Smolder in the Afterglow | Tales of Luminozenko

Chapter 20| She, In Fact, Wasn't At The Restroom

"So you really are one of his servants?" Delaney questioned and opened the door to Arkqua Lounge for us two girls.

The twins had parted ways from us for the time being to get something from their dorm rooms. I didn't know what, however, since they didn't mention anything about it. And they did say to look for Murien when they left without telling us why we should, either.

"I am," Aria responded in a low voice as we slipped into the crowded place. "But only because my mother works under his father."

"I see," Delaney nodded, "no wonder."

I looked around for an empty table, but the only available spaces were the customer area before the bar. Not to mention, we also couldn't let a student who wasn't a member of the Pillars inside the private lounge. I sighed and gestured a thumb to the stools. "How about there?"

Delaney raised a brow. "You sure?"

"Well, yeah." I shrugged. "It's not like we'll sit there the whole night." I passed by a female student dressed in Arkqua's uniform, whom I quickly tapped on the shoulder before she could walk away further. "Good afternoon, have you seen Murien around?"

"The Commander?" She repeated, turning her body to fully face me and stepping a bit close so we could hear one another clearly over the sea of voices. "I have seen him swimming down the Western Waterway."

I arched my brow. "Swimming?"

She nodded. "Yes, he often does that to watch over the dorm. Most of the time, he does it early in the morning and just before the curfew starts at night. But today, it seems he's monitoring something else."

"Ooh." Does that mean people see him technically naked?

"Would you like for me to look for him, Miss Belladonna?" The girl questioned with an enthusiastic smile that matched her voice. "My shift just ended, so I'm on my way back to my room. But I can look for the Commander."

"If it won't be much of a bother to you, then, please do." I smiled at her. "Thank you in advance."

"It is an honor." She made a quick bow and turned to leave, and so did I.

But I halted in my tracks a few seconds after realizing I didn't get her name. "Oh, right." I spun on my heels, and raised my hand, only to see her already closing the Lounge's door behind her. My arm dropped to my side and I sighed. "Why do I always forget to ask people's names?"

I pivoted a hundred and eighty degrees and headed toward the customer area, where Delaney and Aria had already taken seats. Delaney flicked one finger up, saying something to the bartender with a smile, and looked at Aria. He seemed to be asking what kind of drink she would like to have, but she merely shook her head.

"I prefer a glass of water," Aria stated as I hopped up the seat next to Delaney.

"Only water?" Ny echoed. "Okay." He craned his neck for me. "And you?"

The bartender quickly gave Aria a glass of water.

"What do you recommend? Non-alcoholic, of course," I replied and pulled my onyx earring out of my bracelet, hooking it on my earlobe.

"It'll be better if you see how they look, I think." Delaney motioned at the bartender, who seemed to be a little old to be a student. "Can I get the menu for non-alcoholic drinks? I have a kid with me, so. . ."

I rolled my eyes, the slight heaviness on my back gone with a few blinks. "Shut your trap."

The bartender chuckled and handed me a thin canvas about the size of short bond paper with pictures of such colorful beverages, then went back to making Delaney's drink, which had a gradient of blue to orange.