NOVPUBThe vehicle moved along the road paved with blue stone slabs, the low buildings on both sides bustling with activity. Human residents thronged the area day and night, and occasionally members of the Demon Race could be seen flitting through the busy district, which was always brightly illuminated.
After a lengthy journey, they finally arrived at their accommodation for the night, the most luxurious Snow Bear Palace Hotel in the city-state.
"The most striking building in Small Stone City has to be the Snow Bear Palace. It’s truly regrettable that Hyperion and I didn’t pass through Small Stone City the last time we went from the Demon World to the Polante Empire. I’ve been wanting to take you guys on a tour of this Snow Domain City-state for a while," Siegler said enthusiastically to Talia, leading her briskly forward.
The exterior of the Snow Bear Hotel resembled a majestic palace.
In front of the door stood two giant white bear statues, like loyal guards protecting this grand building.
"Siegler, slow down, I won’t get lost," Talia said softly as she followed Siegler.
This kind of treatment from Siegler made Talia’s heart flutter, as if she truly had a daughter.
If Hyperion were also by her side, Talia would feel her life with the demons was complete.
"Lanci may be older, but he’s still quite dependable; he won’t get lost on his own," Lanci said to Siegler and Talia after settling the driver’s bill.
The two ahead turned back to look at him, but did not speak.
"You really are…" Talia didn’t know what to say to Lanci.
That’s why she had always been Lanci’s teacher but never thought of him as her son.
His head was always filled with thoughts of defying his mentor; he definitely wasn’t the ideal son a mother would wish for.
"It’s only because Calila is good-tempered. Had it been a hot-tempered female from the Great Demon Clan, she probably would have knocked you down by now," Siegler remarked.
After saying that, she turned her head, surveyed their surroundings, and then led Calila toward the hotel again.
Pushing open the heavy oak doors, a warm light and comforting heat greeted them, instantly dispelling the chill from outside.
In the center of the lobby stood a magic furnace unique to the Land of Perpetual Night, its orange-red flames dancing merrily in the hearth, making the whole lobby sparkle brightly.
Siegler went alone to the front desk and completed the check-in process for the three of them.
"It’s the apartment-style suite again," Siegler handed the room cards to Lanci and Talia.
The last time she and Lanci had stayed in this type of suite, which had several separate bedrooms and a shared living room.
The Pope turned out to be unexpectedly poor with hardly any personal wealth, but the money she had saved over the years was plentiful enough for them to enjoy for twenty days without a problem.
After all, once out of the Shadow World, the currency from this world was of no use. She was simply to be treated as a wealthy woman, and they could freely spend her money.
"I’m supposed to be the employer, yet here you are spending money. I really feel embarrassed," Lanci took the room card and said.
"How about you help me take the luggage up, then? I’ll go buy some delicacies and ingredients from Glatstone Castle, and use some money to swap my Pope status with you. It’s a fair deal," Siegler passed the suitcase to Lanci, joking.
"No problem," Lanci responded with a friendly smile.
He realized that after all these years, Siegler no longer saw him as some noble lord; she just dealt with him calmly.
As Siegler walked towards the hotel lobby exit, she noticed Lanci following her.
"What’s up? Got something else you want to say?" she turned her head and asked with interest.
Lanci’s pace was leisurely, as though he wasn’t really intending to accompany her but rather took this chance to casually take a stroll and chat, while possibly mentioning a few things.
"Remember to buy extra," Lanci held a hand to his mouth, whispering his request.
"How much exactly?" Siegler took out a small notebook from her pocket, wrote down two notes, then paused, looked up at Lanci, and waited for his answer.
"Plan for a week’s worth for the both of us," Lanci pondered a moment then confirmed.
"No problem," Siegler didn’t ask further, jotted it down, and then tucked away her notebook,
"I’ll be back in half an hour, won’t let you guys be hungry for too long."
She waved her hand and walked out through the glass doors of the Snow Bear Hotel lobby.
"…"
Lanci watched Siegler leave with a smile, then turned and walked towards Talia who was sitting waiting for him on a sofa at the side of the lobby.
"Is it okay to let that child go out alone?" Talia asked, looking up at Lanci with a worried face.
She probably shouldn’t worry too much, but just like when she first met Hyperion, it was hard for her to let go.
She couldn’t help wanting to constantly keep the child in her sight, to protect Siegler.
"Don’t worry, she was very strong even at eleven, and now it’s hard to say what level she’s at. Apart from the city-state’s Protective Enchantment, there’s probably no one in Small Stone City who could match her," Lanci replied, picking up Talia’s suitcase.
"Alright, let’s go upstairs then," Talia was rather pleased with Lanci’s boyfriend-like habit, finding comfort in his presence without needing to think about anything.
Funny enough, before Lanci went to the Northern Continent, he would never help her carry things.
"You said back when we were in Nanwantina that you wanted to treat me to a meal, but all I got were cold looks from you, how could I dare carry your suitcase?" Lanci recounted their past together.
"That is true, I apologize for that, and I won’t treat you like that anymore," Talia thought it over, cracking a slight smile and saying to him.
"…?"
Lanci was taken aback, turning his head to look at her.
She suddenly apologized? Talia seemed in a particularly good mood today, even managing to break her usual expressionless face into a smile.
"I’m Calila, isn’t it normal for Calila to be a bit gentler?"
