Chapter 12: A Proposal

"I told her we kissed by accident," Howard smiled at Monica while she nervously crossed her arms. "Anyways, why did you want to see me Monica?"

"You just got back, and you aren't telling me what happened?" Monica bit her lip and pointed at Una who had gauze covering her body from head to toe. Monica could tell that the visit to the treasure trove had been anything but pleasant. She wanted to slam her hand into Howard's face, but froze in place when she looked into the glowing amber in his green eyes.

Feeling a strange aura emitting from her body, one full of love, she tried to close her arms to suck in the feeling. However, no matter how hard she tried, the more she resisted the more Howard seemed to cause her to fall deeper into that strange, pleasant feeling.

"Anyways, the sooner you tell me, the better you can get back to your new girlfriend."

"I just laid with them at night, but I didn't hold their hands," Howard smiled and put his hands gently behind his back, following Monica further into the convenience store. A few new clothes seemed to have been tossed about the storage room, including some that seemed carefully folded in piles.

Howard walked passed the new additions, and sat down at the table where two grape juices had been set up. Sitting across from her, he folded his arms, staring into her eyes, while she opened a can and pointed to the clothes littered on the floor.

"Those are for you. A storm arose, and I had enough time to look in a retail shop! However, you better wear them!"

"Of course! However, first, Harley told me to ask you something."

"Harley? You mean that strange, skinny girl from the West Branch? Doesn't she like Una?"

"She likes me too," Howard nodded his head and took out a small little trinket from his pocket, placing it on the table and pushing it in Monica's direction. "However, the person I really like is you Monica. Will you go out with me?"

"Wha-what?" Monica blushed and turned a fiery red before picking up the trinket. "Can-can you say that again? I didn't hear you?!"

"Date me." Howard smiled and nodded his head. "I mean, I know i'm younger than you, but all I want is to kiss you every once in a while. I mean… Will you be my girlfriend."

"Of-of course. Maybe" Monica gulped and picked up the trinket, awkwardly laughing while holding it above her head. "So-so what's this. Before I answer your question. I at least need to know what you brought me."

"It's an ice amulet. If you wear it, apparently you'll get tired less easily."

"Hmm, a fair offering," Monica nodded her head and put the trinket in her pocket. "Fine, I'll accept your offer. However, as your girlfriend, I expect lots of gifts like this! Now, now that I'm your girl-girlfriend. What… What does that mean?"

"I don't know. Can you close your eyes," Howard smiled and walked over to Monica, pulling out another little trinket from his pocket. He stopped a few feet from her, and watched while she nervously shut her eyes closed, letting her judgement disappear into the darkness.

Feeling her heart beginning to beat faster and faster, she noticed Howards' breath touching against her skin. His hand slowly nearing her face while she closed her eyes tighter and pucked her lips. Leaning forward, she made a puckering sound before Howard smiled and grabbed her hand.

"Here, another gift! I didn't want you to see it!" Howard smiled, and paced back to his seat. "Tell me what you think! Harley told me to give that to you if you didn't say yes."

"You-you're my boyfriend now. You shouldn't trick me." Monica looked down at the trinket, and blushed. "Anyways, what is this gift? Is it also an amulet?"

"Nope, you wear it!" Howard smiled and leaned into her, holding another trinket in his hand. "We got over 30 trinkets, however, I told Una that all the best ice ones would go to you."

"You-you shouldn't have," Monica crossed her arms and walked over to Howard, kissing him on the cheek a few times with her arms around his face. Looking into his eyes, she gently touched her lips with her fingers before kissing him one more time on his forehead.

The feeling inside of heart seemed to sky rocket, and looking at his lips, she felt fumes coming out of her ears before she spun around and rushed out of the convenience store.

"I'll let you see me in it later!" Monica laughed and ran passed Blake. "Come back tonight!"

"Howard, are you in there? I think I figured out what your element is. Do you mind coming with me to the obelisk?"

"Sure, how did you figure it out?" Howard walked up to Blake with a smile, "Did Una tell you what happened when we were in the treasure trove?"

"She did, however, I could tell some things were missing from her story. For instance, she left out how you killed the Magician. I'm guessing you used your second element right?"

"It's more like I channeled something else. I can't explain it, but I knew the-the Authoritarian granted me some of its power. It's like we had a special connection."

"I figured as much. Very interesting," Blake walked with Howard to the obelisk and explained a few of his theories.

He had a strange theory that Howard could channel nearby energy and turn it into his own. Basically, if the Authoritarian, the large massive creature closed to him, had recently fired an energy blast, Howard might have innately absorbed that into his body.

On the other hand, something more terrifying to contemplate, Howard could steal energy from anyone that opened up their floodgates.

Going up to the 20th floor in the Obelisk, Blake got out of the elevator and looked at a gigantic block of sand moving back and forth in the distance. Every once in a while, the cube seemed to change shape, turning from hand to fist to sword. It seemed to possess a strange authority, causing Howard to carefully walk towards the block of sand with his sword protecting his front.

"That's an Authoritarian," Blake picked up a rock and tossed it into the distance. "Teacher Anibell captured it a few years back. It apparently lost its will, and now only attacks things that get close to it."

"Seems kind of dangerous." Howard gulped and watched the rock hit against the large shifting block before suddenly it turned into a large monster with six arms. "What do you want me to do to it?"

"Steal its energy, and destroy it," Blake nodded his head, "Don't worry, I'll be watching from a safe distance."