Chapter 13: Sunrise

Selene was walking down the dark streets. After yesterday's frigid chill, the air temperature had seemed to rise a bit. Even though it was almost dawn, there were already people on the street starting work as they tried to make the most of their time. But a layer of fog, like a shroud, still covered everything.

Selene suddenly put her hand over her eyes and looked up.

As a train emerges from a tunnel, or a sailboat bursts from a fog and a dark cloud, the warm, clear sunlight poured down from the horizon in an instant. It bathed everything in a dazzling golden glow. The sunlight was shining on the rolling mountains in the distance, and the water reflecting the light in the quiet streets nearby. The cold wind blew across the street, scattering the petals of the flowers that were blowing in the wind.

Everything was bathed in a brilliant radiance.

As if the blue sky, the pure white clouds, and the mountains were all taking a bath, the sun, with its halo and tentacles, was emerging from the depths.

The scenery of a foreign land, it’s always so strangely beautiful. For the past two years, each time Selene felt like she had merged into this world, she would be startled when she looked up at the sky—she realized that she was actually just a visitor, a guest in this world.

Whether it was the moonless night sky, or the halo that surrounded the sun, everything looked so different from the sky she remembered. Sometimes, it would even feel frightening. But after two years, she had adapted, more or less. It wasn’t so bad that the strange sun would scare her to the point where she would tremble and hug her friend’s arm, crying as if she had been robbed of 10,000 gold coins.

Selene lowered her hand and walked lightly down the street, heading back to her “detective office.”

Since she was going home, of course she didn’t need to knock on the door like a guest. The instant her hand was placed on the door, it automatically opened, revealing the grand, magnificent hallway beyond.

Walking past all the paintings she had done and the real treasures of great value that were worth a considerable sum, Selene sat directly down in her familiar armchair, closed her eyes and rested for a moment. Then she drew out several sheets of white paper and began to sketch.

“So much has happened in just one day… A lost chronicle led to a detective, and he took on an assignment from a person in a red to find the chronicle… To be honest, it’s a little strange. It’s just an assignment. Why would he get so involved and ultimately risk his life? Is that Nymph's detective so eager and professional?”

“Logically, you’d think that in this line of detective work, if you’re not meticulous and leave no stone unturned, at the very least, you’d have to be secretive and careful. To be so reckless and consider human life as worthless is really rare. He walked right into my house, without any caution at all. He was like a novice with absolutely no experience. But when he made his move, he was so experienced and skilled. If I hadn’t drawn him into the illusion, it would have been hard to deal with him… It’s strange, but he’s dead now, anyway. The station agreed to provide protection, so there’s no need to worry about it. I don’t really have any interest in the chronicle anymore.”

“I went to the cemetery at night, and I encountered a undead… And a little thief who gave himself a 100-layer mosaic… He’s probably a ‘Shadow Walker,’ a master at hiding and stabbing in the back. He’s another one of those professions I can’t beat… The house is fine, I’ve set up security alarms and a protective magic circle. I just need to be careful when I go out, otherwise he might stab me in the back.”

“The progress in finding Sam's kid is actually going quickly. I got a lead just last night… First, I’ll start with the the attacker. Then, when I wake up, I’ll do some divination to see where the attacker headed.”

Selene’s hand was moving up and down, and the drifting letters on the paper appeared rapidly.

A few minutes later, she lowered her hand and rubbed her forehead. Then she went into the bathroom to wash her face, planning to take a little nap and continue her investigation when she got up.

Then she saw that the beautiful mirror in the bathroom had been shattered into countless pieces, big and small shards of glass scattered all over the floor and in the sink. She was silent for a moment. Then she stuck her head out the window and looked at the window on the second floor. It was broken, too.

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So she busied herself for another half day, sweeping all the glass shards together. She put them into a sack. Originally, she wanted to throw them away directly, but then she thought that doing so might not be respectful to the “Twin Mirrors,” so she had no choice but to open her basement, which she had never used before, and put the sack of glass shards into it. She planned to use it for something else later.

Sigh. The Twin Mirrors, it’s one thing to ask your family for a favor, but it’s another to ask a favor of them. I even had to borrow power from them. The requirements were too much. Not only did I have to conduct the ritual in a place full of artistic energy, I also had to use a mirror of considerable value as an intermediary. It made me work so hard, drawing dozens of paintings that met the requirements, and then I had to suffer the pain of the money leaving my wallet.

Selene sighed. Finally, she finished her household chores, changed into her pajamas and got into bed.

Fatigue and sleepiness came like a tidal wave. She quickly entered a dream.

The completely hazy blue light emerged from the rug gracefully and drifted to the second floor. Then it entered the room through the crack in the door, falling onto the end of the bed, finally settling down and becoming still. It seemed to be entering a dream as well.

...

Louise sipped the fifth glass of sweet wine that her companion had offered her. Her eyes stayed focused on the young mage across from her the entire time.

They had been waiting in the sliver rose tavern until the light of dawn broke, and they had chatted until the stars vanished and the day finally broke. It was a pleasant conversation.

“Mittal's capital is definitely one of the largest cities in the world. Just one of its districts is a few times larger than Schwerdt Town. And the population there is even larger than here… Of course, the quality of the air in Mittal can’t compare to Schwerdt Town.” The mage said frankly. “The sunrise there is beautiful. The golden sunlight reflects off the Mage Tower and the skyscrapers, as if pouring water into a cup. It quietly, silently merges into the city.”

“That’s a great city, but I don’t like the feeling of steel and iron rising up like a forest. It always makes me feel like I’m trapped in a cage. I’m afraid I can’t really appreciate that kind of beauty.” Louise said with a bit of regret.

“The capital is actually very restrained and heavy.” Richter said silently. “Everyone is like a taut rope, gritting their teeth and working hard. Everything is like a cog in a machine, working according to plan. It’s very efficient and advanced. Many miracles are born because of it. But it’s undeniable that it lacks a sense of vitality.”

“It sounds like you understand that ‘Magic Metropolis’ very well?” Louise asked.

“I came from there.”

“So, Mr. Richter, you traveled all the way from Mittal?” Louise took a sip of the sweet wine. “That’s a very long distance. It wasn’t easy. Did you come to the North Continent to travel?”

“It’s a long distance, but it’s not difficult to travel across it in this age. The trains in the South Continent have spread to every city and town.” The young magician named Richter laughed. “My purpose for coming here… started out simply with finding someone. But then I encountered a lot of interesting people on the way and learned a lot more than I could have from books. I also developed a few other goals.”

“Like what?” Louise was curious.

“Seeing some magnificent scenery, going to some ancient historical sites, finding those artifacts that have been polished by the passage of time. Also, a friend entrusted me with a task. He asked me to help him find a lost object.” Richter said lightly. Then he gave a little laugh. “Of course, I haven’t forgotten about finding that someone.”

“Who’s got you so captivated?” Louise asked, continuing to be curious, and she finished her glass of wine in one gulp. “Is it a man or a woman?”

“......It’s the opposite gender.”

“Oh my—,” Louise drew out the word with a suggestive intonation. She politely didn’t press the matter, and changed the subject.

“It’s been a pleasure chatting with you, but it’s getting late. I need to go get to my own work.”

“See you later.” Richter stood up and walked her out.

Louise gathered up her things, stood up and headed for the door of the tavern. Her eyes swept across the room and then suddenly focused on the rose bouquet that Richter had brought to the tavern. The beautiful, withered flowers were lying quietly on a nearby table. The dried mud that was attached to the stems had already fallen off.

“These roses, did Mr. Richter bring them all the way from Mittal?”

“Of course not.” Richter waved his hand. “I arrived in town yesterday and saw a kid selling flowers, so I bought some on a whim.”

“White roses are rare… Mr. Richter, do you have any plans next?”

“I plan to stay here for a while, so I’m going to look for a job and a place to live. Louise, do you have any recommendations?”

“It’s a shame. I’m unemployed right now, too, so I can’t recommend anything to you.” Louise gave a helpless shrug, then pushed open the door of the tavern. “See you later.”

“See you later.”

Richter nodded and watched her leave. Then he shifted his gaze to the paintings on the walls of the tavern. He had heard that those extraordinary paintings were all created by one person. The fee was only one gold coin… After a while, he left the tavern.

On the front door of the tavern, the silver wall vine that had disappeared in the darkness was now covered in the light of the morning. The beauty given by the artist was freely revealed.

He looked at it for a while. Then he headed towards the cemetery.