Hours has passed since that incident with my old enemies showing up. It’s already morning by the time I realized it. Zenith was already up half an hour ago and she’s already waiting for me downstairs. I got out of the bed and prepared myself. Once that was done, I packed things up and went downstairs to join her for breakfast.

“How’s the food, boy?” The Innkeeper, Jorne asked me.

I chewed and swallowed a piece of pancake and replied to him, “This is some good pancakes you guys made.”

Jorne laughed, “Don’t thank me. Thank the ladies. Those girls always cook the best food for everyone who comes to stay in my Inn.”

“Really? Then I better thank each of them before we set off…” I was about to get up from my chair.

But then Zenith pulled my shirt and said, “Where are you going…?” in a worried tone.

“I’m just going to say thanks to the girls. I’m not leaving you or anything.” Then I added, “You should thank them as well for taking care of us.”

She looked away for a moment and quietly responded with, “Fine.”

The two of us went to the kitchen to say our thanks.

“Hey look who’s here?” Miney pointed out as she was the 1st one to notice us.

Maddy then looked at us and said, “What are you doing here?”

“Um…” I staggered a little bit because of how nervous I was. “We just wanted to say…um…thanks for the food.”

Then I pinched Zenith so she could add on something and she said, “It was…delicious.”

“We’re glad that you two like it.” Joy joyfully said that as she continues to make another set of pancakes for the other guests.

Lizzy then went in front of me and said, “This was all thanks to Doofy’s recipe! I didn’t knew she would know about pancakes! I thought she was just doofus.”

“Hey…” Doofy was annoyed by her sister and said, “I’m not always an idiot…I can work hard if I wanted to you know…”

Then little Ashy pulled my shirt and said, “Um…White…I helped out as well…”

“Oh, um…that’s great of you, Ashy.” I patted her head.

Zenith then gave an insincere smile as she also patted Ashy. I sense a small little storm was looming over her. But it was only for a moment because as soon as she patted her, she immediately thawed out her iciness and smiled at her sincerely.

Sickly continues to cough badly and said, “I also did my best.”

“You did well.” Zenith gave her thumbs up.

Sickly then cheerfully smiled as she heard that monotonous compliment from Zenith.

“See, Zen? I told you it’s not that bad.” I managed to assure Zenith.

She then accepts it and said, “Fine. You win.” She pouted and looked away from me.

-

“Goodbye, you two!” Jorne and his family waved at us, “Don’t forget to visit us when you’re done with your job at Gemhold!”

We waved back at them as we continue our journey to The City of Gems, Gemhold. After walking through the walkway for about an hour, we finally stumble upon the walls of the city.

“We’re finally here…” I said so gladly.

The walls were made out of steel and stones with some purple gems wire coursing through the walls. A very formidable wall to protect against the wild animals and monsters of the forest. The huge front gate was embroiled with a bunch of gems all over it. It was like a light show that never stops. Especially when any sources of light decided to shine on these gems. It was such a spectacle.

And not just that, this was just the front gate. Once we entered the city, dozens upon dozens of facilities can be seen as far as our eyes could see. Just at the front area, we can see people clamoring about ticket sales for the city-exclusive transport bus. There are also people holding out for daily necessities such as fruits and vegetables and meat. The butcher had some sort of machine where it was deboning a chicken. There’s also one for larger meat.

We went on to the main square and saw a bunch of kids and adults walking around the square. The middle fountain was the main attraction of the square. Its water was pristine. The design of the fountain was carefully crafted by a legendary carver. Shining gems were perfectly arranged all over the fountain.

“This is amazing.” I was very fascinated.

“Beautiful.” Zenith was beaming with the entire glow from the gems.

We continued on and headed to the market place. This was where the fun part starts for me. Food stalls, restaurant, flowery, toys store, jewelry, blacksmiths, tailors, paintings, they have all of it. Most of the shops will use some kind of machinery to ease out their work and the most important part is that all of these were powered by the one and only purple gems.

“Look at all these purple gems technology, Zen.” I was getting very excited as I looked around the market place.

“White, look.” Zenith dragged my shirt and pointed at a blacksmith shop.

“Oh my goodness, is that a sword made entirely out of gems?!” It was marvelous.

“Indeed it is, mister.” The blacksmith happily answered.

“Absolutely amazing!” I browsed through the weapons the blacksmith has.

Then suddenly, someone I’m totally familiar with talked to us, “Hey, you finally made it.”

The girl had an orange colored long hair with a red velvet rose over her fox ears. Yes, I said it. Fox ears.

“Rose? What are you doing here?” I asked her.

“Have you forgotten? I’m also you’re classmate, stupid.” She reminded me as she punched my head.

“Oh yeah, I didn’t notice that…”

“It’s already three months for goodness sake!” she was disappointed in me, “I know a loner like you won’t be having a lot of friend but I didn’t know that it would be this bad. You don’t even know most of your classmates!”

“I don’t have the time and effort to remember them all, thank you.” I went on to a different store as we continued to ramble.

“You know Rose Lindow, White?” Zenith asked.

“Yes. She’s from my school. She’s a friend of Hosuke. How do you know that name?”

“She’s my…” Zenith tried to speak out but fails to make a result.

Rose then interrupted and said, “Watcher. I am her Watcher.”

“Watcher? Wait a minute...if you’re here then that means…”

Before I was able to finish, the devil arrived, “Indeed.”

Like they said, speak of the devil. Yumiko makes her entrance as she glided down from the rooftop using a magic umbrella just like a famous fictional umbrella lady would do. She puts back the umbrella hidden inside her dimensional bag.

“As Watcher, it is our duty to watch over our fellow partner.” Yumiko stated her reasons.

Rose then added, “We’re also here to assess on your quest. We’ve been watching you guys since you got out of the campus. Everything seems to be going well so far.”

“You did a good job eliminating those thugs, White!” Yumiko jokingly patted my back and then whispered, “You were lucky there was a purple gem wire underneath you. I would of have removed it if it wasn’t for Rose preventing me.”

I whispered back to her, “Slithering snake…”

Yumiko jokingly laughed and said, “Seriously, we were just about to help you out but it looks like we didn’t have to worry about that at all.”

“You guys also did well on helping the folks at the Inn.” Rose added more from her assessments of us.

“Jeez…” I got embarrassed a little, “So you guys were watching every single thing that we did?”

Zenith got all red as soon as I said that but then Rose claimed that, “Not every time. We stopped looking when you guys got into your room. We don’t want to bother a couple, right Yumiko?”

“Are you freakin’ serious, Rose?” I was a bit annoyed by that.

Zen was losing her balance as her embarrassment meter was rising to its boiling point.

“I’m just pulling your legs, White. It’s not like you would do anything indecent to a purely innocent little girl like Zenith, right?”

“W-what are you talking about?”

Yumiko was pleased, “Oh? I’ve never seen this side of White before. It is rather…intriguing…You’re very good at this, Rose.”

“That is not helping, Yumiko.” I barked at Yumiko for saying something like that.

Thankfully, Rose changed the topic, “Well in any case, I think it’s time for us to find someplace to stay in.”

“Do you know a place?” I asked her.

“Of course.” Rose lead the way, “Come. I’ll show you. This time, you’ll have your own room, White. You can stay in there all alone.”

“That’s too bad…I was looking forward to see what will happen if White was sleeping with all the three of us.” Yumiko jokingly said.

“Okay that’s enough, Yumiko.” I brought out my fist as it started to create a bunch of electric sparks all over it.

Yumiko and Rose laughed together as we headed on to an Inn that Rose recommended to us. We decided to settle down at a pleasant Inn for the night. We didn’t really have anything else to do that day because tomorrow was the day that we will actually begin our quest. Tomorrow is the annual Gem Festival.”

TO BE CONTINUED