“... Ouch...“

The first round had ended.

Dimi went to her ring corner. The left side of her face felt sore, which was not that strange since Basil had spent most of the first round knocking her around.

As Dimi sat on her stool, she looked past the maid with pointy ears and twelve fingers who was parading around the ring while holding a wooden sign with the number 2 on it. Basil the Satyr was being taken care of by an older-looking satyr. Her opponent did not seem to be that tired as he spat in a bucket.

“I’m so screwed.” Dimi mumbled to herself.

“HEY! Pay attention.“ Ivan washed his goddaughter’s face with a rag. “Sure, his legs are faster than yours, but you are somewhat equal when it comes to above the waist. He relies too much on his footwork, you have to do something about it.“

“Like what?!“ Dimi opened her mouth so Ivan could fill it with water. She rinsed her mouth and spat the water out again.

“Use your head. It’s called a boxing ring, but it’s actually a square.“

It took a second before Dimi understood. Then, she grinned. “I trap him in a corner and beat the stuffing out of him.”

“See? It’s not rocket alchemy. Make him move toward a corner and he is all yours.“ Ivan smiled as he slipped the mouth guard back into Dimi’s mouth. “Go get him, your highness.“

Ivan left the ring and the bell signaled that round two had begun.

Dimi could see that Basil was confused as her attacks had become more aggressive and not as precise. He moved left, right and backward, evading every punch as he focused on reading his opponent’s attack and jabbed her.

Had Basil been more experienced, he would have realized that he was being lured into a trap.

Basil was about to step to the right… and then he noticed the ropes.

He realized too late he had been played as Dimi’s left hook connected with his face.

Basil then raised his hands to defend his face as he tried to spot a way to escape. Dimi couldn’t help but smile as she had no intention of letting the satyr get past her and hit him in the stomach.

Realizing that he had no choice but to stand his ground, Basil threw a series of small punches. Dimi patiently waited for an opening and struck him on the shoulder.

The audience clapped and whistled. This clown act had become an actual fight.

Basil made a left hook that made Dimi step backward. But she then hit him from below and made him lose balance.

Malfus told Dimi to go to a neutral corner as the satyr had landed on his tail and looked shocked as the dwarf had started counting. Dimi tried her best to not look too smug as she got applause instead of laughter.

Basil got up at the count of seven. Seconds later, the bell ended the round.

“I got him!“ Dimi spat out her mouth guard once she had returned to her corner and Ivan dried her face for sweat. “I actually got him!“

“Don’t get cocky.“ Ivan booped her nose. “But yes, you got him. He lacks strategy, just moves around.“

“But what now? He won’t fall for it again.“

“No, but he is sore now. Legs absorbed the hits as well. He is slowing down and now has to fight you directly. Don’t let him catch his breath.”

As round three began, Basil had clearly lost his cool. He looked irritated. It made Dimi felt relieved to know he was a rookie like her. 

Basil made a combination of attacks aimed toward Dimi’s head while the human girl aimed for her opponent’s torso. The spectators cheered as the satyr now danced around the human once more.

“COME ON, YOU GOT THIS!“ Ivan yelled from ringside as the undercover princess threw and received punches.

Basil worked on the left side of the human’s face, knowing that it was the part of her head he had hit the most. Dimi’s left eye began to narrow as a result. The satyr saw his chance as Dimi made a straight right that he dodged and then made a counter attack.

Dimi couldn’t dodge it, so she lowered her head so it would hit her right on the forehead. And then she attacked Basil right in the face. Her attack was so powerful that it actually made the satyr fall backward.

Maltus started to count as the satyr lay on the canvas, panting. His lip was bleeding. He was too weak to get back on his feet, he only managed to sit up as Maltus finished the count.

Maltus raised Dimi’s right hand in the air and declared her winner. Dimi couldn’t help but giggle as she went to her corner so Ivan could get her gloves off.

“Not bad.“ Ivan smiled the same stupid way Dimi did. “Not bad at all.“

Dimi stopped smiling as she turned her head to the opposing corner where Basil sat on a stool and had his face cleaned up. She walked over to him, not really knowing what to say.

“So… ah…” Dimi looked awkwardly at the boy. “Are you, like… okay?“

The satyr shrugged. “No, not really.” He stood up and offered a handshake that Dimi gladly accepted.

***

“Well, here is your share.“ Maltus placed a bag of money on the bar counter. “160 coronets. Ten percent of the ticket sale as promised.“

“My first prize money.“ Dimi stared at the leather bag as they left the tavern. “Badass!“

“Well, don’t get too attached to them.“ Ivan led Dimi to a little shop. “You are about to spend them.“

“Eh? On what?“

Ivan pointed at the shop’s sign that hung from the edge of the little building’s roof.

“Oh…“ Dimi stopped smiling as she read the word Healer on the sign. “Crap”

***

Dimi and Ivan had returned to Jadedale.

“This sucks.” Dimi frowned as she looked at the twenty coronets she had left.

“That’s the way it is for new boxers.“ Ivan patted Dimi on the head. “Your face gets pummeled and you spend your earnings go get it fixed.”

“Was it really necessary?“

“Yeah, your eye got damaged. You are lucky nothing happened to your nose. It is what it is. Some medic elf got most of your earnings, but you just took your first step toward being a real boxer.”

“Yay…” Dimi groaned.

“Come on, I will buy you some fruit before... ah…”

Ivan paused as he saw that Aura the Sphinx had set up her egg stall at the town’s public square. She looked annoyed at a centaur.

“These eggs are small, and you know it.“ The horse-man said as he looked down at the stout part-lion-part-bird woman.

Aura narrowed her eyes. “Then go somewhere else.”

“I bet they aren’t even griffin eggs, looks more like they came from a really big chicken.”

Aura took in a deep breath. “You are pushing it, pal.”

“You better give me a discount or I-“

“YOU’RE GOING TO PAY FULL PRICE FOR THESE EGGS AS WELL AS LEAVING A TIP!” Where the pretty lady had once been now stood a winged eight-feet-tall lion-monster with a very pissed-off human face. “THEN YOU WILL LEAVE, AND NEVER COME BACK!”

The centaur gulped as he placed a bag of money on the stall counter. “Yes, ma’am…” The centaur took his basket and left in a hurry as the sphinx snarled at him before turning back to her humanoid form. Aura noticed Ivan and waved at him, sending him a warm smile.

“Ivan.“

The bull-man blinked as he turned his attention toward Dimi who gave him a knowing smile.

“You wanna go declare your love before we go visit Nora?“

“Oh, for crying out loud, I’m not some lovesick teenager.“ Ivan marched toward Nora’s home.

“Wait, is that the problem?“ Dimi followed her guardian. “Do you feel old or something?“

“NO, that’s not the problem.“ Ivan felt embarrassed. “Also, there is not a problem.”

As they left, Aura sighed as she watched Ivan walk away with his goddaughter.

“Two eggs, please.” Agate the Dwarf stepped up on the footstool and noticed that the sphinx looked at something while sighing. Agate saw that it was the city’s blacksmith that Aura stared at with affection. “So, you done anything about it yet, love princess?“

“Hmm? Oh!“ Aura laughed awkwardly as she noticed the dwarf lady. “Well, I… tried. You know, making... hints. But I don’t think he is interested.“

“No offense, but what is great about Ivan? I mean, he is a nice guy-”

“Are you kidding me?! Ivan is a genuinely good man. Not to mention he has the most beautiful brown eyes I have ever laid my eyes on. Also…” Aura snickered. “He is a total beefcake.“

***

“Well, if it isn’t the triumphant slugger.“ Nora smiled as she noticed who had come to visit her in her humble cabin that she was about to grow fond of. “Congratulations.“

“How did you know that I won?“ Dimi asked as she then smiled smugly. “Then again, you should assume that I did.“

“I know because you are a poor loser. When I tried to teach you chess and you didn’t win, you pouted about it for a whole day.”

Ivan chuckled as he patted Dimi on the head while the princess blushed.

“But I must admit that I expected you to have a black eye or something.“ Nora studied Dimi’s face after placing a bowl with tomatoes and slices of sausage on the table. “Your face looks somewhat fine.”

Dimi sighed as she took a slice of sausage. “Yeah, well, I had to use up my prize money. Ivan dragged me to a healer.”

“That’s just life.” Ivan took a few tomatoes for himself. “Your face get’s busted and someone makes a profit off it.“

Nora chewed on her sausage and swallowed. “Wait a minute… Ivan, I used to work as a nurse before I worked for Pater, I could have taken care of the worst scratches. I would have done it for free, why didn't you ask me?”

Ivan dropped his tomatoes. “Ah...”

“Yeah, Ivan.” Dimi glared at her godfather. “Why didn’t we?“

Ivan could feel sweat on his forehead as both the elf and human glared at him. “Ah...”

Nora sighed as she rolled her eyes. “You suck.”

Dimi scowled as she crossed her arms. “You made me spend 140 coronets for nothing?!”

“You suck SO MUCH!”

“I want my money back!”

“I’m sorry!” Ivan groaned as he buried his face in his hands. “I’m sorry forever!”

***

Ivan gave up 140 coronets from his savings in order to be forgiven.

Dimi thought about how to use her regained prize cash… and decided that the two of them should go to the Pie House in Onyxville.

It wasn’t a fancy place, but for all Ivan knew, they served pies suited for kings.

“I haven’t been here for ages.“ Ivan sniffed around. It smelled like being in heaven. He looked for someone to serve them, one of the waiters wearing pie-shaped hats and an apron with a very happy-looking pie drawn on it. They were all busy at the moment, but Ivan didn’t mind. The wonderful smell of pies was a promise of what to come. “I’m glad you picked this place. What a nice surprise.”

The human girl smiled innocently. “I have another a surprise for you.”

“Oh?” Ivan raised an eyebrow. “It’s not my birthday… is it?”

“Nah, I just thought I would do something nice for you.” Dimi said as she stood up.

Ivan stopped smiling. “Nice... how?”

“I asked Nora to take me home, she is waiting for me outside.” Dimi restrained her giggling as much as she could. “Have fun.”

Ivan had no idea what was going on as Dimi stood up and left. A minute passed as Ivan waited for her to return.

Then he spotted a pair of wings at the entrance to the restaurant. If this was a joke, then it wasn’t a very funny one.

“Hey Ivan.“ Aura sat at the other end of the table. “I got your invitation.”

Ivan was left mute as he began to connect the pieces.

“Are you ready to order, sir?” A waitress with pointy ears and twelve fingers in total arrived armed with a notepad and a pencil.

“I’M GOING TO KILL HER!” Ivan slammed his fist on the table. Then he noticed that Aura looked confused and that the waitress looked terrified. “Oh, OH, not her! I’m talking about my goddaughter. No, wait-”

That made the waitress look even more worried. “I will come back later.”

Aura's smile faded. “Ivan, what’s going on?”

Ivan grabbed after his horns in frustration. “Aura, I didn’t invite you to have dinner with me. Dimi did. She… well, KIDS, you know?!”

Aura blinked. “Ah, sure. Kids. Annoying little buggers.”

“I’m sorry, this is a… a bad joke.”

“Sure.” Aura smiled half-heartedly. “A joke. You inviting me out is just hilarious.”

“Yes… Wait, what? NO! That’s not-”

“I should probably fly home.” Aura stood up as she scratched her left sleeve.

Ivan did not understand what was happening. He felt as if she left now, it would be the end of the world. But he also felt like if she stayed, it would also be the end of the world. And he also felt like an ass when he realized that Aura was wearing what looked like a new dress. “Aura, I’m not saying I wouldn’t want to have dinner with you.”

“Ivan, it’s fine.” Aura said this trying not to look pissed. “I will see you around.”

“No, Aura! It’s NOT fine!” Ivan gulped. He had decided that her leaving would make him more upset than her staying. “Because we… we need to talk about something.”

WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? Ivan screamed at himself mentally.

“Um… okay.” Aura sat down again, looking puzzled. “Talk about what?”

“We need to talk about how worried I am.”

No, don’t tell her THAT!

“Worried?” Aura was even more confused.

“Yes. I’m worried that… that an angel might grow jealous and strike you down because of your beautiful wings that have no equal.”

No! Shut up, Ivan!

”We need to talk about your beautiful hair that makes me think of a cornfield so wonderful and soft that if I lied in it, I would probably never want to stand up again.”

NOOOOOO!!!!

“Aura, I... I absolutely adore you.”

Ivan and Aura just stared at each other, both looking equally baffled.

Ivan was frozen. He had never felt this embarrassed in his entire life. He was a grown man and he had been spitting out dilettante poetry like an idiot.

He wanted to go home and burry himself.

“Ivan. You are putting me in an awkward position.”

The minotaur looked at the table and saw that Aura’s clawed hand had been placed on his. He looked up and stared at Aura who smiled as she said:

“Because I can't think of something as nice to say besides... Well, I love you too.”

Complete silence. Ivan, Aura and the waitress did not say a word.

Ivan broke the silence. “Wait, really?” It was a question of actual disbelief as he narrowed his eyes. “Just like that?”

Aura laughed. “Ivan! I’ve been flirting with you for about a YEAR now! I assumed you weren’t interested.”

“Oh? You did?” Ivan wanted to kick himself.

“Yeah, I should have been more direct.“ Aura slapped her forehead. “I’m sorry, I don't know-”

“No! nononono! It’s probably my fault. Sorry if I...” Ivan gulped. “I guess I didn’t notice because… I don’t know, I-” Ivan paused. Then, he sighed. “No... I know exactly what the problem was. Whenever we talked, I kept thinking in the back of my head that I... didn’t want to screw up again.”

The sphinx raised an eyebrow. “Screw up again?“

Ivan sighed. “I... used to be married. My wife... Ah, my ex-wife, she left me.”

“Oh, Ivan. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Ivan looked somewhat stern. “It was my own fault. I was… not a good man.”

“Well...” Aura smiled. “You are a good man now, aren’t you?”

Ivan shrugged. “Ah... I hope so. I like to think I am.”

“Then that is all that matters to me.“

The sphinx and the minotaur just sat there at the table, holding each others’ hands… and then they noticed that the waitress stood by the table and stared at them.

“Please. Go on.” The half-elf looked like she was moved to tears.

Ivan and Aura gave the waitress annoyed stares.

“Well, I’m not staying.” Aura coughed. “Want to go to my place and have a slice of mushroom pie?“

Ivan laughed. “More than anything.“