AN: A new chapter after the Epilogue? Yes, it is. As it turns out, there's still one last part of the story to unfold. I've been on holiday the last two weeks, and in that time I've thought about how I can finally do the actual final arc of this story. And now I'm ready for it. For one last trip to New Motus City. Let's go!
|LAST REVOLUTION: STILLNESS IN MOTION|
Chapter 102: New Year, New Lives
|May 31st 2013|Farawell – Amara's Apartment|12:00 pm|
Another summer had arrived in New Motus City, and it was looking to be a warm one. The people were out in their summer wardrobes, looking to enjoy the sunshine while they could. In an apartment in Farawell, one could view the city basking in the light, the stunning skyscrapers becoming beacons of the early afternoon sky.
"Still looks great..." Amara said, looking down at the pavement below her. Just then, she heard a Skype ringing sound on her iMac, a gift from her father at Christmas. She felt a little awkward about receiving such an expensive gift, but she had to admit she had a soft spot for the computer. Plus, it worked great for her art. "Oh!"
It was none other than Marcel, a French archaeologist. Without hesitating, she answered the call, but not before quickly brushing her hair – no longer in a ponytail. She soon saw him, sitting in his small but arty Parisian apartment.
"Bonjour!" He said, waving. "Ca va?"
"Tres bien!" Amara said. "Um...et tu?"
"Very good, my lovely." Marcel said. Amara giggled. He was wearing a t-shirt with various cartoon dinosaurs on them, such as his favourite triceratops. "I'm sorry, I can't talk to you long. I've got to head to the university for a lecture in a minute. I just had to tell you some good news!"
"It's fine. What's the news?" Amara asked.
"Around July..." Marcel said. "I'm flying out to New Motus City!" Stunned, she watched as he held up a plane ticket in front of his screen. "I know, I should have asked you first, but...from all the lovely things you've said about your home, I'd really love to see it. With you, of course."
"I..." Amara mumbled, lost for words. "You...you really want to come and visit me?"
"Oui." Marcel said. "Why wouldn't I? Ever since we went our separate ways in Cairo, this is the only way we've spoken. It's...not easy to be so far apart from you, not after learning so much about you. And there seems to be a whole army of friends I'd like to meet, too."
"When in July are you coming?" Amara asked, calming herself down. She had indeed discussed her friends with Marcel a lot, especially about the wedding of Nathan & Priscilla in April. It had been a grand day, a most beautiful ceremony. Nathan had never looked happier, standing in front of the altar with his beloved.
Everyone was having so much fun that day. All of us seem to be moving on with our partners, even me now. And it's still not been a year since he...no, I can't think like that. He wouldn't let me. Me and Marcel are getting closer...he's even given me a nickname. "Amarie". Amara, his friend – Amie.
"I'm leaving on the 4th. I haven't booked my accommodation as of yet." Marcel said. "Of course, I'll be spending most of my time touring your favourite museums...and perhaps sunbathing. And those are pastimes I'd much rather do with someone else..."
Amara laughed. "You're still trying to charm me, aren't you?"
"I thought I did..." Marcel said, winking. "We did kiss each other before we left each other's sight..."
"Hehe..." Amara blushed again, looking away. "You just looked at me with those puppy dog eyes, so I couldn't really help myself..."
"Amarie. July can't come fast enough. Then I can speak to you without worrying about time zones or my internet connection. More importantly, I can hold your hand as we take long walks down the beach at night..." Marcel said, with a hopeful look. "Maybe I'm moving too fast...but I never thought I'd feel this way about someone again. Now I know I was wrong."
What's he talking about? 'Someone again'? Is it like Zao...? He and I might have a lot more in common than I thought. I can't just ask him about that, though...I never told him anything about Zao, either.
"I...I'm looking forward to seeing you. A month to go. You better not get cursed by ancient artifacts until then!" Amara said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Oh believe me, I can charm my way out of any hex!" Marcel said. "I'll talk to you soon, my love. Au revoir!"
He quickly signed out, no doubt rushing to his lecture. Amara could not imagine giving lectures on art to anybody, anywhere. That was not the sort of artist she was. Still, if one of her pictures was being examined in a class, she would be overjoyed.
Now Amara had something to look forward to this summer. Last year, it had been heralded by two major changes. A new job at Real People, where she had met some great co-workers and honed her craft. While this had been a miracle, there had been a much more life-changing event.
The discovery of another city, filled with Shadows. Ruled by the dystopic Ater Vox, of the once-mighty Aeternus networking corporation. The only hope against them was a small group of underground Persona users, who had discovered the truth – and spent their days opposing the mighty organisation. Amara and her new friends – Nathan, Serena and Blaine – teamed up with them, only to discover they were much more involved than they thought.
After many struggles, and some heartbreaking events, the true villain behind the Ater Vox – Janus – revealed itself. Its almighty power almost reduced the entire universe to nothingness, but Amara and her comrades denied it the chance to incite the end of the world. The other city, although heavily damaged and destitute, was free from peril. The road to recovery would be long and gruelling, but at least the other nations of the world were lending a helping hand to restart the city's prosperity.
Amara had enjoyed much of her time away from that world in a new job, for her beloved Real People could not stay on the shelves due to its low readership. Indeed, Karen had warned the staff that such a fate would happen, but they were a skilled bunch. Amara soon found another role, illustrating textbooks for primary school children. While it was not as social, it paid quite well, enough for Amara to finally consider moving out of Falcon View and to another place. Which was just as well. Every time she looked around the place, she was reminded of Zao. Whenever he was around at her place, he simply couldn't leave anything alone. He wanted to explore the tiny place to his heart's content, even the broken pencils that had fallen down the back of the sofa.
I had good times here...but if I stay, I'll never be able to carry on. Besides, an artist needs her space.
Just then, she got a text on her phone. Curious, she opened it, without checking who was the sender. It was from Sophie, her best friend and former colleague.
Hello Amara! I hope everything is going well with Baxter Books. Just wanted to ask if you wanted to meet me for lunch tomorrow? Great news, too! I'm going to Aster Garden College, they finally rang back! Mum – both of them – are thrilled.
Amara smiled. Sophie had been busy too, trying her level best to get accepted into a course at college to become her dream job – a psychiatrist. Her psychic powers remained, yet she had been increasingly unable to see into the life of her other self. No doubt the massive drop in the number of Shadows had turned it back into a mundane place, with little in the way of paranormal activity.
Aster Garden had been where Amara studied art, as well. A lifetime had passed since her graduation, and much more had changed than she expected. Mostly for the better, but now life felt somehow incomplete. Beyond her job, and her online artwork selling a few prints here and there, she felt unfulfilled. No worlds needed saving now. And her friends had been busy, and rarely had the time for a chat.
She would arrange a lunch with Sophie, but first, she had an idea. In a week's time, it would be a year to the day she first stepped into that other world. She began writing a message, one that would be sent out to four special people. And no matter what, she wasn't taking no for an answer. This was an anniversary they had to spend together.
|Nova Albion Inc. - Nathan's Office|12:30 pm|
"Mr Albion? Your wife waiting for you in the reception area." A young female voice said over the intercom.
"Thank you, Sonja, I'll be there. You should take your lunch too." Nathan said to the Danish secretary.
For a while now, Nathan Albion had taken over his father's office, with even more space, a great view of Nova Albion, air conditioning, and the best computer in the building. His father had prepared him heavily for the handover, and thus he had been able to deal with the increased responsibility. His schedule was packed, full of meetings and other important business.
Currently, the company was launching a new range of tablets, and thus many hard decisions had to be made about how to market them, how to promote them, and most importantly, how reliable the hardware and software were. Even one bogus product could make or break the company's reputation, his father had told him. Not that Reginald had to worry about that now, since he could freely spend his time at whisky tasting or at the golf course.
On the way to the elevator, he was joined by one of his new executives. This was Joe, wearing a new, sharp black suit. He smiled at Nathan, but he was too busy listening to his wife on the phone to engage him in conversation.
"Yes, darling, I'll buy the other fabric softener. I don't want to ruin another one of your...ahem...special outfits." He glanced at Nathan, blushing, and coughed loudly. "It's been hectic here, as usual. Ever since Nathan became CEO, we're all working a lot harder. But don't worry, I've booked some time off in July. You and me, darling, will be in the Seychelles! Excited, huh?"
Ah, bless. That's another place I've never visited. I'd go away somewhere, but it wasn't that long since we got back from the honeymoon...we need to settle down, not fly off every few months.
Soon enough, Nathan was in the lobby, waving hello to his faithful staff. Posters advertising all sorts of products, from desktop PCs, laptops, tablets, phones and 'Smart' TVs were everywhere, so anyone walking by could be reminded of the company's excellence. A blonde lady was standing there, admiring the view. It had been quite some time since she came here on a regular basis, but she still felt at home here.
"Hello, darling." Nathan said, giving her a quick kiss. "How do you like our new poster designs? Too much red?"
"I never get tired of too much red." Priscilla said, stroking her husband's red locks. "Although if you work too hard, it'll turn grey before too long..."
"As if. Look at my father!" Nathan said. "The Albion blood burns red hot. And it'll do so for generations!"
"I really hope so." Priscilla said, smiling. She leaned in close, and laid her hands around his waist. "After that recital, I really am quite hungry. And with all the hard work you've been doing, I bet you're famished."
"I'll say. Off we go!" Nathan said, and the two of them practically twirled out of the doors into the elegant streets of Nova Albion. Before long, they were sitting in one of their favourite cafes, the Willow Waterfall. Every single one of their dishes was freshly prepared, and each one was guaranteed to be full of healthy goodness. The interior's used of water features, such as small pools filled with goldfish, worked well with this vibe.
"Orange duck sounds nice." Priscilla said. "You're not going for that steak salad, are you? Even here, it's so fattening..."
"I thought you liked me with a bit of meat on?" Nathan asked, grinning. "I believe you said something to that effect on our wedding night."
"Perhaps..." Priscilla said. "But you work such long hours...I want you to eat well, if we can't have dinner together as often."
"What are you worried about? I still exercise, don't I? Me and Adrian are still playing our basketball games. And I've started running once a week. Not only that, unless I'm in a hurry, I take the stairs. Heck, I even run up sometimes! I promise you, my love...I'll take good care of myself as CEO." Nathan said, holding her hand.
"Good." Priscilla said. "Then go easy with the sauce on your fries, okay?" She smiled, just before the two of them ordered.
"Rehearsals going well?" Nathan asked. "I heard you practising in the basement at four in the morning again..."
"You did?" Priscilla said, looking up in surprise. "I'm so sorry..."
"It was nice being woken up by such beautiful sounds, actually." Nathan said, reassuringly. "It was...angelic, almost. I just laid back, listening to your music, and I feel asleep again..."
"Oh...I'm glad you liked it." Priscilla said. "I suppose anything would be better than hearing twenty cats fighting over an overturned bin. I think, on our opening night, we're going to be a huge hit. Of course, I'll only be in the orchestra, with a short solo, but all the other performers will be amazing to listen to up close."
"Well, glad to hear it." Nathan said, drinking his class of water. "You'll be on that stage someday, I can see it. Priscilla Lancaster-Albion will be a name all music lovers will know and remember! Just like your mother's."
"I'd like that. Maybe I should ask Tara if I can practice in her private studio..." Priscilla asked. "Oh, and Adrian's working with Shirley Evens, isn't he? How's that going?"
"He won't say. Says it's 'top secret'. He's worried in case their song's leaked and they lose all their sales..." Nathan said. "He never usually hides information about his 'talents', so Shirley must have something about her that he's never seen before."
"Blue hair?" Priscilla asked.
"There's that..." Nathan said. After some more idle conversation, their food came. Nathan finally checked his phone, and his eyes lit up. "Oh! It's from Amara!"
"Really? You were just saying yesterday about how you hadn't heard from her in a while. What's she saying?" Priscilla asked.
"She wants us to meet up next week. It's been nearly a year since we met in that other world..." Nathan said.
"Oh...the day that man stole my handbag." Priscilla said. "You were so brave, going to fight ever other night. Then again, I was there to fight by your side, too."
"I think I'll say yes. We haven't had a lot of time to meet up, so if it has to be once a year, it should be that date. Serena, Blaine and Karl too...I've missed those guys tons."
"Aww..." Priscilla said. "They say adversity builds character...the Nathan I'm looking at right now is a much stronger man than the Nathan of a year ago. And..."
"And...?" Nathan asked, curious.
"The Nathan you are now...is a man ready for the next chapter in our lives." Priscilla said, holding Nathan's hand.
|Lucille Valley High School – English Classroom|12:26 pm|
It was nearly the end of the school term, and thus the end of the school year. For the senior students, they would soon be thrust into the real world, either to pursue higher education or employment. Many were considering their options, while a few were scared of the future. In one English class, a group of students were working on questions from past papers to ensure success in their final exams.
One such student was Serena, who sat next to Kyle. It had been that way for nearly three years now, and although they were studying different courses at college after the summer, they would be inseparable. For they had finally gone from friends to lovers. According to Lucas, she had broken more than a few hearts because of this – but she laughed this off. Catherine was the lady all the boys were after, alas she was going out with Steven.
The class was discussing the finer points of A Streetcar Named Desire, one of the most famous American plays ever written. The teacher, Mr Bendelack, was an avid reader of plays, and had chosen more than a few texts for his students to read based on his preferences. As such, the questions on the practice paper were intensive, requiring thorough analysis of every scene. Serena had long since grown bored of hearing how tragic Blanche's final line - "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers" - was.
The bell rang, just as Serena had finished the last question on the sheet. She massaged her writing hand, barely having had a chance to rest it during the lesson.
"That's us for today, class. Tomorrow, we'll be back to Heart of Darkness. Lucas, I do hope you'll be in the library for a change. Otherwise, you'll never understand all the colourful metaphors people will use to describe your running potential."
"I know, sir..." Lucas said, red in the face. With that, the class left the room, heading towards the cafeteria for lunch. Lucas quickly joined the couple, before they could continue their discussion on how pointless Shiny Garchomp was. "God, I hate that guy..."
"Let me guess...still not a Poet Laureate?" Kyle asked, grinning.
"Gimme a break! His questions are hard! I'm suppose to analyse every damn line if I have to do well in this class! Getting this scholarship is going to take another year, I can tell..." Lucas bemoaned. "I mean, I kind of get what Heart of Darkness is all about..."
"We know you do. You kind of freaked out when we read about the cannibalism." Serena said, laughing.
"Yeah, I know they were savages, but..." Lucas said. "Man, I'm going to be the dumbest athlete ever at this rate...I mean, even Olympic medallists have something else they could do! Maths, literature, even political science!"
"Lucas, you couldn't even tell me who our Prime Minister is." Kyle said. "I mean, you were quite close with 'that frumpy old bag', but not close enough."
"...What's so scientific about politicians, anyway?" Serena said. "The probability of them lying to people near the elections?"
"At least you two have it easy. Smart, and all loved up." Lucas said. "I guess I'll find my way somehow. You'll be cheering me on in 2016, come hell or high water."
"Is that so?" A woman passing said, smirking at her student. Mrs Barrs, now six months pregnant. "Lucas, you're a brilliant runner, but even you can't escape from our revision lesson after school. Not if you don't want me to call your parents..."
"N-No, anything but that!" Lucas said, sweating. "Serena and Kyle are giving me a lot of help too! Believe me, I'm as smart as any Head Boy ever was!"
"Good! Then you won't mind helping me going over the material with everyone, then. You'll no doubt have remembered it all..." Maria said, with a mischievous smile. "And Serena, as much as your results have improved, you still can't expect me to not notice you catching a Shiny Kecleon. I do keep up with these things, you know."
"...What?!" Kyle said, astounded.
"Um, I'm sorry, miss..." Serena said, blushing.
"I'll let you off this time. After all, we've only got a short time left before you're done with school. Which is all the more reason for Lucas here to be coming to my revision classes. I'll be hosting four of them next week..." Maria said, sternly.
"Oh, man..." Lucas said. "I'll be there...I just need to fit them into my exercise timetable..."
"It should be fitting exercise into your studying timetable." Maria said, shaking her head. "I'll be seeing you all in class later today. Enjoy your lunch!" Smiling with a sinister gleam in her eyes, she left for the teacher's table,
"See, Serena, I told you she'd notice..." Kyle said. "You're still coming over to mine, right?"
"Sure. I need your help with...well, basically everything." Serena said, laughing.
"Man, I can't intrude on a couple's study time..." Lucas said, groaning. "Ah well. At least today's leg day. Something to look forward to."
Serena, while Kyle was discussing his upcoming trip to Aberdeen to visit his father's new family, had a look through her phone. Something caught her eye – a new message. From Amara, who she hadn't seen since the wedding reception.
She wants to meet up? Alright! Anything to take my mind off this exam stress! Even without Shadows to worry about, I could use a break...
|Farawell - Motus Lounge|20:12 pm|
"Oh, it's you again!" A friendly – perhaps overly so – young lady said, gazing at the barman. Her friend grinned, admiring his uniform. A black vest over a white short-sleeved shirt, exposing his muscular (and hairy) arms, complete with a smart red tie. "You know our usual, right?"
"Sure thing, ma'am. I never forget a pretty girl's face, or her order." The man - Blaine - said, immediately pouring out their drinks. Having worked here for quite a few months, he had become accustomed to where everything was, enabling him to serve drinks efficiently, effectively and carefully. After some idle chit-chat with the girls about their lives – they worked in a beauty parlour – they found a table, where they kept glancing at him.
"Looks dangerous... They know you're spoken for, don't they?" Kaman asked, cautiously.
"Well, I ain't got a ring like yours...yet." Blaine said. "But they know about Lu. They said they'd give her half off if she came in their place. It helps to be popular!"
"I'll say, look at this place. It was practically a ghost town before I hired you." Kaman said. "Now I can seriously think about that other plan of ours."
"You serious?" Blaine asked, in surprise. "I thought you didn't have much cash? Specially with the little one coming soon..."
"On the contrary. This place is raking in the dough at the weekends. More than The Mole was, come to think of it." Kaman said. "And when you had me and Maria around at your new place, you served us some of the best food we've ever seen. Trust me, I bet if you focused on that skill, you'd really make something of yourself. An Indian – Chinese fusion restaurant's never been done in this city before! We'd be the envy of everybody!"
"It does sound great." Blaine said. "Lucy's moving up in the world...working at the Herald and all. I've got to climb the career ladder too. You know what? I'm in!"
"I knew you would be!" Kaman said. "Course, our plans won't take shape until the baby's here. Can you believe it? Three months from now...I can't wait! Maria's cravings are getting a bit out of control, though. Chilli flavoured chocolate...turron...she's even eating those durian biscuits from the Asian supermarket near us. Makes cooking at home hard."
Blaine laughed. "You still don't know what it'll be yet, right?"
"Nope. I want to be surprised! But I've got a feeling it'll take after Maria more than me. She's got the looks...and the brains..." Kaman said, smirking. "With a teacher for a mother, our baby's going to grow up smart. I just hope her family can accept them..."
"I thought you were getting along better?" Blaine asked.
"I dunno...it was just the good feeling of the holidays." Kaman said. "Guess I can live with that. I just wish they didn't have to upset my wife about it...oh well. Hey, that reminds me. You picked one out yet?"
"Actually, I – quick, act casual, act casual!" Blaine turned to face the front, where his beloved girlfriend Lucy, her friend Shirley, and his best friend Dan had entered, all of them making a beeline to the bar. "Howdy, babe!" He gave her a quick kiss, and immediately began serving their usual drinks, whistling happily.
"You're in a good mood tonight, handsome." Lucy said. She saw Kaman's nervous face, and tilted her head, curious. "What's been happening? You two are looking shifty! Come on, tell meeeee!"
"Um..." Blaine said, tugging on his collar. "Me and Kaman were just talking about business plans! Top secret stuff!"
"Oh? Business plans? You've never said anything about that before...have you?" Lucy asked, intrigued. "And I thought I'd have to be the career one in the household. Whatever these plans are, I hope they work out!"
"Your boyfriend's got real talent, you know. Too much to keep him cooped up in here!" Kaman said. "Dan, my man, how's life?"
"Same old stuff. Had a few airport runs today." Dan said, grinning. "Driving a taxi sure beats that rickety old bus...better banter, too."
"I really liked seeing you in that cap, though." Shirley said. "But you're not half bad as a cabbie. Hehe." She pecked him on the cheek, as they sat at the bar, drinking their glasses. "Phew. I needed that. Being in that recording studio all day is tough."
"That Adrian guy's a bit full of himself, ain't he?" Blaine asked. "Still, at least you sound good even without those weird...synthetic machines."
"Voice synthesizer, Blaine. Although for you, that's close enough..." Lucy said, chuckling. "Her first single's going to be great. In our music industry, we need more girls who can play the piano and sing!"
"I just hope I don't have to wear anything skimpy for the music video..." Shirley said. "I want something classy, something kind of gothic, actually. Like what Stella wears when she's not being Nostradamus. I really dig her colours..."
"Ah, you're fine the way you are." Dan said, stroking her hair. "So Blaine, we're at your place for dinner Sunday?"
"You bet my ass you are!" Blaine said. "Thanks to me, I finally got to teach Lucy how to cook something! Guess what?"
"Grilled sea bass?" Shirley asked.
"Lasagna al forno?" Dan tried.
"Chicken tikka masala?" Kaman said.
"...Beans on toast." Lucy said, hanging her head in shame. "That's as far as I'm going to get, isn't it...?"
"Nah, course not. We'll take things slow. You hate being a lousy cook? Then let me take you to the top!" Blaine said. "Someday, I'd love it if we both cooked a great meal together."
"Yeah...but I'm no good at all the prep you can do in your sleep. Slicing vegetables takes me forever, and it's scary..." Lucy said, dejected.
"Meh, cooking ain't for some people. I learned to quit ages ago. Just as well Shirley came to take your place, Blaine. Then I'd be living on fried noodles every night." Dan said.
"Haha. Well, if you need me as your dietician, I'll be there!" Blaine said. He checked his phone, and noticed a message. From a certain girl he hadn't met in a while. Amara, that artist friend of his, was suggesting a get-together on the 7th of June.
I guess I've been neglecting you and the other guys, huh? Alright, for old time's sake, I'm in!
|Saragel Stadium – Training Field|12:49 pm|
In the hot sun, the New Motus National team were hard at work training for tonight's game. Karl, one of their two star players, was fully focused. He felt his blood rushing through his veins, as fellow player Richard was about to shoot the ball to him. This may only be practice, but there was no sense in treating this sport casually. Not when he was part of the city's official team now. He would be facing international opponents, meaning he had his work cut out for him.
The ball went flying at him, and Karl instantly got ready. Skilfully, he made contact with the ball – and immediately, it went hurtling towards the goal. The goal keeper leapt to catch it, but ultimately failed, as the ball hit the net.
Their captain whistled, signalling the end of afternoon training. Now, the team would have to be on top form to play against their opponents from France. Karl, sweaty, pulled off his shirt, taking a long drink from his water bottle. Liam did the same, jokingly whistling at his partner.
"You two getting frisky already?" Richard said, nudging Liam.
"Hey, we're professionals. But there is an upside to this warm weather we're having..." Liam said, winking. Richard rolled his eyes, although still amused. Karl, however, laughed.
"So what do you guys want to do now?" Karl asked. "We've got a while till we have to be back here. Better not overdo it..."
"Want to hang out with me and the guys down the beach? Alastair's picking me up in his new car, and there's enough room for the six of us." Richard said.
"Six of you?" Karl asked. Richard nodded proudly. "Oh yeah, Bianca and Kazuya! How did they get on in Kyoto?"
"Fantastic. Easily the most scenic city in Japan, or so Kazuya says. Bianca was apparently dancing among all the sakura flying around, too. Wish I had seen it, but me and Alastair were home bound..." Richard said.
"How's Big Al doing, anyway?" Liam said. "That boy's always got good ideas on where to go for romantic meals."
"Ally's doing great! He and his girlfriend are going on a wine tasting weekend. They're bringing me back something nice, and I asked them to get one for you two. Hehe." Richard said.
"Ah, cheers boyo. I'll save that for when I'm cooking this guy another meal." Liam said, arm around Karl's shoulder. "Come on, let's freshen up!"
After leaving the stadium, in their casual clothes, Karl finally turned back on his phone. There were the usual updates, such as football results, social media notifications, e-mail alerts, and various mobile games. However, one of his new text messages was from a familiar face. While waiting for Alastair and the others, he read it.
Hey everyone. I know all of us are busy, getting on with our lives. I hope you're all happy. This is going to sound really silly, I know, but I actually really miss you. And if we just lost touch and forgot about each other...that'd be a huge loss. Next week, on June 7th, will mark a year since we became friends. So, if we can, I'd like us all to meet up, just for a chance to catch up. Looking forward to seeing you all. Amara XXX
Just like her...even though she's my ex, she still wants to see me. Darn it, she's still one heck of a girl. Couldn't believe it when I heard about that French guy she met. He'll be cheering on the away team, huh? Well, I won't hold it against him. You know what? Let's do this! Like the old days!
He put his phone away, after marking the 7th on his calendar app. Having a laugh with the others was fun. He had finally learned to laugh about his and Amara's failed relationship, putting their tears to rest. Now, they could go on, without cutting each other out. Lovers or not, they would always be comrades.
|Other World – Motus Revitalization Headquarters|12:31 pm|
On a quiet road in Farawell, vehicles were beginning to reappear. People were finally braving the outdoors, convinced they were safe once again. Granted, many of the existing cars would soon be useless once Shadow Energy was exhausted, but soon enough vehicles running on conventional fuel would reign dominant again. Nearly every citizen was working tirelessly to rebuild society, and the centre of their efforts was here.
Outside a recently occupied building – last known as the 'New Interitus Legion Compound' were a team of security staff, made up of highly trained soldiers from other countries. They had volunteered to help out the city, by re-establishing a form of law and order. Many services still needed to be restored, so for the time being, New Motus City was relying on the kindness of other nations. Thankfully, the United Nations were not hesitant to send aid, and thus for the time being, the people were calm.
"This Ethan person. He's that Nihane Kronos's twin brother?" A younger Swedish guard said.
"So he claims. We've checked with that orphanage in Birmingham, but they never knew about any family." An older Danish guard said. "As long as he helps get rid of these monsters, I don't care what shit he makes up."
"Weird, huh? We've got all the guns, the skills, but if those 'Shadows' were to attack us, we'd be doomed." An American guard said.
"I don't claim to understand much about what's going on either, boy." The lead guard, a man from London, said. "But we should help these 'Persona' users for as long as we need to. They're the ones who know what's going on. Plus, two of them offered to buy me a pint if I did a good job."
A blue vehicle pulled up on the kerb. The security guards in front of the door looked, and nodded to each other. Anticipating crowds of curious citizens, they walked down to the car, ready to keep the people inside the car safe.
"Phew...this is lot more tiring than using NDDs."
A black haired young man stretched his arms, and made way for the other passengers and driver to get out. Among them were the rebels the soldiers knew as Ms White, Mrs Lancaster-Albion, Mr Kingsley, Mr McHale and the young Miss Davenport.
"You think everyone will mind that we're late?" Dan said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Running all over Takanawa is a bitch in this heat..."
"It's good exercise for you, though. And it was all worth it! The area's completely clean now." Priscilla said, happily. "The market's finally able to start again, I hear. And Kazuya's parents are raking in the money, too."
"It's like how I remember a bit more. People are going out to eat now." Kyle said, happily. "So many more kinds of pretzels are available, too. Best of all, I got my hands on a Raspberry Pi! Thanks to Dad..."
"I'm surprised you have time to work on that hobby computer. After all, you were made head of the IT Department here." Aimee said sternly.
Kyle shrugged. "Hey, I can't help it if I'm the most experienced hacker. And Roger's more interested in his business opportunities, so I was the only man for the job. It's good to be the boss!"
"Excuse me. Have our guests from Clairdol arrived?" Ethan asked the soldiers. His polite, humble manner seemed to have made a better impression on them than most of the other rebels, thus Ethan was often left to talk with them. At times, it was like barking out orders as Nihane...and thus, Ethan would be reminded of how cruel he could be.
"Ah, you must mean Ms Tara Miller and Mr Matthew Kingsley?" The American soldier said. "Yup. They're all in there. You guys really keep busy, dontcha? Looks like things are finally getting done around here, though. Go on ahead, you guys."
"Ethan, we must get to our meeting quickly. Unless you want to be bombarded with starstruck civilians." Sophie said. "Being confused for your 'twin' can't be enjoyable, either."
"No...it isn't." Ethan said, shaking his head. He thanked the soldiers, and they made their way safely inside the building. It had laid in ruins after the fierce battle that had taken place in the reception, but it was the only facility large enough for the purpose of restoring the city.
Most of the Shadow-related technology was kept securely locked away from the regular workers, who were devoted to tasks such as resource allocation and reconstruction of public services, such as education. The rebels had also taken several rooms here as temporary accommodation – for their previous home had been destroyed. On that spot now, a new cinema was being built, and nothing was left of the secret base that had operated there for nearly ten years.
The rebels went into the elevator, and it began to ascend to the highest floor – where the meeting would take place. Ethan leaned against the wall, and exhaled. The last six months were tiring, but rewarding. As Nihane, he had done his level best to destroy this city and replace it with a false empire. As Ethan, however, he was doing his best to protect the city's new hopes...and from its own secrets.
We've only allowed a select few civilians from the outside to return here...can we really open up this city properly again? Keeping the secret might be impossible. How do you expect a city like this to keep quiet about monsters like Shadows? I may be over my head.
Eventually, the elevator arrived, and the group entered the large meeting room near the back. There, the rest of the rebel forces were present.
"There you are!" Nathan said, running up to hug his wife. "How was Takanawa?"
"We did a fine job. Sophie couldn't detect a single one for miles!" Priscilla said. "We did see a few, but my ice spells quickly cooled them off."
"Oh god. We're back to the bad puns..." Lucy said, grimacing.
"Just how we roll, baby." Blaine said, sitting by her side. "Sucks that you two can't go on honeymoon..."
"I'm not that bothered about that." Nathan said. "After all, it'd be irresponsible to go on a silly trip when we could be working to help the city."
"Besides, when New Motus is restored, it'll be much more romantic than Paris!" Priscilla said. "...Although it'd have helped if me and Dan hadn't destroyed that fountain."
Ethan laughed slightly, which drew everyone's attention. Him laughing, or smiling, was a rare occasion. For he was still dwelling on major issues, not just for the city, but for his whole life. He hadn't aged a bit for ten years, thus no one could quite believe that technically, he was thirty three. His story about Nihane being his twin was a blatant lie to many, but it was the simplest explanation he could offer to the curious populace.
Ridiculous, isn't it? Their leader's twin brother shows up out of the blue. Some are claiming that I was the 'secret weapon'. This group are the only ones I can trust right now. If only you were all here with me, my friends. But alas, I must rely upon my new allies.
"Never mind me." Ethan said. "We're here to talk business. Thank you for joining us, Matthew & Tara. I suppose I'll start by inquiring about Clairdol. How is the town adjusting to having the city back again?"
"Well...things aren't really back to normal yet." Tara said. "Apart from us two, the only people in the village allowed in are those with families. And it's rather intimidating, being sworn to absolute secrecy."
"Tara's grandparents don't know the whole story, but..." Matthew said, trailing off. "They have an idea we're responsible for it. And they know about Tara's parents, too. It's been a difficult time. I thought the city being free would make everyone happy again, but..."
"We knew it wouldn't be easy." Karen said. "Being with my mother again is wonderful...I couldn't tell her the full story, though. I mean, she knows about the Shadows, and my Persona. But I didn't want to tell her about Janus. How could I? Janus nearly destroyed the entire world!"
"Yet it didn't." Roger said. "Meaning we can work hard, instead of fantasising. Today, I've finally become the owner of Legarte Shopping Complex. Meaning this world will get its own Solar Ray Mall!"
"Really?" Serena said, excitedly. "Sweet! I always wanted to go there! We can finally buy new games! I was getting bored of downloading them and feeling guilty."
"I wasn't..." Kyle said, sheepishly.
"Well, that's because you were technically a criminal for a long time." Dan said, ruffling Kyle's hair. "We're gonna have to keep you on the straight and narrow."
"That's good news. We must establish an economy again, rather than borrowing money." Ethan said, taking notes.
The meeting went on, and other matters were discussed; The art museum opening again. People settling into Kanaloa, which had barely been damaged before it was 'destroyed'. The return of the buses in September, starting with a few priority routes. The airport preparing to start flights to and from the city again. And in the next year or two, the theme park would finally be rebuilt.
"Hmm. We've got a lot of work ahead of us. I'm glad to hear all of you are so busy, outside of our main task." Ethan said. "But I have good news on that subject."
"You do?" Shirley asked.
"Yes. As it stands, there are no Shadows anywhere except here." Ethan said, proudly. "Thanks to our hard work, we've been able to wipe out the leftover Shadows, one by one. In fact...there is only one Shadow left."
"What?!" Amara said. "I knew we were going back to normal electricity, but isn't Shadow Power still used in a lot of places?"
"True...but that will quickly be used up, and those devices will be obsolete without a more natural source." Ethan said. "This Shadow has lain dormant for quite some time. It does not act at all...rather, it merely lets its energy be used. Its generator was disconnected a year ago, however, as its output was too low for our needs. Now, however, we've been using it once again."
"So does that mean...the time has come?" Aimee asked, anxious.
"Well, I suppose it doesn't have to be right away." Ethan said. "Yet leaving Shadows alone for too long causes chaos. Look at the Trauma Shadows. The sooner we do this, the better."
"Ethan...does this Shadow exist in the other world too?" Kazuya asked. "In the warehouse, right? Powering the NDD?"
"That's exactly right. It must be the only one left over there, and in its dormancy it has never seen fit to attack those going inside. Of course, only I know the way to get to it." Ethan said. "Both copies of this Shadow should be destroyed at the same time, or as close to it as possible. That way, the two worlds can be free of this mess once and for all."
"...Are you alright, Aimee?" Bianca asked.
"I..." Aimee mumbled, wiping her eyes. "I wasn't ready for this yet...but...we've got to do it, right?"
"Yes." Ethan said. "Defeating it shouldn't be difficult at all. It does have high stamina, but not much else. I doubt it can even attack."
"...That's not what she's worrying about!" Blaine said, annoyed. "You forgetting something? Once we do this, no one goes between the worlds! She'll never see her brother again! And our other selves, too."
Ethan gulped, and looked down at his desk, ashamed. Even after all this time, he still had a tin ear for people's feelings. A lifetime of loneliness, rather predictably, had rendered him awkward around other people.
"My apologies..." Ethan said. "I realise what we must do is hard. But we knew this was going to happen sooner or later. Would one more week be enough? I don't foresee any issues with waiting until then to do this. I will make the arrangements for the other world, too."
After some consideration, the group nodded – with Aimee hesitating. Ethan felt a pang of panic in him. Had he been that insensitive? He never had known what it was like to have a family. And his plan would result in her being torn apart from her own brother once again.
Perhaps we should give this more time...no. I must go to the other world and ask them to do this. As long as the Shadow is as weak there as it is here, this will all end swiftly...yet painfully.
|June 7th 2013|Legarte - Solar Ray Mall|17:25 pm|
"Ah, it feels great..." Amara said, enjoying the refreshing cool breeze. The Solar Ray Mall, fitting with its name, was incredibly popular during the sunny summer for one simple reason – air conditioning. It was quite literally the coolest place in the city to go shopping, without melting from the heat. Having lots of cool treats to cool oneself down helped immensely too. She sat on a bench by the fountain, having arrived a little early.
So much is coming back to me now. Me, Serena and Nathan going to the Korean place to discuss what we had learned about the other world...then Blaine joined us. Even if our journeys to that other world were dangerous, they always felt better if we came here first. Now we don't have that to worry about anymore. But I wonder if we'll ever do anything that special in our own lives ever again...
"There she is!" A deep male voice said, booming from afar. Amara turned left, and her face lit up. Blaine was there, dressed in a red plaid shirt and shorts. Next to him was Nathan, in his white dress shirt and blue tie, who had cut his curly red locks shorter. Serena was also among them, in a pink top and navy skirt. She had put her hair in a fetching ponytail, and had her necklace on. Karl was there too, in an orange t-shirt and khaki shorts.
"About time you showed up!" Amara said. She quickly hugged them all, beaming. "It's been a while! Good to see you all!"
"Same to you, Amara." Nathan said. "Who would have thought the seventh of June was upon us again?"
"Yeah. A whole year's gone by. Course, the second half was a lot quieter than the first." Serena said. "Not that I mind. It's nice only having to worry about school."
"Can't use the 'Shadow ate my homework' excuse anymore, kiddo." Blaine said, chuckling. "Oh man, I've missed this! The old team back together! And this time, we're not trying to kill anybody!"
"Please don't say that out loud!" Karl said. "But I'm glad for some peace and quiet. The only things I hit now are balls – uh, soccer balls."
"Nice save." Serena said, giggling. "Guess it's time for one of our meals, then. Where should we go?"
"How about the Korean Place?" Amara said, looking up at the food court. "Oh...that's odd, I don't see them."
"Ah, they moved to a bigger place in Takanawa." Blaine said. "Guess they couldn't afford to have two venues. Shame, I had good times there. Especially after you guys started showing up."
"You started working for Kaman before I joined, right?" Karl asked. "I sort of wish I had showed up earlier..."
"Just to see him in his uniform? Trust me, it wasn't much to look at." Serena said, shaking her head. "Food was good, though..."
"Then let's go for pizza." Karl said, rubbing his palms together. "I'm sick of having to count calories...I can hit the gym tomorrow! Today, I'm pigging out with my buddies!"
|Solar Ray Mall – Pizza Castle|17:25 pm|
Not the most sophisticated of places, this restaurant still served high quality log-fired pizza, with many toppings and sauces. Amara ate some of her pepperoni pizza, sitting at a table outside with the others. Rather oddly, the place was playing a long playlist of 90's music, even Savage Garden's I Want You.
"At the risk of sounding like an old timer, I do much prefer this to today's music." Nathan said.
"Heck yeah!" Blaine said. "I still got a lot of old records back at the old house. I can't tell ya how many times I got caught playing air guitar...at four o'clock in the morning."
"Sounds like you, alright." Karl said. "I suppose you've calmed down now in your twilight years."
"You little shit..." Blaine said, thankfully jokingly. "I got a ways to go before I'm old enough to look like your old man. Karl, how have ya been doin'? Been a while since I saw you in boxing class!"
"You're still going?" Karl said, embarrassed. "I've not had much time for that, honestly. Me and Liam have been working hard with the team. Not just on the pitch, but we're all pitching in to raise awareness for a good cause..."
"Ah...the Red Heart Marathon." Serena said. "Lucas was doing another sponsored run for that. You and Liam taking part?"
"Absolutely." Karl said. "He's doing it for his mother. Me, well...it's opened up my eyes a little. We didn't have to live with Shadows here, but people are still dying too young. Far too young...I'd be more than ready to run a thousand miles if it meant we helped more people beat that horrible disease."
"Well said." Nathan said, in admiration. "You can count on me to donate. Too many people I know have loved ones who lost to that dreaded disease. Not to mention, my own mother."
"I didn't know..." Karl said, looking worried. "But I swear I'll finish the marathon. I've wanted to do it for years, but Liam finally persuaded me to do it. Which means, as always, I'm on a diet."
"No surprises there." Amara said. "...Let me sponsor you too. My mother would want me to. And you're the faster runner I know. You'll do just fine, I can feel it!"
"I can see you haven't changed much, either." Karl said, smiling. "Thanks, though. Means a lot having you backing me. How are your colleagues doing? Sorry about the magazine closing..."
"Everyone's been busy since Real People had to shut down." Amara said, sadly. "It was a good run. I just thought it'd last at least a year. Karen's not worried though. She's already got some ideas she's working on. I think she said she wanted to try some kind of online newspaper about theatre and opera."
"I'm sure she'd excel at that. Especially since her partner is such a theatre buff." Nathan said. "What about you, Amara? I could ask around and see if there's demand for your line of work in Nova Albion, if you're struggling."
"Thanks, but I actually got a new job. About two months ago, just after your wedding." Amara said. "It's for this company that produces books for schools. I've got to do illustrations for primary schools."
"Oh yeah?" Blaine asked. "All of the books in my school were like ten years old...made learning history a bit weird. Full of spelling mistakes, too. Used to get told off for correcting them with permanent marker."
"I wish I had gone to school with you...it'd have been a lot more entertaining. There's a reason I suck academically. If I sit around all day in front of a desk, I'm bored in minutes. Unless I'm reading footballer's autobiographies." Karl said. "How are ya enjoying your work, Amara? Bringing in the pennies?"
"Well, it's not bad. It's not really the same as Real People, though. I don't get to work with the others as closely. But the main thing is, it's challenging. And there's more than enough pennies for the old piggy bank, so who knows? I might just finally get out of that apartment." Amara said.
"That's good. Maybe you can find a bigger place to put your art tools." Serena said, sticking out her tongue.
"So when are we gonna meet 'him'?" Blaine asked.
"Huh? 'Him'?" Amara asked, nervously.
"You know what I'm talkin' about. That 'sexy Frenchman', you called him!" Blaine said, eagerly, glancing at Serena.
"Sorry, Amara..." Serena said, sheepish. "You used those exact words on the phone when you got back, and I might said that to Blaine without thinking..."
"Sexy Frenchman? I always knew Amara had taste." Karl said, grinning. "What's he like? I still haven't seen him yet!"
"Easy, Karl, you're taken!" Nathan teased.
"Guys!" Amara said, flustered. "Come on, I've only met him in person once! Okay, so we've talked online or on the phone...pretty much every day since then. Remember what I said at the wedding? He's an archaeologist."
"Archaeology?" Nathan inquired. "I knew someone at my university who studied that. It's quite the tough profession. Has Marcel been involved in any big discoveries?"
"Only one, really. He found a coffin in Egypt, and no one knows the Pharaoh it was made for. And he's been all over the world, preserving relics and giving guest lectures at museums and schools. He's doing pretty well for himself." Amara said. "And he has just the right accent, too! Oh, and since he lives in Paris, he takes a lot of pictures of the sights for me."
Before long, Amara was animatedly showing off the pictures of the French capital city. Highlights included the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the River Loire, and the Arch de Triomphe. Finally, Amara found one of the man himself, standing next to a fountain.
"I now second the sexy Frenchman opinion." Serena said, staring at the screen. "What about you, Karl?"
"Um..." Karl mumbled, blushing.
"Hey, don't be embarrassed." Blaine said playfully. "He's not bad looking, actually. Probably second place, next to me." Nathan raised his eyebrow, frowning. "Okay, third place next to you, Nathan buddy."
"High opinion of yourself..." Nathan said. "Nice to see saving the world hasn't affected your ego."
"Anyway, Amara, he sounds like an exciting guy. He'll go places – and not just to dig up more bones. But the important thing is, you're happy with him. Right? It's just a shame he lives so far away." Karl said.
"Yeah, I know." Amara said. "It's early days. Maybe it's easier this way, talking over the phone or online. We'll get to know each other first. And at least I can still show him my art."
"Ah, of course! He lives in the city of art! Lucky you!" Serena giggled. "Just kidding. I'll stick with Kyle. Who else would I ask to teach me Python 2.7?"
"Oh yeah, how are you two doing?" Karl asked. "You're nearly done with school, right? Must be scary."
"Kinda, yeah." Serena said. "But I'm not that worried. You know, me and Kyle did get accepted into the same college. Starting this September, we're students at Motus Lindwell College. Not quite Tachibana Uni, but it looks amazing."
"Ah, to be at university again." Nathan said, fondly. "In my first year, I joined the water polo team. I was pretty good at it, actually. I tried to be a good student, but...there were plenty of times I got carried away. One time I woke up in a field in my underpants, next to a cow."
"You, Nathan? A party animal?" Blaine asked. "I mean, yeah, we've had some fun times on the town, but that was after you stopped being so anal!"
"Hey, I wasn't that bad." Nathan said. "I guess...I got too used to being in high society. Meeting you three helped bring me down to Earth, I suppose."
"Ah, I wasn't with you guys back then." Karl said. "I was never college bound. Studying was never my thing. I always wanted to be in action, you know? The game is my life. But Serena, I hope you enjoy it. You're going to have fun there, actually. Apparently, they've got an excellent computer lab, even better than Lucille Valley's. I just hope Kyle can't hack into their servers."
"Oh, he won't. I'll keep my eye on him." Serena said, giggling. "I don't think they have water polo there, but apparently they've got an archery club. So I'm up for that!"
"So you can master your Katniss Everdine cosplay?" Amara teased.
"You know me so well." Serena said proudly. "Selene makes it look so cool. Of course, I won't be pulling off any Lunar Scopes. Probably safer for everyone concerned if I don't."
"I dunno if I'd have done well at college. I'd probably party hard all the time, going by my younger years. Not that I don't do that now, but...hey, I'm thirty one. I've got to act my age once in a while, set a good example for the young'uns." Blaine said, grinning.
"Oh!" Amara said. "You two finally moved in together! How did it go?"
"Pretty smoothly. I didn't have too much stuff to pack up. I don't need a lot of clothes. Lucy seems to think I do, though. She bought me some new shirts the other day, like this one. But for our first place together, it's not half bad. Enough room for the both of us, Lilith gets more space to play with her toys, and I even invested in a mini-bar. Hehe." Blaine said. "Redecorating sucks hard. Thank god for Dan's phone number."
"Lucy's working at the Motus Times now, isn't she?" Serena asked.
"Yup. She really is a hard worker, though." Blaine said, proud. "She was squealing when she got the job! Sounds like she's right where she wants to be, too. Although she said she really misses being with the guys from the magazine. So maybe you ought to have a reunion for them sometime."
"That'd be nice. I haven't had time to get in touch, so that's something for the summer." Amara said.
"Still pulling pints at Kaman's crib?" Karl asked.
"Crib? We're on MTV?" Blaine asked, squinting. "Yup, still keeping his pub going. Nah, just kidding. He keeps on going, working himself and us like dogs. Not that I mind. I heard him talking about a new business venture the other day, something about opening a new Indian in Takanawa. Mark my words, he's onto something big."
"Awesome." Karl said. "Nothing like a good curry. Although he'll have to do his level best to impress Alastair. He's very fussy about what makes a good Indian."
"Trust me. The time Kaman invited me and Lu to his place, I was in heaven. They even made their own naan bread!" Blaine said, licking his lips at the thought. "In fact, next week they're inviting us over for a Chinese meal. It helps to have friends who know how to eat well, eh?"
"You said it." Amara said, eating one of her complimentary almond biscuits. "Without any more Shadows to kill...life feels pretty good."
"If I hadn't been through hell, I'd probably be bored with school, but now I feel really lucky." Serena said. "Like, I'm just grateful to be alive, in a city where we can kick back and have a good time in places like these."
"That is a good thing, Serena." Nathan said. "However, there's something I'm even more grateful for."
The others looked at him, wondering what he was getting at. He began to pull out something from his pocket, smiling warmly. The minute he retrieved it, Serena squealed, loud enough to attract the attention of the other patrons. Amara gasped, while Blaine and Karl's faces lit up. The item that made them all go gaga was none other than a three-month baby scan.
"Now that blows all of our news out of the water!" Blaine said. "Look, you can see his nose! Or her?"
"We think it's a girl." Nathan said, happily. "Who'd have thought it? Six months from now, we'll be a proper family!"
"Babies, huh? Must be a wonderful feeling, to bring a new life into the world." Karl said. "Well done, man. Our newly-wed CEO's going to be a daddy!"
"Six months? So December?" Serena asked. "A Christmas baby! Awesome!"
Nathan laughed, gazing at the scan of his future angel. Already, she was his little princess. "I wish I had married Priscilla a lot sooner. But perhaps having children before now would have made things difficult. Juggling my career and raising a baby, on top of saving the world...it'd be pure chaos. Now I can settle down, in the best way possible."
"Congrats!" Blaine said, grinning. "Your girl's going to have the best start in the world. Her parents are rich, she'll have all the toys she could want, and she's got us on babysitter duty!"
"Oh, yeah!" Serena said. "You can pay us half price!"
"Thought of any names?" Karl asked.
"I've been thinking on a few." Nathan said. "From my list, Kayla was the one I liked the most. Or perhaps Charlotte. Georgia too."
"Trust you to pick the royal sounding ones." Blaine said. "But I guess you and the missus are our answer to Will & Kate. So it all works out."
Amara, beaming, spoke up. "This is the best news I've heard all year. Janus thought life was worthless, but look at everything that's happening with us. I say we go out and have fun today, to show him exactly how wrong Janus really was!"
"Right! I'm going to shop till I drop!" Serena said.
"I better pick up something for Lu while I'm here..." Blaine said. "Maybe check out the craft beer shop here, too."
"I might as well check out the music store, and get some new headphones for the gym." Karl said. "Oh yeah, and Liam keeps nagging me about my holey socks."
"While I'm here, I might as well pick out things I'll need for the baby...and a new camera. I want to be able to capture every moment!" Nathan said.
"The art shop here actually started selling some of my old paintings." Amara said, smiling. "I'm going to check out if they sold them yet. And I guess I'll need more watercolour paints, while I'm at it."
After devouring their pizzas, the team got up for some retail therapy. Luckily, the stores were open later in the summer, meaning everyone got to purchase what they were looking for. Amara even picked up a digital picture frame, one she could fill with her favourite artworks and photos.
"Typical, one minute we're destroying evil doors, the next we're buying hundred-dollar headphones." Karl said, admiring the blue and black pair he had purchases. "At least it's our wallets taking the damage, not our health. Serena, you learned a cash healing spell yet?"
"Like what, Dollardyne?" Serena said, giggling. Just then, however, Amara's phone started to ring, and it was an unknown number. Concerned, she answered it.
"Hello...?" She said.
"Good evening, Amara. This is Ethan Walters."
Everyone leaned closer, intrigued. It had been even longer since they had heard his voice, having last gone to the other world in February.
"Do not be alarmed. Things in our world are progressing slowly, but surely. However, today is the day I think we should finally get rid of the Shadows once and for all."
Amara gasped. Today, of all days? She had wanted today to be a stress-free day, to celebrate the demise of Aeternus and Janus. This was coming at some point, she knew, but it had slipped her mind until now.
"Come to our world...there, we can discuss what needs to be done. I'll be waiting for you in the Motus Revitilization Headquarters." Ethan said, hanging up immediately.
It seemed that for one last time, the group would be heading back to that old warehouse in Farawell.