Jake quickly flipped open his passport and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the expiration date had been extended. He looked up at the grumpy satyr and said, "Thank you. This is a huge relief."
I'm not sure what Jake was expecting from the cantankerous public servant. The satyr grunted in response but didn't say anything else. He looked to the far wall. We also turned our head in that direction just in time to see a centaur use a staff to open the portal that I used to travel here.
After a few seconds, 3 centers, a group of merfolk, a naiad, and a couple of arachnoids stroll through the gate. I was about to leave when I felt my hands getting squeezed. I glanced and realized both Jake and Julie were holding onto me.
I smiled and prompted them to follow me to the ramp down into the enclave as the newcomers filed at the desk of the grumpy satyr.
I practically had to drag Jake and Julie almost toward the ramp as they stared at the newcomers with a mix of fascination and fear. As we walked down the ramp, the line disappeared from view, and Jake dropped my hand, wiping his on his shirt. Julie looked up at me with bright eyes.
"I didn't realize there were so many different species. Are all of them able to talk? How many species are there?" She started asking in rapid fire.
I paused her with a raised hand. "Wait, wait, wait, that is way too many questions all at once. Figure out a list, and I'll answer. For now, let's make our way to the witch doctor's office and go from there."
Jake nodded in agreement and took a deep breath. He fervently glanced over his shoulder every few seconds. "Yeah, let's focus on the task at hand," he said, his voice shaking slightly. "I don't want to be late for the appointment with the witch doctor."
I looked at him, confused. I tried to smile reassuringly. "Don't worry, we have plenty of time," I said, trying to sound confident. "After we sign in to the appointment, we will have some time to explore."
Julie grinned and bounced up and down a little. "Yeah, let's explore!" she said, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Maybe we'll find some cool shops or something."
I frowned slightly. I was happy she was distracted from the reason we were here. Hopefully, reality won't hit her too hard.
We made our way down the ramps, passing by dozens of different stores that Jake and Julie pointed out with excitement. There was a store selling potions, a shop full of magical trinkets, and even a bakery that seemed to specialize in enchanted desserts. The air was thick with the scent of cinnamon and other spices.
As we walked, we passed by creatures of all kinds going about their daily business. I saw a group of centaurs gathered around a fountain, chatting and laughing, while a group of harpies flew overhead, their wings creating a soft breeze.
The only species that seemed to give Jake any issue were the arachnoids. I had no idea why. But each time we passed one, he grabbed my hand until we were out of direct line of sight. Julie was fine with everything. Just a ball of energy and excitement. I had to hold her hand to make sure she didn't run off anywhere.
We finally made it to the fifth floor, and I was immediately struck by the sight of a large pond in the middle of the floor, with trees and other plants surrounding it. The air was fresh and cool, and there were several benches and chairs scattered around the area. Dryads and other nature spirits were milling about, chatting with one another or tending to the plants.
As we looked around from the landing for Suite 519, we realized that the numbers weren't in any particular order. After a brief discussion, we made the conclusion that we would just walk around and see if we can find it before asking for help. We had to do a full lap around the floor, passing by many storefronts and more nature spirits, including a group of fairies flying in and out of a hive.
Finally, just as I was about to walk over to the dryads to ask for help, Julie and John pointed to a door right next to the ramp. It had a big and annoying sign with the number 519 on it as if to mock us for missing it.
Jake held the door for us as Julie and I walked into the reception area. We both looked around, taking in the scene. It was a small room with about ten empty chairs arranged around the walls. At the back wall, next to a door, a gnome sitting at a desk with a scroll and, surprisingly, a computer on it. Some photos and other memorabilia were hanging on the walls, including a picture of a grinning witch doctor standing next to a group of adventurers, all holding up what looked like artifacts and monster parts.
Jake and Julie both seemed a bit confused by what they saw. "This isn't what I was expecting," Jake muttered under his breath, looking around the room. "I thought it would be more... mysterious or something. Maybe a shrunken head or two. Maybe a voodoo doll."
Julie nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I thought there would be potions bubbling and magical creatures...parts," she said, her eyes scanning the room. "This just looks like a regular doctor's office. With some really cool pictures."
The gnome looked up at us with a brief glint of annoyance, replaced with a friendly smile. "We hide those things to not scare newcomers away," she said, chuckling. "But I'm sure we can spruce up the space for your next visit to match your desired aesthetic." The gnome waved her hands, shimmering magic illusions above and around herself of shrunken heads and voodoo dolls and a bubbling cauldron appearing in front of her.
We stared mesmerized for a few seconds until she snapped her fingers, and everything disappeared. With a smug smile, she asked, "How may I help you?"
I approached the gnome at the desk and cleared my throat. "Hi, we have an appointment scheduled for today," I said.
The gnome looked up at me over her spectacles. "Name?" she asked briskly, reaching for a thick, leather-bound schedule book on her desk. We must have been the first of the day because she flipped to the last page, placing a finger on the list of names.
I told her our names, and she quickly found it on the paper. To my astonishment, she leaned over and clicked a few keys on the computer in front of her. She was more proficient at it than me.
She looked up at me again. "Ah, yes, here it is. You sent in the scroll message making the request?" she asked. After I nodded, she continued, "You have good penmanship. Half the people sending scrolls don't bother being neat." she picked up a wand from the desk and placed it on the book where I assumed my name was. "And I'm assuming the..." she glanced past me, "other two are with you as well." she put the wand down and leaned to the keyboard. "Briefly give the reason for your visit?"
I blinked and quickly tried to process how to explain the problem, "Well, my cousin shouldn't have magic, never had magic, and now can do some magic. And we wanted a consultation."
The gnome looked at me with a deadpan look. "Okay... I'll write spontaneous magic manifestation. Sound good?"
I was confused by her attitude by nodded. She looked at the screen with a raised eyebrow, mumbling things I could recognize. Hitting the enter key loudly, she looked up, smiled, and said, "Great. You are all checked in."
I smiled back and asked, "And the witch doctor? Is he here yet?"
The gnome shook her head. "No, she hasn't arrived yet. You're a bit..well...way early, actually. The meeting won't start for a few hours." The gnome shrugged. "You could explore the floor. There are plenty of shops and places to grab a bite to eat. Or you could just wait here," she said, gesturing to the chairs along the wall. "I never say no to company."
Julie's eyes widened as soon as she heard about the shops and places to eat. She jumped up and down excitedly, exclaiming, "Let's explore! I mean, goat person said they have a lion's sandwich on this floor that's supposed to be amazing!"
Jake chuckled at Julie's enthusiasm, but I was a bit more hesitant. "Maybe we should just wait here," I suggested, looking around nervously. "I mean, we're here for a reason, right?"
But the gnome smiled motherly and chimed in, "Oh, don't worry dear. It's still a way early, and a little fresh air and food never hurt anyone. But be sure to go easy on the spices before your exam," she warned with a twinkle in her eye and a wink.
I couldn't help but smile at her kind words. "Thank you," I said, feeling a bit more at ease. "We'll be back in time for the meeting."
The know raised a finger. "Do you have your scroll on you? I can send you a message when the witch doctor arrives."
I shook my head and then realized that I had my old scroll in my backpack. Fishing it out while Jullie was jumping around me, I held it out to the gnome. She took the imprint and placed it on her own scroll. "Got it. You are good to go. Enjoy your lunch."
Jake nodded in agreement, and Julie grabbed his arm, pulling him towards the door. "C'mon, let's go!" she exclaimed, excitement written all over her face.
We walked out of the witch's office. Now, we had a few hours to kill before the meeting. As soon as we stepped out of the office, Julie started looking around excitedly, her eyes scanning the different shops and stalls. "I wonder where that lion sandwich place is," she said, her voice filled with excitement. She spoke loudly to cover the growl of her stomach.
Jake and I looked at each other, unsure of what to say. Neither of us knew where it was or what suit it was in. But Julie's enthusiasm was infectious, and we decided to go along with her. In the worst-case scenario, we would find something else to eat.
We started walking in the same direction. We did our first circle, looking for the witch doctor's office. As we walked, I looked around at the different creatures and beings that were wandering around the floor. I saw dryads again, their leafy hair blowing in the breeze, a centaur trotting along, and a few satyrs ranging from grumpy to really grumpy in the corner. There was a family of gegenees playing a game of tag, the children's multiple arms flailing about as they chased each other.
We didn't have to look for long as Julie froze in her tracks at the sight of a life-sized lion walking around in front of a sandwich store. The lion had a banner hanging over its back, with the letters changing to display the different menu items. At the top of the banner, it read "Leo's Sandwiches."
"Is that the place?" I asked, my voice filled with disbelief.
Julie nodded, unable to take her eyes off the lion. "It must be. Let's go," she said, grabbing our arms and pulling us towards the store.
Julie ran ahead of us, pulling us helplessly behind her. As we approached the sandwich store, I noticed how the lion looked like it was made out of bronze. Its fur was an intricate pattern of metal plates, and its eyes seemed to glint in the sunlight. The main was needle-like, or maybe it more resembled blades of grass. From school, I remember this design being called a Daedalus Lion.
Julie finally stopped in front of the lion, looking in awe. We stopped next to her as the lion turned and seemed to have noticed us. It took three heavy steps towards us and opened its mouth, showing giant teeth. But instead of a roar, the lion let out a meow.
Jake looked at the lion in disbelief and asked out loud, "How did we miss a freaking lion the first time around?"
I couldn't help but chuckle at Jake's question. "Beats me," I said, shaking my head. "Maybe we were too focused on finding the witch's office."
The lion looked incredulous at us. It stretched out like a giant cat and let out a long, lazy yawn. The sound of a thousand tiny bronze bells echoed around us as it shook its magnificent mane. Then it just looked at us again and spoke in perfect human language. "Probably because I was on the second floor until just now, making my advertisement round."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. A talking lion made out of bronze? This was beyond anything I had ever seen or heard of. Julie looked like she was about to faint, and Jake's jaw was practically on the floor. The lion seemed to notice our shock and gave a small chuckle. "Don't worry, I'm not going to eat you," it said with a smile.
I managed to find my voice. "You're a Daedalus lion, aren't you?"
The lion nodded its head. "Yes, that's right, with a few additions here and there." looking down at the ground, angry, he added quietly, "like that dammed meow!"
The lion's expression changed again as he looked back up at us. "So, were you guys looking for the sandwich shop?" he asked.
Julie nodded excitedly. "Yes, we were! Can I pet you?" she asked, her eyes shining with excitement.
The lion rolled his eyes and huffed out a yes. Julie practically skipped over to him and started to pet his metal fur, her face full of wonder.
I couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. "Yes, we were recommended the food here. Do you know where it is?" I asked the lion.
The lion took a step away from Julie and pointed a paw across the level. "I'm walking there if you want to follow me. It's time for my nap."
The lion led the way, with Julie following closely behind, still admiring the lion's metal fur, periodically trying to reach the main but failing as the lion always moved just out of the way. Jake and I walked behind them, taking in the sights of the fifth floor as we made our way across the park in the middle of the floor, past a large pond and numerous flower beds.
As we walked, I noticed a dryad walking parallel to us. I nudged Jake, pointing her out, but he was too busy staring at Lamia next to the pond to notice her until it was too late. He accidentally bumped into her, and she stumbled. Jake, on reflex, caught her. And she blushed.
Suddenly, I felt a strange energy in the air. It felt like flowers blooming. I shook my head, and it cleared up. Jake just held the dryad. She stood straight, apologized, and left, leaving us all confused.
"Are you okay, Jake?" Julie asked, noticing the dazed look on his face.
"Yeah, I think so," he replied, still seeming out of it.
The lion looked back at us and warned, "Be careful around dryads. Nothing but heartache and trouble."
As we followed the lion, we soon arrived at the sandwich shop. The lion walked right through the open door, and we followed closely behind him. As we entered, the delicious smell of fresh bread and, roasted meat and spices from everywhere hit us. All three of our stomachs growled loudly in response.
Behind the counter, a Leon stood with his mane in braids held behind his head tied with leather straps. He looked up from his work and spotted the lion, nodding in recognition. The lion gave him a respectful nod in return before trotting over to an over-sized cat climbing toy. He climbed to the top and promptly fell asleep snoring as soon as his main stop tinkling of bronze bells.
"Welcome to my sandwich shop. What can I get for you?" the Leon asked, his voice deep and rumbling.
I stepped up to the counter and looked at the menu, feeling overwhelmed by all the options. "Uh, I'm not sure. What do you recommend? We got recommended to come here but not what to get."
The Leon smiled showing his oversized teeth. He said, "Well, you can go through the menu and find what you want, or I can make you what I think you will like." As he spoke, he crossed his arms, a giant knife still in one hand.
I looked at Jake and Julie, who were still looking wide-eyed and sheepish at Leon. "We will take 3 of your recommendations, drink of choice; please limit spice in hers," I quickly added, pointing at Julie. "And I personally enjoy my spice to be human levels."
The Leon smirked. "Whimp, but makes sense. Ages, and you're all humans?" He was looking at something on the counter.
I quickly responded, "No alcohol for any of us."
He shrugged and said, "Suit yourself. 3 chief specials coming up. Side of our house sauces and spices, 3...kids drinks to pair. Cash, Coin or Card?"
Jake stepped in front, "I'll pay."
The Leon waved for Jake to walk over to a screen at one end of the counter. I was surprised to recognize it as a computer. The Leon announced that the price was 35$ for everything; Jake swiped waited and a paper came out of the box next to the screen. It didn't even take 5 minutes for all three sandwiches to be done and toasted. While the oven was doing its job, the Leon packed small packets of sauce and spice for us, and placed 3 glass bottles on a tray, along with the freshly toasted sandwiches on pieces of paper.
With a broad smile and a deep "Enjoy," the Leon Handed us the tray with one hand and gestured to the empty tables and seats with the other.
As we sat down at the table to eat, the aroma of the sandwiches made my mouth water and head swim with anticipated ecstasy. The smell of freshly toasted bread and the savory scent of the meat and spices was heavenly. I could see Jake and Julie's excitement, and I was sure mine looked the same.
I picked up the piece of the first sandwich, feeling the warmth of the bread on my fingers. The Leon had selected a drink to pair with our sandwiches, a fruity and refreshing blend that perfectly complemented the bold flavors of the meat and spices. I took a sip, feeling the coolness of the drink wash over my tongue and provide a perfect contrast to the warmth of the sandwich.
I took a bite of the sandwich, and the flavors exploded in my mouth. The meat was juicy and tender, and the spices added a perfect kick that made my taste buds tingle. The bread was perfectly toasted, and the combination of all the flavors and textures made for an absolutely fantastic sandwich experience.
I looked over at Jake and Julie, who were both devouring their sandwiches with gusto. I could see the happiness on their faces as they ate. Even Julie looked like she admired that her sandwiches were worse.
I finished my sandwich and took another sip of the drink, feeling completely satisfied and content. The Leon had truly exceeded our expectations with his recommendations, and I couldn't help but wonder what other culinary delights he had in store.
As if on cue, with the last bite of food Leo,n spoke in a rumbling voice, "How was it?"
We three together raised a thumbs up, unable to speak to not lose the lingering flavor and smell. The Leon must have been proud of his achievement because all I heard was a deep and terrifying rumble of him laughing at us.
July raised her hand. "Mr. Lion-"
"Leon" The Leon growled even deeper. He pointed at the bronze lion and explained, "I'm a Leon. He's a Lion."
Julie pursed her lips and blushed. "Mr. Leon, where did you get the spices and sauces?"
The Leon smiled wide. "Well, some of it is my own, but a good spice shop is on this floor. But I would go there with someone who knows what they are doing."
Julie nodded and went silent.
After another 5 minutes of just sitting, Jake pulled out his phone and announced, "Well, we still have a ton of time; what do you want to do now?"
Julie looked up and said, "I think I want to go explore a bit and check out some of the stores around here."
I nodded, "Sure, that's fine. But don't wander into any stores by yourself. Stick with me and Jake."
Julie rolled her eyes but nodded in agreement. "Okay, okay, I won't get kidnapped."
The Leon's low voice added, "Don't worry about being kidnapped. That won't happen. But more than half of these stores are inappropriate for you, young lady."
Julie and I blushed as Jake nodded at us as if he knew anything about anything.
I turned to face the Leon and asked, "Do you have any suggestions on where we should start?"
The Leon shrugged his massive shoulders and replied, "Well, the third floor has some pretty cool stores. There's an artificer shop in particular that's worth checking out. And if you're hungry or thirsty, there's a cafe and bakery on the fourth and fifth floors."
At the mention of food, I laughed, "Sir, anything else might be a sin after your food." I looked at Jake and Julie, who both seemed intrigued by the idea. "Sounds good to me," I said, and we all stood up from the table.
From above, a snore sounded again. Looking up, the lion was still sleeping. The Leon rolled his eyes and looked at the clock on the wall.
"Lazy cat! I'm going to reprogram him one of these days. Reduce his cat personality to make him nap less."
We stared up at the lion, then back at Leon, then at each other, and broke down laughing.