The city was quiet, the moon still bathing the rooftops in its silvery glow. Curtains swayed gently in the soft breeze that drifted through the streets. Veil sat on his bed, awake for several minutes now, sleep having abandoned him and leaving him in a drowsy haze.

  Eventually, he got dressed and stepped out of his room, deciding a short walk might clear his head. He descended the stairs quietly, each step careful, as if not to wake anyone. But a familiar voice stopped him halfway down.

  “Morning, Veil. You’re up early—want some breakfast?” asked Avelyn, rubbing her eyes.

  “Oh, good morning. Not yet. I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d go for a walk. Sorry for disturbing you, Avelyn,” Veil said softly.

  “Oh, perfect. If that means I get to nap a little longer, you won’t hear me complain. Just let me know when you’re ready to eat—I won’t be far,” she murmured with a yawn.

  She folded her arms on the table and rested her head atop them, her eyes closing almost instantly as a faint snore escaped her lips. Veil smiled faintly before stepping outside into the cool morning air, following the main street toward the shops.

  Maybe one of them’s open. No harm in checking, he thought.

  He walked past the storefronts, pausing every so often when he thought he saw light flickering inside—but each time, the shops were shut tight, just as he expected. Until, in a narrow alleyway, a faint noise caught his attention.

  He turned toward it. At the end of the alley, a dim light glimmered against the cobblestones.

  Curious, Veil approached and found an odd-looking sign that read “Apotikère Luminel.” The spelling alone raised enough questions to make him hesitate.

  What kind of name is that? Trying to stand out, maybe? Or just some shady shop? Guess there’s only one way to find out, he thought, debating whether to step inside.

  Finally, he pushed the small door open. The interior that greeted him was a complete wreck—a pitiful scene of neglect and disorder. Shards of glass littered the floor, while books and torn pages hung half-fallen from crooked shelves.

  Amid the chaos, a young girl—no older than Veil—was kneeling down, desperately trying to gather the shards with her bare hands.

  “Uh… good morning. Are you open?” Veil asked hesitantly.

  The girl flinched at the sound of his voice. Her wide eyes locked onto him, dilating in fear. But she didn’t answer. Instead, she panicked and bolted toward the back of the shop, disappearing through a small opening in the wall.

  Veil stood frozen, speechless and unsure what to make of it. He decided it was better to leave before causing more trouble. But just as his hand touched the door handle, a voice rang out behind him.

  “Good morning, young man. Forgive that useless girl—that’s what I get for buying cheap slaves,” came a deep, grating voice, dripping with irritation.

  Veil turned to see a tall, older man emerging from the same small passage. Dressed in dark, worn clothes, he looked at Veil with a cold, disdainful stare, as if sizing up an object rather than a person.

  “Elphyne! Get your damn self back here and move it! You think I paid for you to stand around doing nothing? Clean up this damn mess right now, or you’ll go a week without food!” he barked harshly.

  The young girl reappeared from the passage, trembling slightly as she hurried to pick up the glass shards again—still with her bare hands.

  What the hell is this? Is that how he treats people? Veil thought, his fists clenching in anger.

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  “You got something to say, boy?” the man sneered, his tone sharp. “I’d advise you to mind your own business unless you want to end up like her. I know plenty of people who’d love to see innocence like yours crumble. There’s a real pleasure in breaking that kind of spirit—shattering the illusion that the world’s such a beautiful place.”

  Veil wanted to answer back, but the look the young girl gave him stopped him cold. He understood instantly—if he spoke up, it would only make things worse for her.

  He turned away in silence, letting his gaze drift around the ruined shop. There was nothing of value inside—no potions, no goods, nothing that looked remotely functional.

  “In any case, I’ve got nothing to sell. We’re in the middle of renovations. So I’ll have to ask you to leave,” the man said curtly.

  He grabbed a cane resting by the counter and stepped toward Veil, his movements deliberate, threatening. But instead of striking, he simply brushed past, opened the door, and gestured for him to go.

  Veil hesitated a moment, glancing one last time at the girl. She kept her head down, hands trembling as she continued gathering the shards barehanded. Powerless to help, he turned and stepped outside.

  “Remember, kid—mind your own business, or you’ll regret it,” the man called after him before slamming the door shut.

  Veil stood still for a few seconds, the echo of that voice lingering behind him. Then he hurried back toward the main street, where a few early risers and a couple of drunken stragglers were humming off-key tunes.

  How can a child end up like that? And that bastard—talking to her like she’s just an object… Why even open a shop if you’ve got nothing to sell? Veil thought, gritting his teeth.

  By now, the moon had sunk behind the rooftops, and the first pale light of dawn was spreading across the horizon. Veil sighed and decided to head back to the inn. I’ll check another apothecary some other time.

  When he reached the inn, he looked around for Kaela, but she hadn’t arrived yet. The dining hall was already buzzing, the low hum of conversations filling the once-quiet space.

  “Oh, Veil, you want a table this time?” Avelyn asked as she set down a tray of glasses.

  Veil nodded and took the seat she pointed to, ordering a simple glass of fruit juice while he waited for Kaela.

  “Hey, kid! Don’t sit alone like that—come drink with us! I’ll buy you a good frothy beer if you want. It’s depressing watching you with that juice of yours,” a boisterous voice called from another table just as Avelyn placed his drink down.

  “Thanks, but I don’t drink alcohol. I don’t like the smell of it. Thanks anyway, Avelyn,” Veil replied with a polite smile toward the waitress.

  The man just grunted and turned back to his friends, laughing loudly over their mugs. Time passed quietly after that. Tables emptied and filled again, voices rising and falling like waves across the room.

  Lost in thought, Veil found himself wondering what his next mission might be when a small hand tapped his shoulder.

  “Good morning, Veil. I didn’t think you’d actually wait for me… I figured after what happened yesterday, you’d already be gone,” Kaela said, her tail swishing quickly behind her.

  She took the seat across from him, smiling warmly despite the faint tiredness on her face. A waiter soon came by to take their order, jotting it down before moving off again.

  “Gone already? Kaela, I told you I’d wait for you this morning. It’s not like I’d sneak out after saying that,” Veil said.

  “I know, but… I thought maybe you found me annoying. Most people do—they leave without saying anything when they’ve had enough,” she said softly, her ears drooping a little.

  Just then, the waiter returned, setting down a steaming pie with a golden crust that released the sweet scent of apple and cinnamon. He placed a large mug of warm milk before each of them, along with a glass of fruit juice.

  “Thank you very much,” Kaela said, rummaging through her pouch. “Here, this is for you.”

  She handed a few coins to the waiter before turning back toward Veil, who was cutting into the pie.

  “You must’ve had a hard life to think that way. I can’t imagine the kind of people you’ve run into,” Veil said at last, taking a bite.

  “Hard? I don’t really know… When you look at some people, I’d just say—less luck, maybe,” she replied with a small shrug, serving herself a piece.

  The image of the girl from the apothecary flashed across Veil’s mind. He understood now what Kaela meant, but chose not to mention what he had seen that morning. Instead, he changed the subject.

  “So, about what you said last night—doing a quest together? Are you sure about that? I’m ranked lower than you,” Veil asked, his tone uncertain.

  “You’re kidding, right? You fought that creature while I was too busy running. I know it might sound strange, but I want to learn—from you, if you don’t mind. I want to be able to stand on my own for once,” Kaela said confidently.

  Veil looked doubtful, not entirely convinced Kaela was as helpless as she made herself sound. He took a long sip of warm milk, trying to think of what to say—but Kaela’s sudden laughter broke his concentration.

  “You’ve got milk all over your mouth, Veil. You look like a little cloud,” she giggled.

  Veil wiped his mouth, chuckling despite himself, her laughter contagious.

  “Alright, we’ll finish eating and then head to the guild. But I’m warning you—I told you yesterday, my memory’s gone. I might not be much help,” he said finally.

  Kaela nodded, a bright smile spreading across her face. They finished their pie and drinks, Veil leaving the payment on the table before they stepped outside into the fresh morning air. The sun had fully chased away the night, spilling warmth over the streets.

  “Hopefully they’ll give us something simple,” Kaela said cheerfully. “I’d love to enjoy the nice weather and just lie in the grass for a while. There’s nothing better than that to relax, don’t you think?”

  “I guess so. Though, the last time I fell asleep in a forest, I woke up surrounded by monsters,” Veil said, remembering the dungeon. “Actually, maybe I’m the problem—I must attract trouble.”

  They both laughed as they walked through the bustling streets, their easy conversation carrying them toward the guild.

  When they reached it, they pushed open the doors and made their way inside. The place was already lively, but a loud argument by the quest board drew their attention—two adventurer groups shouting over the same mission.

  “I was here first, so back off. This one’s ours. Go find another,” one man growled.

  “There’s no name on the damn paper, and I want that one. So hand it over nicely, or your own mother won’t recognize you when she sees what’s left of your face,” the other shot back.

  Veil sighed, rubbing his temples.

  “Seriously? Is it like this every day? It’s only my second time here, and there’s always someone picking a fight,” he muttered, shoulders slumping.

  “Not every day… but very, very often,” Kaela replied with equal exasperation. “Some adventurers think the world owes them everything, and the guild can’t even control them anymore. The punishments don’t scare them in the slightest. Come on—let’s just go to the counter and avoid the chaos.”

  Veil followed her toward the reception desk, where a man stood behind the counter. His expression brightened noticeably as Kaela approached.