Solaris sat next to Ember; both of them were waiting for Selen. The three hunters had a long day ahead, so before that, they were going to get ice cream, per Solaris's half-dead answer.
Solaris was experimenting with his new mark; after a bit more observation, he had enough knowledge about it that he could start to implement it into his hunts and even his day-to-day.
As Solaris was observing the mantle, his eyes widened, and he ran to the stairs and into his room.
Ember shifted slightly after Solaris dashed off at devastating speeds.
"Whoa, he's gotten faster."
Solaris opened his door quickly; as he did, he turned, grabbing a hilt.
Solaris let out a sigh of relief and opened his mouth.
"I won't be leaving you here this time."
"What are you talking about?"
Solaris jumped slightly, turning with the shards already sliding out from his skin.
Yet they stopped before fully coming to reality.
"Sorry, I meant my sword…."
"Oh, that's weird, you weirdo."
Behind him, Selen stood in a stylish yet practical blue-and-white outfit. Her eyes glanced at the new mantle Solaris was wearing coving his clothes for a moment, her lips almost seeming to frown.
Is she admiring my mark?
He wondered for a moment, then he realized something and spoke.
"I missed you, Selen."
Selen moved slightly as Solaris's expression softened into a slight grin.
"Creep…"
"Okay, are you ready to go?"
"Yeah."
Solaris nodded and motioned for her to go, yet she stood her ground. The two stood still for a moment, then Solaris took the lead.
I missed this?
Yeah…
Solaris walked down the stairs with Selen staring bullets into him from behind.
Solaris grimaced as he descended the stairs.
So weird, so cute tho…
Soon they made it to the lobby and met up with Ember
A quick wave was exchanged between Solaris and Ember before the three left, making sure to bid their farewells to Cedric. Sami was out for the day, and so she would have to learn of their departure from this crimson cross.
The three got into a car outside of the building, infact it was the same car that changed Solaris' life almost a year ago.
As Solaris got into the car, he started to wonder and asked a quick question.
"Hey, how long was I asleep this time? I know last time I was out for three months, so…"
"Two days."
Selen's quick answer shocked Solaris, not only how fast she answered but also how short of a recovery time it was.
"How come I was only out for such a short time?"
"No head injury."
"I see, so I've been a hunter for… nine months…."
"Wow," Selen said, sounding disinterested in the discussion.
Solaris sighed and got into the car. After a moment, the three were driving to their first destination.
Moments later, Solaris felt the car slow and then stop. He glanced out the window and saw a small store with a sign that read.
"C.C. Ice Cream."
A slight smile appeared on Solaris's face.
He'd rarely had ice cream throughout his childhood, only once from when his mother was still around. So it had been twelve years since he'd last had it.
"So much has changed."
"Hmm?"
"Oh, nothing."
Selen spared him another glance before opening the door and stepping out of the car; Solaris followed shortly after.
"Selen. Were you safe while Ember was gone?"
Selen looked at him with a deadpan face, then opened her mouth and spoke.
"Yeah, thanks to that entity, it let me develop a safer form of combat…so thank it twice for me."
Solaris smiled slightly when she spoke, his mind at peace as long as his comrade was safe.
As Solaris walked, he had a sudden idea and followed it.
Closing one of his eyes, he saw a small blurb appear with a name atop it; it read.
'Selen neve'
After reading the entire blurb, his eye became dry, and his other began to tear up; his soul began to feel immense regret for daring to read those words.
Slowly he opened his eye and took a shaky breath before stepping through the door into the ice cream shop.
As he walked in, a bell rang, and Solaris's face was once again dressed with a small smile.
The three walked over to the counter and all ordered; Selen got vanilla, Ember got salted caramel, while Solaris got pecan praline and cream.
As the man behind the counter served them, he continuously gave the trio fleeting glances.
As they got their cones and found a table to sit at, Solaris looked at the ice cream with a curious look. He hadn't had it in so long, yet he still remembered that this was the flavor his mom had gotten them so long ago.
Sitting down, Solaris looked over the cone and took a glance to his left, seeing how Selen ate hers before copying the motion.
His eyes lit up as the flavors danced on his tongue.
So good, it was almost all worth it… No, it wasn't… so good.
A mere moment later, he had already finished the cone and looked at the others who were still at the beginning of theirs.
Seeing this, Solaris stood up, walked over to the counter, and ordered another; this time, he got a chocolate cone.
The process repeated over and over until he had consumed at least ten flavors over twenty cones.
He had a massive smile on his face, and the shop owner had a disturbed grin, as he began to question if this man was even human. His eyes glanced questioningly at the duo, both of them in double digits for the number of cones they had eaten, while the girl was still eating her first one.
The shopkeeper was more than happy to keep serving them as long as they kept paying, and paying they did.
The tall man seemed to have an infinite supply of money; every time he bought another, he tipped double the amount a normal customer would.
After a while, Selen finally finished her first cone, her hand on her forehead in a rubbing motion; she was having a brain freeze. Solaris and Ember, on the contrary, seemed fine.
What are these two?
After a moment longer, it faded, and the trio stood up and left the establishment, making sure to leave a sizable tip as they did.
The shopkeeper eagerly waved them goodbye as they left.
"On to our final stop, HQ."
Once again, the trio got into the long car, Solaris and Selen in the back, and Ember driving.
It's finally time; I best get my story in check.