The twins got out of the carriage first.
"I wish you all the best," I told Duncan, who remained sitting inside.
"Thank you." Duncan waved goodbye, and the carriage door closed on him.
"Take him to the Genuiver estate in the capital," I told the driver.
"Very well, young master Luca." The driver tipped his cap, and the dark carriage rolled away.
"Young master Luca." Remlend appeared. "I was informed that Kathy had stopped by earlier and left a box for you."
Right. It was about time I gained my needles.
"Have it brought to my room," I said. "And have a carriage ready for me. I'll be going to the Ashford Bakery momentarily."
"Most certainly." Remlend bowed and hurried off.
The fifth day of the seventh Round went without a hitch to the Ashford Bakery, but there were variables at play that I could not control. I was inadvertently changing the future, but then there were other Awakened like Chase moving about and changing the future evermore. There was no telling what unexpected dangers would befall me. I had to be prepared.
I rubbed my temples.
Especially given how I had people like The Alchemist and The Farmer to worry about.
"Peep!"
It's those needles again. The poisonous ones.
I arrived at my room, and Kathy's box of poisonous needles awaited me on my desk.
> I replied, recalling running into the goons in the alley. >
Click.
I pushed the two golden clasps upward and opened the lacquered red box. Leona fluttered over, perched herself on one of the box's sides, and inspected the six compartments of plain silver needles, black blinding needles, blue muscle relaxers, red rash spreaders, yellow illness inducers, and purple death.
"Peep?"
Luca, you were captured? What happened?
Leona cocked her head to one side. Her golden eyes appeared concerned.
I realized I never told her about what had passed on my end while she was in the grasp of The Alchemist.
> I replied. >
The Framer used the essence of a phoenix claw in an attempt to bring me back from the cliffside of death. It was only thanks to the Yellow Volcano needle that I could safely die.
I chuckled.
Oh, the irony. But as Elda had once said, there really were fates worse than death.
Click.
I locked the box closed, and Leona fluttered atop my head.
"Peep!"
Don't worry, human. From now on, I'll stay with you and protect you against him, for I am a brilliant and mighty phoenix.
I smiled, seeing the little ball of yellow fluff amongst my black hair in a mirror's reflection. Her little chest was puffed out, and her wings spread out.
It was cute. But even for all her magic and ancestral knowledge, she was still but a child. Having her burn Henry's corpse in the previous round's funeral ceremony was the extent of what I hoped to get her involved with.
The twins got out of the carriage first.
"I wish you all the best," I told Duncan, who remained sitting inside.
"Thank you." Duncan waved goodbye, and the carriage door closed on him.
"Take him to the Genuiver estate in the capital," I told the driver.
"Very well, young master Luca." The driver tipped his cap, and the dark carriage rolled away.
"Young master Luca." Remlend appeared. "I was informed that Kathy had stopped by earlier and left a box for you."
Right. It was about time I gained my needles.
"Have it brought to my room," I said. "And have a carriage ready for me. I'll be going to the Ashford Bakery momentarily."
"Most certainly." Remlend bowed and hurried off.
The fifth day of the seventh Round went without a hitch to the Ashford Bakery, but there were variables at play that I could not control. I was inadvertently changing the future, but then there were other Awakened like Chase moving about and changing the future evermore. There was no telling what unexpected dangers would befall me. I had to be prepared.
I rubbed my temples.
Especially given how I had people like The Alchemist and The Farmer to worry about.
"Peep!"
It's those needles again. The poisonous ones.
I arrived at my room, and Kathy's box of poisonous needles awaited me on my desk.
> I replied, recalling running into the goons in the alley. >
Click.
I pushed the two golden clasps upward and opened the lacquered red box. Leona fluttered over, perched herself on one of the box's sides, and inspected the six compartments of plain silver needles, black blinding needles, blue muscle relaxers, red rash spreaders, yellow illness inducers, and purple death.
"Peep?"
Luca, you were captured? What happened?
Leona cocked her head to one side. Her golden eyes appeared concerned.
I realized I never told her about what had passed on my end while she was in the grasp of The Alchemist.
> I replied. >
The Framer used the essence of a phoenix claw in an attempt to bring me back from the cliffside of death. It was only thanks to the Yellow Volcano needle that I could safely die.
I chuckled.
Oh, the irony. But as Elda had once said, there really were fates worse than death.
Click.
I locked the box closed, and Leona fluttered atop my head.
"Peep!"
Don't worry, human. From now on, I'll stay with you and protect you against him, for I am a brilliant and mighty phoenix.
I smiled, seeing the little ball of yellow fluff amongst my black hair in a mirror's reflection. Her little chest was puffed out, and her wings spread out.
It was cute. But even for all her magic and ancestral knowledge, she was still but a child. Having her burn Henry's corpse in the previous round's funeral ceremony was the extent of what I hoped to get her involved with.
