-Forty minutes later, the Jensen residence-
After Ada had bought the new graphics card and Leona had purchased the computer books for newbies, they had left the mall and returned to Ada's house in order to get ready for the trip to the movie theater to see
Celestial Conflicts. Leona stood in a living room holding the bags with her bike shorts and the books in them and marveled at how clean and orderly everything was.
The living room featured beige carpet and brown leather furniture including two single chairs and a sofa, all of them spotlessly clean. A glass coffee table piled with a mishmash of fashion, technology, cooking, and lifestyle magazines hinted at the diverse interests of the members of the Jensen household. Her eyes wandered to the latest 60" high-definition television and saw that the volume was muted and it was turned to a TV show called
Fiore's Got Talent. The family pictures hanging from the walls were all neatly aligned and did not have a single grain of dust on them.
"
Welcome to the Jensen home, Leona!" Ada bade the Wizard Saint. Ada took her single shopping bag to her room and Leona remained in the living room out of respect for the Jensen family's privacy. Two minutes later Ada emerged holding a green iLac and .
"
I'm about to order tickets for Celestial Conflicts, but the only tickets left are for the late-night showing starting at 11:00 P.M. Will that be a problem for you?" Ada asked Leona.
"
No, not at all. I'm a night owl anyway." Leona replied. She appreciated the bespectacled youth's respect for Leona's time before purchasing the tickets. Ada turned her attention the the screen, did some rapid-fire typing, and a minute or two later a DING sounded from the portable device.
"
OK, got 'em. We're set to go see Celestial Conflicts at 11:00 P.M." Ada verbally confirmed with a smile. Leona was pleased to hear that. Leona was standing in the foyer when she heard the door open behind her and a black-haired young woman pause. Leona turned to face her. She wore a white Crocus Magicka University t-shirt and a red skirt and had golden eyes like Aspen's.
"
Oh my. This is going to be an interesting lunch break." She said at the sight of the Wizard Saint. Ada turned to the newcomer and spoke.
"
Oh hey Clara! I see that you've met Leona Jarnefeldt!" Ada said to the person. Ada turned to Leona and spoke to the blonde next.
"
Leona, meet Clara. She's one of my older sisters. She's studying at Crocus Magicka University to be a chef." Ada introduced the two. Clara stepped in and shut the door behind her.
"
It's nice to meet you, Miss Jarnefeldt. I've heard of you in passing in Dr. Anna's Ancient History class." Clara said. Leona smiled a little.
"
I'm surprised that a Wizard Saint would accompany my sister around Capital Crocus, but I'm glad that one is. Capital Crocus is kinda dangerous at night and I know that Ada had wanted to see a movie tonight, so I'm glad that she's in such good company." Clara added. Leona was glad that Clara was taking to her so well.
"
I managed to get tickets to Celestial Conflicts, but the only open time's 11:00 P.M, so we're gonna be late getting home." Ada chimed in. Clara smiled.
"
OK. I can't believe that it continues to sell out weeks after its debut, but I'm not a big movie fan. However, my boyfriend is. We saw it a week ago and it was pretty good. Don't worry, Ada... I won't spoil anything." Clara replied without losing her smile.
"
We'll be back as soon as we can, but I can't make any promises that we'll be home right after the movie. You know how crowded the theater gets during blockbuster movies." Ada pledged.
"
Just be careful out there, you two." Clara counseled before walking for the kitchen. Ada turned back to Leona again.
"
We've got some time to burn before the movie, so is there anything you want to do?" Ada asked Leona. Leona shrugged her shoulders.
"
I can't think of anything." Leona answered. Ada looked at the blonde and blinked for a moment. Then a thought hit her.
"
I know! Why don't I show you my custom PC?" Ada asked.
"
Sure!" Leona said. Even though she had no idea what it took to customize one, she would allow Ada to show her and talk to her about it.
"
OK! Follow me!" Ada exclaimed. Leona wordlessly followed her hostess to her room with her bags in hand.
-Ada's room-
"
This is my room. Sorry that it's so messy." Ada apologized for the condition of her room, which was quite the mess. On her unmade bed sat the bag with the new graphics card in it and a keyboard plus an owner's manual for something, but the room itself was rather messy because on the carpeted floor sat stacks of computer and technology magazines and books... neatly arranged by subject and perfectly aligned. On her computer desk was the monitor and the open tower of a desktop PC along with a host of components that the blonde did not recognize. On the walls were a few posters.
One on the wall behind her desk had Crocus Magicka University printed on it. Another was placed on the wall that was opposite the foot of her bed. It was a poster for a sci-fi movie called
Cybernetic Conspiracy that featured a determined-looking black-haired guy in dark sunglasses, a black trenchcoat, black fingerless gloves, and all-black clothing standing in the middle of a pristine white laboratory facing the viewer with a pistol clutched firmly in hand. A third poster was for a game series called
World Conquest 4 and had a man in old-fashioned clothing flanked by a king holding a golden scepter on his left and a merchant holding a bag of gold coins on his right. The man in the center was aiming a flintlock musket at the viewer.
"
I see that you're really into technology." Leona said, diplomatically changing the subject from the state of Ada's room to her interest in technology.
"
Oh yeah. I build my own PCs for fun and for improved performance. As I said back in the mall, I want to make a living working with technology." Ada explained to Leona how deep her interest in technology went. Leona looked at the computer and saw that it was almost finished because most of the components looked to be in their proper places.... not that the blonde would know where all the components went, but it looked finished.
"
I was about to finish it with the addition of the graphics card I just bought. Care to watch?" Ada asked.
"
Sure." Leona answered calmly. Ada wordlessly picked up the bag from her bed and fished out the small box holding the graphics card.
- Clara Jensen:
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