Chapter 257: This Is What Happens When You Let Carmen Make The Plans

The Coral Street Ward was on the opposite side of the commercial district, a twenty-minute walk through increasingly upscale neighborhoods. The industrial grit of the Forge Quarter gave way to fashionable cafes and art galleries and high-end boutiques with price tags that would make most academy students weep.

Even the people changed around us, fewer grease-stained workers and more elegantly dressed socialites and corporate types who probably spent more on lunch than we did on rent.

"I didn’t expect Carmen to be the boutique shopping type," Emi said as we walked. "She always looks like she slept in her clothes."

"That’s because she probably did," Skylar replied without missing a beat. "I’ve seen her passed out on the common room couch more than once. Pretty sure she was wearing the same outfit both times."

"Maybe she wants to impress someone?" Soomin suggested quietly before immediately looking embarrassed for speaking up.

The Crimson Stitch turned out to be a sleek modern boutique with mannequins in the window wearing outfits that probably cost more than my entire stipend combined. A small line of well-dressed customers waited outside, but Carmen was nowhere to be seen.

"Are you sure this is the right place?" Emi asked while looking intimidated by the obvious luxury and the people in line who looked like they belonged on magazine covers.

Before I could check the datapad again, my phone vibrated with another message.

Carmen: [Change of plans. Juan ate something questionable and is currently retching in an alley. Meet us at The Gilded Rose Cafe instead. It’s three blocks east. I’ve already ordered for everyone.]

Of course. Because nothing about today could be straightforward.

I relayed the message and we changed course. The Gilded Rose Cafe was a charming establishment with outdoor seating under elegant white awnings that fluttered in the breeze. Carmen and Juan were already seated at a large table near the back. Juan looked significantly greener than when we’d last seen him, like he’d just gone ten rounds with food poisoning and lost.

"Don’t ask," Carmen said before any of us could speak. She waved us to the empty chairs with her good hand. "Sit. The food’s coming."

I slid into the seat across from her while keeping my expression neutral. "So what happened to clothes shopping?"

Carmen’s visible eye gleamed with mischief that immediately put me on guard. "Would you rather be holding purses on an empty stomach while I try on cocktail dresses for three hours?"

"I’m good with food," I conceded.

"Thought so." She leaned back in her chair while sipping from a tall glass filled with something that definitely wasn’t just coffee. "So, did you get everything you needed?"

"New bow," Emi chimed in immediately with that infectious enthusiasm of hers. "It’s beautiful! Silver-wood with blue inlays and these amazing elemental arrow cores that—"

"Gloves," Soomin added softly while cutting off Emi’s excited ramble. "For when I... you know." She wiggled her fingers in demonstration.

"Knives," Skylar said simply. When Carmen raised an eyebrow in question, she added, "The quiet kind."

"Ring," I finished. "Mana enhancement. Fifteen percent increase in flow rate."

Carmen snorted into her drink. "Boring. I expected at least one of you to buy something ridiculous. That’s half the fun of your first gear stipend. Living a little. Making mistakes you’ll regret in three months."

"Like what?" I asked despite knowing I’d probably regret hearing the answer.

"Like a flame-throwing codpiece or exploding throwing stars or a sword that’s taller than you are," Carmen said while grinning like she was speaking from personal experience. "The kind of thing that gets you banned from training facilities and makes your instructors question their life choices."

Juan groaned from his slumped position like even listening to the conversation was causing him physical pain. "Please don’t talk about explosions right now. Or flames. Or anything hot."

Carmen patted his head patronizingly like he was a sick puppy. "Poor baby can’t handle his street food. Maybe next time don’t buy mystery meat from a cart that doesn’t have a health inspection certificate." She turned back to us with that dangerous grin still in place. "After lunch, we’re hitting the training simulator. There’s one nearby that’s supposed to be top-tier."

Emi clapped her hands together in excitement. "Really? I’ve always wanted to try one of those!"

Even Skylar looked interested while straightening slightly in her chair. "Are they accurate? I’ve heard the commercial ones aren’t calibrated properly for C-rank and above."

"These are the real deal. Hunter Guild maintains them for training purposes, and they’re updated quarterly with new Gate data." Carmen’s grin widened in a way that made me deeply suspicious. "And I’ve got VIP access because of my guild connections."

The waiter arrived with our food, an assortment of sandwiches and salads and pastries that looked far too elegant for a casual lunch. Carmen hadn’t been kidding when she said she’d ordered for everyone, and judging by the spread she’d also ordered enough to feed twice our number.

"Eat up," Carmen said while grabbing a sandwich that had more layers than a geological formation. "We’ve got a long afternoon ahead of us."

As we ate, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing something important. Carmen kept watching me with that amused knowing look, like she was waiting for me to figure out the punchline to a joke only she understood. Her single visible eye tracked my movements with more attention than was strictly necessary.

"You’re planning something," I said quietly while the others were distracted by their food and conversation.

Carmen’s smile widened. "Always. But that’s not news to you, is it Satori?"

"What’s the game?"

"Who says there’s a game?" She took a bite of her sandwich and chewed slowly before continuing. "Maybe I just wanted to spend time with my favorite students. Build morale. Create positive experiences before we throw you all into a Gate that might kill you."

"Bullshit."

"Such language." She tsked at me but her eye was dancing with amusement. "Fine. Maybe I’m curious. Maybe I want to see how you handle a situation where you’re not in complete control. Maybe I think it’ll be funny."

"Funny how?"

"You’ll see." She winked at me, the same wink from earlier on the ferry. "Just play along, Satori. Trust me, you’ll thank me later."

That was possibly the least reassuring thing anyone had ever said to me.