Not quite yet, but he didn’t give up.

Mira blushed slightly as she looked into Lex’s green eyes, “S=Stop being so sweet, I’m trying to be mad at you, stupid pervert.” She turned away to walk along the market stalls again. Mira smiled to herself so Lex wouldn’t see. In her home-town, tradition held it that boys gave flower wreaths to their sweethearts at the summer solstice celebrations. Sometimes it became quite comical and awkward, when one girl received more than one from different suitors.

“I won’t stop trying,” Lex said as he caught up with her, “Is that a smile I see on your lips?”

“No, no it isn’t. I was just thinking about something funny from the past,” Mira said, not entirely lying, but not telling the whole truth either.

“Care to tell me, I like a good joke,” Lex smiled, “I know this really bawdy one...”

“Surprise, surprise. The perverted ranger knows bawdy jokes? What a shocker,” Mira laughed, “Spare me, and no I’m not telling.”

“Aha! But you did laugh, even if it’s at my expense,” Lex chuckled.

Mira shrugged, “Making fun of you is easy, you provide so much material.”

“If I can serve as the jester in your court, I’m happy already,” Lex said, glad that she seems to have taken her mind off the whole spying incident.

“What’s that even supposed to mean? I’m not some queen,” Mira giggled, “You are silly.”

“You already have the crown,” Lex chuckled and put a hand on her shoulder, “Imagine it, ‘Mira the Amazon Queen, all men bow to her might and admire her beauty.’ Sounds good, right?”

Mira smirked at him sideways, “It does sound nice.”

They continued to browse the market stalls as the day waned. Shortly before sunset, Lex spotted something and got an idea.

“Hey, follow me, Mira,” Lex set and took off.

“What? Where are we going?” Mira called after him and tried to keep up.

Going through a few alleys towards the lake, Mira nearly lost the ranger, but caught up to him as he waited for her at the foot of a tall tower. “What are we doing here, Lex?”

“Just wait here and you’ll see. Leave your heavy armour and weapons here,” Lex said. He put down his weapons in a safe place in the alley and started to climb up the wall of the tower, towards a small balcony, where the door was opened.

“You’re crazy,” Mira said as he climbed, “… Be careful.” She started to take off her chainmail and gambeson as well as her sword and shield, leaving them in a dark spot so nobody would notice them.

Lex reached the balcony and vanished inside the door. After a moment, he emerged again with a rope. He fastened it around the railing of the balcony and threw the free end down to Mira, “C’mon climb up, quick.”

Mira shook her head, “I’m gonna regret this.” The warrior grabbed the rope and slowly ascended the tower to the balcony.

Lex pulled up the rope and smiled, “Follow me.” The half-elf went inside the tower again and slowly went up the winding staircase to the top.

Mira had little choice but to follow him, “Are you sure there’s nobody here to catch us?”

“No, but where would the fun be otherwise?” He laughed.

“You’re incorrigible,” Mira sighed.

Arriving at the top of the tower, they could see the whole lake with the academy on the island in the middle, the sun was just setting in the west, casting a red hue over the entire landscape.

“Wow, it’s beautiful up here,” Mira marvelled as she stepped up to the parapet.

Lex stood beside her, “I always loved watching the sunset up in the mountains, but this is great too. It wasn’t such a bad idea to come up here, after all, huh?”

“Maybe a little,” Mira smiled.

Suddenly, a gust of wind tried to snatch away Mira’s crown of flowers. “Oh, no!”

But Lex was fleet of foot and fingers, catching it in mid-air.

“Thanks,” Mira smiled at him brilliantly as he returned the gift.

They continued to gaze at the sunset a moment longer, when their fingers met on the parapet. Mira turned to Lex and a smiled crept on her lips.