"Okay, Sebastian, what's up?"
The two were sitting in one of Mr. Addlesby's escape rooms. It was filled with brown decor, and felt rather homey.
"I don't want to go back on my word; rather, I want to fulfill it. But I'm falling for the woman that calls herself Minata Ru, and I want to show her my best side. Can I have your blessing?"
Il Ji gave him the side eye. He felt that Sebastian was coming with the right intentions, and that Minata had started today's events, so…
"…Bro. She's like my cute cousin, not my ex. Besides, I've never thought of her that way."
A small petal hidden behind a clock on one of the counters quivered for a moment.
Sebastian looked at him and clapped his hands together, and pulled Il Ji into a bro hug. "Thanks, bro."
"Yeah, man."
Il Ji clapped him on the shoulder. True love was hard to come by, but he had been watching their faces. He then walked to the door. "Minata, can you come over here?"
She walked over and crossed her arms. "What's up?"
Il Ji nodded towards the door. She stepped through it and he smiled. "I'm leaving the door open!" He shouted behind.
He walked around the maze-like store until he found who he was looking for. "Mr. Addlesby."
"Il Ji! Have you solved that puzzle I gave you?"
"As a matter of fact, I have."
The aged man raise a brow. 'That quick?'
Il Ji tapped the pendant. "Obsidian, display."
The puzzle flew apart until every piece fell apart from the core.
"My heavens!" Mr. Addlesby exclaimed. "How did you do that?!"
Il Ji scratched the back of his head. "Well… I tamed him?"
Mr. Addlesby laughed. "No wonder the pendant was unsolvable! Heavens! Several generations of Addlesby's, fooled by a pet beast!"
Il Ji shifted awkwardly. Just then, though, Maya and Laila walked over to save his bacon. "Il Ji, can we buy something?"
"What do you want to buy?"
They immediately pointed to the candies.
"Sure, why not?"
"Yes!" They shouted with glee. Il Ji rolled his eyes. "Only ten each."
"YEEEESSSSSSSS!!"
Needless to say, they went crazy. After ensuring that they only grabbed ten pieces- and of course, they chose the giant sized ones- Il Ji turned to Mr. Addlesby for check-out.
After paying, he asked Mr. Addlesby to leave a message for Sebastian saying that they were headed back to the mansion.
The three of them rode back via one of Sebastian's chaeffeurs, and they left Sebastian and Minata to find their way back together.
When they arrived, the whole house was setting up the party, so Il Ji sent the girls to spend time together in Maya's room whilst everyone else set up.
As for himself, he decided to start on their cultivation plans. He was already coordinating with their masters- who knew how they got his number- but, they did. And as all parties were bound by an oath, so it was his to work on this project.
He slowly formulated each part- their current beasts, their future beasts, their synergy between having mutliple beasts, and their synergy together as a team.
Just as he was formulating the perfect set, a knock arrived on his door. It was Sebastian.
"It's time for the party, bro."
Il Ji looked at Sebastians well-used swimwear. "Still the Hibiscus?"
"Indeed. And for you…" Sebastian pulled out a pair of limited edition Flower Empress-branded swimtrunks.
Il Ji looked up. "Bro…."
"Are you going to put them on?"
"Maybe?"
"Ha!" Sebastian through them at Il Ji's chest. "See you outside in 5? Party's already started."
"Sure."
Sebastian left, and Il Ji put his things together.
He reminisced about how things used to be, and what they could become.
He looked to his hands and thought a while.
'Myria Onn Viva… Flower Empress… How did I fall for you? How has life brought us close? Why do I love you so much?'
A curious laugh resounded behind him.
"Eh?"
He turned around.
The most beautiful woman he had ever seen was wearing a petal-laced swimsuit that only served to enhance her beauty. Her natural charm made him stutter; and then she asked a question.
"Il Ji, do you have a date for this party?"
================================
This marks the end of the Season 1 Shadow Drop. As such, this story will go on hiatus until I can release the next shadow drop.
If you enjoyed this book, please leave it a 5-star review, post some comments, and leave your favorite character a vote.
Add it to your library as well to make it easy to find again! The more people that like this book, the sooner I'll shadow drop the second season.
Thanks for reading up to here- and I, Martikus, hope to see you again.
================================