Mikael had finished organizing everything and finally responded to Zoe's message. She had been requesting to enter his private space which he agreed to.
Zoe appeared within his white space in a flash of light. Her eyes were excited, having a happy emotion in them. He could even see how her shoulders relaxed with his presence.
"Welcome back Mikael." Her smile was as beautiful as her words, her body did show a hint of struggle as if she was contemplating doing something but she was unsure.
Mikael might have not shown this but he truly found her presence comforting.
He moved closer, pulling her into his warm chest as his hands wrapped around her waist. Zoe was shocked as fast before she quickly grew used to it. Her own hands wrapping around him.
"It's good to see you as well Sera." He offered his own comforting words and Zoe only melted further into his embrace.
They soon separated and instead of moving on to discuss their Mission and what they had gone through, Mikael offered they should go celebrate their survival.
This was a no-brainer. Despite his mostly relaxed attitude during the mission, it was very possible for him to die, to celebrate life was a form of releasing the pent up from the previous danger.
He was very sure many would do the same.
Zoe easily agreed. And they left their personal rooms, past the trade Centre with its large crowd of shouting Dreamers.
He even noticed how the crowd had grown more than what it had been originally on their first arrival.
He of course turned to Zoe to ask about this. The Tower was truly a place of many mysteries. All of which he wanted to solve
"Dreamers normally come out of the mission world at the same time. This is irrespective of how long their mission lasted within a world. Many believe the Tower is in control of this, adjusting time to suit it's means."
Zoe answered keeping a wary gaze as she looked around. She was constantly monitoring her surroundings. Within the Tower itself was a no-Violence zone meaning you could not hurt each other.
But outside it there was no such rule. It was quite common to see Newbie Dreamers getting attacked for all that they were worth.
How these Dreamers identified this newbie Dreamers was nothing more than having scouts out on the lookout for new faces.
"What about the time difference between the Tower and the mission worlds. Does no time at all pass in the tower while we're in a mission world or does a specific amount of time pass." Mikael asked noticing how the sky had already gone dark as they exited the Tower.
He was very sure the time he had entered the Terminator mission world was close to noon.
"Time does pass while we're within a mission world. But the Time passed is highly irregular. It could be seconds or hours and you'll find yourself back but one thing that remains a constant is that despite how long you stay within a mission world the time passed within the Tower will not exceed one day. "Zoe clarified, using her vast knowledge to educate him.
Mikael hummed in response, satisfied with the explanation.
"Do you have any place in mind with good food." Mikael turned to Zoe while admiring the passage of time within the city. It was currently nighttime. He wasn't sure what the time was exactly seeing his own internal clock had been knocked off.
"I know the perfect Place." Zoe smiled confidently. And she took the lead navigating through the crowded streets, he of course followed along.
…
[TheMidnightHearth]
That was the name of the establishment. A wooden sign hanging outside.
They entered and the space inside was large, at least it was larger than the outside, so Mikael believed some sort of magic was at place.
The décor of the Tavern was a mixture of finely crafted wooden furniture and well-crafted glass panels. It was a strange mixture of modern and ancient colliding and bringing forth something enchanting.
The place was full of people and especially loud. Cheerful laughs and loud voices of arguing companions were everywhere.
Their entry had attracted little attention which soon quickly disappeared. It was not strange to see new faces appearing for the already established Dreamers.
A waitress stuff approached finally noticing them still looking around. A quick look around and Mikael noticed that she was especially beautiful, all the other stuff were as well.
It was to note that from the ones he could see acting as stuff they were mostly women, all beautiful. This was an establishment that understood how to attract business!
"Oh, you two must be new faces, I haven't seen you around. Please follow me to a table." The waitress was especially cheerful as she led them along.
She had brown light skin and long fluffy brownish black hair, what was especially attractive was her eyes, almost as blue as his own. He interestingly noticed that most of her outfit was blue.
"We're new just finished our Newbie missions, I'm [White] and she's [Zoe]." Mikael explained showing his own charming smile to the lady. The reason was quite simple.
The waitress was a powerhouse. That was what his senses told him. All of them that he was able to see were strong. That explained to him why the Dreamers were so well behaved.
"That's good to hear. It's always nice to have new faces around. My name is [Kat]. " [Kat] took out her order pad ready to write down. But her eyes kept to the two. They were truly interesting the both of them.
She could see how [Zoe] kept looking at her companion. An interesting mix of emotion in her eyes. And [White] himself was also quite interesting, and she wasn't just admiring his obviously good looks.
It was the light in his eyes as he looked at her. An appreciative gaze as if he had already seen through her, which was impossible. Even more so was the confidence behind him, as if nothing could move him.
[Kat] just found herself interested
"Well, what would you like to order."
Mikael took the menu looking over everything with a quick glance. Zoe was already making her order, a Spaghetti shrimp salad with orange juice. He found it to be too minimal for the amount a Dreamer would expand on a normal mission, so Mikael made the most obvious choice.
"Bring us one of everything. Also, for the deserts bring two of everyhting." He closed the menu while giving a smile to the shocked duo. An odd light in their eyes. Their surprise came about at the incredulity if his order. One of everything was like a small hill of food!
[Kat] was more worried if this Dreamer could even eat all of that, no could he even afford it. While there were abnormal Dreamers who had abnormal metabolism, this was a Newbie talking.
That would be a large sum for any starting Dreamer.
"Are you sure about that, out prices are quite high?" The Uncertainty leaked in her voice as she tried to dissuade [white].
"I'm very sure. I earned quite allot in my mission. So don't hesitate at all." Mikael spoke confidently he could understand where she was coming from but there was no reason at all for her worry. Maybe she though Mikael was going to dine and dash.
But he could see how she remained unsure.
"Oy, what's happening over here [Kat]" A new voice came from behind [Kat] coming towards their table. He turned to look at who was talking. It was a middle-aged woman with surprisingly muscular build.
Interestingly Mikael was sure that she was the strongest person he had met yet. An inherent sense that he was very aware of. The woman arrived and [Kat] moved to quickly explain the situation. The woman nodded thoughtfully, and her eyes finally turned towards him.
At that moment, a wave of pressure washed over him. A release of pure might.
"You wouldn't be thinking of not paying Young man." Her eyes narrowed but her expression remained the same. A small smile with calculating eyes behind them.
Mikael let the moment pass. Even faster was his reaction as he took Zoe's arm into his own. Calming her down before she could do or say anything else.
His eyes were calm as he turned to look at the woman. He finally spoke this time his with a slightly teasing tone.
"Haha. Instead of accusing me of not having money, you should just say my order is too big for you to prepare old lady." His voice was humorous, but it was laced with provocation.
He noticed how the tavern had grown silent, the standoff strangely attracting the amused eyes of the other Dreamers. They were waiting for another arrogant newbie to be shown their place. This was a sight they had grown used to.
A newbie making a small profit or getting some little strength and thinking they were some sort of protagonist, it was a tale as old as the city itself.
"Maybe we can…" [Kat] tried to dissolve the rising tension only for her voice to be drowned out.
"Hahahaha, you're quite funny young man. [Kat] bring our big spender over here what he asked for." The woman commanded and [kat] did a panicked salute before she rushed off.
"My name is [Mita] but folks around here call me [OldMita]. I hope you don't die so soon young man." [OldMita] waved as she moved away while Mikael gave a curios look at her departing back.
'Very Interesting.' This was the thought of both Mikael and [OldMita]
...
A/N
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