The building Alexander led her to was a modest two-story structure near the river, which had clearly seen better days. The water had receded from most of the ground floor, leaving behind a thick layer of mud and debris. The lower half of the building was stained dark, as if the floodwaters had already begun to consume it during the storm, and now it was left partly devoured already.
Alexander pushed open the heavy wooden door, revealing a dimly lit interior. The air inside was thick with the smell of damp earth and decay. The main room was a shambles – furniture was overturned, and papers and books were scattered across the floor, many of them waterlogged and ruined.
"Stay here." Alexander commanded softly, his voice barely audible above the dripping of water from the ceiling. He stepped further into the room, his eyes scanning the debris with a practiced gaze.
