NOVEL NEXT Chapter 723: Final Hours at PrimCon
Chapter 723: Final Hours at PrimCon
As the afternoon wore on, PrimCon remained a hive of excitement. Theo and Aurora wandered through the vibrant aisles, their arms loaded with bags of merchandise-plushies, posters, and even a few limited-edition collectibles. The joy of discovery lingered in the air as the siblings took in the sights and sounds of the convention, though the ticking clock reminded them that their time was coming to an end.
They had already spent the better part of the day immersing themselves in the world of anime, games, and manga. Aurora, brimming with energy, tugged on Theo's arm, pointing at a stand selling replicas of weapons from one of her favorite series.
"I'll just take a quick look!" she exclaimed, her eyes twinkling with enthusiasm.
Theo chuckled. "Go ahead, but don't take too long. We've got to start wrapping things up."
Aurora darted toward the booth, eyes gleaming as she examined the intricately crafted blades on display. Theo stayed behind, scanning the growing crowd that filled the convention center, each person caught up in their own moments of wonder. It had been an exhilarating experience, but a part of him was already thinking about the flight back to Elffire City and the comforts of the hotel.
After a few minutes, Aurora returned with a grin, holding a small box containing a mini version of a katana from The Song of the Wind.
"Last one," she said, slightly out of breath. "I promise."
Theo raised an eyebrow but smiled. "Yeah, sure. We'll see about that."
They resumed their walk through the convention, winding their way through the crowded paths. As they passed by the Artists Alley once more, Theo couldn't help but feel a slight pang of regret. He had found some real talent earlier, especially that indie game studio, and the thought of bringing them into Genesis Studio still excited him. He filed that away for later, determined to follow up once he returned to Elffire City.
But for now, it was time to enjoy the last few hours of PrimCon.
"Let's check out one more booth before we go," Aurora suggested as they neared a stand showcasing towering displays of one of the most anticipated upcoming anime series.
Theo nodded, following her lead. The stand was buzzing with activity, and it took them a few moments to squeeze their way to the front. Cosplayers dressed as characters from the series posed for pictures, while fans crowded around to get a better look at the high-definition screens showing exclusive clips.
Aurora snapped a few photos, her phone practically glued to her hand as she captured every angle of the impressive display. Meanwhile, Theo studied the animation quality of the preview being shown, mentally comparing it to the works his own studio would soon be producing.
"It's good," he said, half to himself.
Aurora, snapping one last shot, turned to him. "What was that?"
Theo smiled. "The animation. It's good, but I think we'll be able to do something even better."
Aurora gave him a sly smile. "I like that confidence, big brother."
With their final booth visit wrapped up, they started making their way toward the exit. Theo glanced at his watch-it was already past 5 p.m., and though the convention would carry on until later that night, they needed to leave by 6 p.m. to catch their flight. They had planned to head back to the hotel to shower and enjoy a proper meal before the long journey back home. Convention food, while convenient, had proven expensive and lackluster.
As they navigated through the mass of attendees, the atmosphere around them shifted. The afternoon sun filtered through the large windows of the Kizuna Hall, casting a warm glow over the scene. The high-energy buzz that had permeated the convention was starting to mellow out as attendees slowed their pace, either from fatigue or simply savoring the last few hours of their day.
Aurora stopped for a moment, gazing around at the cosplayers, fans, and the various stands they had visited earlier. "I don't want to leave," she said wistfully. "This place is amazing."
Theo nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it is. But hey, there's always next year."
Her eyes brightened at that. "True! And next time, we'll bring everyone along. Can you imagine how much fun Ayia and the others would have here?"
Theo grinned at the thought. "They'd love it."
As they approached the exit, they passed a group of cosplayers posing for photos near a large mural celebrating one of the top-winning studios from the Amethyst Imagination Awards. Aurora couldn't resist snapping a few more pictures before they reached the final security checkpoint.
The fresh air greeted them as they stepped out of the convention center. After being surrounded by the noise and excitement of the event, the quiet hum of the city outside felt almost peaceful in comparison. The skyline of Sakura City stretched out before them, the buildings catching the soft golden light of the setting sun.
Theo took a deep breath. "Well, we survived PrimCon."
Aurora laughed. "Barely. But it was worth it."
They flagged down a cab, sliding into the backseat as Theo gave directions to the hotel. As the car pulled away from the convention center, they both leaned back, letting the day's events wash over them.
"I think I'm going to sleep the whole flight back," Aurora mused, her voice carrying a hint of exhaustion.
Theo chuckled. "Me too. But first, a shower and some real food. Convention meals just don't cut it."
"No kidding," Aurora agreed. "We should grab something fancy at the hotel restaurant. I feel like we earned it after today."
"Maybe," Theo replied, as he picked up his phone, "Rio called us to have dinner with studio staff, so maybe we will have to eat elsewhere. But she said that she knows an amazing place."
"Hmm, I'm looking forward to it then." Aurora smiled.
The city streets blurred by as they sped toward their hotel, the conversation turning to their favorite moments of the day. From meeting fans, discovering new content, and finding hidden talents at the Artists Alley, it had been a day filled with surprises and excitement. By the time they reached the hotel, the sun had dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the streets. They thanked the driver and made their way inside, the cool air of the lobby a welcome contrast to the warmth of the outside world.
"We have a couple of hours before we need to leave for the airport," Theo said as they stepped into the elevator. "Just enough time to relax."
Aurora nodded, though her eyelids drooped slightly. "I'm definitely taking a long shower."
As the elevator doors slid shut, Theo couldn't help but smile to himself. This trip had been a whirlwind, but he felt a sense of satisfaction knowing they had made the most of it. Aurora had enjoyed every second of the convention, and he had found potential allies for his future projects. It was more than he could have hoped for when they first decided to come to
PrimCon.
The elevator dinged as they reached their floor, and the two of them stepped out, heading toward their rooms.
"See you in a bit," Theo said as he slid his keycard into the door, "Don't fall asleep! We still
need to eat!"
Aurora waved, already halfway into her room.
With that, they disappeared into their respective rooms, ready to wash away the day's fatigue and prepare for the journey home.