"We're here..."
The last few steps to the Vault inn felt like miles for them, even though they
traveled quite a ways already without one stop of rest, except for the time of Alex's raid.
"Couldn't they just bring out the beds for us right here?" Garet moaned, "I feel
like I'm going to drop right here, right now."
The mood of the group was so sullen that they didn't have a smart remark or "shut
up" for Garet. In fact, they started to agree with his idea, except for Piers. Ever since they
left Imil, he had been extremely edgy with everything and never let his guard down, and
supposedly for good reason. Jenna still hadn't received an answer to her question to Piers,
and it was about time she and the others knew all that their fellow Mercury adept did.
"I wouldn't ask him right now, Jenna, we're not out of danger yet." Sheba advised
as Jenna looked at her in astonishment, slowly remembering that she had the ability to
read minds.
"HEY, STOP THAT!" Jenna yelled, "You little rat, reading my thoughts without
me knowing it!"
"Will you calm down and close that beak?" Garet said for a change, "Now, are we
going to stand out here like idiots or go in and sleep in a nice cozy bed?"
Coming to their senses, the adepts went into the inn at last, greeted by the friendly
innkeeper Rausch.
"Ah, my good adept friends!" he cheered, "Welcome back... how did the trip go?
It don't look like things went well for you guys. Jenna, where's your rosy cheeks? A little
walk and trot shouldn't flush you out that badly."
"Ok, ok," Garet mumbled, "Can we go to our rooms already?"
Rausch gave a cold look at Garet, glaring maliciously at his fiery hair.
"Very well," Rausch smiled immediately again, "We've made extra preparations,
so your belongings were moved from your old rooms to your one big suite!"
Their faces brightened up like little children and immediately rushed to the stairs.
"Oh, let my bellhop show you the way... Ethan! Come over here please! Show
these gentlemen and ladies the suite."
A thin lanky teenager came from the reception desk. Jenna looked at him and
realized he looked very familiar... how come she never saw him here working at the inn
before?
"Oh you've never been introduced to my new employee, Ethan! He joined us
during your absences and has proved to be quite helpful around here lately!"
"Pleasure to meet all of you," he whispered shyly, "This way."
All of them enthusiastically followed him up the stairs, but Rausch held Garet
behind.
"For you my friend... we have a very special room!" Rausch said, "Follow me.
You can catch up with your buddy adepts later."
"Cool!" Garet smiled weakly, waving at his friends.
They went into the basement where more rooms were, all of them good choices to
sleep in. However, they skipped the first few rooms down the wing until they reached the
one at the end.
"Here is your key..." Rausch said, "Good day."
He walked off so quickly that Garet could not give a word of thanks to him. Using
his key, he opened the door and expected a luxurious room, but instead got a small
claustrophobic room that could fit well... for a squirrel!
"Hey, this some kind of joke?" Garet yelled as he turned around to Rausch, but
the innkeeper had disappeared.
* * *
Meanwhile, Ethan was escorting the others to the suite.
"What are your names?" he blurted out, forgetting that he was supposed to create
conversation with guests.
"Piers."
"Sheba."
"Ivan."
"Mia."
"Jenna."
The last name echoed in Ethan's mind. Why did it seem so familiar? The girl
"Jenna" also seemed very recognizable, but he couldn't put a finger on where he saw her.
The fiery-headed boy that Rausch was talking to also rang a bell, but... Ethan got rid of
those thoughts. He would eventually find out more, hopefully. Memories of his past
never came too easily or quickly to him.
"Here we are," he reported as they came to a door, "Welcome to the best we can
offer!"
Opening the door with a special key, a lavish great room was revealed with
several beds laid out in a circular shape. Their jaws dropped at the sight of the beautiful
suite.
"Strange," Piers said, "Five beds?"
"Garet's sleeping downstairs, remember?" Jenna explained.
Piers nodded and walked to the first bed, falling on the bed.
"Oh so relaxing..."
The others followed and picked out their beds, succumbing to their weary minds
that needed much rest.
"If you need anything else, contact the desk," Ethan said, motioning to a golden
funnel, "Enjoy yourselves."
He left the room quietly, but Jenna followed him out, still intent on finding out
where and how she seemed to know this man.
"Hey, wait up!"
Ethan instantly stopped and was glad that it was Jenna. Now he could get some
answers as well.
"So," she said, "You said your name was Ethan?"
"Indeed it is, milady."
"I know this sounds preposterous, but you look familiar to me, like we used to
know each other." Jenna said.
"No, actually, it is not preposterous" Ethan chuckled, "I was thinking the same.
Have we met before?"
"I think we have," Jenna replied, "But I'm not sure when or where... have you
ever been to the town of Vale?"
"Actually, I lived there when I was a boy, but I moved away a few days after that
storm on Mount Aleph."
"Ah, so you are the Ethan I was thinking of!"
"Likewise... I mean, you seemed to be from my memories at Vale too."
"Yeah," Jenna giggled, "I kind of hung out with Isaac, Garet, and my brother
more... I'm sorry about that. Oh, that's right! You do know Garet is here with me too?"
"That name rings a bell," Ethan said, "Do you mean that big fiery- headed brute?"
"That would be him." Jenna laughed, "You remember Felix and Isaac? They
didn't come with us back to Vault."
"I'm sorry," Ethan replied, "Vale seems so long ago, and I have been taught to
abandon those thoughts... but it's slowly coming back to me. But, for sure, I remember
you from Vale."
"Thanks. Taught? What do you-"
"Hey! Who's there?"
Garet ran out from the adjacent corridor, panting and wheezing, surprised as much
as Ethan and Jenna.
"Am I... interrupting something?" Garet asked oddly, "Jenna, who's this guy?"
"Oh, Garet, you're just in time." Jenna said, "Remember Ethan? The boy from
Vale that moved away few years ago?"
"Pleasure to meet you," Ethan said, reaching out his hand to Garet's.
"Same," Garet quickly replied, "Oh, by the way, tell your boss that my room's a
bit small. I don't know if it's a joke, but-"
"Silly me!" Jenna interrupted, "I forgot to ask, but how come I've never seen you
work around here? This kind of a part-time job you're doing to help the family?"
"My family is deceased." Ethan muttered, "This is my full-time job. I'm kind of a
wanderer... wherever the wind takes me."
"I'm so sorry!" Jenna immediately said, hugging him, "I didn't know..."
"It's quite all right." He replied.
"Well, I'm starving!" Garet grunted, breaking the drama, "Let's get a bite to eat
downstairs! My treat!"
"Yeah, ok, in a second," Jenna said, "How about you check out our room? You
haven't seen it yet. Afterwards, we'll head down."
Without another word, Garet headed down the hall and entered their room.
Suddenly he heard ruffling bed sheets and saw Mia waking up from her nap.
"Isn't this a nice room?" Mia asked.
"Yeah, terrific," Garet mumbled.
"Where did Jenna go?" she wondered, "Everyone else is here except her."
"She's with some guy that she says I knew back in Vale."
"Oh really? That's nice."
"Yeah, terrific."
There was a long silence between the two of them. Garet did not want to continue
the conversation and pretended to be looking around at the room, but Mia knew what he
was really thinking about. Knowing Garet's personality, she thought it best not to give
advice to him, so she went back to sleep.
The last few steps to the Vault inn felt like miles for them, even though they
traveled quite a ways already without one stop of rest, except for the time of Alex's raid.
"Couldn't they just bring out the beds for us right here?" Garet moaned, "I feel
like I'm going to drop right here, right now."
The mood of the group was so sullen that they didn't have a smart remark or "shut
up" for Garet. In fact, they started to agree with his idea, except for Piers. Ever since they
left Imil, he had been extremely edgy with everything and never let his guard down, and
supposedly for good reason. Jenna still hadn't received an answer to her question to Piers,
and it was about time she and the others knew all that their fellow Mercury adept did.
"I wouldn't ask him right now, Jenna, we're not out of danger yet." Sheba advised
as Jenna looked at her in astonishment, slowly remembering that she had the ability to
read minds.
"HEY, STOP THAT!" Jenna yelled, "You little rat, reading my thoughts without
me knowing it!"
"Will you calm down and close that beak?" Garet said for a change, "Now, are we
going to stand out here like idiots or go in and sleep in a nice cozy bed?"
Coming to their senses, the adepts went into the inn at last, greeted by the friendly
innkeeper Rausch.
"Ah, my good adept friends!" he cheered, "Welcome back... how did the trip go?
It don't look like things went well for you guys. Jenna, where's your rosy cheeks? A little
walk and trot shouldn't flush you out that badly."
"Ok, ok," Garet mumbled, "Can we go to our rooms already?"
Rausch gave a cold look at Garet, glaring maliciously at his fiery hair.
"Very well," Rausch smiled immediately again, "We've made extra preparations,
so your belongings were moved from your old rooms to your one big suite!"
Their faces brightened up like little children and immediately rushed to the stairs.
"Oh, let my bellhop show you the way... Ethan! Come over here please! Show
these gentlemen and ladies the suite."
A thin lanky teenager came from the reception desk. Jenna looked at him and
realized he looked very familiar... how come she never saw him here working at the inn
before?
"Oh you've never been introduced to my new employee, Ethan! He joined us
during your absences and has proved to be quite helpful around here lately!"
"Pleasure to meet all of you," he whispered shyly, "This way."
All of them enthusiastically followed him up the stairs, but Rausch held Garet
behind.
"For you my friend... we have a very special room!" Rausch said, "Follow me.
You can catch up with your buddy adepts later."
"Cool!" Garet smiled weakly, waving at his friends.
They went into the basement where more rooms were, all of them good choices to
sleep in. However, they skipped the first few rooms down the wing until they reached the
one at the end.
"Here is your key..." Rausch said, "Good day."
He walked off so quickly that Garet could not give a word of thanks to him. Using
his key, he opened the door and expected a luxurious room, but instead got a small
claustrophobic room that could fit well... for a squirrel!
"Hey, this some kind of joke?" Garet yelled as he turned around to Rausch, but
the innkeeper had disappeared.
* * *
Meanwhile, Ethan was escorting the others to the suite.
"What are your names?" he blurted out, forgetting that he was supposed to create
conversation with guests.
"Piers."
"Sheba."
"Ivan."
"Mia."
"Jenna."
The last name echoed in Ethan's mind. Why did it seem so familiar? The girl
"Jenna" also seemed very recognizable, but he couldn't put a finger on where he saw her.
The fiery-headed boy that Rausch was talking to also rang a bell, but... Ethan got rid of
those thoughts. He would eventually find out more, hopefully. Memories of his past
never came too easily or quickly to him.
"Here we are," he reported as they came to a door, "Welcome to the best we can
offer!"
Opening the door with a special key, a lavish great room was revealed with
several beds laid out in a circular shape. Their jaws dropped at the sight of the beautiful
suite.
"Strange," Piers said, "Five beds?"
"Garet's sleeping downstairs, remember?" Jenna explained.
Piers nodded and walked to the first bed, falling on the bed.
"Oh so relaxing..."
The others followed and picked out their beds, succumbing to their weary minds
that needed much rest.
"If you need anything else, contact the desk," Ethan said, motioning to a golden
funnel, "Enjoy yourselves."
He left the room quietly, but Jenna followed him out, still intent on finding out
where and how she seemed to know this man.
"Hey, wait up!"
Ethan instantly stopped and was glad that it was Jenna. Now he could get some
answers as well.
"So," she said, "You said your name was Ethan?"
"Indeed it is, milady."
"I know this sounds preposterous, but you look familiar to me, like we used to
know each other." Jenna said.
"No, actually, it is not preposterous" Ethan chuckled, "I was thinking the same.
Have we met before?"
"I think we have," Jenna replied, "But I'm not sure when or where... have you
ever been to the town of Vale?"
"Actually, I lived there when I was a boy, but I moved away a few days after that
storm on Mount Aleph."
"Ah, so you are the Ethan I was thinking of!"
"Likewise... I mean, you seemed to be from my memories at Vale too."
"Yeah," Jenna giggled, "I kind of hung out with Isaac, Garet, and my brother
more... I'm sorry about that. Oh, that's right! You do know Garet is here with me too?"
"That name rings a bell," Ethan said, "Do you mean that big fiery- headed brute?"
"That would be him." Jenna laughed, "You remember Felix and Isaac? They
didn't come with us back to Vault."
"I'm sorry," Ethan replied, "Vale seems so long ago, and I have been taught to
abandon those thoughts... but it's slowly coming back to me. But, for sure, I remember
you from Vale."
"Thanks. Taught? What do you-"
"Hey! Who's there?"
Garet ran out from the adjacent corridor, panting and wheezing, surprised as much
as Ethan and Jenna.
"Am I... interrupting something?" Garet asked oddly, "Jenna, who's this guy?"
"Oh, Garet, you're just in time." Jenna said, "Remember Ethan? The boy from
Vale that moved away few years ago?"
"Pleasure to meet you," Ethan said, reaching out his hand to Garet's.
"Same," Garet quickly replied, "Oh, by the way, tell your boss that my room's a
bit small. I don't know if it's a joke, but-"
"Silly me!" Jenna interrupted, "I forgot to ask, but how come I've never seen you
work around here? This kind of a part-time job you're doing to help the family?"
"My family is deceased." Ethan muttered, "This is my full-time job. I'm kind of a
wanderer... wherever the wind takes me."
"I'm so sorry!" Jenna immediately said, hugging him, "I didn't know..."
"It's quite all right." He replied.
"Well, I'm starving!" Garet grunted, breaking the drama, "Let's get a bite to eat
downstairs! My treat!"
"Yeah, ok, in a second," Jenna said, "How about you check out our room? You
haven't seen it yet. Afterwards, we'll head down."
Without another word, Garet headed down the hall and entered their room.
Suddenly he heard ruffling bed sheets and saw Mia waking up from her nap.
"Isn't this a nice room?" Mia asked.
"Yeah, terrific," Garet mumbled.
"Where did Jenna go?" she wondered, "Everyone else is here except her."
"She's with some guy that she says I knew back in Vale."
"Oh really? That's nice."
"Yeah, terrific."
There was a long silence between the two of them. Garet did not want to continue
the conversation and pretended to be looking around at the room, but Mia knew what he
was really thinking about. Knowing Garet's personality, she thought it best not to give
advice to him, so she went back to sleep.
