one of those.”

Mei said as they flew away from Mount Banahaw.

She knew the value of the [Mental Crystals] especially since the number of it was limited. At the moment, Mark only had around sixty of these compared to the [Physical Crystals] which was around two hundred, not including the already occupied ones.