Would you believe me if I told you that the life of an adventurer isn’t what it is cracked up to be? Sure, you hear all those stories about swords and battle, flinging spells at your foes and saving the innocent people from perilous danger. However, much of this lifestyle is putting yourself out there to risk your neck for some monetary reward. Usually, that reward isn’t even worth it in the end. It’s just enough to help you get by to the next village or city. It seriously makes you wonder whether or not it would have been worth it to open a bakery or something like that. Well, at least it makes me feel like that…
About a year ago, I took a break from my studies under Princess Celestia. Let’s just say she and I had a… disagreement. So, I decided to freshen my life with an adventure by traveling across Equestria. I mean, let’s face it. Adventurers are the icons of kids. They’re like present day legends or demigods. But that’s only because they only tell a fraction of the story. A story that is usually REALLY boring if you explain every detail. So far, the only interesting tales I have collected thus far are how I stopped a plague in one village, saved a cat from a couple of timberwolves, and… Well, how I tamed a siren…
Don’t look at me like that. It really was an accident. I swear. See, I was tasked with the objective to-
“Is your head really that empty, shimmering knight?” the orange siren asks me with a smirk, sitting on her throne like a god. In front of me is a chess board that has barely begun. This siren is Adagio Dazzle. Don’t let her looks fool you. Despite the fact that she looks mostly human, she can control most mortal people with the sound of her voice alone. Save from the few scales, fin-like ears, and aquatic themed clothing, I suppose she could pass as human. Which makes her all the more threatening… Still. For whatever reason, this siren has taken an interest in me in particular. Now, I would be lying if I said that liking wasn’t mutual.
Hey! I swear this was purely accidental. I know it looks bad for me right now, but just… let me explain. Just put a pin in that thought for now. I promise I will get back to it, just hold on tight.
“Do you really have to call me by that? I told you it’s alright for you to use my first name,” I tell her with a shrug, moving one of my pawns two spaces forward. Adagio gives me one of her signature laughs that she thinks makes her look more confident, but honestly? I just find it cute in some ways. I guess you probably have a lot of questions by now. Fair enough. So, long story short, someone asked me to get rid of the sirens on the shore a couple years ago. You can probably guess that it didn't go to plan.
“It’s a suitable name for you. Especially since knights like yourself are not the brightest,” Adagio mentions with another smirk, moving her knight piece as if trying to taunt me. I can tell she’s teasing me. Despite the fact that she has known me for the better part of three years, she still tries to get under my skin. I would never let her know, but it always fails. I know her tricks by this point. “Speaking of which, did you have a reason for coming here or what? I thought you said you were busy yesterday,” she states while gesturing to her cave walls that she calls home. The walls are adorned with gold and jewels. There are chests, a comfy bed, and even shelves she uses to display keepsakes. She would vehemently deny being sentimental, but trust me. She is just as prone to it as anyone else.
“Is it wrong to miss you?” I ask her with a smile. Once again, the siren blushes like the color of summer roses. When I met Adagio, we both fought a couple times before both of us got stuck in this cave due to a collapse. That’s when I first got to talk to her and find out we had… a lot in common. She has feelings too, despite what some villagers or even what she would tell you. Ever since then, she got attached to me and… I try to stop by every other weekend when I can. It’s worth it to see her smile.
“For a knight with such a busy schedule, missing me is hardly on the agenda, is it not?” Adagio asks me with a raised eyebrow, clearly trying to deflect her embarrassment. The funny thing is that an adventurer gets to make their own schedules. It isn’t all bad news about adventuring, so you can rest your head if that’s your projected career path.
Just a warning though. Becoming an adventurer does not guarantee you will get a siren girlfriend. That’s just how my life turned out. Hey! Yes, she is my girlfriend. I know she seems pretty rude right now and… Well, you would be right, but there is a whole other side of her. Trust me, she’s kind. In her own kind of sadistic way, but still.
“That’s the thing, Adagio,” I whisper before moving my queen to the right side of the board. “I haven’t really spent enough time with you recently and I figured that is pretty rude of me… Especially since not a lot of Equestria likes you necessarily. Also, check.”
“Is it possible for you to procure an even more laughable understatement?” Adagio asks me with a raised eyebrow. Her eyes move back down to the chess board, briefly looking over the pieces before moving a pawn one square up, blocking my queen from attacking her king. “You were given a contract for my head before you met me. It is safe to say that you are an outlier.” Adagio says this without making eye contact, resting her head in the palm of her hand.
“An outlier in terms of?” I ask her quietly. Yeah, I know. It’s pretty obvious as to what she is probably hinting at, but… Well, is it wrong of me to want to hear her say these kinds of things? Don’t bother answering that. It’s always so nice to hear her actually admit feelings of some kind, especially since it took me so long to break down her walls initially.
“In terms of understanding. Being kind,” Adagio barely mentions while trailing off. For a brief moment, her cheeks flash pink. There’s no way in hell she would admit it, but her face doesn’t lie. “Check,” Adagio tells me while moving her rook into place, trying to deflect her feelings. Moving my king a space to the left, I notice Adagio’s hand instantly move to grab her queen. “Checkmate.” In an instant, her queen is moved across the board in an angle I was not expecting, capturing my king. For a few seconds, both of us laugh before I stand up from my seat.
“You’re also really kind for a siren,” I tease her with a wink, making her narrow her gaze. See, the thing everyone gets wrong about sirens is that they are just power hungry creatures, preying on the weak. While Adagio’s personality may match that, she has feelings just like everyone else. She just doesn’t like to show them. You’re in luck though. The real reason I came by today is something I know will break her walls. “I was thinking it’s unfair how often I leave and you’re just here alone. And… Well, for someone I love so much… I want to spend more time with you.”
Adagio’s stare remains, but her blush comes back like a raging storm. Her mouth opens to say something, but nothing comes out. Just wait a little longer. She’ll crack soon.
“M-more time with me? Please. You need to go earn gold by slaying some legendary beasts, not wasting your days by talking with me,” Adagio tells me while rolling her eyes. She stands up from her throne, walking over to one of her shelves to inspect her possessions. It’s all a way to distract herself obviously.
“That’s the thing, Adagio,” I say quietly while reaching into my bag. Among the health potions, rations and gold, there is one small item I packed with me this time around. A gold ring with a diamond that shines like a star. I know it doesn’t look like much, but… I forged it myself. “The only legendary creature I want to spend my time fighting with is a certain siren. One that is too proud for her own good. One that often tries to act cold to me, but feels as warm as the sun.” Taking another step closer, Adagio turns her gaze to me, a look of confusion on her as I take her hand. “And since it is close to three years ago that I met you, I think it is about time I start showing you how I am committed to you. How I love you…” Pulling out the ring, I smile at her, trying my best to keep my composure. “I’d like to spend more time with you. Is that a crime?”
Adagio takes the ring slowly, inspecting it with a careful eye. From her expression, she already knows that the ring wasn’t made by some master in the craft. Still. I can see she is genuinely happy while looking at the ring. A small smile creeps onto her lips. See…? She can be happy too~
“Is this one of your moronic human traditions?” Adagio asks me rhetorically, slipping the ring onto her finger. Despite her near insult, I can tell she’s just trying her best to save face. “Geez. You’re really sappy, you know that, Shimmer?” she asks me with a raised eyebrow, that happy smile still subtly on her face. Wrapping her arms around my neck, Adagio presses her lips against mine, making my heart flutter. “I… love you too. If you really want to spend more time with me, you should know that this siren is very territorial,” Adagio teases me with a chuckle.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way~” Pressing my lips against hers, I try my best to keep my feelings together. You know those moments where you just want to cry for no real reason? This is one of them for me. What can I say? Hearing her say that she loves me is nice… Like you wouldn’t get emotional too for that one special person in your life…
“I guess that means I’ll have to introduce you to my friends soon. I wonder what they will think of a silly knight,” Adagio mentions while dragging her finger across my chin. Just when I thought one siren was enough…
The trick to get a siren to love you is simple. Be nice to them. One simple step. With overconfident sirens like this one, they often feel confused and it spirals out of control until one day, you’re head deep in feelings. However, this could just be my own experience. You may want to let that one person know how you feel too~ Whether they are a siren, human, or something else. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get pretty emotional with my own special person.
