PHOENIX RISING (Book One In The Phoenix Hunter Series)

★CHAPTER 12★

    
    “Let’s meet up with the others at the restaurant,” Kaito said, his voice a low murmur, his eyes fixed on the setting sun, a hint of anticipation in his tone.

“How do you guys know each other?” I asked Kaito, walking step by step by him, a hint of curiosity in my voice.

“Dan and Tutu? (Chuckles). We joined the guild a few years before them.”

“We’re not friends though, but we aren’t enemies either,” Luna added at the end, her voice a low murmur, a hint of amusement in her tone. “We do drink together in taverns after successful hunts sometimes.”

“Oh, that’s nice.” I said,  my mind still swirling with the thoughts of awakening my system and leveling up.

We arrived at the Floral Restaurant, its facade a symphony of vibrant flowers, its windows shimmering with a soft, golden light. It was a place that exuded an air of elegance and refinement.

It was lively, filled with a soft, enchanting music. The whole place was enveloped with a sweet floral scent that made me feel relieved of stress. It was like a sanctuary, a haven from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Two burly guards stood at the entrance and the line into the restaurant wasn't that much.

After a few more people it got to out turn.

“Your entry fee?” one of them spoke up.

The entry fee was 5 gold.  I hadn’t sold my loots yet, so I didn't really have any good except the 5 cooper coins in my coin pouch.

I was about to ask Kaito to pay when Shadow beat him to it.

“Here you go, that's ten gold coins.” shadow said handing over the coins to them. A gesture of kindness that made me feel a sense of warmth.

I was given a pass, and we went in. Without any further restrictions. The inner part of the restaurant was even more spectacular than it looked from the outside.  The walls were adorned with intricate floral patterns, the ceilings were soaring and grand, and the tables were covered in elegant linen.

We spotted Dan and Tutu, their figures easily recognizable.  They had been awakened for years now, and their aura shimmered with a confidence and power that I had only recently begun to understand.

“Hey guys,” Kaito said, his voice a low murmur, his eyes fixed on Dan and Tutu, a hint of camaraderie in his tone.

“Hi, thought you changed your mind?” Dan said.

“No we didn't, How are you guys?” Luna said, her eyes sparkling with, a hint of friendliness.

“We’re good, I see you had a lucky one today” Dan said, his eyes fixed on me, a hint of amusement in his tone.

“Ours didn't even wait for us to crossover before they left,” Tutu said,

We all laughed at his words. Funny, because I almost didn't come too...

They ordered food, and it was heavenly. The food was unlike anything I had ever seen or tasted, an explosion of flavors and textures that delighted my senses. Only rich people could afford meals like this, and soon I will be too.  I just enjoyed it as we ate,  feeling a sense of contentment and satisfaction.

“So, what’s your skill?” Tutu asked, her voice a low murmur, her eyes fixed on me, a hint of curiosity in her tone.

Kaito discreetly nudged me not to answer, his eyes fixed on Tutu, a hint of warning in his tone.

Luna picked up the conversation, changing the topic to the Guildmaster, her voice filled with a hint of annoyance, a sense of frustration.  She didn’t like the Guildmaster. It was something that seemed to be a well-known fact for them.  And since he seemed to have something against the Guildmaster, he kept cursing at him.

I didn’t dare activate any of my skills, even though I wanted to know what they were thinking. It’ll probably backfire on me.

Thirty minutes later, we finished our meal and got up, saying goodbye to Dan and Tutu.

“Welcome to the hunt, Lucas,” Dan said, his voice a low murmur, his eyes fixed on me, a hint of encouragement in his tone.

“Yeah, good luck out there,” Tutu said, her voice a low murmur, her eyes fixed on me, a hint of support in her tone.

As they left, I felt a sense of relief. That had been a close call.  I didn’t want them to know about my powers, not yet.

I turned to Kaito and the others.  “Thanks for saving me back there. So about that friend of yours in the market, the one with the system magic thingy?”

“Alright, let’s head there,” Kaito said, his voice a low murmur, his eyes fixed on me, a hint of amusement in his tone.

We headed out of the Floral Restaurant,  our steps light, with a single destination in mind.
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