CHAPTER 346: IT’S A DATE [1]

Soft curls of smoke rose into the pale morning sky, dissolving into the mist that hung low over the city.

The streets were still damp from the night’s drizzle, and the faint scent of rain lingered in the air.

Beneath a lamppost, Charlotte stood alone, and she wore a long black cloak draped loosely over her shoulders, its hem brushing against her heels.

The faint glow of her cigarette illuminated her fingers as the smoke trailed upward in lazy spirals.

Her expression was calm, but her eyes told another story.

There was a kind of nervous anticipation there in her eyes, and each time she brought the cigarette to her lips, it felt less like a habit and more like an attempt to steady herself.

A few people passed by, drawn for a moment by her beauty. But one look into those sharp, cold eyes was enough to make them turn away quickly.

There was something magnetic yet dangerous about her... the way she stood so still, the sharp line of her jaw, and the cool detachment in her eyes.

Charlotte took another slow drag, and the ember of the cigarette glowed brighter for an instant before fading again.

Her gaze flicked toward the far end of the street, waiting for someone.

Through the thin veil of mist, she saw him walking toward her.

Brandon was walking down the empty stretch of road.

He wore a simple white shirt and black pants, his hair slightly tousled as the morning breeze brushed against his face.

Her cigarette trembled slightly between her fingers before she caught herself and exhaled.

By the time he walked closer, she straightened her posture and flicked the half-burned cigarette to the ground.

Crushing it beneath her heel, she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and composed herself, though the faint quickening of her heartbeat betrayed how long she had been waiting.

When he reached her, Brandon’s lips curved into that usual easy smile. "Charlotte..."

She stepped forward, and he closed the distance, wrapping his arms around her in a brief heartfelt embrace.

The tension in her shoulders melted as she returned the hug, resting her hand lightly against his back.

"Good morning, Kael,"

Brandon nodded slightly, his arms still wrapped loosely around her.

When they finally pulled apart, Charlotte’s eyes fell on the faintly crumpled fold in his collar.

Without thinking, she reached out and smoothed it with her fingers.

Her lips curved into a small, amused smile. "You’re getting clumsy."

Her hand lingered for a moment longer than necessary, the tips of her fingers brushing lightly against his neck before she pulled back.

Brandon smiled sheepishly and hugged her arm, intertwining his fingers with hers "Shall we start our date?"

A faint blush rose to her cheeks and she glanced away for a second, pretending to adjust the edge of her cloak before finally looking back at him.

"Mhm," she hummed quietly, nodding her head. "Let’s."

Brandon chuckled under his breath and started walking beside her, their hands still entwined.

Their joined hands swung lightly between them as they walked, and the warmth of his palm grounded her against the chill of the air.

Charlotte’s cloak fluttered behind her with each step, and though she tried to maintain her usual composed air, the faint smile playing on her lips gave her away.

---

They passed through the market square, where vendors were just opening for the day.

The scent of baked bread and roasted coffee drifted through the air, and Brandon stopped near a small café tucked between two flower stalls.

It had a wooden sign swinging gently in the breeze, and through the glass window, the faint sound of music could be heard.

"Let’s go in." Brandon said, giving her hand a gentle tug.

Charlotte hesitated for a moment, then followed him inside. The interior was cozy, with a few potted plants near the window and soft amber lights hanging from the ceiling.

They took a seat by the window, where the sunlight poured in, washing over the table.

Brandon picked up the menu, looking it for a moment before glancing up. "You like black coffee, right??"

Charlotte tilted her head in surprise "You know?"

He smiled. "Of course."

The waitress came by, took their order... one black coffee and one latte, and left them in the comfortable quiet.

Charlotte rested her chin on her hand, watching him "After hearing what happened yesterday, Big Sister was so worried and wanted to meet you."

Hearing this, he nodded with a dry smile "Yeah, the next moment, she came to see me..."

With a faint sigh, she spoke "Kael, next time if you are in a dangerous situation, don’t hesitate to call us."

Nodding his head, he replied "Sure... or I can be strong enough so that you don’t need to worry about me at all."

A quiet chuckle escaped her lips and she reached out to ruffle his hair "Oh, for sure..."

Their coffees arrived, and they drank in silence for a while, watching the city move outside the window.

The morning rush had begun, with people crossing the streets, the occasional car, and birds gathering on telephone lines.

It felt strangely peaceful...

When they finished, Brandon stood and offered his hand again. "Come on."

They stepped back out into the sunlight, now brighter and warmer than before.

He led her down a narrow alley that opened up into a park which was green and still wet from the rain.

They walked along the path, the sound of their footsteps mixing with the soft rustle of leaves.

A group of children ran past them toward a fountain in the center of the park.

Charlotte watched them play, a few strands of her hair brushing against her face as the wind stirred.

"Haa..." she sighed softly, almost to herself. "I feel like it’s been a long time since I’ve had a day like this."

Brandon looked at her and replied "That’s because you’ve been working non-stop,"

Before she could respond, he reached for her hand and gently tugged her closer as he guided her toward a nearby bench under a tall oak tree.

Sitting on the bench, for a few seconds, neither of them spoke.

Then Brandon leaned slightly, resting his head against her shoulder.

Her lips softened into a quiet smile as she looked down at their hands, still intertwined from earlier.

His fingers were warm, calloused slightly from training, and she found herself absentmindedly tracing his knuckles with her thumb.

It was such a simple thing, sitting there together, yet it felt very peaceful with him around for her.

After a moment, Charlotte tilted her head slightly "Kael, that reminds me... you should get your Awakener’s license."

Brandon lifted his head "Awakener’s license?"

She nodded, her expression turning a little more serious, "Yes. Everyone gets one when they graduate from the Academy. It’s official recognition of your abilities and rank."

"Well even if they didn’t enroll in an academy, they can still get one as long as you are awakened."

"But since you’re already... well, you’re an S-rank; it’s good to get one."

She pulled out a sleek, black card with delicate golden lines and held it out for him to see.

"This is mine," she said.

Brandon leaned closer, his eyes tracing the engraved letters Charlotte Fleurdys- written in elegant script near the center.

Below it, embossed in radiant gold, were the words: Rank: SSS — Empyrean Class.

He whistled quietly, impressed. "That’s... yours, huh. Looks great."

Charlotte smiled faintly, her thumb brushing over the surface of the card "You should also get one. I can help you with the process if you want."

He nodded his head "Sure... we can get one."

She smiled faintly "Which also means the Government and everyone will know that you have reached S rank."

Brandon’s eyes narrowed faintly "Hm... it’s okay, I guess. I see no reason to stay low-key."

Her grip on his fingers tightened and her voice lowered into a possessive whisper "Mhm, even if someone tried to harm my Kael thinking you are a threat... I will take care of it."

Brandon gazed into her eyes and noticed blue and yellow energies rippling in her green eyes ’Charlotte...’