Shade even heard a series of crashing sounds from the kitchen, clearly the cabinets had toppled onto the floor.
The earthquake lasted more than ten seconds before stopping. Miss Aurora immediately, her expression grim, directed her Followers to inspect the walls for tiny cracks. Most of the rituals arranged around the inn required the walls to remain intact and free of cracks to function. Once a crack appeared, it might provide the enemy with a chance to break through.
"Why does every disaster cause an earthquake?"
Shade was worried about the young ladies upstairs, but he still remained on the theoretically most dangerous 1st Floor.
Miss Aurora was temporarily absent, and her niece Hailey softly answered Shade's question:
"Perhaps because the earth is the Foundation Stone of everything."
She quietly glanced at Shade. Only when she saw that he was deep in thought did she breathe a sigh of relief. Of course, she knew about Shade's relationship with her Aunt, and even with all the Great Witches. Thus, although she was not particularly close to Shade, she had always thought of him as a frivolous and amorous man.
But judging from their two encounters in Randall River Valley and Green Lake City, he did not seem to be quite as she had imagined.
A sound suddenly came from the window again. Everyone looked over alertly and saw another paper crane flying toward them. Shade had Hailey summon Miss Aurora while he let the paper crane in.
But this time, the folded paper flyer did not immediately unfold. Instead, it spoke in Miss Benanis's voice:
"How many years older are you than me?"
"Hm?"
"Six."
Miss Aurora walked over as she spoke, and only then did the paper crane unfold. Seeing Shade looking at her curiously, the brown wavy hair woman