Welcome to Gaia! ::

The brothers listened as Lee explained this...Null Chamber. It sounded interesting, though neither of them would be willing to go to this guy's homeworld to study it. After a while, Lee said they should find a place to rest for the night and Aeris agreed, turning towards the Wonder Chef. "Luka, I've already bought us a room. Let's go." "Huh? Oh, come on. I don't want to go to bed. This is our hometown, before the war. Let's explore and see what's changed!" His wrist was taken by his brother and he was pulled. "You need to take a bath and get some rest. Don't make me throw you into the oasis and strap you to the bed." Luka winced. Jeez, for someone so serious, he sure was picky about bathing and sleeping. "I...guess I'll see you all tomorrow! Night!" He waved to Aeris and the others before they disappeared inside the inn.

I'm the mysterious gourmet,
The Wonder Chef!

Current Kitchen: Triet!
Condition: Amazing!
Activity: Leading the way to the inn. They'll be sure to figure everything out there!

_____________

The Wonder Chef waved cheerfully at the departing brothers, then spoke to the remaining people. "Of course! I'll lead the way." The chef pointed at the inn. There was little point to this because of the brothers' departure, but he did it again in case the others had missed it. Everyone had their oblivious moments once in a while!
He would direct the group there, talking on the way. Even if he wasn't followed, he would go on for a moment before turning back to check on them. "Alas, I do not know what Mako is, but I'm sure we can figure everything out once we're at the inn. There's nothing like a good meal to aid in the comprehension of these things, I find." He was quite obviously already planning everyone's next meals (especially the breakfast, which was arguably the most important meal of all), as was his nature.

((Inn time?))

"I never blamed you. Not once."
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Aeris waved to the two brothers as they departed. When the Wonder Chef mentioned that he didn't know what Mako was, she blinked a bit. "And here I thought everyone in the Planet knows what Mako is." She said as she followed the Wonder Chef and Lee to the inn.

((TIMESKIP HOOOOOOOOOO~))

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Zaul Oleander
The One-Eyed Gunman
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Location: Asgard | Company: no one
Activity: Wakin' up.

Having awakened so late the other day, Zaul stayed up some to keep watch at the town gates. Finding most of the evening thankfully peaceful and uneventful, he had retreated after a few hours to the roof of the inn he used to stay at and fell asleep there.

The morning sun shining through the crack of his eyelid, the gunman was forced to awaken. He first sat up and yawned, then got up to his feet to stretch his limbs out for a few moments. He also wondered why he had a rather strange dream---it was short flash of being in Sybak observing a strange talking red creature that was actually foreign to the world. He also had in his company a mostly silent, stoic man of auburn hair. Everything he saw all around him in the dream seemed so clear that he almost could believe he really was there...if not for the sounds being rather fuzzy.

Zaul shook his head, mentally telling himself that he didn't have the time to dwell too long on those thoughts. Now feeling fully awake, he made his way down from the roof and stood around the inn's entrance, waiting to meet Krystal again.





Rief awakened face down on his bed in the inn, his notebook before his face and a handful of open texts lining his sides. His robe hung at a coat rack near the door, and his boots were at the side of the bed, on the floor. He found he had slept with his glasses on. Grogginess lingering, he looked around and wondered where he was. After pulling himself up into a cross-legged sitting style, he lifted his glasses for a second to rub his eyes. Looking down at the notebook before him, he picked it up.

Skimming over what he had apparently written, he found the lines alternating between Weyardian lettering and something else. It was then he started to remember, he spent the rest of the night familiarizing himself with Aselia's alphabet. "Ahh..." a pause to yawn, "This really isn't a dream after all..."

He closed the notebook and set it aside before proceeding to close up all the other books around him and stack them neatly on the bedside table. After which, he tidied the bed, put his notebook into his pack, and put his coat and boots on. He was ready to leave, but suddenly caught the scent of food in the air---it was then he finally noticed there was a cart by the end of the bed with a breakfast platter of scrambled eggs, sausages, and toast with a glass of orange juice on it. "Oh my. Can't let that go to waste," he said to himself with a sweatdrop, hardly expecting this service at all.

After he had finished breakfast, there was a knocking at the door. "Yes? Please do come in," the boy invited.

One of the maids stepped in, bowing politely. "Your name is Rief, correct? Governor-General Clara sends you this message." She handed him an envelope.

After taking it, he slightly bowed in respect himself. "Y-yes, that's right. Thank you, ma'am." Once she took the breakfast cart and left the room, he opened it with care. The letter read:

Dear Rief,

I hope your studies have proven fruitful and that you can understand my writing fairly well. You must have been wondering why I dote on you so. Truth be told, ever since my daughter was untimely taken from me, I feel this compulsion from time to time to aid any young person who seems in great need of it...even to the point of mothering. And learning that you've been taken so far away from home sparked that compulsion once more.

I have enclosed a written voucher that you can redeem at a shop called Marble's. It's for an assortment of Gels and Bottles I'm sure you'll find useful on your travels. In case you have not yet learned, Gels are a consumable substance that have health-replenishing qualities. They don't taste half bad either. And Bottles contain potions that can cure serious ailments like poisoning, or emit a scent that repels monsters.

I wish I could see you off personally today, but as Governor-General, I often have many matters to attend to. Rest assured, I feel your gratitude in my heart and I am glad to have helped you. May you have good luck on your journey, and may the Goddess Martel watch over you and keep you safe.

Sincerely,
Clara

It had taken Rief several minutes to finish reading the letter, as he couldn't quite read it so fluently yet and often had to refer to his notes. But once he fully understood it, he felt so moved. Learning that Clara had lost her child so early nearly made him teary.

Pocketing the letter, he picked up his pack and tucked his staff under his arm, needing free hands to carry the books he's borrowed back to the library. He held them before him in a stack, that is, until the maid returned and told him he needn't make the effort; someone from the library is going to drop by to pick them up. The maid herself took the stack of books from him and let him on his way.

Now left to his own devices, Rief proceeded to the shop that Clara mentioned in her letter.

I'm the mysterious gourmet,
The Wonder Chef!

Current Kitchen: Triet's inn!
Condition: Well-rested!
Activity: Spreading knowledge and nourishment to the masses!

_____________

The Wonder Chef did not seem to be up and about yet. However, there was a difference between seeming and being. The employee at the inn's desk seemed quite curious about how a figurine of Lloyd Irving had appeared on her desk, and examined it more closely.
"I'm the mysterious gourmet, the Wonder Chef!" With a signature puff of smoke and catchphrase, the chef appeared on the desk in the figurine's place, as peppy as ever. Needless to say, this startled the worker. "I will teach you how to make cabbage rolls today!" Quickly conveying his knowledge to the stunned worker, he handed her a generous helping of pork and cabbage and disappeared once more.
Though he could simply have jumped down from the desk, he reappeared next to Aeris. "Good morning! I have taken the liberty of making you all omelets." As if by magic, he produced a plate of the food and offered it to Aeris.






((Haha, I almost forgot about this. How are people on the Palmacosta region of things? Are you still here? If not, the dragons can always sneak out with Ashton in tow to continue onward.))

((Also, Azura! I forgot. Was it your intention to have Rief meet up with the Palmacosta House of Salvation crew?))

The twins had woken up early. Well, Stephen had. He just dragged Luka with him. They returned to the inn later that morning, after walking around the town. "I'm more tired now than I was last night." "You shouldn't have stayed up late. Serves you right." Luka glared at his brother, stepping on his foot and walking away from him. He saw Aeris, Lee, and the Wonder Chef. This made him smile and wave. "Hey, guys! And, lady. How did you three sleep?" "If the fork guy even sleeps." "Stephen!"

"I never blamed you. Not once."
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Aeris was a bit surprised when the Wonder Chef appeared next to her. "Oh, good morning, Mr. Wonder Chef." She said with a smile then noticed the plate of omelets. "Thank you very much." As she took the plate, she soon turned her attention to Lee when she heard his question as well as Luka's. "Yes, I have. How about yourselves?" She took the moment to eat her breakfast.