Ruby smiled, laying the order out before her patrons. "Here you go ya need anything else?"
The customers responded no, thanking the Soul drive as she returned to work. The diner seemed a little busier than usual, not that she complained. For Ruby it was a challenge, serving customers as quickly and efficiently as possible while making them content would give her a sense of fulfillment. As she now approached two men seated in the corner, she produced her order form from a side compartment. "Welcome what can I get for you?"
"Coffe for now," Casseus replied. "We're still trying to decide." Ruby smiled, producing two mugs before pouring a steaming cup of coffee for the two men. "Okay I'll be back in a bit." Casseus smiled, thanking the soul drive as she continued on her way.
"So why are we here?"
Casseus turned to his companion, the man was just another underling with the Normal. Average height, average weight, average looks. Gazing at the man, the wizard could see he was probably the epitome of normal.
"This new Catalyst obviously calls this place home," Casseus stated. "I wish to study this place before we make a move, to better prepare ourselves."
Casseus companion simply nodded, as the wizard now scanned the diner. The concealment spell he had cast hid his true visage from the others. Instead, Casseus looked as he had in his first life. A handsome man with long silver hair. Casseus now paused as he gazed at Ruby and Emerald. "What are they," he asked.
"Soul drive units," the man responded. "The latest in robotics. Robots with actual souls, they still serve but they actually have desires, wishes, even hobbies. Personally they freak me out. They're so...unnormal."
Casseus now reached out with his magic, sensing the familiar trace of magic. "How many of these Soul Drives exist?"
"Not many," his companion shrugged. "Most of them are located in this town, although I hear the Japanese have a model as well."
Casseus nowbturned to his companion, he couldnt possibly be this dense. "So does it strike you as odd that this bit of technology exists solely in this small town?"
"No why?"
Casseus sighed, obviously he would need to explain this plainly. "I can sense the trace of magic from this Catalyst," he sighed. "The existence of these Soul drives is their handiwork."
"Wait thise things are magical," Casseus companion exclaimed. Casseus quickly shushed his partner, noticing he said that a bit loud. "Quiet you fool," he hissed. "We do not wish to draw attention to us."
Casseus and the Normal agent now paused, anxiously glancing around to see if anyone heard them. Thankfully things were so busy that they appeared to have been ignored. Casseus now leaned closer to speak. "Has the Boss discussed taking one of these Soul drives to examine them?"
"Yeah but solely to copy the design," the agent shrugged. "Something like this could be worth alot of money. Theirs been alot of debate though, robots with souls is just unnormal."
Casseus groaned rubbing his eyes. The Normals obsession with normal and unnormal was something he had an feeling he would here many times. As he was about to answer his eyes went wide.
"It cant be!"
"What?"
A sinister smile spread across Casseus face as he looked at the elderly Asian woman, accompanied by another Asian woman with glasses. Casseus immediately recognized the two. "Ayami and Yuriko Harris," he growled. "They are here too."
"Who?"
"Old enemies," Casseus stated, watching as the two women sat down. "They helped defeat my master."
"Villar," the agent gasped. "Those two took down Villar?"
"Not by themselves," Casseus countered, motioning for his companion to keep his voice down. "They assisted the previous Catalyst. The old woman Yuriko, I experimented on her as a child, trying to unlock her magic. The other woman, Ayami, she helped rescue her."
Casseus seemed to withdraw into himself as he began to whisper. "If Ayami is here Akira is close by as well," he said. "Yuriko must have found this new Catalyst. It's not a coincidence, she must be training them."
Casseus now turned to his companion, keeping a close eye on Yuriko and Ayami. "Inform the boss what we have found," he said quietly. "Our mission may have hit an unexpected snag."