Destiny Island

Chapter 47

After they finished taking their baths, the humans were led by an elf who didn't seem to be able to communicate with them, he only used his hands to show them to follow him, to their rooms. Each one of them was appointed a room for themselves. However, all the rooms were connected and if they wished they could visit each other. However, all they wished was to sleep.

After what felt like mere minutes to Jade's tired body that finally got the chance to enjoy the softness of a bed once more, there was a subtle knock on the door. It was the type of insistent knock that didn't jar one awake but slowly brought one back to consciousness.

"My lady, nourishment will be provided in the great guest hall. If it is not too inconvenient please procure the garments that were left in your room, clothe yourselves and join Vulluin and the other elves to the feast that has been provided." The unfamiliar elf said through the door.

"Thank you, I will do so and inform the others," Jade said trying, but failing to muster the same formal tone of voice that the elf had.

As Jade said that, she sleepily got up only then realizing that she had fallen asleep on the pristine bed in her dirty clothes. Although she felt bad about it, she decided there was nothing she could do about it. Instead of feeling guilty that she soiled the perfect bad she decided to go to Amber's room first, so that they could choose what to wear together.

Without thinking about it too much, she burst into the room on the left of her own only to find Royce standing in the middle of the room wearing nothing but a towel, his hair still wet from the shower he had taken. Not being in spikes and all made it a bit strange to her but that was not where her eyes focused.

"Ahem, I am sorry, I thought this was Amber's room." She said blushing profusely.

Sometimes when Jade felt uncomfortable she would start talking uncontrollably in a vain attempt to avoid the awkward silence that might follow. Unfortunately for her, that was what happened at that very moment. While trying to avoid looking at Royce's naked torso, she started talking like a chatterbox.

"So where did you find the shower. I thought magical lands didn't have bathrooms, that it was all bathing houses and nature bathrooms. Haha. Who would have guessed that a castle would have a bathroom and a shower at that." She kept rattling on.

While she did that, Royce just stood there, his hair dripping on the marble floor, not knowing how to stop the sudden volcanic eruption of words that started spurting out of Jade. Only after a few seconds did he notice his own state of undress and put a shirt on.

When he did that, it was as if he had pressed an off switch. Jade stopped talking and was just standing in his room, her mouth clamped shut. It was such a strange state of distress for her that it took her a few moments to realize what she should do. Before she could gracefully leave Royce's chamber, he spoke up.

"Every room actually has a bathroom with the showers, so I thought I might take a shower, as well, because who knows when we would get the chance to do that again. And I think Amber's room is the one on the right of you." He said.

Quickly bobbing her head up and down, Jade exited his room and once in her own room, she threw herself on her dirty bed, trying to come down, to get her barrings. She was never as flustered as at that very moment. She had been in similar situations before, but she could never remember turning into such a blubbering mess, it was embarrassing.

"I sure could use some girl talk right about now, but I don't think we have the time. Maybe once we are on the road again Amber and I can manage to find some semblance of privacy, somehow." Jade thought as she pulled herself up from the bed's comfort and headed towards Amber's actual room.

Then she stopped in the middle of the room remembering that she was supposed to tell the others about the feast. So she went back to the door of Royce's room and this time she knocked loudly and waited for him to tell her to come in.

Upon reentering his room she explained everything blushing profusely and asked him to convey the message to Ignacio which he agreed to. After that, she turned away abruptly and walked out of the room.

Then she was finally able to go to Amber's room and tell her what was happening and try to make her wear something a bit more formal than what Amber would have usually chosen. Surprisingly enough, Amber agreed immediately and Jade couldn't help but think that the girl talk needed to happen as soon as possible.

They finished getting ready quicker than Jade had ever gotten ready before, but they managed to do a great job, both of the girls looked stunning. It was surprisingly easy to get ready when they had so many wonderful things at their disposal.

Amber was wearing a very long purple gown that didn't reveal a lot of her skin which she preferred. She often felt uncomfortable wearing revealing dresses, so the form-fitting dress she was provided with was a huge relief to her.

The exquisite dress had elegant leaf embroidery and delicate floral designs that made it even more stunning. What was more important for Amber was that the dress was very soft and comfortable. She couldn't remember ever wearing anything more comfortable than the beautiful piece of fabric that adorned her body in that exact moment.

As for Jade, she didn't mind wearing a dress that was much more revealing than her friend's dress, but never too revealing because she thought life without some mystery was dull. That is why her own dress accentuated her beauty but didn't reveal too much of her body.

The luxurious forest green dress which had a sweetheart neckline fit Jade's personality and her physical appearance perfectly. It was made of silk and Jade loved the feeling of silk embracing her skin since she had never felt it before. A panel of organic pin-tucked silk crossed over the chest. The look was completed by a silk chiffon cape that was attached to a lace beaded collar that elegantly draped over her arms and back. It was clasped at the neck with a jade-encrusted clasp which she found surprisingly appropriate.

Soon enough they were ready but when they went to check on Ignacio and Royce, they realized that they had already gone ahead, impatient to wait for the girls. Probably too hungry to be polite, but still that rubbed the girls the wrong way. They couldn't help but wonder if all the gentlemen had died out a long time ago like the dinosaurs or the dodo birds.

As they exited the empty rooms two elves appeared as if by magic and offered their hands in obvious gentlemanly gestures that the men from their own world failed to show. They accepted their hands and were gracefully escorted to the huge guest hall where the feast had already started.

Their annoyance with Ignacio and Royce quickly dissipate as their minds were too stunned with what their eyes beheld. They expected a lavish feast, after all, they were in a castle with what was probably elvish nobility, but still the magical sight before them was much more than they could process.

For a moment, they just stood there trying to remember how to act or even how to do something as simple as breathing. It was quite a difficult task since nothing in their human lives prepared them for the lavish feast they were about to attend.