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« I need your help. »
Guila, who was sitting with her back against a tree, lifted her gaze from the book she was reading.
« No, please », she snorted, recognizing the person in front of her. « Not again and not today, Howzer! »
« But... you don't even know what I was going to ask! »
« Do you want to bet? »
Howzer hesitated.
« Maybe not », he admitted. « You're too smart. »
« No », she corrected. « You’re too predictable. »
« Do you really think that? »
Noticing that her words had upset him, Guila felt a pang of guilt.
« I just mean that I know you too well, after all this time », she clarified and Howzer brightened again.
« Oh... okay then! », he said with one of his goofy smiles. « So... are you going to help me? »
Guila rolled her eyes.
"Why he's always so insistent?"
She just wanted to enjoy that beautiful and sunny afternoon. Away from her duties. Away from confusion. Away from her own thoughts…
But, above all, away from those mountains of testosterone that were her comrades, especially the current Great Holy Knight of Liones.
The one that was towering in front of her, just to be clear.
« Listen, it’s my only day off », the girl explained, calm as usual. « I'd rather use it to rest and read this novel in peace. Can't you ask someone else this time? The other two Misfits, maybe? »
Hearing that stupid nickname, Howzer snorted.
« Hendrickson and Dreyfus are having a bad influence on you », he commented.
« Still healthier than before. »
« Good point », Howzer conceded.
Unable to concentrate, thanks to the cumbersome presence of her superior, the girl closed the book.
« This thing is getting surreal. »
« Oh, please! », he said, even falling on his knees with the hands clasped in front of his face. « You're the only girl I know... I really need your advice! »
« That's not true! », she protested. « You're also good friends with Elizabeth, Margaret, Veronica... even Jericho! »
« Eli is busy, Margaret puts me in awe and about the other two... well...», he wavered, « would you ask them for a female opinion? »
Guila hesitated.
« Yeah, I can't blame you », she admitted. « What about Diane? »
The Great Holy Knight scratched his neck, uncomfortable.
« King said that if I dare to get closer to her again, he'll tear my eyes out…»
« That was mean. »
« Aye… he’s so jealous! And he thinks I still harbour feelings for his wife, although several years have passed… I’m a man of honour, I would never ruin their marriage! », Howzer lamented. Then looked down and suddenly his face became red. « He doesn’t believe I’ve found someone else and... and… I'm falling pretty hard this time…»
« Ooooohhhhh! What a sweetheart », Guila joked. Then smiled in a wicked way. « Just wait for your two best friends to find out...»
« Don't you dare! »
She giggled and he wisely decided to change the subject.
« Soooo », he tried again, looking to the side, « can I count on you to win Abigail's heart? »
Guila sighed.
« Okay, okay... but this will be the last time! I mean it! »
« Oh, thanks! », he cheered.
She smiled, infected by his positivity. That boy might act as an idiot, but he was a real ray of sunshine.
« What will the next gift be? Because I don't think she liked the previous ones », Guila noticed. « I mean, she rejected them all...»
« Yeah, yeah », Howzer said, sheepish. « Trust me, I know what I'm doing! »
« If you say so. »
He looked at her book.
« I'd like to give her one of those paper things, this time. »
« Howzer, I know that reading is not your forte », she said through gritted teeth, « but you know perfectly well that they're called books. »
« This doesn't make them any less boring. »
Realizing that a very long and stressful afternoon awaited her, Guila decided to go straight to the point.
« Why do you want to give her such a gift, anyway? », she asked. « I mean... maybe she doesn’t even like reading. »
« Nah, I already know that she is brainier than me and appreciates this stuff. »
« Why I'm not surprised? »
« Ah ah... very funny », he grunted. « I need your help in choosing which book I should buy, because to me they're all the same. Do you have any hint? »
Guila sighed again and stood up.
« Come with me », she ordered.
« Uh? W... where? »
« To the place where books are usually sold, silly », she answered, heading towards the centre of Liones.
Howzer hurried to catch up with her and so they started to walk side by side.
Almost immediately he began to fill the silence between them with one of his absurd speeches, as Guila just listened and replied with witty jokes from time to time.
To be honest, she secretly envied his resilience and ability to communicate.
"I'd like to be as spontaneous as he is", she thought.
A lot of people claimed their friendship was weird, because they had nothing in common. Apart from military life, of course.
Guila was calm, mature, thoughtful, serious and reserved, a model student in any discipline – even Helbram had once let slip his appreciation for her intelligence. Unfortunately, she was also a little insecure, even if she didn't show it to others… and she felt a little boring too.
Howzer, on the other hand, was a complete mess: noisy, vain, party-goer, chaotic, childish, overconfident... in conclusion, the exact opposite of her.
But he was also gentle and honest, so she felt always at ease in his optimistic presence and his comical ways distracted her from certain painful memories.
He had become a very important friend of hers and in time he would certainly prove to be an excellent Grandmaster too: since Howzer was in charge, in fact, the Holy Knights of Liones were already much more motivated than before.
Unknowingly, he was also helping Guila with her self-esteem, even if she had once heard him say some unflattering things about her. It had hurt, of course, but she decided to let it go, because it had happened when they weren't yet so close and while Howzer was speaking about girls with a group of comrades.
« This is the best bookstore of the city », Guila explained, leading him inside a large building. « Honestly, I never thought I'd come here with you someday...»
« Are you done with the compliments? », Howzer said with heavy sarcasm.
She couldn't hold back a laugh: it was too much fun to provoke him.
« Come on, I was just joking », she soothed her friend. « Follow me, together we'll find the right book for your beloved lady. »
« I hope so », he said blushing. « I'm not sure about her tastes, but I know that she doesn’t like romantic novels. »
« I'm starting to appreciate this girl », Guila admitted.
They began to look around for the perfect gift and Howzer realized that the bookstore was huge.
« Did you ever come here with him? », he asked out of nowhere.
« Him? », Guila said, confused.
« Gowther », he explained. « I mean... when you two... you know...»
The black-haired girl looked away.
« Yeah », she confessed. « He really likes books, even more than me. »
Howzer noticed her sad expression.
« I didn't want to bring back bad memories...»
« On the contrary », she reassured. « In this place we spent really beautiful moments. It was awesome to be in a relationship with someone who had the same passion for reading. »
The Great Holy Knight smiled.
« As I said before you're very smart, Guila », he declared. « I'm sure even Gowther noticed it and that's why he chose you that time. »
Hearing those words, her gaze darkened.
« I'm a very lucky girl, then », she said bitterly.
Howzer realized too late his own tactlessness.
« Oh, I'm very sorry! », he immediately tried to correct his mistake. « That was a horrible thing to say... I'm an idiot! »
Guila shook her head and offered a faint smile.
« No, you're not », she reassured. « You're just a sincere person and I envy your natural attitude. »
« T... thanks », Howzer stammered. « Said by you it means a lot, 'cause you're one of the people I respect most. »
« Really? »
« Yeah... you're brave », he said. « And always calm, despite everything you've been through. I admire your fortitude. »
Guila stared at him for a moment, surprised.
« I really appreciate this compliment, Howzer...»
In truth she was also baffled that he knew the word fortitude… but that wasn’t the moment to point it out.
« Well... we're comrades, right? Together we've even faced a horde of Demons! »
« Finding a book for your future girlfriend should be an easier challenge, then », Guila joked.
Howzer's cheeks turned a deeper shade of red.
« Girlfriend », he repeated, looking away. « Sometimes I think she's simply out of my league. »
« You're idealizing Abby too much », Guila exclaimed. « One day she'll realize how wonderful you are, I promise... but now we need to focus on our current mission. »
He just nodded, still blushing.
They searched together for a while but then they parted, thinking it would make more sense to explore different sections at the same time. Nevertheless, she strongly doubted that her friend could stay focused long enough to accomplish his task.
A few minutes after, leaning from a balustrade of the second floor, Guila noticed that Howzer was already trying to impress a pretty girl.
« Idiot », she snorted, disappointed by his inconsistent behaviour.
Not even an hour before he had claimed to be madly in love with Abigail and now he was already hitting on that unknown woman in front of everyone.
"I should scold him..."
The maiden was just his type and very similar to Diane and Abby, although Guila had only seen the latter from a distance: brunette, busty and smiling. In conclusion, the kind of girl who certainly doesn't go unnoticed.
Well, for a Giantess that would be inevitable in any case...
"I'd like to be so pretty", Guila thought.
When she was little her father used to tell her that one day she would become a beautiful woman, just like her mother.
But now that she was already twenty-six, Guila didn't feel appealing at all: with those thin eyes, pale skin, a too serious nature and the nonexistent chest, nobody could notice her. No one except an animated doll, at least...
"I'm just so flat", she thought. Then looked at her own chest. "In every sense."
The girl sighed and leafed through a book she had picked up.
Guila knew the relationship between Gowther and her had only been an illusion, yet she had enjoyed being courted by someone and...
« Interesting choice », a voice said.
« What!? », Guila exclaimed, startled.
Beside her she saw a very handsome young man, who was looking at the book she still had in her hand. He seemed really intrigued by its title.
« Oh, well... I like historical novels », she said, blushing. « And I've been wanting to read this specific book for a while...»
« Can you tell me something about its storyline? »
« Sure! »
« I'm Eric, by the way. »
« My name's Guila. »
They began to talk and Eric told her he had recently become a teacher at the elementary school of Liones. He came from Byron and he was twenty-seven... just like his girlfriend, as he said pointing to a beautiful blonde girl who was talking to the bookseller.
"Of course", Guila thought. "It was too wonderful to be true..."
« Did you find something? », asked a familiar voice.
Howzer appeared at her side and stared hard at Eric. There was no sign of the brunette, probably that fool had scared her away with his awful seduction techniques.
« Uh? Oh, yes! », Guila said, confused by his serious tone. « I suppose Abby could like this. »
Her friend nodded, not even looking at the book she was showing him. It was the same novel she had recommended to Eric.
« Have you already read it? »
« Not yet... but it's in my wish list and I think it could be a refined choice. »
« Good », he said dryly. « Can we go, now? »
« O... of course. »
She had never seen him in such a bad mood.
The Great Holy Knight took the book she was handing him and left in a hurry, forcing the girl to apologize for her friend's barbaric ways and quickly greet Eric.
"What the hell is wrong with Howzer?", Guila thought, upset, following him outside the bookshop.
It was almost sunset and the first stars were already twinkling.
They walked in tense silence, without even looking at each other. At some point the girl understood that he was leading her home, although she hadn't asked him.
« Forgive me if you can », Howzer mumbled, suddenly. « I was rude and I embarrassed you in front of everyone. I'm too impulsive, sometimes. »
She shrugged.
« It doesn't matter », she answered bitterly.
He looked at her, unconvinced.
« Yes indeed », he continued. « That seemed a very nice guy and surely you were talking about clever stuff... I shouldn't have interrupted with my childish ways. »
« No, you shouldn't », Guila confirmed and he was clearly hurt by her coldness. « But, as I said, it doesn't matter. He already has a girlfriend and she is very beautiful. »
He seemed even more mortified now.
« I'm sure she's not so cute », Howzer said, trying to be supportive.
« Yeah, whatever. »
« Sure she can't fight like you », he insisted.
« This doesn't make me feel better. »
Her friend hesitated.
« It should », he said timidly. « The entire Order has great respect for your fighting skills and...»
« I know, Howzer, but I'd like to be appreciated for other things too! », she clarified, irritated. « I'm just one of the boys, now... you all treat me only like a comrade! »
« T... that's not true! »
« Yes, it is! », she insisted, clenching her fists. « Sometimes I wish I had a normal life... instead I've become a Holy Knight who blows things up! »
« I don't see the problem... I mean, your powers are fantastic! And together we make a great team! »
« The problem, Howzer, is that years ago I was stupid enough to drink the blood of a Demon… and now I can't expect to be like the other girls! », she said, exasperated. « Like that brunette you met earlier in the bookshop, for example... she seemed so nice and normal! »
« Oh, t… that! You know, I was just... I didn't...», he stuttered, embarrassed, then stopped seeming really uncomfortable. « Don't say that you want to be just like the other girls, Guila. You're fine the way you are. »
« Oh, please! », Guila snorted, unstoppable. « Even you once told some random Holy Knights that they would just waste time dating a tomboy like me! »
Here. That was exactly the story she wasn't supposed to bring up in a discussion with him.
« You heard that!? », he shouted, as expected.
« I was in the other room, dummy! », Guila grumbled. « You said to them that I'm too snooty... and surely not girlfriend material! »
Howzer looked at his feet, ashamed.
« I was just... I mean...», he babbled again. He shook his head, distraught. « Oh, I can't believe I've made such a mess! Gil and Griamore are right: I always ruin everything with my big mouth! »
« You can say that. »
« But why didn't you tell me anything!?»
« For example? », she asked cynically. « Hey, Howzer, I've heard what you said yesterday... I know that I'm the 'Flattest of the Realm', but can you avoid pointing it out with the guys? »
« Oh, Guila... I'm truly sorry! », he exclaimed, horrified. « You should've punch me! I deserved that... no, I STILL deserve that! »
« Well, yeah, I felt pretty humiliated and angered at first », the girl mumbled. She shrugged. « But then I realized you weren't completely wrong. »
« What!? Oh, no... no, no, no! I'm the only one to blame! », he almost cried. « Please, let me explain...»
« There's no need », she interrupted. Then sighed, already tired of that discussion. « It's nobody’s fault, okay? I forgive you… it's useless to fight now for a thing you said years ago. »
« It's not okay at all! At least give me the chance to...»
They reached the Black Cat’s Yawn and Abby, who was welcoming the first customers at the door, greeted the two with a wave of her hand.
She was smiling and seemed genuinely happy to see the Great Holy Knight, so Guila assumed that the girl appreciated Howzer's advances, despite refusing all his gifts.
« You should go to her. »
« But...»
« It's your chance », she insisted. « Give her the damn book and finally confess your love! »
« No. »
« What!? »
« I can't leave you here knowing that you're hurt », he said. « I don't like arguing with you, much less seeing you so upset because of my stupidity. »
The girl turned to look at him, surprised.
That sincere tone of voice and his sad face had the power to melt her anger like snow under the sun. Even if the reason of their argument was still painful.
"Hold a grudge towards this moron is as hard as ignoring a whining puppy", Guila thought, resigned.
« Do me a favour », she then sighed. « Stop insulting your intelligence, Howzer. I know you’re smarter than you let on. »
This sentence caught him off guard.
« W... what makes you believe it? »
« A lot of small hints », she declared, knowingly. « You pretend to be a fool just to ease the tension between people...»
« Nonsense », snorted him.
«...in fact, in situations of real crisis, you have always shown great seriousness and courage », she continued, ignoring his protests.
« Believe what you want. »
« Yeah, I do », Guila confirmed with a small smile. She looked in Abby's direction. « Tomorrow we'll discuss about that old story, if you want... but now go and get that girl! »
He looked away, nervous.
« Guila...»
Somehow, she managed to kick him towards the tavern and then watched him talk with Abby.
At first, he seemed a little awkward, but as the minutes went by he began to relax and Guila noticed a certain harmony between them. The waitress even laughed after he said something funny and patted him on the forearm.
Nevertheless, Howzer continued to glance in his friend's direction, perhaps in search of comfort, so Guila gave him a sign of encouragement before returning home.
The next day she woke up early and headed to the castle for the usual training session with Veronica. After two hours of intense practice, they decided to take a break and sat on the steps of the inner courtyard.
« Are you okay, Guila? You look troubled », said the princess.
« Nothing serious, I just had a little argument with Howzer yesterday. »
« Really? », she exclaimed, surprised. « You usually get along so well... what happened? »
Guila hesitated, after all Howzer had asked her to keep the strictest confidentiality about his feelings for Abby. It was funny, considering he can’t keep a secret himself.
"What should I do?", she thought. “Knowing how proud that fool is, he probably hasn't told Gilthunder and Griamore yet…"
Maybe he just wanted to make it public once sure his feelings were reciprocated.
Guila looked at Veronica, who was still waiting for an explanation.
“Well, seeing the way Abby behaved in front of him yesterday, the outcome of this exhausting courtship is now rather obvious. Maybe I could…”
« I'm helping him get a girl he likes », she revealed finally, « and we ended up discussing about an old story that made me angry. That's all. »
« Howzer likes a girl? », the princess repeated, curiously. « Who? »
« She’s a waitress of the Black Cat’s Yawn. Her name's Abigail... Abby for short. »
« Wait, what!? », Veronica interrupted. She seemed really astonished. « Are you sure you have understood her name correctly? »
« Y... yes », Guila stuttered. « Why? »
« Well, there is only one girl with that name who works at the tavern, but...», Veronica started, unsure.
« But? »
« She is Howzer's cousin…»
Guila stared at the princess blankly.
« Cousin? », she then repeated. « That's impossible! »
« Trust me, Guila », Veronica insisted. « I've known Howzer since we were kids... and I know Abby as well! »
The princess then started to describe this hypothetical cousin and Guila realized that she seemed to coincide with the same Abigail her friend claimed to love.
"I'm really confused now", Guila thought at the end of the day, as she made her way home. “Why did Howzer lie to me?"
In the past months he had bought a lot of things for Abigail, even if that pretty waitress was, according to Veronica, just a close relative of his.
« This story doesn't make sense...»
« Guila, wait! », shouted a voice behind her.
She turned and saw Howzer running towards her.
"What a coincidence", thought the girl.
He stopped in front of her, hiding something behind his back. He had also an awkward smile on that stupid face of his.
« What's happening, almighty Grandmaster? »
« Don't make fun of your superior. »
« I thought you were just Gilthunder's replacement. »
« And stop with that old joke too! », he barked indignantly.
Guila laughed, then decided to probe the situation and maybe find some answers.
« So... how did it go? Did she accept the book? », she asked vaguely.
Howzer ran a hand over the back of his neck, embarrassed.
« Well... seems that I've been rejected », he said without looking at her.
To be honest, he was far too pleased for a person who had just been friend-zoned.
« Again? », she said suspicious.
« Yep », Howzer admitted. He then handed her the book originally intended for Abby. « I don’t need this anymore, so... you can take it, if you want. »
She raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
« Are you serious? »
« You know, I don't like wasting money... and, above all, I hate reading! For me this book is completely useless now », he explained, shrugging. « Take it, please. You said it was on your wish list. »
Guila grabbed the book with hesitant fingers, even more confused.
« I don't understand you, Howzer », she confessed. « You say you're stingy, but then you spend a lot of money for a girl who keeps refusing your gifts. »
« Maybe one day she'll see what I'm really doing », he stammered, nervous.
« But what are you doing, exactly? », she snorted. « Every time you chose with me a gift for Abby, then she refuses it and at the end of the day you...»
Guila stopped abruptly.
« Mmmm? », he mumbled, still smiling. But he seemed even more nervous now.
The girl looked at the book, which he had given her like he had done with all the previous gifts for Abby. Every time with a different excuse.
As clever excuses were probably his constant calls for help.
« Guila, I would like to get her some flowers... If they were for you, which ones would you like? »
« Guila, help me! I'm undecided whether to get her a hair clip or a headband like the ones you usually wear... anyway, what would you prefer? »
« Guila, this time I'd like to give her a dress... can you help me choose it? »
« Guila, I know that you're a great lover of tea... which one do you recommend to impress Abby? »
« Guila...»
« Yesterday I've hurt you with my stupid demeanour », he started, casually. « So, I've an idea! What would you say if I invited you out for dinner? Just to thank you for all these tips and apologize for my horrible behavior...»
Had he always been so awkward in front of her?
Did he always avoid looking her in the eyes?
Was it normal to see him blush like that when he spoke to her?
« Howzer...», she mumbled, feeling her heart racing.
« In any case, you’re wrong: none of our comrades see you as a boy. Quite the opposite, in fact », he pointed out, carefully avoiding to meet her gaze. Again. « You know, it starts to get pretty hard to convince everyone that you’re not girlfriend material...»
Guila looked at the Great Holy Knight – who now seemed almost guilty – and suddenly she realized that, despite his foolish attitude, he could be a patient strategist.
And not predictable at all...