Chapter 809 At A Time Like This...

The group sat in the lobby of the hospital, waiting for an update for Ritsuka and Liz. They all sat quietly, unsure of what else they could do. Manny's fist tightened. His thoughts, a raging sea. Lee Seng stood up and took a couple steps forward. He yawned while the rest of his group looked up at him.

"Keng, let's tie up loose ends." Lee Seng said He turned and looked at the others. The others noticed Lee Seng was tired. He looked like he was about to pass out. "You guys can stay here and wait for them."

"You're gonna go lookin' like that?" Evan asked, standing. He gave Lee Seng a worried look and Lee Seng nodded.

"Don't worry about me. I've done much worse." Lee Seng yawned.

"Still…" Olivia quietly whispered. "You should at least rest."

"We should really check on the Merfolk." Keng stood up. "See if they need any more assistance from Lee and I. We'll be back shortly."

"Are you going to try to find Calis?" Manny asked. He stared at his hands, fiddling his thumbs. "After he… attacked us?" Lee Seng waited for Keng to say something. When he didn't, Lee Seng licked his lips to begin to say something. The doors of the hospital opened and the group's eyes all went up. It was familiar face to most of the group - Elder Jyu'so and Lady Vix'I.

"Elder…" Keng spoke in shock.

"Lady Vix'I…" Lee Seng whispered. The two stepped in and looked over at Lee Seng and the others.

"He is awake." Lady Vix'I whispered.

"I told you so." Elder Jyu'so chuckled. The door closed behind the high positioned nine tail Fox Spirits. "And it seems you are one step closer to finishing your quest. You have eight tails now."

"Sir." Keng bowed. Manny and Olivia stood up and bowed in unison with Evan. Lee Seng lagged behind, bringing a smile upon Lady Vix'I's face. "It's been awhile. H-how did you know we were here?" Keng and the others straightened their backs out.

"Well, you probably woke up everyone on this side of the world!" Jyu'so chuckled. He moved over and hugged Keng and the others. Lady Vix'I smiled and stretched her arms out to Lee Seng.

"I see you're back to normal. I hope the journey's been well?" Lady Vix'I asked Lee Seng, embracing him in a hug.

"Could've been better." Lee Seng sighed. They pulled away and Lady Vix'I took a step back. She scanned the group and looked at Lee Seng afterwards. "Is everything alright? We were told you rushed over here suddenly."

"There's people keeping tabs on us?" Lee Seng asked. Lady Vix'I smiled.

"There's people keeping tabs of everyone. One of the soldiers told us you guys were carrying two humans. Are you friends alright?"

"We don't know, yet." Keng replied. Lady Vix'I moved over and hugged Keng. "We were waiting, but Lee Seng and I thought we should handle loose ends with the Merfolk."

"Don't worry about that, kid!" Jyu'so waved him off. "I will personally go and ask the Village Leader tomorrow. Right now, you guys should be resting!"

"They cannot rest while their comrades are in the hospital!" Lady Vix'I looked at Jyu'so. "I'd be worried sick and wouldn't sleep a wink!"

"Yeah, yeah…" Jyu'so brushed it off. "You all need to sleep! You all reek, too!" Jyu'so pinched his nose and Lady Vix'I immediately nodded.

"But, what about—" Manny began to ask when Jyu'so cut him off.

"Go and wash up! I will personally pay for a place for you to stay while you're friends are having surgery! Go go!" Before Zephyr could even say anything, Jyu'so and Vix'I were already behind them and shoving them out of the hospital.

Lady Vix'I and Elder Jyu'so pushed them to one of the nearest places they could stay at. It was a quiet tavern with not much customers. Elder Jyu'so lifted up to poke his head over the counter and nodded at the tavern keep. The tavern keep was a tall man with pale skin and white hair. He was dressed in a button up shirt and black pants. A wedding band on his left hand. He had black Fox ears and smiled when he noticed Elder Jyu'so.

"Ah, Elder Jyu'so, what brings you here with this lot?" The tavern keep asked.

"Tae'in, it's been a while! How's your wife and kids?" Jyu'so greeted the tavern keep.

"They are fine. My son is almost of age and wants to join the ranks… I wish he would take more interest in the business." Tae'in sighed. "Enough of me, though. What can I do fo ya?"

"I need a couple rooms for them." Jyu'so motioned with his head. Tae'in looked past the Elder and counted.

"Lady Vix'I's here too." Tae'in nodded at the Lady. Lady nodded back and Tae'in landed his eyes on Keng and Lee Seng. "Two eight tails…? I haven't heard much about anyone being so close to the finish line in a while… Are these… your sons?"

"His sons?!?" Lady Vix'I laughed. "I wish! He doesn't want to marry! Let alone have kids! He can barely even take care of his only disciples!" She pointed at Keng and Lee Seng.

"Ah." Tae'in smiled. He understood who these two were now. "The twins. That's right… I haven't heard much about them in a while… I think I've seen this one around." Tae'in pointed at Keng. Keng smiled and bowed. "Let's see… I have six room available… You each could take one if you'd like."

"I'll stay with him." Lee Seng pointed at Keng.

"We could sleep together." Evan looked at Manny.

"And I should have my own room." Olivia yawned.

"You never know how long you'll stay here." Jyu'so looked at the group. "Each take a room. You'd be doing me a favor. Tae'in is the best place in Revit. I feel the need to dump as much gold on him as I can when I'm here."

"You flatter me too much, Elder." Tae'in chuckled. "If that's what you wish for them, I shall arrange it."

"Yes, let's go with that." Jyu'so nodded.

"So much for asking for our opinion…" Evan whispered. Tae'in turned and grabbed five keys off their hooks. He moved around the bar counter and looked at the group.

"Let me show you to your rooms. This way, please." Tae'in motioned. He lead the group down the hall and to the end. He opened each door, revealing a lit bedroom. Tae'in turned and looked at the group. He sniffed and made a sour face before quickly dissolving it. "If you need to wash up, you can go to the back. There's a men's and women's section so you don't have to worry about taking turns with everyone in the tavern."

"Thank you, Mr. Tae'in." Lee Seng smiled.

"My pleasure." Tae'in responded. "Do not worry about payment. It seems like Elder Jyu'so will handle that. Please, get comfortable. If you want something to eat before bed, let me know. I'll cook something up for you."

"Oh, we—" Olivia began to say when Tae'in shook his head.

"Do not worry. It's a slow day. I could use the break from cleaning." Tae'in smiled. The group thanked him and shuffled into their rooms. They randomly chose and looked around. There was a bed, a desk and a wardrobe. The wooden walls had a couple paintings on them.

Keng summoned their things and divvied them out to the group. Lee Seng pulled out his dirty clothes until he found something clean to wear. He moved to the bath house and pulled his clothes off and stuffed them in the locker.

Lee Seng's heart ached. It ached for the world he was so used to - Capitol City. His mind wondered to his brother and sister, Dr. Valentin and Zoe. He wondered what they were up to. He wondered, just like the rest of his friends, if anyone missed him. If anyone searched for him.

Lee Seng scrubbed the stink off. He was practically red by the time he finished. He stood in the water, letting it drown out the noises around him as he thought about these things. He wondered if Ritsuka or Liz would be okay. He wondered if he could mend Olivia's broken heart. If he could mend the destruction of her village.

'Could I really do all of that?' Lee Seng wondered. He shielded his face as he lifted it up to the water. He wiped his eyes and rubbed his face a couple of times before shutting it off. He flicked the air rune and felt air blow in every direction. It dried Lee Seng, leaving him with his thought.

'What do I have to do now…?' Lee Seng asked himself. He hit the air button and turned to grab his clothes hung on the hanger provided. He slipped his boxers on and dug for an answer. 'What do we do now…?' Lee Seng let out a sigh and moved out of the closed shower stall after he slipped his boxers on. He grabbed his things, leaving the hanger there and walked past the other showers that were on.

"Where do we go from here?" Lee Seng whispered. Ritsuka and Liz flashed in his head. It was a simple question and a simple answer came to his mind. He nodded and slipped his clothes on and pulled his dirtied clothes out of the locker. He stuck them into the Void Storage, pulling out some slip on shoes Keng had found for him. Lee Seng walked over to the door and held the door knob.

"We have to make sure they're okay first." Lee Seng whispered. "Once they're better, I can figure out what's next… This has to end."