Twisted-Wonderland: Our Precious Treasure (Part 2)

(137) WA: Song of Circling Stars

*ring ring*

Entering the warm inn, a brunette girl let out a sigh as she lowered her warm hood. Looking toward the reception table, she saw a boy with dual-colored hair with light shinning underneath his face. She cleared her throat, making the boy glanced up before going back to his glowing screen. She sighed. "Now even a 'hello'?"

She could see him rolled his eyes. "Hello, Magda."

"How un-gentleman-like." She shook her head fondly and walked toward the table, pulling her suitcase behind her. "Where's Auntie Rebekah?"

"Helping around the kitchen," he answered. Leaning slightly, she could see the laptop keyboard he was typing on with one hand while his other elbow on the table propped his chin on his palm. "Busy hour. She asked me to watch the table again."

"I see," she hummed. "Well then, Mister Columbus, I would like to order one room, please."

His fingers halted and he finally looked up to her with a raised eyebrow. "What?"

"I would like to stay for, um...maybe a week. Depending on the situations."

"Why?"

"Preserving a tradition, dear Jacob." She leaned forward. The teasing look on her face softened. "Only because we miss one Wassailia sleepover doesn't mean we have to stop altogether."

Jacob didn't take that well. His fingers curled a bit too hard. "What are you implying?"

"Leave those dark thoughts, child." Magdalene leaned back. Her voice dipped, sounding serious. "I know you want to wait for him to do every mission in the world, but try to think about others."

"Are you saying that I'm selfish?"

"Just stubborn." She sighed. "You got it from him." She didn't dare to touch Jacob even when he looked like a kicked puppy. She doesn't have his power of touch. She wasn't as fearless or compassionate as him. She isn't a leader of the group. Nobody dares to take his position and she wasn't trying to. "I just can't imagine another Wassailia without children running around the house for Uncle Benjamin."

Jacob let out a shaking breath, rubbing his eyes. "I just..."

"All of us are still grieving as well."

"Quit implying that he's dead," he growled, glaring at her. "I saw him in October! But..." He huffed, gripping his hair. "I'll bring him home. It's my mission."

Magdalene didn't say a thing. But she believes him. If there's one person in their loosely-tied group that can bring back their lost one, it's Jacob, the one who got attached a bit too much. But she couldn't blame him. All of them were attached to their missing leader.

*ring ring*

"I'm back!"

Magdalene turned to the running blond girl, smiling at her. "Welcome, Bridgette."

"I bought serabi." The girl placed a single snack on the table in a flimsy plastic container.

"That's kind of you. But, just one?"

"Oh, I ate mine on the way," Bridgette giggled, "also, I brought a friend."

The bell rang again as the door being opened. Magdalene looked up, wanting to smile at the guests, and proceed to tease Jacob for not doing his job well, but she froze. The group that arrived was unfamiliar, which she assumed that they were visitors. A gingerhead in a sweater, a blunette with a jacket, a man in a suit, and a hooded figure wearing the same coat as the group with a cat perched on his shoulder. But even under the hood, Magdalene could catch a glimpse of the familiar wide black eye (why are they wearing an eyepatch? And since when?) and the reddish-brown bangs. She didn't dare to look away, afraid that if she took one second he'll disappear just like the early days when he was first announced to be missing.