Acadia Restoration

Chapter 23

  They emerged on the streets of Bntri, within the country Eidine and ultimately the continent: Quep. It was a mountainous region, but it lacked most elements associated with high altitude. It wasn't cold, nor was it humid from clouds. It felt like anywhere else, except it wasn't. It was lavish. The streets were always clean, the architecture was breathtaking. Tudor style buildings lined the streets. Along sidewalks tall posts stood with potted plants hanging from them.

When Stella had returned from her touring, she had told Norah that Eidine was so elevated that no matter what time of day, you could always see Acadia's moons. Norah had always believed it to be rubbish to inspire her childlike wonder, however now she knew it to be true. Not necessarily about the moons, but space was visible. She could see the stars and one of Acadia's two moons: Nepir. Uatrica was nowhere to be seen, it was always the second rising moon.

"Guys! This way!" Max called out. They all followed after Max and a citizen who was leading them to a hotel of sorts. Once they arrived at a hotel or inn or whatever it was, they thanked the stranger who nodded before leaving. They walked into the hotel and Max went with Lily to the front desk to book them rooms. Serina eventually got whistled over, to aid in their booking.

"You guys must be her for Skuscus!" The front desk lady announced.

"Skuscus?" Max raised a brow.

"Of course!" The lady replied cheerfully. "Tourists always make their way to Bntri just for the festivities. It is the most beautiful time of year," she sighed happily. Max nodded and took the rooms' keys from her. He tossed a pair to whomever could catch one, he only had five sets.

The group made their way to the suites they had booked. As soon as the doors were opened, everyone made a run for a bed or couch. They could finally relax. It didn't take long before everyone fell into a deep sleep. They spent the rest of the day resting and restoring themselves. Everyone showered and laid around watching TV or sleeping. Mostly the latter.

Jade spent time reading and writing. She had been keeping meticulous notes about her travels in a diary of sorts. Not really a diary, because it contained nothing personal, it was strictly scientific. Jade had not known how tired she was until she was given the opportunity to rest. She had been draining herself- magically, without proper resting and energy. Andromeda nestled next to her and Jade succumbed to sleep.

~~~~~

Alex had trouble sleeping. He couldn't stop thinking about Clement. He was strange, because he didn't appear to want to harm him. Or at least that was how it felt. Then there was his connection to Maeve...

He got up and walked around the room. No one else in the "boy's" room was awake. Not that it was a strict rule, it was just easy to give the two rooms gender labels; for an almost even distribution between bathrooms and beds. He walked over to the glass doors leading out to the balcony. He walked out quietly. A cool breeze knocked him in the face. It was the late afternoon, turning into the evening. Already the sky was shifting into it's dusky pinks.

"I didn't realize you two were awake," Alex announced when he noticed Serina and Norah hunched over a notebook at one of the multiple tables on the porch. Serina looked up first, Norah put up a finger- signalling "one second". Then she looked up with a sigh and leaned back against the chair she was in.

"Sorry," she ran a hand over her hair which was falling out of her bun. "Jade asked us to check her notes for any grammatical mistakes.

"Yes," Serina stared at the notebook. "She's been taking," she squinted at the writing, "field notes".

"And her writing is very," Norah began. Alex took a look at the book.

"Illegible?" he finished.