It was clear to Granberia that the girl's affections were sincere, even if they were lacking in any complexity.
Granberia had, despite her lack of relationships, learned about interacting with humans from her fellow Knights.  
Apparently, for a human, it was easy to get roped into one's emotions, carried along with them like a
fish in a stream, be it to the open sea, or to the gaping maw of the abyss.  If one could even tell the difference.
 
It was very survivable for them to act on their emotions, and establish social bonds.  It kept them in groups.
Even if they weren't strong, they could have numbers.  But it was more than a simple hive-mentality.  They derived
strength from each other, they weren't simply groups of individuals striving for independent ends and relying on
each other when it was convenient.  Though there were obviously exceptions abounding, and Dark and Light lurked
in their hearts just as they did in Monster-kin.  It was not, as many monsters assumed, easy to group humans
into a single set of attributes, though they often acted upon seemingly identical motives.
 
Their drives were infinitely more complex than that of cattle.  And too many monsters viewed them as just that.
 
"Is it your intention to return to Sabasa?" the knight asked.
 
"Only if you want me to."
 
"That's a terrible answer.  I want many things, most of which others cannot supply.  What is it that you desire?"
 
Granberia expected an impulsive answer to this question.  Something she could criticize as childish
and lacking forsight.
 
"I... I want to get to know you better, and I want you to know who I am, in a way that both of us can live with
the knowledge that we did the right thing for each other."
 
The "right" thing?  What did right and wrong have to do with it?  Humans tended to assume that things that made
them feel bad were wrong, and things that made them feel good were right.
 
Although it was more accurate to say that things that were wrong caused them to feel bad, and things that were right made
them feel good, and that they often had trouble telling the difference.
 
Then again, it wasn't a half-bad answer.
 
"I want you to feel happy, and I want to be happy with the outcome of whatever might happen.  But you especially,
because you have to live with the consequences forever."
 
Consequences.  Happiness.  Outcomes.  Don't get killed.  Live for each moment in the present, the future is uncertain, the past is history.
The flame does not care that it came from a spark or will go to ash.  It burns brightly and warms all the hearts around it, fading not in ignominy,
but in glory.
 
"I see.  Blushing lovestruck maidenhood aside, how exactly do you intend to learn about me?  You may not have
noticed, but I am not someone who developes intimacy or friendship on an impulse."
 
"Well, I was simply going to ask you directly, but..."
 
The nerve of this girl.  Even humans don't respond to direct proposals.  They want to be engaged in conversation,
to have something in common, to learn for years and years before they act.  At least, the healthy ones did.  Maybe
Sara had an affliction of the mind.  Mental capacity was a source of pride for humans, so they often made humor
out of those who lacked it.  Insecurity.  The less important something is, the less it hurts when you lose it yourself.
 
"And if I simply walked away?"
 
"I'd follow you and try again."
 
"And if I decided to make camp in Salamander's Cauldron, or fast for a thousand days in Gnome's desert, or brave
a dungeon filled to the brim with murderous demons and hordes of nightmares?"
 
"I'd manage somehow."
 
"And if you didn't?  Then how would *I* live with the consequences?  Of leading a young girl to her death?  Of
wondering what might have been?  Of who you might have been?  You still have your whole life ahead of you.  Choosing
to spend it with me is impulsive in the worst way."
 
Of course, there was nothing Sara *could* say in response to this.  Truth couldn't be denied, claiming Destiny was pointless.
The winds of fate burn away all falsehood.  Even our bones are charred and reduced to ash under the absolute gaze of fate.
Only the Truth can survive.
 
"Okay!  I know of only one way to solve this, then!"
 
"Ancestors have mercy."  Sarcasm didn't come easily to Granberia, but when it did...
 
"Granberia, I want to get to know you better.  Please go out with me."
 
"Your Rosy-cheeked propositions get sillier and sillier.  You want to date a Heavenly Knight?  My very aura causes abject terror in
demons.  The weak-willed can perish from my presence alone.  when I walk down the street, the guards step aside.
I'm a warrior of fire and Fate and you want to date me?"
 
"If you don't want to, then you don't have to come.  If you don't like it, you can leave any time and I won't stop you."
 
'Not that you could' is what Granberia wanted to say.
 
"Very well.  You shall have your chance.  You shall have your... date.  I suspect no good can come from it, however,
and my suspicions rarely disappoint me."
 
Sara retreated under her covers, a smile lighting up her whole face.  A date with Granberia!  She'd
dreamed about it, but now that it was happening, she had no idea what to do!  It was so exciting!
Both the prospect of a date, and the uncertainty, filled her to the brim with a feeling she wanted to bottle up and drink and bathe in and splash around in like
a child.
 
Sara's life was filled with certainties.  She would be queen of Sabasa.  She would wake each day and tend
to her royal duties.  She would assist her father in his management of the state and its riches.  SHe would
find a suitable bloodline to continue the Sabasa royal family.  She would enforce treaties,
learn strategy, and embark on missions of incredible... pointlessness.  Strutting about as if she had any authority.  
And anyway, her duties were dictated by the will of the people.  And if the kingdom knew how to enforce her, if they knew
her duties even better than she did, then why couldn't they enforce themselves?  Were they busy?  Lazy?  Did they want a pretty face to do it?
Sara suspected it was a combination of all three.
 
For the first time in her life, she had something that was hers alone, to win or to lose, for better or worse.  Death could take it away,
her royal guard could swoop in and snatch her freedom in an instant, but in the end... she had a treasure.  Something that was hers alone.  She would never
brag about it, it was just... hers.  A date.
 
Maybe she'd have more things in her life that weren't quite all the way hers.  But this one... this was her first real possession, born of her efforts and struggles alone.
Sure, it wasn't a big deal.  Well, unfortunately, they WERE both big deals, a dragon knight and a future queen.  
But somehow this date felt more important that all that.
 
"umm... Granberia?"
 
"Yes?"
 
"What are you going to wear?"
 
"... is this not practical?"
 
Granberia's armor consisted of layered metal plates, to guard exposed flesh and faults in her scales.  It was reinforced with strips of thick, tanned leather, wrapped around itself to
further prevent cutting blows.  It allowed her full range of motion, while still providing her internal organs the protection that her extremeties were
offered by her scales.  Two black-iron shoulder plates prevented downward strikes from cutting at vital tendons.
 
The jet-black cape that usually adorned her armor was purely ornamental, and signified her rank.
 
It was also the worst date-clothing in all of creation.
 
"... what is the issue?"
 
Sara snapped back to reality.
 
"Umm... you said you were intimidating, right?  I was thinking maybe if you wore something that wasn't so intense, maybe that would help?"
 
"Besides, right now you look like my bodyguard, not my date."
 
"That is because our date is tomorrow, not now."
 
"Oh, wonderful, I... what?!"
 
"We are doing this tomorrow.  No sooner.  No later."
 
"But... I don't even have a list of things to do!  I know nothing about this area!"
 
"So?  It's tomorrow.  I've decided."
 
"If you're just going to lead the way the whole time, you can just plan the date out yourself, you know."  
It felt a bit silly for Sara to be chiding Granberia, but she was being insensitive.
 
"I'm not one for suspense and anticipation.  If we're going to do this, sooner is better.  I have duties besides..."
 
Sara shook her head, her eyes closed.
 
"No, no duties.  You said we'd go on a date, that means we put our full hearts into doing it.  No duties.
This is important to me.  And if you were willing to make me go through all those trials, and willing to make terms rather than denying me outright...
then it must be important to you too!"
 
This girl was much too young to be this comfortable being a ruler and giving orders, Granberia thought.  Worse, she's actually good at it.  Ancestors help her subjects.
 
"... Very well.  What do you propose?"
 
"I'm gonna surprise you.  Our date is the day after tomorrow.  Because tomorrow doesn't work for me.  Got it?"
 
"Fine.  I shall be auditing the soldiery of this city tomorrow.  Make your preparations."
 
"This is so we can both be satisfied, remember?  At the very least, try to have fun."
 
Granberia paused.
 
"Is that a challenge?"
 
"I... um... I suppose... if fun is challenging for you to have...?"
 
"I see."