The bell above the door chid again, soft and familiar, but I barely registered it.
My hands moved on autopilot-wrapping a book, sliding it across the counter, offering a polite smile, answering questions I'd answered a hundred tis before.
On the surface, the shop was calm and busy, but there was hardly any crowd today. They were all too busy suffering from the plague.
Inside my head, it was anything but calm. My phone was going off, causing notifications to light up my screen.
[Ding! Faith points 120.]
[Ding! Faith points 85.]
[Ding! Faith points 200.]
The notifications stacked one after another, overlapping until the sound blurred into a constant hum at the back of my skull.
I didn't need to check to know the number was climbing fast. And it was climbing faster than ever.
I swallowed and focused on the custor in front of , nodding as they thanked and left. The door closed. Another chi. Another point gain.
I exhaled slowly through my nose.
This was working exactly as planned.
And that was the problem.
For a mont, guilt crept in, unwelco and sharp. Images flashed through my mind-people clutching dicine with trembling hands, whispering prayers, looking at Leo like he was a miracle given form. Looking at like I was sothing more than human.
I tightened my grip on the counter.
I was lying to them.
Not about the dicine-it worked. Not about saving lives-that was real too. But about the reason. About the divinity they thought was watching over them with benevolent eyes.
My mouth thinned.
Then I rembered why I was doing this.
I was doing this because if I didn't, sothing far worse would take my place and I would also lose my chance to ever be able to head back ho.
It was the lesser of two evils.
That made feel a little better about myself.
Fenrir, who had been sitting quietly near the counter, lifted his head.
His ears twitched and he looked toward the door.
"Master, Leo is back. And he is not here alone. It seems that he has brought a guest with him."
Fenrir warned be seconds before the bell chid and Leo stepped inside.
"I'm bringing a new guest."
He said casually, as if he hadn't just walked in with tension coiled around him like a blade.
Then he stepped aside.
The man behind him had his hands bound tightly behind his back. Rope dug into his wrists, and his posture scread discomfort and fear.
His eyes darted around the shop, lingering on the shelves, the faint glow in the air, and finally landing on .
The mont our gazes t, he stiffened.
Nervous didn't even begin to cover it.
Fenrir slid off his seat and padded closer to , standing at my side like a silent warning.
I raised my hand.
"Easy….What's this about?"
I murmured to him, then looked back at Leo.
Leo nudged the bound man forward.
"He followed after the tavern. Didn't do a very good job hiding it either."
The man swallowed hard.
"I thought as much. Alright. You wanted to see , right? Now, start talking."
I said, my tone neutral. I leaned back slightly and studied him.
The man hesitated, then took a breath.
"I was sent here…By my master. To observe this town. To see if… if it needed intervention."
He said quickly.
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose.
'Of course.'
"Let guess. Your master wanted to help out this town suddenly and without any reason?
I said.
The man's eyes widened just a little.
I took that as confirmation.
"Listen. Neither this town nor I need any external help."
I continued, lowering my hand and eting his gaze again.
"But-"
I cut him off with a look.
"This place is under control. Whatever you think is happening here, it's being handled. You can go back and tell your master that."
I said before I turned toward Leo.
"You can let him go now. This man is no longer a threat to us."
I assured Leo and he quickly nodded, not asking any questions.
Leo untied the rope with a sharp tug and the man didn't wait for a second invitation.
He bowed so deeply I thought he might topple over, then bolted for the door and disappeared into the street like his life depended on it.
Silence settled in the shop.
Leo crossed his arms and looked at .
"You're too forgiving for your own good."
I snorted softly.
"I'm not forgiving."
He glanced at , unconvinced.
"I just don't have ti to deal with fools like that. We have more important work to do."
I continued and as if to emphasize my point-
[Ding! Faith points 500.]
[Ding! Faith points 1,200.]
I glanced at the total without aning to.
60,000.
And still climbing.
A strange mix of satisfaction and unease settled in my chest. I was close. Closer than I'd ever been. Every point felt like a step forward… and like sothing hollowing out inside at the sa ti.
Leo noticed the shift in my expression.
"You alright?"
"Of course."
I said honestly as I combated the hollow feeling inside . Being around the people- Nyx, Erebus, Fenrir, Leo and Luna helped. They kept grounded and helped feel a little less numb.
Without them, I wasn't sure how far I'd already drifted.
I straightened, forcing my shoulders back.
"I'm going to invest more ti into this. I need to think a little more about what to do next."
I said.
I stepped back behind the counter, trying to regain so sense of routine. My fingers brushed over the worn wood, grounding as I straightened a stack of ledgers that didn't really need straightening.
The bell chid again.
This ti, the air shifted.
I looked up just as Duchess Isabella stepped inside.
Her gaze locked onto imdiately, sharp and purposeful, and she crossed the shop with long, composed strides. The usual murmur of the place softened, as if even the air knew better than to intrude.
"Welco back, Duchess. What can I help you with today?"
I greeted, inclining my head slightly.
"Shopkeeper, I was hoping to talk to you about sothing. Do you have ti?"
She replied, her tone cool but not unfriendly.
I gestured toward the chair near the counter.
"Please, have a seat."
She accepted without hesitation, smoothing her dress as she sat.
"Would you like so tea?"
I asked.
"Yes. That would be appreciated."
She said after a brief pause.
The tea I prepared was one that was said to calm down nerves. Sohow, I had a feeling that she needed this much.
She finished the tea sooner than I expected.
Setting the cup down with a soft clink, she looked up at directly.
"Shopkeeper, do you know anything about the plague that has begun spreading through the town?"
She said, voice low.
There it was- the question.
I took a deep breath before I answered her question earnestly.
"Yes, I do."
I said.
Her eyes narrowed, watching closely.
"Then tell . Is this sothing I should be worried about?"
I t her gaze without flinching.
"No, it isn't."
I said simply.
She studied my face, searching for cracks-for hesitation, fear, or deceit before her eyes softened and she left out a sigh.
The tension drained from her posture in a single, visible motion. She leaned back slightly and let out a long, relief-filled sigh, one she probably hadn't allowed herself in days.
"…I see. Then that is enough for ."
She murmured.
I blinked.
"That easily? Are you not going to ask more questions, Duchess?"
She gave a small, tired smile.
"You have involved yourself in matters far beyond what a normal shopkeeper should. And yet, every ti, the results speak for themselves. If you are involved, then I will curb my suspicions."
Her gaze softened.
She paused, then added quietly.
"I trust you."
The words landed heavier than any accusation could have.
I inclined my head.
"I won't betray that trust."
She nodded, satisfied-for now.
"But what's happening right now is an extrely important affair. One that requires careful handling."
I continued, my tone turning more serious.
Her fingers tightened briefly around the empty teacup.
"You're telling not to interfere."
"Yes. So please do not interfere…yet."
I said plainly.
She held my gaze for a long mont, then closed her eyes once, as if weighing duty against instinct.
"…Very well. I will hold back. But if the situation worsens-"
She said at last.
"I'll tell you before it reaches that point."
I promised.That seed to be enough.
She stood, smoothing her dress once more.
"Then I will leave this in your hands, Shopkeeper."
As she turned toward the door, she paused.
"For what it's worth, the town feels… steadier lately. As if sothing unseen is holding it together."
She added without looking back and I finally let the breath I was holding out.
Reviews
All reviews (0)