Chapter 26: True friendship

His mind starts to get uneasy and he feels these things maybe relates to the night catcher, so he decides to leave the place as quickly as possible. However, it turns out someone is waiting for him outside.

"Geez, Caden you scared me." Bradley raised his eyeballs while stroking his chest. "How do you end up here?"

"Yeah, Madam Nigera is looking for you." Caden elongated his neck. "Wait a minute, what are you doing here." He tried to walk in into a tent. " I also see Mr. Zwalinski and the others get out from this tent too."

"Cad, but I think we must go back now."

Bradley grabs Caden's hand and they rush back to the resort to meet Madam Nigera, but when they get to the front of the resort, it turns out that Madam Nigera is talking to Madam Isabella.

"Brad, we'd better not disturb Madam Nigera." Caden slowly stopped walking. "They seem to be talking about something important."

"Yeah, I think you're right Cad."

Bradley nods his head then decides to head back inside the resort and saw that the rest of the kids had gathered in the main lobby.

"Alright, now tell me what happened in there." Caden turned around and looked at Bradley. "What exactly did you see?"

But just as Bradley started to speak, Mr. George arrived and invited everyone to have dinner on the resort's terrace next to the ocean.

"Come on, boys, follow me." Mr. George walked ahead and called out to all the children. "This must be a very interesting place for you."

"Ah, let's talk about it later." Caden sighed and shook his head.

They all followed Mr. George to the place he mentions and after a few minutes, they finally arrived.

"Oh my, what an amazing decoration." Madam Theresa smiled as she looked at the chandeliers that were lined up neatly and beautifully. "Simple but classy."

"Well, I can also hear the waves that sound so melodious in my ears." Madam Nigera closed her eyes and heard the sound of the waves again. "It feels like the sea is welcoming us."

Mr. George then leads them to sit down and have dinner followed by a simple music playing, making the dinner atmosphere so warm and cozy.

"Cad, you know what I like here?" Bradley said as he chewed the food in his mouth.

"The rides and the food, right?"

Bradley just laughs upon hearing Caden's honest answer. "Yeah, that's important too, but seeing everyone so happy makes me feel good," Bradley said with a smile.

After dinner, Markus walks over to Bradley and Caden with his gaze downward without raising his head.

"Uhm, hey I'm sorry for my recklessness," He said in a weak voice while scratching his silver hair. "I don't mean it at all ...."

"Markus, calm down. We won't get angry over something as simple as that." Bradley patted Markus' shoulder. "Come on, cheer up at least it's over, right?"

Markus gradually looks up and gently smiles at Caden and Bradley's faces showing absolutely no expression of anger or grudge at all. His feeling is now much calmer than before.

"Hey, there is something I want to show you," Caden said pulling their hands together. "Relax, it's not far from here."

The three of them walk until they reach the shoreline which takes only five minutes from the terrace. A few meters ahead of them there is a small white tent with a dog sitting next to it.

"Mala!" Markus shouted, making Mala run and jump on him. "Hello my furry friend," He said as he petted Mala's head.

"Markus, so what do you want to show us?" Caden asked curiously.

"Come on, we'll be there in a bit." Markus runs over to the tent and sits down in front of it.

Bradley and Caden finally reach the tent and sit down. Markus' finger points out to sea and their eyes are instantly captivated by the beauty of the sea under the full moon and the tiny stars twinkling in the sky.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" asked Markus, smiling at the two of them. "This has always been my favorite place to look at the moon."

"Markus, thank you for bringing us to such a beautiful place." Bradley smiled happily. "I enjoyed this day."

Markus laughs upon hearing the words. It feels as if the bond of friendship between the three of them is getting stronger. It isn't long before Markus' eyes change and Bradley feels it's the right time for asking Markus about his true identity.

"Markus, you are also a watcher, right?"

Bradley's question made Markus pause for a moment, but soon he laughs and nods slowly.

"I am indeed a watcher, why do you ask me that?" He wrinkled his brows.

Bradley said that he has gotten some kind of curse from the night catcher. Markus laughs at first, but Bradley then shows the scar he has gotten which makes Markus and Caden speechless.

"Hey, when did you get that scar?" Caden's eyeballs widened for a moment.

"It happened a few days ago, at the orphanage." Bradley stroked his chin. "The night catcher has gotten me, but I manage to escape."

"Okay, we should talk about this with my mom and dad. They might be able to help you go to Mirland and find a cure."

"Wait a minute, so those night catchers do exist?" Caden furrowed his brow. "I'm not dreaming, am I?" Caden patted his cheek repeatedly.

"Cad, calm down everything takes time, and so do I." Bradley patted Caden's shoulder trying to calm him down.

They return to the terrace and everyone appears not to be noticing their momentary departure. Markus then walks closer to her mom and whispers something in her ear.

"Well, I'll pass this on to your father" Isabella nodded and slowly stood up from her chair. "Madam Nigera, I am very pleased to meet you, but I have something important to tell George."

"I am also very happy to hear that there is someone who shares the same hobby as me, cooking."

A few minutes after that, everyone returns to the resort, resting up to face the next day.

***

The next day, all the children prepare for the final rehearsal before the show begins. Bradley and the other kids walk into the same tent and meet Mr. Grunt.

He then explains that the event coincided with the birthday of the capital city of Rosalin, where the children of the "Happy Life" orphanage lived.

"This event will be attended by the governor of Rosalin and it seems that many people will come to this place." Mr. Grun's eyeballs were burning.

"Gosh, hearing Mr. Grunt's words made me panic." Caden stroked his stomach. "I feel like throwing up."

Bradley shakes his head at Caden's words and then Mr. Grunt took everyone to the dressing room so they could try on their costumes. However, a few minutes later the sound of an explosion coming from the tent startled everyone which make them rush out.

"Oh my! What is that sound?" Bradley quickened his pace out of the tent.