Saphira didn't return to the inn that night, instead it was Felix who came again and invited them to have dinner in the palace.
"Saphira was in our library since this afternoon, I had already asked her and she had agreed. The reason why she haven't returned yet."
Hunter was no longer shock, he knew Saphira would lose track of time whenever she immerses herself on books.
At the same time, since she was given more time to read, of course she really wouldn't refuse the dinner invitation.
Or there is also another possibility....
"Uhmmm, this is actually my own idea..."
When no one spoke, Felix thought they are rejecting him.
"I wanted to properly apologize for my actions on the first day of your arrival at the same time, to thank you for helping me improve even though I was that bad towards you."
The others looked at one another.
Though it wasn't them who actually wished for him to improve, they knew that Saphira had intended to do that. The reason why she had Vermilion Bird train the three of them.
"Don't worry your highness, we are very much willing to accept your invitation," Hunter replied with a smile.
Felix heaved a sigh of relief.
"Then shall we go?"
*****
"...ra"
'Even on this book, I guess the first host didn't come from this kingdom,' Saphira thought.
"...phira"
'Hmmm, I wonder if the other kingdoms and empires would let me see their history?'
She really was curious and it won't be satiated until she finds out.
She had a feeling that the vision was seriously connected to the first two hosts.
Then maybe she will find out why their memories were gone from the two mythological beasts.
"Ouch."
She glared at the person who suddenly flicked a finger on her forehead.
There was no ill intent, the reason why she was not able to avoid it.
But when she looked up, all she saw was Hunter, who has his arms crossed over his chest, and the rest who are looking at her and were obviously waiting.
"Oh, what's wrong? Did you come pick me up?" she asked.
"Yup, just as I thought. It's not that she had accepted you invite, your highness. But that she was too focused on her work, she didn't even realize that she had accepted your invitation," Ridge said to Felix.
Felix blinked a few times, he didn't expect that the young commander was actually this type of person.
"What invite?" Saphira asked again.
"An invitation for dinner in the palace," Ridge replied to her.
"That's not too bad, I would surely accept it," she answered without second thought.
For the second time, Felix heaved a sigh of relief.
He thought she wouldn't accept his apology at all.
"Don't get your hopes up, she easily accepted because she can read the book much longer that way," Nixon whispered to him.
Felix's face dropped.
"Don't tease him," Stormie reprimanded him.
Felix looked at them, Nixon was stopping himself from laughing.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"Don't listen to Nixon, Saphira may be a bully and all but she is the only one among us who coud forgive anyone as long as they showed that they have truly repented on their mistake," Willow explained.
Felix have shown the vigor of wanting to improve and he never showed hostility towards them after the bullying in the forest.
Instead he seriously watched them and tried to learn from them.
With that most bad blood had already dissipated.
With his thought of apologizing, surely Saphira would already be fine.
She was the kindest among them after all.
"That hurts you know," Nixon argued with Stormie.
"And the two of them have started again," Willow shook her head.
Felix was no longer new to this.
The two of them would bicker at the smallest of things.
If Vermilion Bird wouldn't step in then they wouldn't stop.
Even though their mythological beasts are trying to stop them.
Soon all eight of them arrived at the dinning table.
Jacob obviously didn't join them.
This is a dinner party his son prepared, he would surely not want to butt in.
They ate merrily and had a splendid time, just as the dinner was about to be over, Felix stood up.
"I sincerely apologize for all the words I have uttered on our first meeting. I was completely wrong and I felt ashamed even for my naive thoughts. At the same time, I want to thank you for allowing me to see just how wrong I was and allowing me to improve myself."
The rest shrugged with it was okay and that it was already fine.
Felix looked at Stormie, "I also apologize for making you cry. My words that allowed you to feel wronged. I really am sorry."
Stormie smiled while shaking her head, "I was really emotionally unstable back then, the reason why I got so easily frustrated with your words. I apologize for trying to compare our works. That shouldn't be it at all. We placed our all in our every work, it just so happens that we have different works."
Comparing ones hard work to another is not right when you are facing two different works.
Their hard work would surely be different than yours.
"Then, if you would accept. I would like to invite you in the palace as my guests."
He wanted them to rest in the palace instead of the inn.
The others looked at Saphira, she was the one who really didn't like the attention from the servants.
"I think it is fine," she said while drinking her coffee.
She had seriously fallen in love with the coffee of this place.
The others just smiled, they knew why she had agreed so easily.
The library where she was reading books is in the palace.
Sleeping in the palace means easy access to the library.
Felix smiled, "Then I will have them prepare rooms that are closest to library."
He can tell this much, all of them are watching over one another.
A friendship that is very much different than what he had grown up with where the people are simply using one another.