Man of Archives

Chapter 30

I greeted the morning with a sense of lightness in my body. It's difficult to describe my emotions, but they were strong and intriguing. Sunlight filtered through the closed curtains, but it wasn't bothersome since it fell around my waist rather than directly on my face. Though it was still morning for me, it had long been lunchtime for the locals. The clock had just passed noon.

Stepping out onto the balcony, which offered incredible views, I took a deep breath of the cool, fresh air. The sun had already reached its highest point, spreading warmth and calm. Silence reigned, broken only occasionally by the distant cries of birds, shattering the quiet into thousands of pieces.

When I returned inside, I headed straight to the shower to freshen up. Once my hygiene routine was complete, I made my way to the hotel restaurant for a light breakfast. I was noticed immediately.

"Would you like to have breakfast, sir?" a petite, slender waitress asked. She was dressed in a white uniform with a small black apron embroidered with the hotel's symbol and name.

"Yes, I wouldn't mind," I nodded. "What's interesting on the menu today?"

"The breakfast is simple: a light seafood salad, tea, toast, cereal, and much more," she listed. "But if you're craving something specific, you can order it for a small fee. The chefs would be happy to accommodate."

"No specific cravings for now," I replied.

We arrived at a large hall with a dozen round tables. The room was empty since everyone had already finished breakfast. The only clue that food was still available was the self-service table.

"If you have any questions or requests, feel free to ask."

"Thank you," I nodded.

Breakfast went smoothly, as this was the first time in four months that I could truly relax. No need to rush anywhere, no battles to fight, no need to defend myself. Still, I won't tempt fate... who knows what could happen on this island.

As I was finishing breakfast, a familiar manager approached me.

"Good morning, sir," he greeted.

"Well... it's not really morning anymore," I chuckled. "But for me, yes, good morning."

"May I sit?"

I nodded.

The manager closed his eyes for a moment, trying to relax while preparing for what seemed like an important conversation. He already knew I was a wizard, so the matter was likely related to magic. I wondered what he was going to ask.

"Tell me, sir," he began. "If, for instance, a well-paying contract came up during your stay, would you be interested?"

"Hm," I mused. "And would you?"

The manager wasn't expecting that and paused for a few seconds to think.

"I'd agree," he finally answered. It made sense, especially coming from him.

"I probably wouldn't say no either," I smirked.

"Then perhaps the owner of this hotel has a proposal for you," he said calmly, watching my reaction. I wasn't opposed—after all, I could always refuse if the task didn't suit me or if I simply didn't want to do it. "Would you like to meet him?"

"Why not," I shrugged.

"The owner has also expressed interest in meeting you," he said. "Do you have any plans?"

"None for now," I replied.

"How about meeting him over dinner?"

"Sounds good."