Kyle waited, there was silence for a few seconds but then a low-pitched timed voice sounded behind the door.
“Sorry for the inconvenience but dinner is ready. Would you like to eat it in your room or the hotel lobby?”
Kyle jumped down from the bed with a groan. From the voice, he was sure the person standing outside was one of the elves’ women who welcomed everyone into the hotel.
“I will go down in a while.”
His voice was a little hoarse as he yawned in between. Another knock sounded on the door.
“Alright, Sir.”
Kyle heard the fading footsteps and within a minute changed his wrinkled shirt into a black hoodie. He grabbed his shoulder-length hair and tied it in a pony.
“I think I should cut my hair. They are pretty cool but it’s getting a little annoying. Well, I am in the capital city I will just visit a nearby shop because if I did it myself it would be a disaster.”
He put on his shoes and left the room. As he walked between the rows of rooms he saw a few chatting youngsters. Maybe everyone was too excited to sleep because the hotel looked lively.
A few individuals even greeted him with polite smiles. Kyle nodded at them. He didn’t find it strange because, after his talent test, he knew he would be famous.
Moreover, all the winning participants were going to stay together for the next few months so it was better to avoid fights.
After passing the hallway and the second floor, he went down to the lobby through the stairs.
Kyle looked around, the lobby was big with opulent space filled with many chairs placed around round tables. A lot of individuals were enjoying their meals and the sound of conversations filled the air.
A few elven men and women, dressed in beautiful gowns, gracefully move through the crowd, serving delicious dishes to everyone.
A lot of people spotted Kyle who just stepped out from the stairs.
Amidst the busy tables, a noisy voice pierced through the air.
“Kyle?”
Kyle eyed the owner of the voice. It was Regius. He was sitting with Niamh, Faith, and Yue. Sinon was sitting with them as well.
Kyle made a split-second decision and grabbed an empty chair, heading straight toward their table.
“It’s seemed no one resting?”
He placed his chair beside Regius’s chair. A few eyes snapped at him surprised but Kyle didn’t care and sat down.
Regius released an exaggerated sigh and pinched his brows.
“I wanted to rest but when I lay down on the bed I just wasn’t able to sleep. I think it’s because I am excited about the special training. The others were already here when I came down.”
Kyle nodded. Regius and his team were already done eating that’s why when Kyle sat down with Regius a female elf immediately arrived behind him.
She showed him a menu and after taking his order she left.
Regius gazed at the fading elf. The atmosphere around the table turned quiet. He placed his head on the table with a gloomy expression.
“It’s a pity Lumi and Izil didn’t pass the second round. They were the most talkative ones. Now, I feel like I am sitting with a bunch of mutes.”
However, to his dismay no one replied. His protest was treated as thin air but then Kyle’s eyes landed at Yue’s wrists. Her wrists were empty.
“Where are your bracelets?”
Kyle blurted out without even realizing and all eyes snapped to him.
Among them the most surprised one was Yue. She knew Kyle through senior Regius and wasn’t familiar with him. So, this type of question was unexpected. Also, why was he so obsessed with the bracelets?
She opened her mouth to speak but as if realizing his mistake Kyle stopped her.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me.”
Yue’s brows knitted into a frown, not because Kyle stopped her from speaking. She was astonished at herself. How can she just answer his question without even a second thought? If not for Kyle stopping her abruptly she would have probably answered his question in a beat. A strange feeling welled up inside her chest. This type of thing never happened before. Moreover, she never replied to strangers and Kyle was practically a stranger if not for the fact that they had met a few times coincidentally.
The quiet atmosphere around the table was becoming unbearable with each passing second that’s why Sinon slapped his hand on the table with a loud exclamation.
“I almost forgot. What is everyone’s plan for this week? We are all free. So, I believe you would have planned something.”
All the eyes looked at him with a blank expression. Especially Regius, he knew his future was blank with Yue, Niamh, and Faith because the trio always stayed quiet. Also, with the addition of Kyle who was even quieter than the trio he knew his life for the next few days would be completely boring.
Sinon’s smile faltered for a second when he saw their blank expressions. However, he smoothed his expression and looked at them with a sigh.
“No plan?”
Everyone gave him a nod and Sinon started thinking. After a few seconds, his eyes brightened.
“Then let’s go to the elven festival! It’s tomorrow and will continue for two days!”
Regius almost had the urge to leave the table when he heard Sinon’s words. Not just Regius, Yue, Niamh, and Faith also had the same thoughts.
The elven festival wasn’t uncommon. It was just a normal festival held every month in the east side of the capital city. So, they had seen it a lot of times.
Only Kyle curiously was piqued but when he saw everyone’s reluctant expressions he noted immediately.
‘I think this festival is not good.’
Sinon grinned when he how everyone behaved like a salted fish. He opened his palm and gestured for them to gather.
His voice was low as he whispered slightly.
“The festival this time is special. This time a big auction is going to take place behind the scenes. I heard a lot of unique things will appear in the auction.”
Regius deadpan.
“It’s just an Auction. What’s so special about it? I am not going. Also, do you think I am rich enough to compete with those old foggies who would appear in the Auction?”
Sinon clicked his tongue and knocked the table with his knuckles.
“Just hear me out. My elder brother is a merchant so I have some inside news.”
This time everyone perked their ears to listen carefully but if they didn’t find his news special, no one knew what would happen to Sinon.
Sinon’s voice turned even fainter as he leaned toward them.
“I heard a mermaid was caught in the demi-humans’ Kingdom. Those idiots sold it to a noble. Right now, the noble who bought the mermaid is in Kingdom Tersia. He is going to put the mermaid in the auction.”