ULTRAMagic Interlude

Chapter 9

After a quick change into some proper formal wear, Vlastimir and Ekaterina were off to dinner. The Moonlight Garden was a classy evening restaurant, popular with couples. The decor was an elegant Victorian style with touches of romanesque, and the establishment served a wide variety of food. While their menu was a bit eclectic, all of the options were prepared to the finest degree of quality as the chefs took great pride in learning all that they could. The patrons seemed to be well behaved and happily chatted as they ate. After being shown to their table, Vlastimir ordered a spaghetti dinner and Ekaterina ordered steak, medium rare. She also chose white wine for the two. As they waited, they enjoyed the calm and upbeat piano music being played in the background.

"I'm impressed with the variety of the menu. I mean jeez, some of this stuff I've never even heard of before" Ekaterina remarked as their food was brought to them.

"Agreed. Dragoslava explained that the restaurant accommodates people outside the Unlight. I presume she recommended it on those grounds, given that we're both from Earth... or a version of Earth, ha," Vlastimir replied.

As they began eating, something crossed Ekaterina's mind. "Say, Vlastimir, how did you get the money to afford this? I don't mean to question it, it just seems a bit pricey for someone of your... er, caliber."

He chuckled. "It's quite simple: I'm a sellsword, here in the Unlight. There are tribes and wanderers all over looking for a blade or two. Plus I never had anything to really spend the money I earned on. I mean I tried at first, but eventually I grew bored and decided to save the money. I accumulated so much that people in the Great Uncity were asking me for financial advice. What do I tell them? Be born a dragon and get banished to The Unlight," he proposed with a laugh.

"Ah, I see." An interesting response to say the least. "You know? I used to despise steak. My father loved it, so no duh there... but now I've had a change of heart... Good lord, this is amazing."

Vlastimir swallowed his food, wiped his mouth, and cleared his throat. "Haha, excellent. Speaking of which, I used to be afraid of spaghetti. It made me think of icky worms and slippery snakes crawling through the dirt... That changed when I saw my one friend enjoying a plate of it in high school."

Ekaterina giggled at Vlastimir's descriptive language. "Is that the one friend you mentioned earlier?"

He nodded. "Yup, absolutely."

"Could you tell me more about him? If you don't mind. I don't mean to shift subjects like that, it's just that you have my curiosity-again, given who you are."

"Oh no problem: He's a necromancer and an occultist who was transferred to my school after he showed prowess in magic. I sort of just gravitated to him and we became friends. Truth be told, I think he's a bit mad himself, hehe..."

"I see. Again, pardon my prying. Knowing you have dragon blood sets a very wild precedent... I'm not coming off as rude, am I?"

Vlastimir laughed. "Well if you are, I'm clearly not offended either way." He took a gentle sip of his wine. "I don't mind in the slightest. Permit me to ask about your past?"

"Yeah, it's only fair I suppose..."

"Now surely you've had to have some positive moments in your old life, correct?"

Ekaterina thought back for a moment, maneuvering the quagmire that was her old life. "Well, yes actually. I had a French professor who was very supportive of my art. Marcel Germaine I believe his name was. He was always off on adventures with a Dutch gentleman, but he was still more of a father to me than my actual father."

"Marcel Germaine, that sounds familiar... regardless, it's good to hear that you had a good person in your life."

The two went quiet as they finished their food. Something else was bugging Ekaterina throughout the meal, however. "Vlastimir, for someone who professes their madness, you're probably the most well mannered person I've ever seen at a dinner table, no joke."