Chapter 38: Meeting up with Friends
Good morning! Emy, the little girl, saw the trio walk into the diner. She was sitting at the counter on a tall stool, swinging her legs back and forth. When she saw them, she jumped down and rushed over with a big smile, yelling, "Good morning, dear guests!" She giggled. "What can we do for you today?" she asked, beaming.
"Aha, I see," Elara said with a smile. "You are going to be our waitress today." Then, turning to the others, she added, "Lead us to a free table, and we would like some breakfast, please."
Emy grinned and said, "Please follow me, dear guests." She led them to a free table. "I'll go give the order to Mommy," she said and then ran away.
The trio giggled to each other as they sat down around the table. Ella sat on a small set similar to a chair and table that Elara had made for her.
"She is so cute," Lilith said, smiling. "I'm so happy to be here again."
"Yes, she is so sweet," Ella agreed.
Elara nodded in agreement.
No longer than a few moments later, Emy came rushing back, giggling. "Mommy will come out with the food, and she's going to let me join you guys for breakfast if I may," she said with a smile.
Elara, Lilith, and Ella each looked at each other and started giggling. They knew that Emy had played a small prank on them to let her join them for breakfast.
"Of course!" the trio said.
Emy then dragged over another chair and sat herself closer to Ella, giggling. "Ella, can we play together today?" she asked.
Ella looked at the others, then said with a bright smile, "Of course, Emy. Let's go outside and play."
Just then, Emy's mother came out with a tray full of food and drinks. She placed plates of pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and fresh fruit in front of each of them, along with glasses of orange juice and mugs of steaming coffee.
"Good morning, everyone," she said warmly. "I hope you're all hungry!"
"Thank you so much," Elara said. "This looks wonderful."
"Mommy, can I sit with them and have breakfast?" Emy asked.
"Of course, sweetheart," her mother replied with a smile. "Just remember your manners."
The group began to eat, savoring the delicious food. "This is so good," Lilith said. "Did you make everything yourself?"
Emy's mother nodded. "Yes, I did. I love cooking for our guests. It's always a pleasure to see people enjoying the food."
"It really shows," Ella said, taking a sip of her orange juice. "Thank you for letting Emy join us, too. She's such a delight."
"Oh, it's my pleasure," Emy's mother replied. "She looks forward to seeing you all every time you come in."
As they ate, they chatted about their plans for the day and shared stories from their previous visits. Emy listened intently, occasionally chiming in with her own excited comments.
After they finished their breakfast, Emy turned to Ella. "Are you ready to play now?"
Ella looked at Elara and Lilith, who both nodded with smiles. "Yes, let's go outside and play!" she said.
The two girls jumped up from the table and rushed towards the door, giggling.
"Lilith, let's go to the guild," Elara said, her voice filled with determination as she tightened the strap of her leather satchel. "And maybe check out Santos's store. Benjamin did tell us we should stop by."
Lilith, a tall woman with piercing green eyes and dark flowing hair, nodded in agreement, adjusting her cloak to shield against the morning chill. "Santos always has the most interesting items. It's worth a visit."
The streets of the bustling market town were already alive with activity. Merchants called out their wares, children darted between stalls, and the scent of fresh bread mingled with the earthy aroma of herbs. Elara smiled, the thought of their errands brightening her mood. "Also, Mila told me the other day that Everleaf should be free today. We can maybe talk to her about Aurora and the World Tree. Elves are a long-lived race, after all."
Lilith's eyes widened slightly at the mention of Everleaf, the renowned elf guild master. whose wisdom was sought by many. "Yes, if anyone knows about the World Tree, it would be her. The knowledge of the elves is vast and ancient."
Their boots clacked against the cobblestones as they weaved through the crowd, exchanging brief nods with familiar faces. The guild hall, a towering structure of stone and timber, loomed ahead. Its doors, adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures, stood open, inviting adventurers of all kinds.
Inside, the hall buzzed with energy. Adventurers of various races and classes crowded the large room, discussing quests and sharing stories of their exploits. Lilith and Elara approached the quest board, scanning the parchment notices for anything that might suit their skills.
After noting a few potential quests, Lilith and Elara walked toward the counter area. They noticed a familiar guild staff member and approached her.
"Hello, Mila," they greeted.
"Hello, Miss Lilith and Miss Elara'Niya. Are you here to visit the Guild Mast'Niya?" Mila questioned them.
"Yes, Mila," Elara replied. "Is she free at the moment?"
"I will go check'Niya. Please wait a moment'Niya," Mila said before leaving. She returned shortly and informed them, "You can follow me'Niya."
They walked through the familiar hall until they stood in front of a door. Mila knocked hard.
"Come in," Everleaf called out from behind the office door.
As they entered the room, Mila left them. Everleaf rose from her chair and greeted them with a bright smile. "It's been some time. What brings you guys here, and where is Ella?"
"Greetings, Guild Master," Lilith and Elara said in unison. Then Elara continued, "Ella is playing with a friend, so it's only me and Lilith today."
"We are here to gather any information you may have on the World Tree on Eldoria."
"Hmmmmm," mused Everleaf. "Please, take a seat over here. Mila will come with some tea and snacks soon. Before I share what I know, I need to understand what you know so far."
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