NOVEL NEXT Chapter 218 - Daytrip Downtown
After a week of housing Casey and her pair of Resonators, Saturday arrived to silence.
No chaos, no spellcasting, just peace and quiet.
"Huh…" Shouri stared at the ceiling, noting it had been missed in the girl's painting efforts. He could hear himself think. Taika and Rebecca occupied either side of him, their tails entangled in his legs. He didn't usually sleep on his back, but they must have shifted into these positions overnight.
Pacifica was wrapped around Rebecca's back like an invasive vine staking her claim. He didn't even need his eyes to know what serene smiles they all wore. Bliss, happiness, love radiated from their rhythm.
If he really focused on his rhythm and his connection with the others, he could feel their serenity pouring into him.
Peace on planet Riterra.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
"I'm killing whoever is behind that door," Shouri growled as his precious trio were dragged out of their slumber against their will.
"Shouri! Get up! It's morning!" Colette shouted from outside.
"I knew it, Rebecca get my knife," Shouri demanded, refusing to leave the comfort of his bed despite the noise outside.
"Bossman we don't have a knife," Rebecca mumbled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Damn it, gotta add that to the list."
Despite the ire in the young guildmaster, he did rally his trio out of bed and they prepared for their day. Their mornings were so routine no matter what they had planned after.
Taika on breakfast duty
Pacifica in the shower.
Shouri reading the news while sitting on the edge of the bed.
Rebecca sat to Shouri, still waking up.
knock knock
Rebecca's ears flicked and she jumped to her feet, answering the much gentler knock than the one that woke them up.
"Morning everyone!" greeted Emily as she was allowed into the room.
"Hey Ems." Shouri waved, not looking up from his tuner. "What's up?"
"Just checking to see if you all were up," she said, plopping down in the chair by the small desk.
"Barely. Why was Colette trying to tear down my door at 5AM?" asked Shouri.
"Dunno." Emily shrugged. "She seemed pretty excited about going to the Festa."
"Well she didn't have to be excited so loudly," grumbled the guildmaster.
Taika handed out breakfast while the two Maestros spoke. It was a simple affair this morning, being eggs, fruit, toast, and sausage – enough to fill them up and keep them content through lunchtime.
"Oh thank you," said Emily, not expecting food.
"Con piacere," Taika replied, while she turned the corner back into the kitchen.
Between bites, Shouri spoke. "So how the hell are we getting everyone there?" Shouri questioned. "You and Ritika can ride on your bike," he noted.
Emily nodded, finishing her current mouthful of food. "I was gonna just re-summon Soot's body away from the building. Don't want to attract too much attention," she told him. "As for Colette, she took the Oltre Casey and her group took. Pretty big van."
"What about Elijah?" asked Shouri.
"Oh, good question. Haven't heard a peep from him or Zino all morning," Emily hummed in thought.
The two Maestros finished up their breakfast and left the plates to Taika. They stepped out into the cold December morning and wandered down to Elijah's room. Shouri knocked on his door.
Silence.
Shouri and Emily exchanged a glance. Emily took a turn, knocking a bit harder. "Hey Elijah! Wanna come to the Resonator Festa?" she shouted.
Silence, another more concerned look was exchanged between the two Maestros. Emily pulled her black tuner from her side and clicked the talk button. "Hey Al, Rilevare l'intenzione, Lento please."
"You got it," the dragon's voice buzzed from the speaker.
A moment later Emily's tuner displayed a map of the guildhall and showed-
"He's not here?" The princess raised a brow.
Shouri shook his head and thumbed up a message to Elijah. He got a response instantly, which earned silent ire. Before Emily could ask what was wrong, he thrust the screen in her face. She grabbed the device to steady it so she could read what was said.