The next day, Nova didn't see Blaze at school. Staring outside through the window, she let out a heavy sigh. Was that enough to make him skip school?
Orlyssa was also absent, and Nova hadn't heard from her. In the afternoon, however, as she was putting books into her bag, she received a message from her. 'Can you swing by my place? The address is 205 Gartenstrasse, Handelsring. Don't forget to bring him with you.'
"She's not explaining why she's absent?" Nova clicked her tongue in annoyance.
On the way home, a question occurred to her: how would the relationship between Orlyssa, Ares, and her develop in the future?
She shook her head, dismissing the thought.
After arriving home, she changed into casual clothes and immediately left the house. As she came out of the gate, she saw Ares approaching from down the street. She quickly turned around and started walking in the opposite direction.
Before she could cross the street to the next block, she stopped, staring at the ground. Was she really being fair? She brushed back her bangs, turning around.
Ares was standing before the gate, his chin propped on his hand, a thin smile on his face as he watched her.
"Ugh, he's so annoying."
Though she knew it was pointless, she made an excuse. "You're just standing there? We're supposed to be somewhere. That girl asked me to bring you with me."
Ares slightly shook his head, exhaling slowly. He was interested in Orlyssa's welfare, so he agreed to tag along. They took a cab to Handelsring from the intersection ahead.
The evening sun's warm rays poured inside the car, baking Nova's bare thighs. She leaned toward Ares' ear and whispered, "Aren't you feeling hot, cocooned in that?"
Ares's lips parted slightly. He turned to her, clutching his hand over his heart. "'Cocooned'? Did you select such a word on purpose?"
Nova found herself chuckling audibly. When she realized they were three people in the car, her face instantly flushed as she faced outside.
The Handelsring district needed no signs to announce entry; the steel and concrete canyons did the job themselves. The sun's orange hue bounced off the glass walls, scattering everywhere.
Ares found himself letting out a slow, deep breath. If he could freeze time, this was one of the ideal places he would choose to watch the world.
At a corner where they were about to turn, a colossal building occupied the entire block. Its facade was clad in dark navy blue with streaks of deep purple and a few spots of dull yellow.
"What a weird combination," Ares muttered to himself. It was as if the owner were trying to tell a somber story. The name 'Orlyssa's Grill' was written in elegant, gold script above the entrance.
As they rounded the corner, the scenery shifted abruptly. The steel and concrete canyons gave way to leaves and shadows.
After a minute, the cab pulled over in front of a black wrought-iron gate. The address, 205, was etched on a small plaque to the right of the gate.
Nova looked at Ares, then pushed the gate.