It was early the next day when there was a knock at their door.
Lukas made his way across the living room and opened it, a smile already on his face.
Karrakas stood in the hallway, dressed and ready.
"It pains me to come this early, and ruin your beauty sleep two visits out of three," he said.
"Don't worry, you didn't ruin any sleep," Lukas said. "We were already waiting for you."
Karrakas leaned slightly to look past him into the apartment. Akira and Melody stood near the couch, already dressed and looking wide awake.
He smiled. "Well then. Let's leave."
They filed out, and Lukas locked the door behind them. The four of them stepped into the lift, and Karrakas pressed the button for the underground garage.
"You already know the building where the spatial gate is," he said as the lift began to move. "The one for the Azure Crystal Caves. So there's no need to drive in a convoy across the city. We'll meet there, at parking lot C."
"Parking lot C," Lukas repeated.
