(Stronghaven Central Market, The Virtual World)
Leo and Amanda wandered through the bustling streets of Stronghaven central market, looking every bit the image of a young couple in love.
Leo, playing the part of a doting boyfriend to perfection, didn't hesitate to buy any small trinket or item that caught Amanda's eye, showering her with gifts in a grand display of affection.
Amanda, for her part, seized the opportunity to upgrade Leo's wardrobe, dragging him into several cozy, little clothing shops scattered across the market.
After having Leo try on a myriad of outfits—ranging from the sleek and modern to the bold and adventurous—Amanda finally settled on a look that captivated her the most.
She decided that Leo looked absolutely stunning in black, so she chose for him a black overall robe. This particular robe had a tastefully low neckline and was tailored in a way that it draped over his shoulders perfectly, accentuating his well-toned physique that he had achieved through hard-work within the game.
Within Terra Nova, Leo's avatar was remarkably toned, making the garment look even more striking on him as Amanda couldn't help but admire how handsome he looked; the robe enhanced his natural appeal, making him a sight to behold.
'What an eye candy…' she mused, her thoughts tinged with affection. Leo's charming personality, combined with his new, sophisticated appearance, made him the epitome of the ideal man in Amanda's eyes.
The duo continued to explore the markets for roughly two hours, meandering without any particular goal, fully immersed in the joy of each other's company.
For Amanda, this simple, unstructured time spent with Leo represented the pinnacle of happiness—something she hadn't felt in months.
Amidst the virtual market's hustle and bustle, she found a momentary escape from the complexities of social hierarchies of the arc ship, and the various constraints of her current life.
For a fleeting period, she felt as liberated and carefree as she once did back on Earth, a truly free citizen unbound by the constraints of her reality.
On the other hand however, behind their freedom and joy was an extremely worried Ben, as while Leo enjoyed his time with his girl, Ben silently eliminated any wandering assassin of the night guild, looking to find Leo in the open market.
Ben was absolutely brutal, if he suspected anyone to be a safety threat, they were either knocked out cold, or outright killed, depending on how big of a threat he considered them to be.
The cost of Leo's peace was Ben's sacrifice and vigilance as it was only because of him that Leo was able to enjoy his day in relative freedom when the entire night guild was out looking for him like hounds throughout the city.
Finally, as the late afternoon sun began to cast long shadows across the landscape, it was time for Amanda to embark on her journey back to the quaint village and the wise grandmother she was apprenticing with. Meanwhile, Leo had an appointment to keep with Luke, signaling the end of their shared adventure for the day.
"Well, I had lots of fun today, we should do this more often" Amanda said as Leo nodded his head in agreement.
This was quite the change from his usual life and it did feel quite relaxing, plus having Amanda act so intimate around him did make him feel good.
Leo had never had a serious relationship before and while he could not call Amanda his girlfriend yet, he could also sense that the two were not too far away from reaching that stage either.
A few more of these good dates and they could definitely enter into a committed relationship, an idea that Leo was absolutely thrilled for.
"Before I go, here is my parting gift for you" Amanda said as she retrieved a heavy package from her inventory and placed it in Leo's hands.
As Leo opened the package he saw 12 gleaming daggers inside them with the name 'Leo' written on the hilt, as he was starstruck by the craftsmanship.
The daggers were a marvel of blacksmithing, with each blade being a testament to the skill of an unseen artisan within the world of Terra Nova.
Forged from the strongest steel blended with other ores, the blades shimmered with an otherworldly glow, their edges honed to a razor-sharp finish that promised lethality with every stroke.
The hilts were wrapped in a dark, sturdy material, offering a comfortable yet unyielding grip, ensuring that they would not slip even in the most treacherous of battles.
Intricately designed, the guard of each dagger bore delicate patterns that seemed to dance in the light, merging both beauty and function in a seamless display.
Each dagger, with its perfect balance and weight, felt just right in his hands, as he was blown away with how good this gift was.
—----
[ Daggers Of Love Set ] ( Epic ) - Daggers crafted by an unknown artisan for her lover 'Leo'.
When wielded by the person they were crafted for
Durability +10%
Damage +5%
Critical Damage +10%
—----
"Thank you-" Leo said, storing them in his inventory as Amanda smiled and pecked him on his cheek.
"We are even now, and I'm getting late, byee" she said, as Leo waved her good-bye.
Thankfully, Amanda did not ask for his gaming ID while parting as this perfect date was not ruined with Leo having to lie at the end.
"One down, One more to go-" Leo said, as after waving off Amanda, Leo rushed to the designated meeting spot where he was supposed to meet Luke, near the MP exchange store.
As he reached their meeting point, he saw a very handsome man standing outside the MP exchange store, dressed in 'DarkSky' guild robes, as his attire drew lots of attention to him.
'Talk about behaving low-key' thought Leo, as he smiled and approached his brother, who was absolutely horrified to see Leo.
"What the fuck? What the hell are you wearing? Why is the neckline of your dress so low? Are you a male stripper?" asked Luke, the moment he looked at Leo, as he absolutely disapproved of the dress Amanda had selected for him.