Danmachi,The Legend of Emiya

This was Shirou Emiya's first time going on a date..

Though called a "date," it wasn't the romantic kind; it was more of an outing with friends. 

Ryuu also thought of it this way, although for reasons she didn't quite understand, she felt a subtle excitement in her heart.

Shirou still vividly remembered the gratitude he owed to Ryuu and Syr for saving him. As such, when his important friends and benefactors requested his company, of course he couldn't refuse. 

He was more than happy to accompany them, and Syr had a unique quality that made people feel utterly relaxed around her, as if time had slowed, offering peace and serenity.

Ryuu, too, could never refuse any of Syr's requests. She was deeply grateful to her, and was, in fact, the only one at the Hostess of Fertility tavern who could force herself to eat Syr's "cooking." 

Syr's culinary skills… well, let's just say they were the opposite of Shirou's, perhaps a "tiny" bit worse than that.

Shirou and Ryuu walked side by side down the street, while Syr led the way in front. She purposely walked along the very edge of the sidewalk, playing a game as if stepping anywhere else would disqualify her. The narrow footholds made her walk like a cat, balancing with arms stretched out and softly muttering, "Eh, eh."

"Cute (Kawaii)," Ryuu thought to herself, and passersby seemed to share that sentiment, casting envious glances at Shirou.

Since Shirou's arrival in this world, possibly due to the blessing of the gods, his physical development had progressed rapidly. His height had visibly increased, and while he had initially been slightly shorter than Ryuu, he was now quickly catching up. His shoulders had broadened, his arms had grown longer, and his muscles were becoming more defined, showing a firm shape.

Without noticing, Syr had fallen behind Shirou and Ryuu, observing Shirou quietly from behind before giving a soft smile. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, she leapt forward, jumping back in front of Shirou.

Now, both Shirou and Ryuu were watching as Syr's silver ponytail bounced in front of them, with glimpses of her pale, delicate neck peeking through her soft hair.  Through the strands that obscured it, her skin seemed even more translucent and fair.

Sensing their gazes, Syr couldn't help but tease internally, "Looks like Ryuu stared even longer." 

Amused by how things were playing out, Syr's grin was interrupted by a voice.

"Ah, Mr. Emiya!" A sweet voice disrupted Syr's thoughts.

A lively young elven girl called out to Shirou, "Mr. Emiya, it's been a while!"

Her vibrant golden hair shone like blossoming yellow mountain flowers, but even brighter was her smile, radiating warmth and cheerfulness unusual for an elf. She waved excitedly as she approached.

"Miss Lefiya, long time no see," Shirou replied politely.

"Just call me Lefiya," the golden-haired elf said casually as she shook Shirou's hand, giggling shyly.

"You can call me Shirou too," Shirou responded politely. "And this is?"

"Hello, I'm Alicia, Alicia Forestlight," the other elven woman introduced herself.

Alicia had similar golden-orange hair to Lefiya, but unlike Lefiya, Alicia's demeanor was flawless, perfectly embodying the elegance one would expect from an elf. She carried herself with grace and beauty, exuding a quiet majesty that made every movement seem refined and deliberate, inspiring awe in those who saw her. Yet her cool and somewhat distant aura added a touch of unapproachability.

Alicia had a gentle smile on her lip, and her wavy hair, lended her an air of maturity. The strands that fell over her shoulders swayed softly with her breath, adding to her graceful presence.

Standing beside Lefiya, Alicia seemed like a trustworthy older sister, radiating calmness, contrasting sharply with Lefiya's energetic youthfulness.

Moreover, one couldn't ignore Alicia's figure. It was rare among elves to have such a voluptuous body, with curves that were both striking and toned. Compared to Ryuu, Alicia had at least one "Lefiya" more in her favor, amplifying her "big sister" vibe even further.

Alicia extended her hand to Shirou, but unlike Lefiya, her arm was covered by black sleeves that reached up to her forearms. "I've heard about you before, Shirou-kun. Thank you for looking after Lefiya," Alicia said warmly.

"No, we were just acting as teammates at the time. It's what I was supposed to do," Shirou replied humbly. Understanding the customs of the elves, he only lightly touched Alicia's fingertips before quickly letting go.

Syr, who had been quietly observing from behind, tugged on Shirou's sleeve and whispered, "Shirou, she's an impressive adventurer. Alicia Forestlight, a Second Class Level 4 adventurer from the Loki Familia, she has the alias, [Elleaf (Pure Garden)]."

Shirou hadn't known about Alicia's identity, and it surprised him to learn that this elegant elf was such a formidable figure. Yet, having grown used to being around people like Ryuu and Anya, he didn't feel particularly fazed.

"Long time no see, Syr," Alicia greeted the girl with a much warmer expression compared to the formal demeanor she had shown Shirou. There was a clear fondness in her smile toward Syr.

However, Syr had a somewhat complex view of Alicia. Alicia was known as a very proper and pure elf, earning her the informal nickname of "Loki Familia's Disciplinarian" among the gods. 

Yet, one particular unnamed goddess who had the ability to see souls once remarked that the soul color of this "Disciplinarian" was surprisingly impure. 

It wasn't dark or malevolent, just unexpectedly… not as "disciplined" as one might think.

Still, Alicia had always maintained her upright and dignified demeanor, so this remained a humorous secret in that goddess's heart. 

"The children of the lower world are truly interesting," she would sometime muse.

After greeting Syr, Alicia took a brief moment to study the elf trailing behind Shirou and Syr—Ryuu. 

The moment Ryuu sensed a fellow elf approaching, her expression tightened, and she instinctively hide behind Shirou and Syr.

It was just that, Ryuu was quite a bit taller than Syr and her striking beauty, stood out even in a crowd. 

"[Gale] Ryuu Lion, how bold of her to simply dyed her hair [green] and walked out in the open like this….." Alicia immediately recognized this well-known fellow elf, and couldn't help but feel a bit exasperated by her audacity.

The Loki Familia, being one of the strongest familia in Orario, had long been aware of [Gale's] whereabout , after all, she never made much of an effort to conceal herself. The waitresses at the Hostess of Fertility openly called her "Ryuu" every day, and she had only dyed her hair a few days ago. 

To Alicia, Ryuu's behavior seemed arrogant, lawless, and bold.

Still, Alicia wasn't the type to act unnecessarily. She decided to pretend she hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary. 

Even though the elf before her bore the same name, appearance, race, and demeanor as the wanted criminal [Gale]—and even carried a katana with her—but it could all just be a coincidence, right?

At least their hair color was different.

The Ryuu in front of her had a [bright green] hair.

"Ah, long time no see, Lady Alicia." In response to the greeting from the elegant elf, Syr returned a sweet smile. The Loki Familia were frequent patrons of The Hostess of Fertility, and most of their adventurers knew Syr quite well.

Thanks to Riveria's unique skill, [Alf Regina], which boosts the effects of the magic of all Elves within her domain, the Loki Familia was always eager to recruit more elven mages. The young elven girls, in turn, often harbor deep admiration for the elven princess. 

This mutual interest led to the formation of the Fairy Force, a unique squad of elven mages within the Loki Familia, where every member was a beautiful elf girl. It was a sight to behold and a dream come true for any elven enthusiasts.

Alicia was a key figure in this squad of mages. With her Level 4 strength, not only could she cast magic, but her archery skills were also impressive. In addition, she excelled in fencing, making her a versatile all-rounder.

"Oh my, Shirou, were you on a date? I hope we didn't accidentally interrupt you," Lefiya, a bit slow to realize the situation, said awkwardly, flashing a playful look of curiosity. "Is she your girlfriend?"

On the other side, while Alicia still maintained her elegant stance, her long, pointed ears noticeably perked up at the mention of relationship. 

Even the etiquette of the Elven race couldn't suppress a woman's curiosity about romance.

"We're just regular friends," Syr said playfully as she affectionately grabbed Shirou's arm, wrapping her other arm around Ryuu's.

What exactly is the relationship between these three? Both elven girl felt quite confused.

"Oh, right, Alicia, did I mention Shirou is a really skilled archer," Lefiya said, awkwardly trying to change topic, before suddenly remembering something and speaking with excitement.

"Hmmm, is that so. If Lefiya (an elf) praised your skilled, then Mr. Emiya must indeed have outstanding archery skills (for a human)," Alicia responded with a graceful smile.

(But after all, he's just a human.)

Syr immediately sensed Alicia's subtle arrogance, and it made her frown slightly. However, at that moment—

"Shirou's archery is truly, truly amazing, better than any elf I've ever seen. I believe even Lady Riveria's archery skill might not surpass Shirou's!" Lefiya said earnestly.

Alicia's expression froze. She continued smiling, but her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Lefiya Viridis."

"Yes!" Lefiya's heart skipped a beat as she was suddenly called by her full name, instinctively standing up straight.

With a voice so gentle it made Lefiya's skin crawl, Alicia said, "I can overlook many things, but I cannot ignore you undermining Princess Riveria."

————

Alicia

https://danmachi.fandom.com/wiki/Alicia_Forestlight/Image_Gallery?file=Alicia_Forestlight_Artwork.png

https://danmachi.fandom.com/wiki/Alicia_Forestlight/Image_Gallery?file=Alicia_Waterside_Eden_DanMemo.jpg#DanMemo