Hey guys! Heres the next chapter in the story! I'll be attempting to delve more into the character backrounds, and as always, enjoy reading and thanks a lot!

Back in the Magnus Mansion, a tall shady guest covered in black and torn robes approached the door. He calmly looked for the doorbell until spotting a small golden button on the side of the gilded door. He pushed it, and it made a loud chime inside the house. The stranger looks up and notices that the weather was pretty fair today.

~Blue skies... white clouds...~ All those images reflected on his bright red eyes. His spiky white hair shone brightly in the light, but the rest of his face was covered in black cloth. He blinked, and the door opened soon after. Magnus was standing on the doorway, took a glimpse of the stranger, and invited him in. He led him to the backyard where Jun and the others have departed.

Magnus spoke to break the silence. "How are they doing?"

The stranger stood silent.

Clearing his throat, Magnus began again, "I said, how are they doing? How is my son doing? How far have they gone so far?"

But again, the stranger draped in black stood silent. Magnus sighed. Once more he began, "Hey! Listen you-" But then the stranger interrupted with a hand gesture.

In a raspy voice he said, "Why did you send your own son on such a mission?" Magnus was taken aback by this statement.

He replied, "Wha- tha-thats none of your business! You and I have been working together for over ten years, how dare you say something like that to me!"

The stranger, seemingly unfazed by this statement said, "Then you also remember that I don't have a son anymore because of the Sky Tower. Don't throw his life away for just a shop."

Magnus slams his fist on a nearby table. "He will get what he deserves! I had a fortune on that shop and he failed to protect it! You will answer me these questions or I will have you fired on the spot! Where are they now, and how are they doing?!"

The Stranger looks away and walks the opposite direction. Magnus, infuriated, yells, "Hey! Where do you think your going! Come back here right now!"

The stranger looks up in the sky. "They are doing fine, old man. Don't worry. They had an encounter with a forest beast, but they handled it quite well. But tell me, why did you send your son to Sky Tower?"

The trio is walking down a dirt path leading out of the great forest. For the past day and a half, they walked while fending off various goblins, highwaymen, and beasts. The destination for them was West Coast, the great Harbor trade center in all of Arad.

"Honestly," Chello says, "When we get to West Coast, first thing I will do is sleep. I'll admire the beauty tommorow."

Jun cuts in. "...And take a shower while your at it..."

Simon was up ahead, thinking about father's order to send him to Sky Tower. Sure, he needed to be punished, by why send him to Sky Tower? And what is this gem called Haessari all about? He has so many questions needed to be answered but then-

"Hey Simon." Jun said. "Why are you like that with an expression like your all glazed over?" Simon turns his head and notices Jun next to him. He distances himself and says, "None of your business. I-I'm just thinking, thats all." Jun replied snarkly, "Thinking? yeah right, haven't seen you do that before."

Chello chuckles.

However, to both their surprise, Simon din't respond, only continuing to have that glazed expression on his face and walking forward, almost as if he has lost his way.

Chello stopped chuckling and Jun notices this. Chello says, "Hey man, you alright? Are you hurt?" Simon continues to walk forward.

Jun says, "Hey! are you okay? He asked you a question!" Simon continues to walk forward. "Wow...so awkward..."

The trio continued on their path, until finally reaching the end of the great forest. The three gleefully ran out into open space after seeing nothing but trees for the past couple hours. "I'm honestly glad to see open land." Simon said. "I kind of hate trees now." Standing on a cliff, the trio can see the entire West Coast below them.

What stood before the the trio was a great city called West Coast, a harbor city filled with all sorts of entertainment, diversity, trade, food, and anything that a trade city has. West Coast is the great trading city of all in Arad and as such, the finest goods can be found around the world in one location which is West Coast. From flamboyant festivals, to shady gambling houses, West Coast has it all.

Jun looked at the city with amazement. "Wow...i've always heard about West Coast, but now I get to see it with my own eyes.."

Chello also looked in amazement. He says, "This is nothing like Hendon Myre..."

Simon, being used to seeing West Coast, descends the cliff. "Yeah, yeah, it's great, lets go."

The trio walked the streets of West Coast. It was like they were kids in a candy shop- Jun and Chello looked around in amazement at all the colors and goods each stall and store had to offer. From the finest alcohol to the sturdiest of armor, West Coast really was magnificent. Simon looked at them and sighed. "Alright guys, lets go rent an inn for awhile and rest before setting out to Sky Tower. I know exactly where we can stay."

He led them to a medium sized tavern. Outside, Simon can hear a small amount of fighting. Then, a few seconds later, a man seemingly flies out of the doorway with bruises on his face. Jun is surprised and says, "Sir, are you okay!?" The man gets up and runs away without even replying. Chello tapped his shoulder and said, "Are you sure its safe to stay here?" Simon replied, "Of course, I stay here all the time." Chello thinks, ~No surprise...~ The trio walk in.

Outside, the sign reads, "Moonlight Tavern."

"Siusha!" Simon said. And then a tall and very beautiful elven lady walked foward, dressed in red.

Having escaped a great fire that ravaged the livelihood of her people, Siusha settled in West Coast after an extensive period of traveling in the human world. Despite her youthful looks, her age is told to be far greater than that of any living humans. Observing human behavior is one of her greatest joys, so much that she tolerates customers from getting into fights, but still makes them pay for the damage.

"Simon, welcome back to Moonlight Tavern. How are you?" Siusha says. Simon replies, "I'm fine thanks."

"Not going to get into any fights today?" Siusha chuckles. She then notices Simon's friends. "Are these your friends? Oh Simon, your growing up now." She pats him on the head and Simon blushes.

"I- they aren't really my friends...more like co-workers." He pushes Siusha's hand away from his hair.

Siusha smiles and bows to Chello and Jun. "Welcome to Moonlight Tavern. My name is Siusha, and I'm the owner of Moonlight Tavern. Please excuse the random fights around here, it's really common. You can fight in here, but you'll have to pay for damages."

Jun notices Chello drooling. She elbows him in the rib. Chello snaps back to reality. "That hurt you know!"

Siusha bows again and says, "Please, follow me, I'll show you into your rooms. Any friend of Simon is a friend to me."

Along the way, Chello asks Simon if they have to pay. "Well duh," he says. "Of course you do. But we get a huge discount. My father helped Siusha establish her own tavern. Of course I like to fight in it, and she doesn't like that. But one day, a huge fight broke out and Siusha was caught in the middle of it. Of course, I jumped in to save her and I did. So yeah, we can stay here for awhile."

Siusha intervened. "I could have saved myself you know." she chuckled. She stopped. "Okay, here are your rooms. The young lady will sleep in this room, and you boys have that room."

Simon says, "Wait, we all don't share one room?" Jun and Siusha looked at each other and laughed. Chello facepalmed.

After Chello and Jun settled in, Simon walked out to the lobby. Siusha walked over to him. "So why are you really here?" She asked.

Simon looks away. "Your not going to like this one bit."

Next time: The trio explore West Coast, enjoying themselves before the inevitable departure to Sky Tower. However, during their exploration, the Trio meet a mysterious old man who goes by three letters: G S D. He has a strange request.