A couple of hours later, the bus arrived at the bus station and the passengers began to disembark before taking their bags and leaving.
Nathan took his suitcase and also walked calmly to the exit of the bus station. Once outside, he approached a long line of cabs waiting for customers and asked for one.
The cab driver helped him stow his suitcase in the trunk, then Nathan left the cello in the back of the cab and mounted into the front next to the driver.
"Where are you headed?"
Nathan turned on his cell phone and read the address he had written down. The cab driver nodded and started the car.
After a few minutes in silence, the cab driver glanced sideways at Nathan who was looking out the window.
"Is this your first time in the city?"
Without waiting for the cab driver's question, Nathan took a few seconds to answer.
"No, a couple of years ago I came to visit"
"I see, it's a good place to visit, especially at this time of year" the cab driver answered with a slight smile.
Nathan looked at the city through the glass of the cab and answered softly.
"So I've heard"
The streets were full of people walking along with friends, family, and couples, visiting restaurants, stores and so on.
Even though Nathan had been born and raised for the first ten years of his life in Radford, he really barely knew the town.
As a child, there were only a limited number of places he could go, and his family was always busy, so Nathan hardly had time to do anything with them at that time, especially when they discovered that Noah had the power to see the deaths of others.
Nathan continued to look at the city with some nostalgia, but at the same time with some uneasiness in his heart.
The atmosphere was cold because winter was approaching and there was only a month left until the end of the year. So the streets were starting to have Christmas decorations and so on.
'Christmas, eh?'
Nathan couldn't remember when was the last time he celebrated a real Christmas.
While those thoughts were going through his mind, Amelia kept talking being in awe of the city.
'This is a city? it's amazing!'
The whole trip, Amelia had not stopped talking like a little girl, and Nathan didn't mind, in fact, he was grateful to have someone to talk to during boring moments.
Leaving Amelia to enjoy the city, Nathan closed his eyes and began to rest for a while as they arrived at the hotel.
Almost half an hour later, the cab stopped, and Nathan opened his eyes, finding in front of him a large five-story building with a large reception.
The cab driver helped him to put down his suitcase while he put down his cello, and then he paid him by giving him a tip for the good treatment.
The cab driver thanked him before leaving him alone in front of the hotel entrance.
'Quite luxurious...' Amelia whispered looking at the hotel reception.
Nathan nodded, somehow seeing everything in a familiar way, remembering the days of going to meetings in similar places with his family.
'Wasn't a less showy place better?' Nathan asked himself, not understanding the specifics of the mission he had been assigned.
Putting those thoughts aside, Nathan approached the reception desk and was greeted by a young woman with a smile.
"Welcome to the Front Palace Hotel how may I help you?"
"I have a reservation in the name of Robert Welkins"
The woman nodded and asked for his ID before checking it on her computer. A couple of seconds later she handed him back the ID along with a card.
"Your room is room 407, please enjoy your stay"
Nathan nodded and headed for his room. As he reached the elevator and dialed the fourth floor, he realized that the fifth floor required some kind of special access as it appeared blocked.
On the fifth floor were the special rooms for important people, rooms that could not be reserved without a social status.
Nathan went to his room and unlocked the door with the card he had been given, passed through and closed the door behind him. He then momentarily froze as he saw the room in front of him.
'This... How much should a night in this place cost?'
The room was thus as large as an apartment, having a kitchen, living room and dining room included.
'Not for nothing is this the most expensive hotel in the city...'
Setting his suitcase aside next to the cello case. Nathan walked over to the window and admired the view.
'Wow... it's amazing' Amelia sighed as she took in the views of the entire city.
The hotel was located in a high part of the city, so it was possible to see the beautiful expanse of buildings rising majestically into the sky.
'...It is'
Even being such a developed city, there was a balance between nature and buildings, making the city an even more harmonious place.
Dozens of parks were spread all over the city, perfect places to go on a weekend walk or just to walk, exercise or take the dogs out.
It was definitely a beautiful city, but Nathan couldn't see it the same way Amelia did, not knowing the contrasts between this part of the city and the outskirts.
'Can I investigate the surroundings?' Amelia asked.
Nathan shrugged his shoulders.
'Sure, why not. Just be careful'
Amelia nodded cheerfully and an orb of light appeared in front of him before flying out of the room through the door.
Being alone in the room, Nathan sat down on the luxurious sofa in the living room and let his body settle into the soft cushions.
Resting for a few seconds, Nathan took out his cell phone and dialed a number before calling.
The ringing sound rang for a couple of seconds before the other side answered.
"Everything okay?"
Nathan nodded at the question from the soldier on the other end of the phone who was the one in charge of the mission.
"Yes, I didn't have any problems. They didn't doubt my identity at any time"
Nathan put his hand to his face and stopping putting essence on the skin mask, he removed it, revealing his true face.
"That's good, tomorrow we'll send you the address where you'll have to go" the soldier explained to which Nathan nodded.
"The rest of the day you have the rest of the day off, that's all"
Nathan nodded again and hung up the call.
Letting his body rest on the sofa cushions, Nathan stretched out his arms and rested for a while.
A few minutes later, he sighed and put his skin mask back on.
"I guess I'll go get something to eat..."