After the History Class, Ashton has an hour and half break before the next class which will be the White Magic at 1-3pm.
Through e-mail, Aisha already informed the class that their schedules were already updated and is effective as of this day, meaning he has to report to class in order to make an impression at least.
Right now, Ashton really doesn't know where to go.
The Mystic Academy is so big and it has so many places he can visit yet somehow, that also mak3e it difficult for him to decide where he should go.
"Hey, where you plan on spending your break?" Mary asked as they left the classroom.
"Actually, I don't know." Ashton replied while shrugging. "I might just go in the Cafe's nearby and use the lunch tickets I received last Sunday."
He wasn't really hungry since he ate something before he leaves his house. An hour an half break isn't that long but isn't short either so he thought of spending it at a relaxing place so that he can be refreshed for the next class.
"Why don't you come with me? I'm having lunch with Alice and Blake at Rosie's." She offered.
"Would that be okay? I wouldn't want to intrude..."
"Nah, you won't be, it's fine. They know you're okay so it shouldn't be a problem." Mary waved her hand.
"Alright." Ashton agreed, "But what is this Rosie's you're talking about?"
He could've sworn that he heard Mary gasped. She looked at him in a scandalized manner and said:
"I can't believe you don't know about Auntie Rosie's Pastries! That won't do! Come, let's go! It's time that you learn about the good things in life."
Ashton blinked and allowed himself to be dragged by Mary out of the building. He doesn't have a clue as to why she's acting this way, it's not like he asked weird question in the first place.
The two of them arrived at the transit stations and boarded one of the transits. As they sat down and waited for the transit to fly off, Mary said:
"I'm surprised you didn't look shaken from what Prof. Hamilton just showed us. It still gives me the creeps you know..."
"...it's not like I'm unaffected though. I mean, it's definitely freaky but I just kept telling myself that it's just a video at best, plus the gory bits are censored, that really helped out a lot."
Ashton didn't really feel fazed if he's being completely honest. He doesn't particularly know why too. It's not like he had killed someone before or did anything remotely close to that.
He guessed that it's probably because he truly saw that whole thing as just a well made short movie in VR. If it's because of something else, then he truly doesn't know.
"You know, my parents calls them Imps and Pigeons." Mary casually stated.
"By 'them' are you referring to the black and golden shadows we saw?"
"Uh-huh." She nodded, "Of course that's just how they call them, that's not what the actual name of their race. But yeah, Imps and Pigeons. I don't know why but somehow, I can see why they're called like that now."
"Really?" Ashton doubted, "I can somehow understand the Imps but...I don't remember pigeons being golden..."
"No, not like that." Mary shook her head and sighed, "You know what, never mind. It's weird, let's just say it like that."
This was when the transit finally flew after a couple of minutes.
"My parents used to have a lot of clients that suffered heavily because of those creatures. One of them was their close friend who became my Godfather as well. He used to tell me some vague stories about them as means to consistently tell me that they're bad."
"How did your parents react to that?" Ashton asked.
"They never really knew. I never told them." She admitted, "I was the one kept begging my Godfather to tell me stories since he usually took care of me when my parents are on a business trip."
"He filters the stories a lot, often times he makes it light hearted and had a good ending, but as I grew up I gradually learned that he was lying to me."
"He did that to protect you, I guess." Ashton commented.
"Yes. He did." Mary sighed, "It's been a while since I last saw him. I miss him."
"Why, where did he go?"
"He works for the Federation. Got stationed in the Broken Badlands - a place located 1000 miles away from the Last Bastion." Mary sounded concerned when she said this.
"That's dangerous. But he shouldn't be alone right?"
"Yes." Mary nodded, "He's a Squad Captain. He's alive and well, I'm still receiving letters from him so I know that he's still out there."
"Letters?" Ashton raised a brow. "Are they not allowed to use their smartwatches while on duty?"
Mary looked at Ashton and said: "Humanity's technology doesn't work outside of Last Bastion."
Ashton was shook when he heard that. Now that was something that he completely didn't know.
"...all of them?"
"Yes. All of them." She nodded, "From Transits all the way down to the most basic of the firearms. None works. For some reason, all of them becomes useless the moment you step out of Last Bastion. But if you take them back inside, they'll work properly."
"This is why cold weapons remained popular. It isn't because people preferred it, it's just that we don't have any other options." Mary stated.
Ashton learned another valuable thing from Mary. This will surely affect his decisions in the future.
"So that's why you can only receive letters from him."
"Yeah." Mary sighed, "Many people tried to make our technology work out there but all failed. Hopefully he finished his mission soon, I'm really starting to get worried about him."
"..." Ashton didn't say a word. He didn't know what to say to begin with anyway.
Then a mechanical voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
"Passengers, we are now at the Castle Main. If this is your stop, please prepared to get off of the transit."
"It's here. Come." Mary stood up, Ashton followed suit as well.
They got off the transit and found Blake and Alice already waiting for them at the stop.
"Oh hey! They're here." Blake told Alice when he saw them.
When they got close Blake nodded at Ashton and said: "Hey, man. What's up."
"I'm good, you?"
"As handsome as always." Blake struck a pose, which cause Alice and Mary to mock vomit at the side.
The corners of Blake's mouth twitched in annoyance but he ignored them. Of course, the girls wouldn't let that pass that easily.
"Come, let's go to Auntie Rosie's before I puke my intestines out." Alice snorted, "Seriously, some people really had vanity etched in their bones."
"Gross, right?" Mary joined in as well. "Thankfully we know better. Come, let's go."
Blake blinked and felt betrayed, he looked at Ashton who threw up his hands and said: "Don't look at me, they are your childhood friends, not mine. Plus, you were the one asking for it."
"Darn, you right." Blake sighed and followed behind the girls. Ashton walked beside him.
They then walked for a couple of minutes, going inside a tall building which was in fact, a mall inside. There were several stalls and shops inside and there's a lot of students roaming around as well.
The group entered a fairly populated area, they made a turn and entered place which looked like a fast-food chain.
'Auntie Rosie's Pastries' is its name.
"Right, it's Ashton's first time here. He hasn't tasted any of Aunt Rosie's pastries." Mary told them.
Ashton blinked and saw how Alice and Blake looking at him as he just committed a heinous crime.
"Nah, bro. That won't do." Blake shook his head.
"I don't want to agree with that buffoon but he's right. That really won't do."
Ashton looked at Mary who just shrugged at him, he then felt Alice and Blake pushing him from behind.
He sighed and just accepted his fate. By the time he realized it, a pretty lady was already asking for his order.
"A slice of strawberry cheesecake please." He said.
He could swear that he heard the three humming in approval from behind him, but he decided to just ignore them for now.
"Drinks?" The pretty lady asked.
"Iced-Tea."
"Got it. Please choose a room and wait for your order to be delivered."
Ashton paid for the food using his ticket stub and waited for the rest to order as well. Afterwards, they entered on of the empty rooms inside the shop.
The room was cozy. It has warm lighting, not too bright or too dim. The chairs were classy and extremely comfortable. There's also a tv inside, gaming consoles and a stack of pillows as well.
'Oh, so it's that kind of place huh...'
It didn't take long before a server knocked on the door with their orders. They gathered in front of the table and Ashton couldn't help but smile wryly since the three was clearly urging him to eat first.
So, with that in mind, Ashton took a slice of his cheesecake and ate it...