Childish Tendencies [1/2]

Isaac walked down the streets of Fontaine and couldn't help but admire the nightly atmosphere.

Bright lamps were providing illumination for people like him who were taking a walk at night, and some occasional Gardemeks walking by, further adding security to the streets.

'Where should I go...' Stopping momentarily, Isaac pondered where to eat. He contemplated for a few moments before finally making a decision, 'Come to think of it, Hotel Debord is the nearest one I can think of here...'

Although Hotel Debord was named as a hotel, it is more of a restaurant that offers live performances— the famous performers are Lyney and Lynette's magic show. Of course, needless to say, everything was very pricey.

'...' Thinking for a bit more, Isaac nodded to himself. 'Debord it is.'

Making up his mind, he carried his silver-inlaid cane and walked towards Hotel Debord.

After a few minutes of seamless walking, he finally arrived. Seeing his formal attire and the cane he was carrying, the hostess at the front deduced his status and didn't stop Isaac and let him in. 'Perks of a cane!' He silently cheered as he walked in.

Arriving inside, Isaac was met with a wide interior where a glass ceiling was present at the top. Looking on the sides, Isaac saw the tables and chairs, as well as the people sitting on them.

'... There are unusually more people here...' Isaac, noticing that there were quite a lot of people on the first floor, moved along and walked to the second floor. Surprisingly, the second floor only had a few people. 'Odd.' However, Isaac merely shrugged it as he found a seat near the railings where he could see the entirety of the first floor.

He sat down and rested his trusty cane near him and put down his halved top hat. He then noticed a menu placed on the table and looked at it. Soon, a hostess approached him, "Good evening, Good Sir. What would you have for tonight?"

Browsing the menu, Isaac gave his order, "I'll have one Foie Gras and one Fonta, please."

'Any more than that and my wallet can't take it!' Isaac lampooned to himself. He was someone that valued every bit of Mora he had. As such, he has to spend them wisely. 'One Foie Gras costs 7125 Mora... I should limit myself to this.'

"Alright, please wait dear customer." Listing down Isaac's order, the hostess smiled and left.

Shortly afterward, Isaac was left alone in his thoughts as he waited for his dinner.

He then looked down at the first floor and saw that it was much more livelier than the second floor.

'What's happening? Is there a performance?' Curious he decided to ask a hostess who was coming his way right now. "Excuse me, is there gonna be a performance tonight?"

"Huh? You didn't know sir?" The hostess looked at Isaac dumbfounded and soon explained the situation. "Lyney and Lynette's magic show would perform here tonight. A lot of nobles came to see it."

'Ah... So that's how it is.' Isaac was not gonna lie, he already expected that answer.

How could he not know those two siblings? They were the centerpiece for the first act of the Fontaine Archon Quest— and probably the two people Isaac could get a lot of points from.

'... If there's an opportunity, I should get acquainted with them after their performance.' He thought before nodding his head and replied to the hostess, "Thank you."

The hostess also nodded and left to receive other customers.

After a few more minutes, Isaac finally heard the roaring applause from the people below.

Shortly afterward, the voice of a young person was heard. "Welcome one and all to Lyney and Lynette's magic show! Tonight, you shall witness the secret of the night!"

Isaac recognized that voice— it was Lyney. That vibrant and lively familiar tone of his can hardly go unnoticed by him. If there's one thing Isaac is proud of, it's his observant nature— which helps him a lot in situations like these. 'I guess tonight might be interesting after all...' He then watched Lyney perform some familiar magic tricks.

"Excuse me, sir, here's your order." The mellifluous voice of the hostess broke Isaac's concentration, guiding his attention toward the table. "One Foie Gras and a bottle of Fonta."

Isaac's eyes locked onto the plate, his senses primed, and a quiet thrill coursed through him. As the dish settled, Isaac couldn't help but take in the smell.

The fragrance of foie gras was nothing short of enchanting. It bore a subtly wild undertone, a hint of the exotic mingled with the inviting aroma of rendered fat and a delicate, sugared note. The mingling of the savory and the sweet—like a buttery serenade—unfolded even before the first bite.

With the plate resting before him, Isaac suppressed an involuntary gulp, his stomach now awakened and eagerly anticipating. 'I guess spending all those Mora was worth it.'

The hostess soon silently retreated, leaving Isaac alone with his growing hunger.

Methodically, he lifted the small fork and butter knife. He embarked on the art of portioning the Foie Gras, meticulous in his precision.

His gaze danced over the selections, finally fixing upon a morsel that beckoned to him. With finesse, he speared it with the fork, a silent invitation to his waiting senses.

As the succulent piece of Foie Gras approached his lips, the aroma swelled, teasing his taste buds with its beguiling allure.

A soft growl emanated from his stomach, eager for the feast that was about to unfold. Saliva gathered in Isaac's mouth, his body responding with a primordial hunger. The instant the delectable delicacy graced his tongue, the senses became fully engaged.

A divine, buttery richness unfurled within Isaac's mouth, the texture melting into a symphony of taste and sensation.

His tongue danced, exploring the complex layers of flavor—earthiness tinged with a subliminal sweetness. The meticulous fattening process imparted a hedonistic quality that lingered—a whisper of gastronomic decadence.

'As expected of a high-class establishment...' Isaac thoroughly enjoyed his meal. Especially more so since this was his first Foie Gras.

He also enjoyed the show below— watching Lyney and Lynette's performance. The magic shoe they were performing now was a trick where Lyney would "cut" Lynette in half by inserting her in a box.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, can you guess how my dear assistant can reconnect her body?" Lyney stood confidently and looked at the audience with open arms as he asked this question. He then continued, "As you can see— my dear poor assistant has her body divided in half! Oh! How can she ever recover!"

"Oh woe is me," Lynette said with a flat tone. She was trying to play along with her brother with this trick of his. However, her unenthusiasm was making it impossible.

Seeing that the audience was obviously waiting for him to proceed with the trick, Lyney spoke with an obviously fake saddened tone. "Huh, really? No one's gonna take a guess?"

"Very well then! This time I—"

"Let me solve it!" Just then, a voice interrupted Lyney.

Everyone turned their head and looked at the source of the voice and looked at the door of Hotel Debord.

The doors busted, and a lady with grayish-white hair came in.

She wore a dark blue suit-like outfit with accessories that resembled water droplets and a top hat with a ribbon and white frills.

She also had a black glove on her right hand and a white one on her left, along with white short pants attached with black garters and a pair of dark-colored shoes with blue decorative patterns on the bottom of the soles.

The most eye-catching part about her was her heterochromatic eyes. However, none of the audience was focusing on them.

Rather, they were focusing more on the person herself!

Isaac, who was peacefully eating not too long ago, saw who it was and widened his eyes. Whilst in the middle of chewing, he thought to himself, 'No way... You've got to be kidding me...'

'Why is she HERE?' Isaac's thoughts were so loud, that he wouldn't doubt it if someone heard them.

That was because the person who entered was none other than Furina! The Hydro Archon and ruler of Fontaine!

And...

"Haha, oh Lyney, your tricks are yet again easily seen through by me. How unfortunate." Furina giggled to herself.

'...a massive brat...' Isaac sighed to himself internally at the sight of the Nation's Archon.