"Ooh, look at that!" Sydney gushed as she ran through the field of colorful plants and flowers, Hunter smiles behind her, taking out his camera and taking a picture.
Sydney notices and strikes a pose next to the pink and rose flowers, "how does it look?" She asked
"Magnificent," he replied
Sydney plucks a flower and drives it into the side of her hair, "I'm glad you agreed to do this," she smiled
"Please, I'm the one benefitting from all this," he replied. She took out her phone and opened a map application as she searches for their next destination, "the Colosseum is next," she stated
"I've always wanted to see it," Hunter smiled
"Me too."
They walked out of the park, crossing the busy road as they made their way to the Colosseum in silence before Hunter speaks, "you and your wolf, how does that work?" He asked curiously
"It's nothing special, every werewolf is the same, we can hear our wolf, it can talk to us and advise us and when we shift, we become one," she explained
They made a sharp turn, walking through a narrow alley, "what is she telling you now?" He asked
"That she likes you, which is shocking because she hates everyone"
"I guess I must be special"
"And humble"
"The most in the world"
They both laugh. "My first day at the school, while creating a domain, I disappeared for some time," Hunter started
"I remember that ... At that moment I thought these sorcerers are on a whole 'nother level"
Hunter shoots her a tight smile, "well during that time I went to another realm, met with a demon, made a deal with him, bonded with him, and then brought him back with me to the school"
"And is that safe?" She asked concerned
"Honestly, I don't know," he rubs his forehead, " ... as part of our contract I can't remember the specifics. I don't know the terms I agreed to or why I agreed to them ..."
Sydney stopped and turned to face him, "But you can tell if it's safe or not," she said, "like how he speaks with you if you're losing time and all that. Do you feel okay having this guy inside of you?"
Hunter takes a minute thinking about the question, he looks into her eyes before speaking, "I do ... He doesn't tell me much but the little he tells me is always important, he knows a ton about magic and teaches me stuff, warns me of any impending danger ... He's a chaos magic user though so I would get executed if they found out about him"
"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me," she smiled, turning back and they continue their journey down the road, "what is he saying now?" She asked
"He doesn't speak too much, he has a big mouth and is working on his self-control so he won't reveal everything about himself to me"
Sydney laughs
[That's not even funny plus that's not why she asked you that question]
'Huh?'
[You're clueless]
They made another turn and there it was the Colosseum.
The elliptical structure was made of travertine limestone, and concrete and stood nearly 200 meters tall.
It comprised three superposed stories surmounted by a podium on which stands a tall attic, both of which are pierced by windows interspersed at regular intervals. The first three stories were arcades with each of the arches on the second and third floor having statues.
"Woah ... This is one large Colosseum ... Or small one, I don't know the standard height for a Colosseum."
Sydney grabs him by the wrist, pulling him to the entrance before he could even think about taking a picture.
The inside looked just as old as the outside, they were stalls on one side of the Colosseum, which was probably the only thing that wasn't there when it was first built.
Hunter raised the camera to his eyes but the sight of someone in it causes him to lower it without taking a picture, "René," he smiled, waving her over
"Hey you," he smiled
"Hey yourself, who's with you?" She asked
Hunter turned to face Sydney, "Sydney, this is René and vice versa"
The two girls shake hands, "it's nice to meet you," René smiled
"Likewise"
"What are you doing here?" He asked René
"This is my favorite place in the Met," she replied
"You've been here so many times I take it?"
"Hmm ... I guess so, there's this secret spot I discovered, wanna see?"
Hunter turned to Sydney, "what do you say?"
"You two go ahead, Martin just texted me saying he's close by, we'd continue our tour soon," she replies
"Okay, I'll see you later, say hello to Martin for me." Sydney smiles before walking away.
[You are blowing my mind]
'What?' He asked but to no response.
Hunter turned back to René "what did you want to show me?"
"Come with me."
René leads him to the west wing of the Colosseum, there was a small gap between two rows of seats. "Come closer," she instructed with her ethereal voice, she squats down and presses something behind one of the seats. Hunter heard a creak before the spot he was standing on creeps open, throwing them inside a hole.
It wasn't a long fall so they landed on their feet in a pitch-black room. René takes out a match from her pocket and lit a torch nearby, some blue crystals on the wall suddenly brightened, the room now glowing.
"Do you always carry matches in case of situations like this or are you a smoker?" Hunter asked
René laughs, "it's weird but it has come in handy a couple of times."
"I get it, some people think I'm weird for moving around with bottled water"
They move further into the cave, following the lights from the blue crystals, "do you have one now?"
Hunter takes out a 25CL bottled water from his pocket causing René to raise an eyebrow
"What?" He shrugged, "you never know when you'd get thirsty"
She smiles taking the bottle from him to take a sip, "this taste nice, I can see why you're addicted."
Hunter laughs.
They reach the end of the cave where they see a large pool with colorful designs and patterns around the wall.
The water in the pool glowed blue with the reflection of the crystals above it and Hunter wondered how long the water had been there.
"So ... Hunter, were you ever going to call me, or was number merely a trophy for you?" She said casting a sidelong glance at him
"I only recently came to the Met, I was hoping my tour today would inspire me with venues for a date so I could ask you out."
Hunter walked towards the pool, sitting next to it, René follows suit.
Her cheeks turning rosy, "a man with a plan, I see"
He rolls his eyes playfully, "they don't call me the man with the thousand plans for nothing"
"Really?" She says, not breaking eye contact
"Ask around."
Hunter didn't think her cheeks could redden even more but they did, "Well we are all alone in a cool spot, what plan do you have now?"
"A thousand plans"
"Name one," she said as she moved towards him, her voice low, almost a whisper
Hunter closes the gap, his lips meeting hers.
They separate after a while, remaining close, René looks at him, a gleam in her eyes as she grins from ear to ear.
"Was that your first kiss?" She asked, her face suddenly turning red
"Yeah"
"It was mine too," she smiled sheepishly, "let's be each other's first everything"
[Guess that's my cue to go]
'Just stay, you ruined it before it even started'
"I'd like that," Hunter said to her with a smile.
A while after sitting in comfortable silence, René got up and offer Hunter her hands, he takes it and the two of them walk back the same way they came.
"About the date," she started, her face flushed, "it doesn't have to be anything grandiose, we could explore the city together," she suggested
"That's great but I don't want our date to be us just trekking 200 miles," he said, "tell me a place you've never been?"
"Hmm," she hummed, "I've never been to a school before"
"Like ever?" He asked surprised
"No ... My parents couldn't afford it so I spent most of my time helping them at the shop"
"I've never been to school either," he said
René smiles, "guess we have more in common than we thought. Why couldn't you go to school?" She asked
"Grew up in an orphanage ... They could barely afford any teachers so they prioritize kids they felt were genius"
"And you didn't make the cut? My first impression of you was that you were probably the school nerd who had it all, good looks, book smart ... A heartbreaker"
"I mean, you weren't wrong about the good looks, though you missed my charming personality, my charisma, and I'm street smart"
René laughs playfully nudging him with her shoulder, "what was your first impression of me?"
"A princess whose number I must have!"
"How did you know I'm a princess?"
"As I said, street smart"
René shakes her head as if disappointed but there is a wide smile on her face. The two of them walk out of the underground cave and make their way out of the Colosseum."
"Hey, what if we go to a school for our date?"
"Great idea," she agreed "how'd we get in?"
"I'll handle that. What do you say?"
René smiles, "I will be waiting for your call."
Hunter flagged down a cab and she climbs in, "bye," he waved.
'How was that?'
[Not bad]
"I know, call me Hunter rizz-man"
[Shut up]
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