When lunchtime arrived, Aysel descended to the first floor, a vision in a satin sleeveless white dress that fell above her knee. A vibrant red satin belt, secured by a gold plate, cinched her waist. The dress's open back beautifully showcased a tattoo of moon phases tracing her spine. With a sling bag on her shoulder and red slippers on her feet, she carried a sleeping Felix gently in her arms.
The old lady behind the counter greeted her with a wide smile, to which Aysel offered a simple nod. Following Asla's earlier instructions, she walked past the empty dining hall to the right corner, heading towards a tall door marked with a clear sign; Blath Trades. She instinctively knocked with her free hand, and a loud crash echoed from behind the door. In an instant, the door swung open, revealing a man no more than 70 years old. His height barely reached Aysel's waist, and he wore a white coat that strikingly resembled wolf skin. He wore a white coat that strikingly resembled wolf skin, a peculiar choice given the oppressive heat, which had him visibly sweating.
He gestured for Aysel to enter, ushering her into a room of utter chaos. Books sprawled everywhere, mingled with scattered pieces of plated armor. He motioned her towards a couch positioned at a wooden long table, while he smugly took the seat opposite her.
"Ya ere for trade?" he rasped. Aysel nodded, gently settling Felix onto her lap. She unzipped her sling bag and carefully placed its contents on the table: a small, new notebook, a fountain pen, a stapler, and a small flashlight.
"This is a notebook," she began, picking up the pen. "What you need to do is to write on it using this fountain pen." As she demonstrated, writing unfamiliar strokes on the paper, Blathemere's eyes widened in amusement. He nodded instantly, then fell to his knees, examining the paper and fountain pen with childlike wonder.
"This right here is a stapler," she continued, ripping two pieces of paper from the notebook and stapling them together. Blathemere gasped, clearly impressed by what he perceived as a rare item. His gaze then fixed on the small, black, glass-tipped tube.
"Tis right ere?" he asked, excitement bubbling in his voice. Aysel picked up the tube and pressed a small button on its side. Blathemere gasped again, clapping his hands as a beam of light erupted from the device. "This is a flashlight," Aysel explained, returning it to the table.
In an instant, Blathemere shot up, rushing to his desk. He retrieved two leather pouches and hurried back, slamming them onto the table. "One thousan' Scyllian gold coin an' five thousan' silver coin!" he exclaimed, reaching out for the products like a hungry wolf.
Aysel slapped his hand away. "Including information," she said, a smile playing on her lips.
"Ya'r not bad," he conceded, settling back into his chair, his chin resting on his clasped hands.
"I need a whole lot of information about this place," she stated, glancing at Felix, who was still asleep on her lap, scratching his face with a paw.
Blathemere stood again, retrieved three scrolls and a book from behind his desk, and promptly handed them to her. "Tis information," he declared, immediately seizing the products. Aysel, now carrying Felix again, tucked the book into her sling bag along with the money. The scrolls were held in her free hand.
"Tis nice doin business," Blathemere said, holding the door open for her.
* * * * *
Aysel was back in her room in a flash, gently placing Felix on the bed. She set the scrolls on her center table, then reached into her sling bag for a mirror. Her reflection showed white highlights peaking through her brown hair—she'd forgotten to dye it again. But it didn't matter now. She was in a foreign land, not Japan or the Philippines but in Scylla.
Just as she reached for a scroll, a small, childlike voice echoed in her bedroom: "I'm alive!", She scanned the entire room, even crouching to check under the bed, but found no one. Only she and her cat, Felix, were there, stretching his body, fully awake.
"Eli?" she mumbled under her breath. Her cat, now meticulously licking his paws, replied instantly, "Yeah?"
Aysel let out a piercing scream, a raw sound of fear and confusion.