280 Skollwood Adventures Part 2: Butler Service

Following the lit pumpkins and signboards as they were instructed, the Blackfire siblings arrived at a small counter in the middle of a fork in the road. There was a short line of people eagerly waiting to be assigned their living arrangements for the duration of the festival. 

Above them in the sky, there were still some islanders, clad in their dark coloured garments flying on boards. They kept everyone neatly in their lines and provided assistance when needed. 

"The Lunaria Night Market is now open to all! There will be food and drink stalls so please feel free to make your way there after you've checked in!" 

"Where do you think we'll be staying, sis?" Lycster asked curiously as he looked out far into the distance. 

The dim lighting over all made it difficult for him to see far out into the distance so he had to squint his eyes a little to focus his vision. He notices that there were varying sized huts that lined the area behind the counter. Each of them were beautifully decorated with lights, decorations and pumpkins on the porch. 

"I booked us a slightly larger cabin, since the rest have all been booked up," Vy explained as she also looked into the distance. 

She pointed towards the right, "I think it might be one of those."

While most of the other living quarters were small square shaped cabins, the ones on the right had two floors with orange and black painted exterior. 

"Apparently we get our own butler service as well," Vy recalled. 

"Butler service?" Lycster pondered, "Oh like when we were in Arkwing Castle with Hazel and Elise assisting us?"

"Yes, something like that. Not only will they be able to guide us around the island, they can also give us suggestions on activities we can participate in."

"Next please!" the lady at the counter called out. 

Vy and Lycster were next in line so they walked up to the counter. After providing her name and the tokens they had, the lady swiftly found them their assigned living quarters. She introduced herself as Nelly. 

"I am in charge of the living quarters here, along with the butlers and attendants whom you will see around the area. If you ever need help with anything…" Miss Nelly trailed off as something caught her attention. 

Tracing where she was looking at, Vy realised that she was intrigued by Aether who was coiled snuggly around her wrist. Pointing at her Familiar, Nelly's face had an expression of disbelief. 

"Sorry but I have to ask, is that your Familiar?" she asked. 

Vy smiled as she lifted her hand closer for Nelly to see, "Yes he is, how did you know?"

Nelly turned to her side and exclaimed with excitement, "Nebby, you've got to see this! Come quick!"

She turned back to Vy and apologised, "I hope you don't mind. We might get lots of visitors each year but we rarely get visitors with Familiars! Especially mystic ones."

Vy was amused, "No worries, no trouble at all."

She had expected to see another person run over to heed Nelly's call. But instead, what arrived was a black cat that hopped onto the counter to take a closer look. His eyes were a shade of rich yellow with a black slit in the centre. 

The cat looked at Vy as it walked across the counter top and examined Aether who was on her wrist. Nebby's arrival seemingly intrigued Aether as well. 

-Be nice.- Vy warned her Familiar. 

Annoyed by her warning, he rebutted, - When was I not?-

"Hey! What's holding up the line!" an impatient voice shouted from the back of the line. 

Nelly frowned a little as soon as she heard it. She picked up the ebony wood wand on the side of the counter. 

For a moment, her expression turned into a smile as she said to Vy, "Give me a moment, I will be right back with you."

"Wait… what-"

Vy was confused. What was going on? When she turned back to look at Nebby the cat, who was comfortably seated on the countertop licking the fur on the back of its paw. Seemingly sensed what Vy was about to ask, Nebby responded through telepathy. 

-You'll see what she had in store for impatient people like that.- 

Nelly walked down the line slowly with the wand in her hand. 

"That man is in for it now!" someone whispered to their companion. 

"That's what you get for rushing!"

"I can't believe I get to see a transfiguration spell in action so soon!"

The man who had made the statement did not know what was going on. He was just annoyed that he had been held out in the line for so long with no progress. 

"Are you in a rush, sir?" Nelly asked a plastered smile on her face. 

"Can't you hurry up the line and stop wasting time? We don't have all day," he said impatiently with his arms folded.

The lady whom he had came with nudged him with her elbow, "Larrison, stop it. You're embarrassing us." 

Everyone around them seemed to be highly anticipating what was about to happen next. If the gossips was right, it could be interesting. 

"I'm not wrong. There's a whole line waiting out here and she's just talking to people about pets and what not!" 

-Pets?- Aether hissed with fury. 

Even Nebby hissed as he bared his fangs. 

"I think that's quite enough from you, Mister," Nelly declared with a grin. 

With a wave of her wand, the man was transfigured into a small wooden statue. Everyone who witnessed it cheered with joy. Some were even clapping. Vy was shocked, her mouth gaped open. As soon as the shock wore off, what followed was laughter. 

"That is amazing! If we could zap all the people we do not like just like that," she exclaimed with excitement as she clicked her fingers, "We would not have to worry anymore!"

"It would have ended the fight with the scorpions in the blink of an eye! Just turn them into snowmen," Lycster added. 

Nelly returned to the counter and placed her wand back down on the counter. She handed Vy the keys to their living quarters and provided a set of instructions to follow. 

"Please pardon the intrusion earlier, some guests just don't follow the rules. Would it be alright if I take a look at your Familiar later on?" 

"Sure, as long as Aether is alright with that,"

-Sure, why not.- he hissed in return. 

"Awesome! Your cabin is on the right, and Bontimer here will be your butler. He will also guide you there! Please enjoy your stay with us!"

Vy and Lycster turned to meet their butler. Much to their surprise their butler, Bontimer, was a sentient skeleton. He was dressed in a black vest and white buttoned shirt. Lycster was in complete shock. 

"Greetings, Mistress Vyrena, Master Lycster. I will be your butler for the duration of your stay. If you could please follow me, I will guide you to your cabin,"

Bontimer guided them to their cabin. Unlike most guests with bags and luggages, the Blackfire siblings had everything stored in their spatial storage jewellery. 

"For out of town travellers, you do seem to pack light," Bontimer commented as he opened the door to the cabin and guided them in. 

"We travel quite a bit, so it is best to pack light," Vy responded. 

The cabin seemed a lot larger on the inside. It had all the amenities they required on the ground floor, while the bedrooms were upstairs. Bontimer showed them around the entire cabin, ending the tour on the second floor. 

Upon looking at both rooms, Lycster quickly picked his. He really liked the one with the large skylight that showed a clear view of the stars and moon above. 

"I'll take this one! As long as you're alright with that, Vy," he said shyly. 

"That works. I will take the other room then," she replied. 

"I will leave you both to settle down for a bit. Once you're ready you can head downstairs and I will bring you to the Lunaria Night Market. Would that be alright?"

"That would be perfect, thank you Bonetimer."

"Thank you Bone… Bonetimer!"

"You're most welcome," the butler replied with a bow before heading down the stairs.