Baroque music hummed a lullaby as Elijah stared at baubles in an antique shop. The air was stagnant and old—the scent of old furniture, cigarette smoke, and parchment paper. Elijah's boots creaked underneath the decaying wooden floor. Sunlight reflected through the windows, casting shadows onto the massive vintage mirrors. Cobwebs clung to the multiple fluorescent lights and the one single fan spinning on the ceiling.
"We ready?" Elijah grumbled as he lit a cigarette, while Shiyu perused baubles and books on the many bookshelves.
"Almost," Shiyu replied as she picked up an intricate music box.
"Good, don't know why you picked this store to go in?" Elijah asked as he glanced at the antiques.
"You must not be a collector, Elijah. Antique shops like this always have the best stuff in them," Shiyu replied, then walked towards the cash register.
"What is that?"
"A gift for Emily. You think she will like this?" Shiyu asked after she tipped the shop owner after he insisted the music box was free.
"I guess you could have just gotten some waffles," Elijah chuckled.
"You should get something. Chances are you will never return to Leonore."
"Thanks for the existential dread, Shiyu," Elijah muttered as he smoked.
"Hey, what's the hold up?" Rachel huffed as she opened the antique shop door. "Oh...what in the PRIME happened in this store?" Rachel asked as she looked around the shop.
"Just buying some trinkets. You should buy something," Shiyu explained as she put the music box into a bag.
"Ummm, yeah, I think I will pass. Hopefully, Tyrial has cleaner antique shops," Rachel said as she squirmed in her skin.
"Where is miss doom and gloom at?" Elijah asked.
"Oh, she's right behind...wait, where did she go?" Rachel replied as she gestured to the door. "Wait, how did you get over there, Emily of Leonore?" She asked as she saw Emily gazing at a mirror at the opposite side of the store.
"Hrmm?"Emily muttered as she turned around with a raised eyebrow.
Elijah blinked heavily, then his mind retraced back to when he first entered the store with Shiyu. His eyes narrowed as he gazed at the mirror where Emily stood. "Shiyu, did you see Emily walk past you earlier?"
Shiyu shook her head and shrugged. "No, but I wasn't paying attention."
"I would have at least heard her footsteps; these wooden floorboards are like alarms."
Emily scratched her head with a perplexed look on her face. "Fine, let me show you," she mumbled as she started to walk towards Rachel. Her footsteps were as silent as a cat's. "Mystery solved."
"How in the hell?"Elijah blabbered as he tried to walk without making the floor creak.
"You're too fucking fat, Elijah," Emily cackled.
"Bullshit...Rachel can't do that either."
"There's definitely some sort of technique," Rachel said as she tried to mimic Emily's walking pattern. "No wonder you could dodge my attacks!"
Emily crossed her arms and smiled. "It's really not that hard, guys."
"Pffffttt," Rachel blabbered.
"Oh, a cello!" Emily yelped as she silently walked across the shop. "It's actually in decent condition too," she said as she rubbed her hands across the wooden frame.
"You should get it," Shiyu suggested as she pulled out the music box. "I got you this as well."
Emily blinked slowly, then gazed at the delicate music box. It played an intricate baroque tune as she opened it. "I love this...I think I will use this tune as the rhythm for a new song."
"You write music?" Elijah asked.
"Of course she writes music, Elijah," Rachel interjected. "She doodles them down in her little journal."
Emily blinked, then raised her eyebrow. "How did you know that?"
"I think you showed me at the vineyards...or was it after the opera play?"
Emily glanced down at the floorboard, blinking rapidly as her eyes darted from side to side. She then shrugged. "I don't remember, but whatever you say."
Elijah sighed as his mind drifted towards memories of when he first heard Emily play her cello. Emily's music played in his mind—an aggressive, melancholic, baroque tune. He had no recollection of her ever mentioning a journal either. He exhaled a cloud of smoke as he shook his head as he walked towards the front door. A curiously shaped trinket caught his eye. His boots creaked on the floorboards as he picked it up.
"Think I will get something," he said as he gazed at the multi colored gems situated in the intricate design.
"What a find...those might be actually real," she said as she stared at the trinket in Elijah's hand as he approached the shop owner.
"Is that so?"Elijah said as he tipped the shop owner, after the shop owner insisted it was on the house.
"Yeah, the color inconsistencies give it away," Rachel explained. "I like to learn about precious gems in my free time. It's a hobby of mine disguised as education, so my parents won't get on me."
"Hey, you like Gems, right?" Emily asked as she picked up a rapier with delicate amethysts engraved into the hilt.
Rachel's eyes widened as she saw the rapier in Emily's hand. "Where did you find that!?"
"Told you...Antique shops like this have the best stuff," Shiyu chuckled as she watched Rachel walk towards Emily.
"That would cost an arm and a leg in Tyriel," Elijah explained as he watched Rachel test the weight of the rapier.
"Wouldn't they just give it to us for free because we are chosen?"
Elijah shook his head and chuckled. "Nothing is free in Tyrial, not even for chosen."
"This rapier is actually viable in combat! A deadly memento...I love it!" Rachel squealed as she tipped the shop owner and hugged Emily. "Thanks, and sorry for earlier. That was...inconsiderate of me," she explained as she rubbed her neck.
"It's fine, no big deal," Emily said, smiling. She then walked to the cash register with the cello she had found. "Oh...uhh, anybody got anything so I can tip him?"
Elijah nodded and slid several coins on the counter.
"Thanks," Emily said.
"No sourpuss?"
"Fuck off," Emily replied as she grabbed the cello and left the antique shop.
Elijah stopped Shiyu as Rachel left the shop with Emily.
"Hey...what would it take for you to tell me about your conversation with a little orphan stowaway?"
Shiyu sighed, then looked at Elijah. "This conversation again?"
"I know how to keep secrets. It's part of my profession as a bodyguard. If you're worried about me telling Rachel, it won't happen."
Shiyu shook her head. "It's not that, Elijah. My word is bond, and Emily entrusted me with personal information. I shall not break my promise."
Elijah frowned, then sighed and nodded.
"I have it handled," Shiyu said as she left the shop.
Elijah shook his head, then lit a cigarette before leaving the antique shop. Cool air swept through Leonore as he caught up with the others. He noticed citizens funneling near chosen, who were making their way toward the grand gate. His eyes fixated on Sarah, Arthur, and Amos, who was already at the gate, ready to depart Leonore.
He looked up at the massive marble gate that sealed the dangers of the wilds from Leonore's citizens. Large oak trees rose behind the gate while the mountain range that led to Tyrial lingered on the horizon. Two golden statues of the previous Leonore birthed PRIME's stood majestically on either side of the gate.
Chosen glanced at one another as the gates creaked open. Elijah glanced at the giant beacon of mulberry light just behind the mountain range. Engines roared as cars zipped past him on the cobblestone road. Horse hooves clicked on the ground as other chosen galloped through the gate. A luxurious limousine rumbled beside Elijah.
"No wheels?" Sarah mocked as she sat next to Arthur and Amos in the backseat while sipping wine. "Would offer you a ride but all the seats are taken...hahahaha," she mocked as she rolled up the window as they drove by, leaving Elijah in a blanket of dust.
"Wait...nobody thought to get us some wheels!?" Rachel yelled as she noticed her group was the only one without transportation.
"I thought you had it covered, Shiyu!?" Elijah blabbered as he shifted the blame.
Shiyu's eyes widened. "I am a Sage...we walk everywhere...why would I get us transportation when the ENGINE blessed us with legs?"
Elijah rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Oh, for the ever-loving PRIME."
"How long will it take if we walk?" Emily asked as she watched the cars zip past.
"Let's just say we're missing Reunion day," Elijah explained as he tried to wave down a ride.
Emily looked down at the cobblestone road, then gazed around. She noticed a nobleman sitting in a car, admiring the chosen as they drove past.
"Hey," she said as she approached the car.
"Hello, chosen, how can I be of service?" the noble replied as he exited his vehicle.
Emily rubbed her hair. "I know you probably paid a lot of money for that car, but uhhh we don't have any wheels. Was wondering if we can have it...If I am being honest," she asked and then shrugged.
The noble smirked and then looked at his car, then at Emily. "Wait, aren't you the chosen who faced off against Sarah of Tyriel?" He asked.
Emily blinked. "Oh..yeah. That was me," she replied as she forced a smile.
"It's all yours. I saw you play at the masquerade ball. Let's say I am a fan," the nobleman said as he handed her the keys.
"Oh, for real...umm, thanks," Emily smiled, then turned around. "Hey dipshits...I got us our ride!"
"What the hell?" Elijah mumbled as he smoked. "Where did you get this?" He asked as he walked over alongside Rachel and Shiyu.
Emily shrugged. The car's owner was at those vineyards. Said he liked my music and let me have his car," she explained as she held the keys. "So who is driving? I obviously can't."