I will also part with everyone first».
Ted came up to Jeffrey.
«Bye, Jeff! I am taking off. Will walk Alice home. Thanks for all you’ve done!»
«Not at all, dude! Be my guest and feel free to contact me any time».
The two friends hugged each other. Ted parted with everybody and waited for Alice. Both of them went out.
«See you tomorrow, Ted!»
«So long!»
Alice pressed her portal-ring gem and disappeared. After a while Ted also pressed his gem and found himself at his place. He went to bed, but he could hardly fall asleep. Ted was happy that he had overcome his fear and invited Alice to dinner. The truth was that he had never before dated girls, nor had he invited them for dinners, staying face to face with them in a restaurant.
«Hopefully, I won’t utter any bullshit. Otherwise I will have to forget about all my secret hopes».
With such thoughts he finally fell asleep.
Chapter 4
Saturday was Ted’s day-off and he could sleep as much as he wanted. After luncheon Ted decided to find out, whether what Steven had told him about the joust was true. He called the jousts association and it appeared to be true. In autumn, the playoffs would commence. Each and every one willing to compete was welcomed to sign up for a joust, as well as for a practice. After a short contemplation Ted decided to register. He would have more than enough time in order to get hold of the necessary ammunition and to find a horse. What a pleasant surprise! Alice had told him that she had always been kept her fingers crossed for him! He had never noticed it though. Might she have intended to pay him a compliment? Well, why would she, he wondered?
«Aren’t you willing to work out a bit, sir? You will keep in proper shape to fight against any volunteering knight then,» – asked a serviceman in charge.
«Thank you, but I have no outfit yet. I learned about the joust only yesterday».
«You may rent it from us for your practice. But you are to sign up first».
«Then with pleasure».
There was a vacancy the following Saturday, exactly on Ted’s day-off, so he signed up for the joust.
He came back home and began his preparations for his coming date with Alice, even though he had plenty of time left. He took a bath, shaved himself, carefully chose his garments – a cream shirt and a dark grey suit. The mirror was sharing helpful tips with him, as usual. At a quarter to eight Ted was already nearby Alice’s place of residence. Here she came – beautiful and elegant, as always.
«Hello, have you been waiting for me long time?»
«Hi! Nope, I’ve just arrived. How’re you? Looking gorgeous!»
Ted cast a glance at her. Her hair was gathered from behind, light makeup on her face: only her eyes were made more distinct with mascara and her lips were touched with a light pink lipstick.
Ted had to make an effort lest he touch her lips with his. She wore a dark red dress and had a pair of the same color sandals on her feet.
«Thank you. Everything is fine with me. What about you?»
«Great! Glad you’ve come! Are you ready?»
Alice smiled.
«Of course, I am».
After the Black Wizard had been withdrawn, the gates to the immortals’ dimension were closed, and ordinary people found out that those who were able to work magic had been living next door. Some magicians were not too enthusiastic about such a revelation. They went on keeping secrets. They could reside wherever they wished, but they founded a special quarter in the outskirts of London, which they used for their commercial purposes. The name of the quarter was Magic-Cross and it exclusively catered to the magicians. Some of the magicians even moved there. Simple people were unable to penetrate the quarter, even escorted by a magician.
A restaurant where Ted had invited Alice was located in this very quarter. Alice took Ted by his hand and he pressed his signet ring gem. After a few seconds they landed in the middle of a narrow street in the very end of East London.
Ted took out his wand, drew a circle in the air and uttered an incantation:
«Shaarahass!»
A gilded ball surrounded with a bright blue radiant halo emerged in front of them in the air. It started to grow until its size became seven feet.
«Let’s go,» – said Ted and took Alice by her hand. They touched the halo with their palms and an entrance to Magic-Cross shaped up in front of them. Thus, holding hands they entered the ball together.
The restaurant was located in a small and cozy Elves Street.
«What a nice place! You know, I have never been here before».
«I have been here only once with my parents. You’re going to like it. The restaurant is over there, in the end of the street».
The street was lit with lanterns hung at the level of the houses. Some stayed in the same place, whereas others were soaring and switching places. There were residential houses and stores located at the sides of the street. All of them differed from one another, each and every one of them bearing and reflecting their landlord’s identity. Some houses had round windows, while others contained the windows shaped as diamonds. Besides, all those buildings were other more motley.
«Here we are,» – said Ted pointing at a completely round-shaped house.
They entered the restaurant. A waiter approached them.
«Welcome!»
He led them to a solitary place and put a menu on their table. Ted and Alice chose their meals for supper and they immediately materialized on the table. Both of them started to eat.
«Thanks for having invited me! It was unexpected. And… pleasant».
«Was it? I… I wasn’t sure you would accept my invitation and agree».
«Why not?»
«I don’t know. Maybe… I was afraid to seem too meddling,» – Ted found it difficult to select the proper adjective.
«What are you talking about?! You would have been considered intrusive and meddling, given that I had declined your proposal, and you had been insisting on the date, chasing me around».
«No way! I am not this kind of man. I would have been upset, but I would have overcome my sorrows».
Alice burst out laughing.
«How is your preparation for the examinations going on?»
«Too slowly. I am almost short of time – three weeks and that’s it».
«Oh, I am distracting your
