As they pulled through the gates of Spellerguard, Liora found her eyes still locked on Beatris and Jax from where she had claimed the ballista mount.
She tried her best to avoid seeming like she was staring.
But from the occasional concerned looks Jax gave her, she could tell he knew.
However, Liora could not help herself.
Not with what she was watching unfold.
Jax and Beatris had not left each other's side since Beatris volunteered to join Jax in the woods.
The pair were practically inseparable.
Both would exchange glances from time to time.
Glances that left only one conclusion.
And Liora was determined to get to the bottom of it.
"All right," Aiden called, leaning out the window to speak to them in the trailer. "Found some parking. How are we splitting the workload today?"
Thalia put away her tools, having been in the middle of adding facial features to the wooden figurine she was working on, before turning to the rest of them.
"We have a free day in town because of the quest back in Hopestone," Thalia said. "Especially now that we have the new plates."
She tapped one finger against her chin.
"We only need two more quests to be eligible, and we meet the level requirement except for Beatris, who is just one level short. Are we planning to have a more relaxing day?"
Everyone looked between each other.
"That sounds nice," Jax said. "Plus, Beatris and I were planning to go shopping anyway."
Even Thalia looked surprised.
Liora whipped around and stared at Jax and Beatris from where she had been grabbing the book she had set down.
Jax and Beatris shared a look as they hopped off the trailer.
"Look," Jax said, "we're gonna let Aiden know. Can we meet back here in a few hours to discuss where we're sleeping tonight and stuff?"
"Yeah, sure," Thalia said, hopping down as she stretched. "Have fun, you two."
Liora followed after Thalia and stared at Jax and Beatris from around the side of the trailer.
Thalia gave her a worried look.
Apparently, the look was worried enough that Thalia grabbed Aiden and dragged him over with Selene.
"Hey, Liora," Aiden asked, his voice carrying a confused lilt, "what exactly are you doing?"
Liora spun around.
"I believe there is a most dire situation," she said, "one that requires stealth, observational skills, and knowledge of the targets."
Aiden, Selene, and Thalia all gave her strange looks.
Like she had lost her mind.
Liora took a moment to stand taller, cleared her throat, and said, "To clarify, I think Jax and Beatris might be seeing each other romantically."
Then she resumed peering around the trailer.
Aiden joined her, seriousness entering his voice as he looked over.
"You're sure about this?"
"Unquestionably," Liora said. "They have been stuck together like glue since they were out in the woods yesterday."
She began to move out to follow them.
Aiden placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Hold it," he said. "We can't just follow them."
Liora swatted his hand away and put one hand to her chest.
"So you would allow your best bro to be swept away from you?" she demanded. "Have you no pride as a brofriend?"
Aiden turned sideways.
Then he looked back at her with a grin and threw his cloak out to let it billow.
"I am not so shallow a brofriend that I would leave my bro to be taken by some hussy," Aiden said. "I am saying you are not dressed for the occasion."
He reached into his cloak and pulled out several leather trench coats, tossing them to everyone.
Then he pulled out several newspapers.
Selene, Aiden, and Liora donned their coats.
Aiden and Liora struck a pose.
"Aiden, my boy," Liora said, "these disguises seem rather obtuse for stealth."
Aiden gave a deep chuckle and pointed toward the direction Jax and Beatris had gone.
"Precisely," he said. "We are trying to pursue them and force them to ignore us due to social constraints."
His expression sharpened.
"That, and if Jax thought someone was following them without knowing it was probably us, he might try to kill us."
Aiden and Liora shook hands.
"Didn't consider that," Liora said. "Good call."
They both rushed down the road, holding their newspapers open as they pursued the potential lovers.
"Did someone put drugs in their breakfast?" Thalia asked, sounding mortified, confused, and resigned all at the same time as she made a general gesture in their direction. "What the fuck was that?"
"N-Not sure," Selene said, putting on the coat. "I just put it on because they seem to be having fun, and I wanna be included."
She began walking after Aiden and Liora.
"You coming?"
Thalia followed, though she carried her coat instead of wearing it.
Her face showed a look of regret and determination that said, if anyone asks, I do not know these people.
The pair began as expected.
With a restaurant.
A larger place called the Silver Tray.
Jax and Beatris walked in and grabbed seats.
So naturally, Aiden, Liora, and Selene did as well.
Though Thalia grabbed a separate seat.
The menu was simple, nothing fancy, but it had several fun brunch options.
They ordered food while receiving several stares from other customers.
Aiden and Liora continued watching Jax and Beatris over their newspapers.
Both targets occasionally glanced over at them.
Each time, Aiden and Liora made a show of looking in different directions.
Jax and Beatris used their menus to hide their faces, as if desperately trying not to be associated with them.
It took a minute for the food to arrive.
Aiden and Liora took a break from pretending to be detectives of love to chow down on waffles.
While they were doing so, Liora watched Jax get up and walk over to them.
"Uh," Jax asked, "what in the hells are you all doing?"
Aiden and Liora grinned.
They nodded to each other.
Both had practiced this exchange.
They had even incorporated Thalia.
Liora's line came first, so she stepped up and stood on her seat.
"To ensure this rendezvous exceeds expectation!"
Aiden stepped up beside her, standing back-to-back with Liora on his own seat.
"To unite good vibes in this fine reservation!"
"To call out spills, spinach, and mispronunciation!"
"To escort all blushes to their proper station!"
"Wingmates on patrol, with impeccable timing—"
"Compliment deployed…"
"…embarrassment arriving!"
They both turned to Thalia and gestured to her for her line.
Thalia sipped her drink and pretended not to notice them.
"Dang it, Thalia," Aiden and Liora said in unison.
Several restaurant-goers began laughing and nudging people to look over.
Selene was absorbed in reading the paper and did not seem to notice.
But Aiden and Liora had gotten what they wanted.
Jax and Beatris were both slack-jawed.
Both were so red in the face from embarrassment that they could have passed for tomatoes if they lost the fur.
Jax sputtered for a moment, seemingly unaware of what to say.
Aiden and Liora sat down.
After a few moments, the other customers went back to eating.
Jax seemed to have shut down completely, just staring ahead like he had frozen solid.
Aiden and Liora fist-bumped.
Then they turned back to the table and began digging into the eggs and hash browns they had ordered.
"Hey, Selene," Aiden said, nudging her slightly, "did you see Jax's face? Priceless."
Selene looked up as if startled.
"W-What?" she asked. "No, sorry. I got kind of caught up in one of the articles."
"Oh, really?" Liora asked through a mouthful of eggs. "What about?"
Jax finally seemed to remember he was alive and made his way back to his booth, where both he and Beatris buried their snouts in their paws and had a quiet conversation with each other.
Selene flipped the newspaper back open.
"Well," Selene said, "apparently Omnimagic Academy is closing its doors due to the rampant terrorist attacks and its currently missing student council, including a member of one of the Great Eight families."
She looked down at the article again.
"They are shutting down for the foreseeable future."
Hearing that, it was Aiden and Liora's turn to sit there with their mouths open in bewilderment.