[Paris, Place du Trocadéro - Carrette]
"Sorry...I-I'm late."
Rel panted standing in front of the group.
With all eyes on him, Camila slowly took the €50 from the table, without Bazz noticing.
"Y-You! Now I'm gonna-"
Louise's eye twitched, then a sudden burst of flas shot from his shoulder turning to a familiar shade of blue.
"Settle down, Louise."
Lan's voice was calm, yet firm, as he placed a hand over Louise's mouth, effectively silencing the outburst.
"It's good you're here, Rel," Lan said, turning his attention to him.
"Grab a seat, and I'll get the briefing started."
He gestured towards the empty chair with one hand while effortlessly restraining Louise with the other.
Louise continued to mutter and thrash against his cousin's grasp.
"Let go, Lan! I'll show that slacker–"
Lan's grip tightened ever so slightly.
"Rember your promise, Louise. No more trouble."
As the two continued to fight Rel settled down in the seat beside Jan.
...
...
...
[10 minutes later...]
Finally, Louise had settled down.
It seed a calm word from Valencia was more effective than any physical restraint from Lan.
"Hey."
Valencia stood before Louise, her tan trench coat cinched against the soft breeze.
The cream turtleneck sweater she wore beneath it softened the formal edge, while the brown wool skirt and knee-high boots added a touch of practicality to her elegance.
"...!"
Louise's heart hamred in his chest.
The sunlight caught in her hair, turning the golden strands into a halo.
He couldn't help but stare, srized.
Khum...
"A-ah...um... yes?" He coughed, desperately trying to regain his composure.
"Can you please be quiet now?" Her voice was soft, yet firm, leaving no room for argunt.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied, unable to et her gaze.
That was all it took.
...
...
...
{Rel's POV}
haah...
Thank god for Valencia being here, I would've faced Louise's wrath if not for her.
— psssstt....
I watched her settle back into her seat, looking like the calm and collected character I knew.
Then I realised she recovered from that sickness pretty quickly, huh?
— hey!!
Guess that's what happens when you're one of the main characters.
Now-
nudge!
Ack!
Jan's nudge nearly sent flying out of my chair.
haah... what does Jan want now?
I thought he'd stop being on my ass after yesterday.
But it can't be helped.
"What is it this ti?
I turned to him with a furrowed brow.
Jan leaned in whispering in my ear, a sly grin on his face.
"Camila suggested, you know... we stick together for the assignnt."
It was a good idea, actually.
I wouldn't have to worry about keeping tabs on everyone if we were all together.
But... Valencia. I wasn't sure how she'd react to having tag along.
Should I say no?
But before I could answer, Lan cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.
"Alright, everyone! Let's focus on our first task as a club!"
His voice was calm and encouraging, effectively silencing any further bickering.
"Today marks the end of our travels. You'll have the freedom to explore any historical site that piques your interest, whether it's a grand museum, a hidden monunt, or a charming cobblestone street steeped in history."
"Rember," Lan continued, "your task is to choose an artifact or historical elent that resonates with you and write a detailed report. Be creative, be insightful, and most importantly, enjoy this final day of our trip."
With that, Lan dismissed everyone.
The others quickly rose, their voices blending of excited chatter as they made plans and headed out the door.
My gaze settled on Jan, who remained seated beside .
He had that look of pure wonder on his face.
The one that scread 'Where should I go?!'
I could almost hear the thought bubbling up within him.
Across the table, Valencia toyed with the remains of her tea.
She seed to be waiting for Jan to make a decision, her expression carefully neutral.
This upcoming event was crucial for his developnt.
I needed to ensure he was in the right place at the right ti.
Should I follow him?
It wasn't the worst idea.
Camila would be there, too, which ant it would likely be three against one if that demi-human showed up.
If I stayed out of the fight of course – and honestly, who knew if my aura would even work on a demon?
Since I haven't figured out how powerful it really was.
The best thing I could do was at least observe and make sure things didn't go too far off-script.
"Well, Rel,"
Camila's voice cut through my thoughts, sharp as always.
"We should get going, shouldn't we?"
Her hate was clear, as always.
"Right," I replied, keeping my voice even. "Where would you like to start?"
The Louvre Museum should be the final destination, but for now, I'd let her call the shots.
Camila tapped a manicured finger on the table, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I was thinking... the Musée de l'Armée. It has a fascinating collection of military artifacts."
Interesting choice, I thought.
The museum was a fair distance from the Louvre, but it could work as a starting point.
I could subtly guide our path from there.
"Sounds good to ," I said, suppressing a smirk.
"We could also check out the Arc de Triomphe on the way. It's a historical landmark in its own right."
Camila raised an eyebrow, a hint of suspicion in her eyes.
"The Arc de Triomphe? That's a bit out of the way, isn't it?"
I shrugged, feigning nonchalance.
"We're in Paris. A little detour won't hurt. Besides, it'll make for a more interesting report."
Before she could question further, a ssage pinged on her watch.
Her eyes scanned the screen, and an expression of excitent replaced her scepticism.
"Change of plans," she announced, a smug grin spreading across her face.
"Turns out Avalon Azira is hosting a private exhibition at the Musée de Cluny today. He's showcasing his personal collection of magical artifacts."
__________
Authors Notes:
- Valencia wore a red scarf with her fit as well.
- Her hairstyle was neatly swept into a bun and held in place by a delicate pin.
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