The Last Dainv

Chapter 276

Rachel led Gale through the food court until they reached one of the stalls named 'Shanghai360' in big red letters against a white background. Lining up along the wall, he saw the trays of food behind the glass as the numerous items attacked his sense of smell.

A lady from behind the counter asked them what they wanted. Rachel led the encounter as she ordered lemon chicken, mixed vegetables, and fried rice, two plates of it.

By the time they got to the end of the line, Rachel tapped her phone on the card machine and took the tray that held their plates.

"Come on, let's find some seats," she said.

Walking down to the shared seating area, Gale saw hundreds of people eating and talking at the same time. Some people left after they finished, some weren't even eating. They were just taking up space in an already crowded area.

After a couple of minutes of walking around, Rachel managed to snag a table for four. Gale sat in the booth, and she sat beside him to his left.

As she put the tray down, Gale focused on the smell of the food --a lemon syrup thingy on breaded chicken. There was no way lemon could ever make chicken good. It's too sour to even be put on something, and it's a fruit.

How could this be Witch Nyx's favourite chinese dish? He had to try it.

Picking up one of the forks, he tore into one of the breaded chicken strips drenched in lemon sauce. One bite into it, and it almost knocked him out, but this time, he was ready.

Rachel laughed. "So. How is it?"

"It's... good," Gale said, chewing.

"Why lemon chicken specifically?"

"Witch Nyx said she liked it."

"You met her?" Rachel asked.

Gale nodded.

"Are you ok after meeting her?"

"I'm fine. She was just... weird."

"Right. She's best friends with Ember and they sometimes come to my house. She really is weird. Sometimes she'd stare at a painting and talk to herself."

"Do you remember anything she said when she does that?" Gale asked.

"I don't remember... but something about how one of her 'masters' would've loved to meet the one in the painting. Ugh, it gave me the creeps since those were my ancestors."

If Nyx said that, she would have probably been referring to one of the anime boys that she had plastered all over her apartment. Which would have been impossible for a character in the story to come to life to meet a dead person anyways.

All in all, Gale noted to himself, Nyx was a weird person.

"Wait, when did you meet her?" Rachel asked.

"Last Saturday during a ghost hunt. She haunted us and took us back to her place."

"Ah, I see." Rachel poked at her food. "Sorry I couldn't come. I was..."

"It's ok. I know you're busy," Gale said. Always asking her for everything also made him feel like he was selfish anyway.

"So..." Rachel said, still poking at her food, side-eyeing him. "You're back to normal. You were being weird earlier. You didn't find shopping fun?"

Gale froze mid-chew of the delicious lemon chicken. Although he wouldn't get caught lacking in physical fights, this question definitely caught him lacking in the social fights.

"Just forget what I said. And everything." He swallowed. "I was just stupid. Like always. Yeah that's it."

That was a good enough explanation. Probably. But her face didn't look like she was buying it.

"Really?"

"Really."

"And the bubble tea too. You said you didn't like it. Maybe they messed up your order." Rachel reached over and grabbed his cup, then drank from his straw. After chewing a couple of times on a piece of glutinous ball, she said, "tastes ok to me. So then what gives?"

Gale avoided her eye contact. Remember, idiot, be honest; otherwise, the first experience in Fran's would repeat itself.

"I heard adults aren't supposed to like sweet stuff. So I just said those things. And I'm not supposed to like shopping too, as a guy."

Rachel forced a smile, but clearly her face was angry.

"Are you mad?" Gale asked, shrinking.

"I'm not mad at you. But I know who I'm mad at now," Rachel said, clenching her fist. Loosening her grip, her forced smile turned back into the familiar soft expression he was used to. "Just be yourself. You don't have to act like anything around me. We've known each other since high school, but I guess someone doesn't remember."

Gale coughed, choking on some rice. Definitely, he didn't remember. But that wasn't his fault at all! That was... the book's fault. The legendary book called Legendary Moonlight Sculptor that had the legendary main character that made legendary decisions!

"It wasn't my fault. You should blame the books," he said.

Rachel sighed. "Sure. It's the book's fault. You even forgot about Isla."

"To be fair," Gale said, "I don't even remember the teachers' names."

"Fine. That's fair enough, I guess." Rachel took another spoonful and ate. "Speaking of which, you wanna go hiking or camping some time with Isla? Maybe in the summer or fall?"

Gale sat up straight. Now this was his topic. "Are you two really up to it? I won't go easy on both of you."

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"Go easy on Isla. She's mundane."

"I can carry her if she gets tired."

"No you won't. I'll carry her. You have any ideas where we can go though?"

"I got a few ideas. Up northeast of Quebec City where mom and dad usually put our base in."

"Ok, I'll see when she's not busy. How long would these expeditions take, Captain Gale?"

"Don't call me captain. Call me, Ranger Gale," he said, puffing out his chest. No one can beat him in wilderness survival. "And it depends. Let's do 3 nights as a start since Isla might not be able to handle it."

"Ranger Gale, make that a week. She wants to be logistics in rift raids. She needs to learn how hard it is."

Gale nodded. The plan was set. Once they arrived at the wilderness, they'd be alone for at least 7 nights. He'd take them to where mom told him stories of the stars under the comfortable boulder with a rock as a pillow.

Suddenly, Gale noticed most of the people in the food court at the tables glance to their left, towards a food court stall called 'Szechuan Express'.

Following everyone's gaze, Rachel and Gale also turned their attention toward the attraction.

Two women stood in line at a stall called 'Szechuan Express'. The first woman had dark red hair pulled into a tight bun. She wore elegant business attire that contoured her form. She stood up straight, yet somehow also relaxed.

On the other hand, the woman beside her had blue hair that fell past her elbows. She wore a dress that looked more like a white lab coat. Although her feet were on the floor, they were also not on the floor as she hovered just a bit above rather than actually touching the floor. Whenever she moved in the line, her exaggerated walking gave away that she was actually floating—which is what drew everyone's attention.

These women were the one and only Esther and Erin.

Now the question was: what the hell?

Esther turned her head, scanning the food court for seats. Her eyes immediately locked onto Rachel and Gale's table. After they got to the end of the line with their trays of food, they immediately headed to their table. Erin followed Esther with her fake-walking floating business that made Rachel cover her face to avoid the gazes.

Sitting down in front of them, Esther and Erin immediately opened their take out containers and dug in.

"Grandma," Rachel whispered harshly. "Why isn't Erin walking?"

"Woman of fire, I am walking as you've instructed. Have you forgotten?" Erin said.

"What's the point of walking like that when you can just walk rather than floating and moving your legs like an idiot!?"

"I merely followed your instructions. The idiot here is you for giving me such direction."

Rachel grumbled audibly, clenching her fists under the table. "Everyone is staring because of you!"

"Their stares are irrelevant to my research."

"Grandma!"

Esther smiled. "Rachel, it's fine. They'll assume it's a magic trick."

"And that's exactly why they're staring!"

"Their stares prove no harm. There is nothing to worry about," Esther replied and then elegantly took a forkful into her mouth.

Rachel grumbled something under her breath, then turned back to Erin. "Why are you even here? Didn't you say you don't care about food? That you'd rather have nutrition bricks?"

"For science," Erin said.

"Science?!?!" Rachel squealed. "What science?!"

"The young woman of fire won't understand. The people of this planet consume a chemical that is technically considered poison: capsaicin. I wish to study its effects in my mouth via this dish called 'Kung Pao Chicken.' Its name further intrigues me."

"Can't you just order delivery?"

"And what would be the fun in that? We're going to Neutral Grounds after this."

"Wait, why?"

"Additionally," Erin said, "there is a mixture of substance called Orange Chicken. A fruit mixed with meat. That is an odd pairing that reminds me of the Cryil race's fancy for such mixtures. Sweet and savoury coexisting with one another is one that requires further research."

"You can't just use research as an excuse to have food!" Rachel said, completely forgetting about her earlier question to her grandmother.

"That's right!" Gale said, nodding at Erin's statements. "It's like lemon and chicken. It makes no sense! But it's good!"

"The young lamb demonstrates adequate logical reasoning. Thus, these dishes, as you call them, require research for the purpose of learning about this culture," Erin said.

"Just admit you wanna eat good food! There's no logic required!" Rachel shouted.

"Foolish young woman of fire cannot deceive me. Be gone with your rejection of logic," Erin said as she continued to shovel food into her mouth.

"You're making too big of a deal about this, Rachel." Esther set her fork down and dabbed her lips with a napkin. "If she wants to call it research, let her. There's no harm at all." She turned her eyes to Gale. "Speaking of which, have you been to Neutral Grounds yet?"

To be honest, Gale completely forgot why he was supposed to go to Neutral Grounds. It didn't even occur to him. All he wanted to do was just explore exotic restaurants like Taco Bell.

"He'll go when he's ready," Rachel said, speaking up for him.

Nice, Rachel. He didn't know what else to say anyways.

"And when will he be ready?" Esther rested her chin on her hand as she stared at Rachel. "Or will you continue to shelter him?"

Rachel didn't respond. The temperature around the table rose continuously as they had a staring match.

"Control yourself," Esther said in a commandingly low voice.

The temperature immediately stopped climbing.

"I can go whenever," Gale spoke up. "For the testing... I think."

"Yes," Esther said, not moving her eyes from Rachel. "For Gale to enter rifts, he needs credentials first, for the safety of himself and others. Erin is also going after we're done here."

"Really?" Rachel asked, turning to Erin.

Erin set her fork down. "That is a given. It is the law and rules of this planet. As a law-abiding traveller, I must maintain my civility by following local norms and procedures. I shall complete it in earnest for my right to enter the rifts." She turned to Gale. "I suggest the young lamb come along to complete testing lest we waste time meandering about. Our mission awaits."

"Do you want to go?" Rachel asked him.

Gale considered the question seriously. He still needed to get stronger to be able to defeat the oncoming tide. Considering the vast army of the proctor, they wouldn't have won by themselves if it weren't for the Cryil fending off the Tekanimantus before they could escape.

Normally, following bureaucratic procedures made him want to run away. Yet somehow, he wanted to go through with this one.

"I might as well," Gale said. "We're already outside anyway, and it's nearby, right?"

"Right... that's ok then," Rachel mumbled. "You'll have to do a couple of tests. First is written and then practical."

"He has earned the right to skip the written test as part of the Red Hollow designation," Esther said. "Instead, he'll have to complete two practical examinations."

"Why two? I only had to do one."

Esther smiled softly, yet instead of warmth, it was a sort of smile that gave off coldness. "A request from the United Knights from Brother David. They wanted an accurate measurement of whether he has truly given in to the occult ways."

"Seriously? Gale isn't even that smart," Rachel said, then quickly turned to Gale. "Sorry, but, I mean, you know, it's like, well—you're still smart in your own ways."

"It's fine. I know." Gale smiled proudly. "I'm very smart in surviving."

Rachel sighed, "that you are."

"Then that settles it. Once we're finished with food, we'll head over to Neutral Grounds," Esther stood up. "Erin, how about the orange chicken from Shanghai360?"

Erin stood up without saying anything. "Lead the way."

Gale quickly ate up his plate, then stood up as well. "Can I go with them? I'm still hungry."

"Sure, you don't need to ask me," Rachel said, chuckling.

"Jackpot!" Gale caught up to Esther and Erin, who was still fake walking.

Rachel pulled out an earpiece from her right pocket and put it in her left ear. It was the earpiece she pickpocketed from Gale when she tried his milk tea. She already had a suspicion as he had that weird haze on his ear the whole time.

"Kyle, Clyde. I know you're still there."

No response. However, there was clearly shuffling before they turned their own mics to mute.

"If you don't speak, I'll report you to Jonathan about touching my mouth," Rachel said.

"Hey!" Kyle shouted from the earpiece. "That was mission critical. You can't blame us for that!"

"I even sacrificed a 2053 vintage Twinkie, Rachel. Think of the Twinkies!"

"I knew it! You were telling Gale what to say and do, right?!"

"We were telling him how to be a man!"

"You assholes are dead next time I see you!"

"That's if you can find us, younger woman of fire!" Clyde shouted. "KYLE, HURRY UP."

"I CAN'T. IT'S RUSH HOUR, GODDAMMIT."

The sounds of the car trying to swerve through downtown traffic could be heard from the earpiece.

Rachel just shook her head. At most, she'd probably just give them a painful jab to the flank. At least Gale was still Gale. He took off the earpiece for her when he saw her reaction to the bubble tea. The thought gave her a bit of a smile. Bad influences from stupid, idiot, dumb older brothers weren't always bad, I guess.