VISIONS AND VOYAGES

The front door slammed shut with a resounding thwack, echoing through the house.

Kojo burst into the dining room, a determined glint in his eyes.

"Girls!" he announced, his voice booming. "I've made up my mind!"

He paused, not for dramatic effect, but because his gaze had landed on the magnificent roast chicken sitting smack-dab in the middle of the table. It was golden brown, glistening with juices, and emitting an aroma that could make a saint forget their vows. His stomach grumbled and his resolve wavered, then crumbled entirely.

He temporarily forgot about his announcement, his carefully constructed explanation and train of thought dissolving into the savory scent of poultry. Without a word, he marched towards the table, his eyes fixed on the chicken like a hawk on a field mouse. He grabbed a leg, tearing it off with a satisfying rip, and proceeded to pile his plate high with salad, grains, and a generous helping of the spicy pepper sauce.

The girls, Sharone, Koniko, Lin, Adriana, Sasha, Yuki, and Cassandra, watched this spectacle in stunned silence. Leo, who was seated as well, just glanced at him in contempt.

Before Kojo had arrived, Sharone and the girls had been alone at the dining table. Sasha had cast a spatial disruption magic to prevent their conversation from being heard. That was before Yuki and Cassie had come to join them.

The topic for discussion was quite simple.

"I think Kojo will go," Sharone said, her voice low and confident.

Koniko raised an eyebrow. "How are you so sure?"

"I know Kojo better than anyone. He won't back down from this. Cassie's vision has sparked his curiosity, and he'll want to get to the root of the matter."

Adriana nodded thoughtfully. "I agree. Kojo's not one to shy away from a challenge."

"I guess," Koniko said after a pause.

"But we can't all accompany him. That would be... unwise," Sharone said.

Her expression turned grave. "With Kojo gone, it will be the perfect time for the powers at play to make their move. And it will be our turn to act accordingly, behind the scenes, of course."

"You mean, take advantage of the distraction to further our own goals," Lin said.

"Exactly," Sharone nodded.

"We have our own parts to play, and Kojo's absence will provide us with the cover to move in the shadows. What we need to do now is decide who will accompany Kojo to Ezkanur."

The girls exchanged weighted glances. "Whoever goes with him will get the advantage of getting closer to him," Koniko said, her voice laced with a hint of envy.

The girls stared at each other, unwilling to commit. It was then that Yuki stepped into the room. Sasha halted the distortion field, and they all smiled at her, pausing their conversation for the time being.

"What were you talking about?" Yuki asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. She was dressed in a casual attire that had been provided by Keo, a long blue tunic with frills along the hems of the skirt and arms.

"We were just discussing... the weather," Lin said quickly.

"Well, that won't do," Yuki said, taking a seat.

She leaned forward, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Let's talk about something more interesting. We're all girls, after all."

Cassandra suddenly jumped in, her voice eager. "I want to join too!"

She planted herself in a seat next to Yuki.

The girls began to whisper among themselves, their giggles and snickers filling the air. Leo walked in, his eyes scanning the table. Unlike Yuki, he still wore his armor. They stopped talking and looked at him. He paused, then turned to make sure no one was behind him.

"What's going on?" he asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"It's nothing," Yuki said, sitting straight. Leo took a seat.

"So, what were you talking about?" he asked.

The girls looked at him, their faces innocent. "Girl stuff," Adriana said.

Leo raised an eyebrow. "Girl stuff?"

The girls sighed, their expressions exasperated.

"Boys just don't understand anything," Yuki said, shaking her head.

Leo looked around, confused.

"Excuse me?"

Yuki was about to scold him when the food arrived, and the tension was broken.

They began to eat and engaged in a lively discussion, but Kojo's entrance had effectively derailed their conversation.

He sat down, oblivious to their stares, and began to devour his meal with the gusto of a man who hadn't eaten in days. The sound of his chewing filled the room, punctuated by occasional satisfied grunts.

After a few minutes of this, Yuki, ever the pragmatist, cleared her throat.

"Kojo," she said, her voice sharp. "You were saying… something about making up your mind?"

Kojo raised his head, a piece of chicken still dangling from his mouth. He looked around, his eyes widening slightly as he remembered his earlier intention.

"Oh, yeah. What did I say again?" he mumbled, still chewing the meat.

"Right, right, right," he suddenly remembered.

He took a cup and took a large gulp of water, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and leaned forward, his expression now serious, or as serious as it could be with a smear of pepper sauce on his cheek.

"I've decided," he announced, his voice muffled by the remaining food. "I'll go with Cassie."

"You're… you're serious?" Cassandra asked.

"Why not? It'll be like sightseeing. I haven't really seen much of the world, and this is a great opportunity. Besides, I have to find out what's going on and get to the bottom of whatever problem Cassie saw in her vision."

Leo opened his mouth to protest.

"Saint Leonard, it's my wish. I want Kojo to come with us," Cassandra said in a serious tone.

Leo's eyes met Cassie's, and he fell silent, his expression subdued.

"I don't know how long I'll be gone—"

Sharone interrupted, her voice smooth. "I'm aware that we can't all go, so at least one person should keep him company."

"Lin will go with Kojo."

Lin's eyes widened in shock. She looked at Sharone, her expression questioning, but Sharone just smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement.

Kojo, oblivious to the undercurrents, took a bite of meat and grinned at Lin.

Lin's expression softened, and she smiled back at Kojo, her eyes still holding a hint of uncertainty.