Iridescent Outshine

Chapter Two

After the conversation with Bastien, Harold decided to follow after him. Edgar wanted to wait until midnight to see if the Unicorn would show up. Since the time right now is one or two in the afternoon, the decision was to follow after Bastien.

The boys quickly run after Bastien who had gone north following their conversation. Every street and every house that Bastien comes across, he would look left and right. Once in a while, he would casually turn around to check behind him and then continue to his destination.

"See?" Harold said. "He claims to have dinner at one of the houses near the center of town, but he's going farther away. He was lying to us."

"I don't know," Edgar said. "Maybe he's going back to work? It is around lunch time for most people."

"Maybe."

While following Bastien, Harold and Edgar made sure to stay out of sight whenever Bastien turned around to check his surroundings.

"He's definitely checking if he's being followed." Harold said.

"How do you know all these street skills?" Edgar asked.

Harold smiles. "To obtain street skills, one must learn from the streets themselves."

"Huh?"

"My cousin Bruno and I used to participate in criminal activities to make money. My parents weren't around much, so I had to do whatever I could to support my sister and myself. Bruno was the same."

"Oh, wow. I didn't know that about you."

"Yeah, not that many people do."

Edgar pats his partner on the shoulder. "And look at you now. A champion of justice!"

Harold frowns. "Heh! Not really." He notices Bastien goes into a building. "He went in there! What is that building?"

"Looks like a restaurant. Maybe that's where he works?"

"A few ways to find out."

"Oh, yeah? We just go inside and check?"

Harold shakes his head. "No, he knows what we look like. Maybe we can ask the girls to help?"

"You mean Stella and her mom?"

"Yeah, I don't want to involve them anymore than needed, but I guess we don't have much choice."

With that said, the boys go back to the inn to meet up with the mother-daughter duo.

Stella was napping when Cecilia woke her up. Cecilia herself was awakened when she heard knocking on the door. The knocks came from the boys who had just returned to the inn.

Stella and Cecilia listened as Harold explained what he and Edgar just encountered.

"So," Cecilia said. "You believe that this Bastien guy was lying to you? And now you want us to help confirm this?"

Harold nods.

"I don't mind helping," Stella said. "You said he went into a restaurant?" She turns to her mom. "I'm hungry now. What about you, Mom?"

Cecilia smiles. "Sure! Show us the way, Harold!"

Stella and Cecilia follow Harold and Edgar to the restaurant that Bastien had gone into earlier. The walk to said restaurant is about ten minutes.

In front of the restaurant, the boys wait from across the street while the girls go inside.

As soon as the girls enter the restaurant, it is very clear that they are the only ones. The tables and chairs are empty. The staff is nowhere to be seen. There is, however, a door behind the counter at the end of the room.

"I don't see anyone." Stella said. "Are we in the right place?"

Cecilia looks around. "No, this is where the boys told us to go. Maybe it's a trap?"

"Should we leave, Mom?"

"Yeah, let's go and tell the boys about this." Cecilia grabs Stella's hand and turns to the door.

As she is about to open the door, there is a loud noise. The noise sounds as if another door were slammed.

The girls quickly turn around and see a young man in his mid-twenties wearing a red T-shirt.

"Oh, don't leave yet!" said the young man in the red shirt. "You ladies just got here!"

"Are you Blastion?" Stella asked.

The red shirt guy frowns. "Bastien! How did you guys get that name pronounced wrong?"

"Oh, so you are Bastien!" Cecilia said. "What do you want?"

Bastien smirks. "Looks like the Leaf Wolf sent you ladies here? What?! He can't handle his own business? I thought he was supposed to be strong, but here I stand, in front of two girls!"

"He can!" Stella responded. "We're just helping him out a bit!"

Cecilia rubs her daughter's lower back. "No need to explain yourself to him, dear."

"But he was saying that Harold couldn't handle himself."

"I know, I know, but it's just words. Besides, we'll get out of here and tell Harold to come in."

Stella's eyes brighten. "Oh, yeah! You're right, Mom! Let's go now!"

Bastien laughs. "Oh, you're not going anywhere!"

"Oh, yeah? How are you going to stop us?" Cecilia asked. "We're already near the door and you're way over there." She reaches for the door, but a red Lightning Beam comes and hits her right hand.

"That's how!" Bastien exclaimed with a smirk on his face.

Cecilia glares at Bastien. "Lily, go get the boys and tell them to not get involved! I want to teach this kid a lesson in manners."