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Chapter 7: The next step

Celia looked out her window at the Chesedonia inn. "They should be here soon." She heard a knock. "That's odd, the door is-" She gasped when she saw Jason standing there. "Jay!" She ran into his arms.

"Nice to see you, Celia."

She looked around. "Aren't Luke and Tear supposed to be with you?"

He nodded. "They're in their room. They want to hear more about your inventions."

"I see."

Skit: Planet Storm

Celia: I don't understand, how come artes being back is such a big problem?

Jason: Isn't it obvious? The planet storm is stopped, and without that, no artes.

Celia: How can we be so sure about the planet storm?

Jason: What are you saying? Are you trying to say th-

Celia: No need talking about it anymore.

Jason: Wait, what are trying to say?!

Celia: Calm down already.

Jason: But, you're bas-

Celia: G'night, Jay!

Jason: W-wait!

Celia: Buh-bye!

"Nice to meet you." Luke help a hand out to Celia.

She took it and shook it. "Nice to meet you, sir."

She did the same to Tear, who crossed her arms afterwards. "You've found a way to use artes again, right?"

Celia nodded. "I have."

"How?"

Jason showed her his bracelet. "This thing. These fonstones sync with your body, allowing you to use artes."

Luke looked at it. "Sync? What do you mean?"

Celia pushed him away. "Jason's is green, because he was born in Sylph Decan."

Luke raised a brow. "But there's Sylph Decan and Sylph Redecan."

Celia nodded. "I know, that's green, if he was born in Sylph Redecan, it would be a fonstone that's a darker green."

Tear pushed Luke further. "The fonstone is all he needs?"

Jason put down his arm. "The crest is a big part too."

Tear nodded. "I see. Wait, the fonstone, how does it symbolize Sylph Decan?"

Celia shrugged. "I don't know."

Mieu flew around her head. "We need to get going!"

Jason nodded. "We'll miss our boat to Sheridan at this rate."

Tear put a hand on her hip. "How come we're going to Sheridan?"

Celia began to walk over to a knight. "My aunt might be able to help us find out more about these fonstones." She began speaking to him, telling him that he and the others could head back to Grand Chokmah.

"Celia seems nice."

Jason turned to Tear. "What's this all of a sudden?"

She began walking towards the dock. "Just giving my opinion on her."

"So close to Sheridan…" Celia leaned over the rail of the ship in the late evening. "I wonder how Aunt May is doing." She looked at her left arm. "I hope she doesn't worry…"

"She hasn't seen you in four years."

She turned to see Jason. "What is that supposed to mean?"

He stood next to her. "You gave her a damn good reason to have a heart attack."

"Jay, what is that supposed to mean?"

"She raised you for seven years. And she hasn't heard from you since you left four years ago"

Celia sighed. "True, but…"

Jason stroked her hair. "Stop worrying, she's fine."

Celia giggled. "You're right, no need to worry."

"Do you wanna go inside? We have a lot of work to do when we get there."

Celia shook her head. "I want to think a bit out here."

He let go of the rail. "Alright, then, don't stay out too long."

He began walking back, but looked back. "Don't worry."

"If you're not back by ten, I'm coming to get you."

She laughed. "Okay, okay, just get going."

Jason waved to her and went back inside. "Celia is strong. I'm glad that she's so happy." He stopped and looked at a candle in the wall. "Basic candles. Pretty old school, but we have no choice," He continued on his way. "for now anyway."

He went to the room he shared with Luke, who was laid on his bed, staring at the ceiling. "Hey, where did you go?"

Jason sat on his bed. "I went to talk with Celia."

Luke sat up his bed. "You care a lot about her, do you?"

Jason nodded. "She's my best friend, so it's only natural."

Luke looked out the small window. "It's like she's a queen, and you're her most valiant knight. Is your relationship anything like that?"

Jason chuckled. "To be honest, we're nothing like that. Just partners in crime."

"That work for an emperor?"

"That's beside the point."

In the morning, Luke walked off the boat, and the others followed. They were the first off the boat. "We should hurry to town." Celia said.

Tear nodded. "There's no reason for us to stay around the port anyway." The four of them left the port and went to the actual town of Sheridan.

"It's been years since we've been here!" Luke took a deep breath as they entered the town. "Ah, the fresh air!"

Jason began walking. "If this is fresh air, then what were you breathing while we were walking here?"

The other two followed, and Mieu sat in Luke's shoulder. "You were just breathing fresh air, master."

Luke sulked and began to walk. "I know…"

Celia began walking towards the north end of town. "My aunt's house is this way."

Jason ran next to her. "Are you ready to see her again?"

She nodded. "Of course I'm ready to see her! It's been four years!"

She began walking faster, and Jason ran to catch up with her. Luke joined the two, and Mieu hang on tightly. Tear sighed and began to run as well.

Ace was playing catch with Amanda in front of their house. As he was waiting for her throw, he saw the four speeding towards them. "Well, would you look at that?"

Amanda looked at them. "Brother, who are they?"

"Just go inside and get mom and dad." Amanda nodded and rushed inside the house.

Celia walked over to Ace. "Excuse me, this is May's house, right?"

Luke tapped Jason. "Is there only one may here?"

"I dunno."

Amanda soon came outside with two adults. The woman gasped and hugged Celia. "Celia, it's so good to see you again!"

The man walked over to the other three. "Please, come in. Friends of Celia's are friends of ours."

Things will be falling into place a bit more next chapter.