"You ready?" I asked my companion, seeing Artoria…not standing awkwardly, but I could tell she was the tiniest bit nervous.

"I am." She nodded. "I have selected one of these 'coffee shops' that Rin has shown me."

I couldn't help but smile at her antics. "You look nice." I eyed her new wardrobe. It was….more of the same, but slightly different stylization and perhaps a new sweater.

"T-thank you." She lowered her head slightly; I could tell she was a little bit of pink on her cheeks. I knew she was still unused to being complimented in this capacity, yet I couldn't resist. "I picked these clothes out myself." She added on quietly.

Well, she had good taste, even if she didn't deviate much. She knew what she looked good in…..which to be fair was practically anything. But far be it from me to dissuade her from what she likes.

"So, I'm curious, did Rin introduce you to coffee?" It was practically a necessity for most mages. Even those who despised the stuff learned to bare it for their continued experiments when they were working on little sleep.

Now that I think about it, coffee makers are one of the few items that the residents here actually pay attention to when new models and upgrades are produced. I wouldn't be surprised if the industry was being propped up almost entirely by mage families.

"Rin had introduced me to the beverage." She confirmed.

But something about her expression was a little off…."Artoria, do you even like coffee?" I eyed her suspiciously.

"…It is not the most unpleasant thing I have ever partook in." she admitted, looking away.

"You know, we don't actually have to get coffee, right?"

"But…." She hesitated slightly. "Rin told me it is an important social ritual for this 'dating'."

Cute.

"Artoria, I don't want you to have to suffer something as mundane as not liking a drink." I deadpanned. "Why don't I take you to one of my favorite Cafes they have some interesting alternatives."

She tiled her head slightly, nodding with a bit more enthusiasm that i had anticipated. I guess she really doesn't like coffee.

"Alright, I'm hijacking this outing." I put my hand on her shoulder and she let out a cute little sound when I pulled her through the Kaleidoscope. Our surroundings changed, and we appeared in a spot that was no doubt only familiar with myself. "Here we are." I gestured.

She looked curiously at a little café that didn't even have a worded sign on the front. She looked genuinely interested, seemingly a bit more intent on going to inspect the place. We walked inside, and the place was relatively empty, one or two patrons when the place could easily fit fifty to sixty.

It was one of my little favorites, actually, I think Zelretch is pretty much single handedly keeping it running at this point. And to be honest, this isn't the only place like that in this world.

I saw her eyes dart to the menu, a lot of things perhaps were rather strange for her.

"Would you mind if I order for us? I think I can get something you'll like." I offered.

Her face brightened and she gave me a good natured smile. "Yes, that would be wonderful.

"Two hot chocolates, with the works, please." I set some money down on the counter, seeing the barista nod at me.

We walked over to a secluded booth at the corner, for a little bit of privacy. It didn't take long for someone to follow up with our drinks.

Artoria's eyes widened at the monstrosity that was set before us. And I use that term in a very endearing way.

"Whipped cream, topped with caramel, chocolate shaving bits, and a large marshmallow and a few graham crackers." I narrated.

"How decadent" She marveled, taking a sip. "It is delicious." I could see her practically glow in the aftertaste.

Yeah, this kind of place would be obsolete in a couple decades, when things like this become very much a fad all around the world. But for this time period, it's not exactly something you can find easily.

Seeing her happy like this, it really did quell a lot of my turbulent emotions.

"Perhaps we should finally have that talk?" I offered an in for conversation, quickly creating a shoddy bounded field around us, preventing any ease-droppers and the like.

She tucked a few strands behind her ear, looking at me with a small smile. "I am unsure of how to properly proceed." She admitted, not nearly as unsure of herself as before though. A confidence that shown through even in ignorance.

"Well, before anything more comes about…..you may rethink me after today." I sighed, seeing her expression turn…pensive. "I won't mince words, nor will I lead you on. I'll just be blunt, I have multiple women already."

There really was no correct way to go about this, being completely honest was perhaps the best course of action though. She deserved nothing but my honesty, and I would not play with her emotions.

Her expression hardened, and she reverted to her emotionless mask she often wore. It made it exceedingly difficult to get any kind of read on her.

"You…." She stopped herself, seemingly unable to find the correct words before opening her mouth again. "Why did you tell me…..couldn't you have...?" She seemed…..dejected and slightly confused.

"Do you think this is something I would hide?" I questioned. Do people really think the worse of me? Or maybe she was bringing some of her own self esteem issues to light and making jumps in conclusions? I just shook my head. "Artoria, what do you think the most important things in a relationship are?"

"I am unsure….I have never had a proper relationship before." She said quietly, and my gut practically wretched at her words.

Yeah, if I recall correctly, even her marriage was a sham….something basically done to hide her gender during those days.

"In my opinion, there are three facets that determine a relationship, with their importance in order. Trust, communication, and love." I explained. "I refuse to start any kind of romantic relationship on a lie, if you couldn't trust me, then what was the point if anything more bloomed?"

"…what happens if I….did not wish to pursue anything more?" She hesitantly asked.

"Then we simply don't have anything more." I shrugged. "There is no consequence, I won't get angry, I'm not going to pressure you in any way." I said simply. "You have an obligation to find your own happiness. If you don't believe it to be with me, then you are free to find someone else. I would be more than willing to continue with just our friendship."

She looked rather contemplative at my words, clearly deep in thought. "I have a question." Her words rather even. "Do you truly like me?"

"I do. There are several things about you that I find attractive beyond just your physical appearance." My words were completely honest.

Was she looking for some reassurance?

"Oh." Her cheeks flushed slightly again. "I see." We sat in silence for a few more moments before she spoke again. "I admit, this isn't something I would have preferred…..but it also is not a concept foreign to me."

I tilted my head in confusion. "Pardon?"

"Hmm?" She looked at me. "Did I say something strange?"

"Did you not live in an era where Christianity was predominant and their tenants followed closely?"

She looked at me for a moment before actually bursting out laughing. "I see, you seem to hold some incorrect thoughts about my era." She giggled a few more times before finally settling down. "Yes, in public the 'upper class' held to certain standards, but they were by no means priests or nuns." She pursed her lips. "Many of my nobles had dozens of mistresses and lovers even if they only had a single wife." She looked rather wistful for a moment. "I often used such things to shield myself away from those unscrupulous individuals who wished to offer up their daughters, sisters...and wives, for political gains."

"Um, did you just say --"

"Yes." She deadpanned and I held back....many questions.

"You know, I am actually unsurprised." I sighed. "Rules for thee, not for me." I waved my hand flippantly. Perhaps I romanticized that time period too much in my head.

"Your other…..women." She chose her words carefully. "Who are they?"

"Meridia, she is a 'goddess' from Skyrim, the place that the old man was speaking about sending you and Rin to." I explained. Well, technically Skyrim was just a province, but I didn't really want to delve into geography.

"A goddess?" She seemed rather surprised.

"It's a close enough explanation before you actually read some books from there. Her 'authority' is over life, or rather the 'energy' of life. She holds a vehement dislike for the undead, so I would advise Rin to not practice any necromancy, seeing as how I was going to ask her to make sure no other higher powers poke around."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "I am a spirit….."

"Different concepts, she hates the things that make a mockery of 'life', a heroic spirit is more of a holy existence, which there is a little precedent for over there." I waved off her concerns. "Truthfully….I think she would like you."

They have similar temperaments, and I think Meridia would find Artoria rather refreshing in someone she could confide in.

"And she is okay with you….." She glanced at herself, but I could see what she was implying.

"She is the one who brought it up." I shrugged.

"Oh…I would have assumed…" She stopped herself abruptly.

"My devil nature?" I laughed lightly.

"I…didn't mean it like that." She looked away briefly.

"It's not something I take offense in, you're probably right that my nature does have an influence on it. Actually, being a half devil makes my inhibitions much lower than a normal human." I thought about it for a moment, realizing I need to take a better note of what my devil side actually does to me. "But It's not like I even go out looking to pick up girls." I sighed. "Even if harems and such are extremely common in my….. culture…. surprisingly on the opposite end of the spectrum as well."

"Wait, you mean women with multiple partners?" Artoria looked flabbergasted, I guess being in male dominated societies made such things unheard of, I only nodded at her. "Oh my." She turned a bright pink.

Well, the devil society is male dominated as well, but strength rules over all else. There are plenty of strong women who have harems, albeit a bit rarer than men, but still not something one would bat an eye at.

"And…who else?" She questioned again.

"Scathach." I said simply, just bringing up her name still made me experience things I was trying to suppress.

"I should have expected that." She deadpanned.

"I can't counter those words." I couldn't help but smile slightly. Yeah, Scathach's reputation was….known.

"Would I….be able to meet them?" She looked a little unsure of herself.

"Of course, though it may not be for a bit…..Meridia can't leave her realm willy-nilly and Scathach is currently….indisposed."

"I see…..you truly are keeping no secrets from me, and I wouldn't be able to find out even if you were, yet you are being so open." Her expression softened slightly, looking at me again. "I still don't' know what to do, even before this…revelation, I still was conflicted. But….I want to give it a chance, mayhap our paths will part at some point, but I do not want to live with a regret in my heart anymore."

Huh, well, what do you know?

This brought a genuine smile to my face, even if my heart was still in shambles.

***