After finishing her morning routine, Selina stepped out of her residence dressed in a simple corset gown patterned with faint floral motifs. A black shrug draped to her shoulders, and a wide-brimmed sun hat shielded her face from the morning light.
On the porch, she spotted Martha Heath carefully shifting a pot of flowers to the side.
Assuming Mr. Heath had already left for work, Selina offered her a warm smile. "Good morning, Mrs. Heath."
Martha turned from her pottery with gentle composure and returned the greeting. "Good morning, dear. Take care on your way."
Selina nodded and left her residence. Pressing her sun hat along with her steps.
Just like before, she was early. Even though her midnight work lasted for hours which neglects her sleep routine. Each morning, she felt refreshed though prominent bags are still slightly visible.
Finally leaving the Daffodil Street, she reassessed the layouts of the city once more, in case she missed any details that can hinder or become a variable to her plan.
The streets were crowded with passing pedestrians, accompanied by the beckoning and promoting of shops and stationed vendors.
Soon, after hours of walking. Selina arrived back to the grounds of Saint Selena Cathedral, in Red Moonlight Street.
Confirming her route, she decided to take leisure walk around the Cathedral.
In silence, she remarked. "How grand... I wonder what lies behind the history of the Evernight Goddess..."
Around the cathedral's vicinity. White doves flew one after another, bringing a breath taking scenery of timeless design incomparable to the cityscape back on Earth.
After awhile, Selina took noticed of her time and left the cathedral, boarding a public carriage.
The scent mingled with sweat and odors still left a faint impression on her, which made her adjust her head towards the window.
As the carriage rolled past the Municipal Square and began heading east, its course abruptly changed at the request of another passenger.
Through the glassless opening, Selina's gaze caught on a storefront with wide bay windows, behind which stood racks of colorful rockets.
They resembled fireworks—just like those back on Earth.
So there's actually fireworks? But why haven't I seen explosives in the underground market?
Fireworks were foreign to the original Selina, leading her to believe they didn't exist at all. Milo, her rural hometown, held only a handful of festivities each year. Even during Winter Gift's Day, no fireworks ever lit the sky—the townsfolk avoided them, wary of disturbing the quiet balance of the surrounding nature.
Selina felt a pang of regret from failing to discover it sooner.
If she were. Then perhaps her time spent on making explosives would've been charted towards planning her route more precisely.
Regardless, all she could do now was heaved a slow breath and consider visiting the store after.
...
Inside of Lawson's Folk Herb shop.
Darkwill, resting with a dullness in his eyes. Head being held by his palm over the counter.
From yesterday until now, his store haven't made a single customer. Now the belief of having Selina as a ticket have gradually lose its light.
In ennui, Darkwill was forced to a sarcastic remark. "A dog living in wealth would be more prone to flees than my shop to pedestrians..."
"Ms. Roy won't be coming and here I thought her presence would turn the mundanity of this shop upsidedown..."
His brows pricked in frustration as his fingers roughly comb his hair. It's fine... It's fine, there'll be other opportunities in Backlund, we'll just have to remain for one or two months. What's important is that we won't be caught.
At this moment. As Darkwill fell into dilemma, a brief chime rang from the entrance.
Through the door was a lady with a braided-white hair, styled into a bun exhibiting occasional loose strands beneath her sun hat.
She displays an air of elegance, a trait often present amongst the aristocrats that have received proper etiquette and education.
The lady walked to the counter, looked at Darkwill with an impeccable, polite smile as she lowered her sun hat and greeted. "Good morning Mr. Darkwill."
Seeing Selina in front. Darkwill muttered to himself inwardly. I thought you took a leave of absence?
Darkwill's puzzlement failed to conceal itself from his face.
After noticing his expression. Selina said. "My apologies for startling you but since something came up. I was left free for the rest of the day.
"To make myself productive, I figured I would use my spare time, learning more here."
Darkwill's brows met but despite it, he replied. "Very well, let's continue the topic we left off yesterday."
Selina nodded briefly before proceeding to follow Darkwill to the second counter.
...
Inside of Lawson's Folk Herb shop.
Darkwill, resting with a dullness in his eyes. Head being held by his palm over the counter.
From yesterday until now, his store haven't made a single customer. Now the belief of having Selina as a ticket have gradually lose its light.
In ennui, Darkwill was forced to a sarcastic remark. "A dog living in wealth would be more prone to flees than my shop to pedestrians..."
"Ms. Roy won't be coming and here I thought her presence would turn the mundanity of this shop upsidedown..."
His brows pricked in frustration as his fingers roughly comb his hair. It's fine... It's fine, there'll be other opportunities in Backlund, we'll just have to remain for one or two months. What's important is that we won't be caught.
At this moment. As Darkwill fell into dilemma, a brief chime rang from the entrance.
Through the door was a lady with a braided-white hair, styled into a bun exhibiting occasional loose strands beneath her sun hat.
She displays an air of elegance, a trait often present amongst the aristocrats that have received proper etiquette and education.
The lady walked to the counter, looked at Darkwill with an impeccable, polite smile as she lowered her sun hat and greeted. "Good morning Mr. Darkwill."
Seeing Selina in front. Darkwill muttered to himself inwardly. I thought you took a leave of absence?
Darkwill's puzzlement failed to conceal itself from his face.
After noticing his expression. Selina said. "My apologies for startling you but since something came up. I was left free for the rest of the day."
She knew that the man might not attend according to the instructions. However, he had presented a very capable nature, it should have led him to fear Selina's form, prompting him to obey.
Even if so... I couldn't really know until Monday arrives. I did, after all, agreed to his whim, so probing him further would be damaging the Child of God's persona. Selina exhaled faintly.
She then added for Darkwill. "To make myself productive, I figured I would use my spare time, learning more here."
Darkwill's brows met but despite it, he replied. "Very well, let's continue the topic we left off yesterday."
Selina nodded briefly before proceeding to follow Darkwill to the second counter.
...
The train hissed as its two doors flooded with passengers alighting.
Dylan, who had already finished compiling a report, saw the train being brought from the city of Tingen and presumably leading to Pritz Harbor as its next destination.
To his hand was a small, hand-sized pocket watch. Glimmering with copper luster and intricate, timeless design.
Click!
The pocket watch opened, indicating the time: "9:23"
After checking the time, Dylan pressed his top hat and board the steam train. Carrying a suitcase and a regular, wood-laid cane.
The passengers were still in their seats, occasionally glancing on his way and often conversing with their company.
Dylan took an empty seat in a cabin one row before where he had entered.
Haunted by the word echoed by the dreamworld by the Child of God. He had been analyzing the reason behind it and multiple conclusion arose from it .
Redemption... That word must be directed to me, but what could 'She' actually mean by that?
Certainly it won't be as far as a five-hundred pounds could go. Deities plays in a complexity beyond mortal comprehension... A pile of notes worth nothing to Them.
Dylan stared vacantly as the train hissed once more, this time it indicates the departure.
The periphery from the windows displays the platform as it's slowly being pulled back from the motion.
Returning to his thought. He resumed. Due to the dreamworld producing a voice instructing an address from a man, can I take this as the Goddess giving revelation to my redemption?
From there, he noticed a discrepancy. I've learned that there were no other people who are aware of the Child of God's existence...
The fact that She can produce an unfamiliar voice despite my interactions with almost every lesser members of those lunatics can suggest that there were other forces anticipating Her return...
It can be a mistake, but so far, from the records, it only hinted a small fraction of the Rose School of Thought, Indulgence can be considered the believers of the Child of God or maybe were, since She is being overshadow by the Primordial Moon and the Chained God.
Is this redemption a facade meant for me to contact another secret organization?
Dylan pricked his brows as he drifted his gaze onto the glass window.
Behind its transparent surface. It now displays wild meadow and trees clustering into few, sometimes one, until it rolls over to the distant shadowy forest.
Recovering the lusters from his eyes. Dylan forced his tense nerves to ease and convinced himself. I won't let the Child of God get what She wants...
His thoughts turned rigid, holding on to the plan he had carved for himself. Since I'm already heading there to board a ship, I'll complete this task quickly. Nothing more will escalate. And once it's done...
"She will severe the connection Herself."
...
In Pritz Harbor. Shore District.
After arriving from the train station, Dylan didn't waste time as he immediately boarded a trackless carriage, heading to the Pelican Street in White District.
Upon alighting and lowering his allowance, he began to examine the exterior of the bar.
The building's exterior expose a black surface, perhaps caused by time and weather. Though it is rugged, the integrity remained unwavering, giving customers a sense of reliability.
Its entrance was a simple fence gate. One could see the customers mingling with one another from the streets.
Driven by resolve. Dylan entered the bar, keeping in mind the word instructed by the man.
At the bar counter, behind it was a man with a rather boorish feature and prominent age.
After looking at the bartender for a moment. Dylan raised an arm and said. "One Southville Beer."
In response, the bartender took a glass of liquor and poured it over a container.
The glass displays a liquid with light blue depicting a sun bathed ocean surface. It passed the few customers and landed onto Dylan through the bartender's hand.
"Thank you." Dylan responded as he placed a few notes by the counter.
As the boorish man was about to return to his work. Dylan called. "Hey..."
The man abruptly stopped.
He half-turned his head and replied in the same, condescending tone. "What do you want?"
Dylan doesn't need to be acquainted with the bartender, or any other people instructed by the man from the dreamworld.
Despite his misgiving manner, he understands its significants and decided to withhold it. Driving out anyone from approaching him.
Stern voice was exchanged from the two. Dylan replied with persisted composure. "I have what I need to deliver..."
Letting out a soft breath he added.
"It's what the 'captain' wants."
... The bartender didn't respond. He only examined him by his attire before considering a thought.
The man gave a heavy breath and said. "Come with me."
With hesitance, Dylan left his liquor and deliberately followed the bartender, who's form was proceeding to a door left most of the bar.
"You can drop the five hundred pounds here," the man said, gesturing toward the table.
Dylan set the suitcase down and cast a brief glance at the man beside him.
The bartender passed by without a word, heading back to the door. Before shutting it, he added curtly, "You can leave now."
Dylan said nothing. A simple nod sufficed as he obeyed the instructions. Stepping out to the front of the bar, he thought to himself: So that was it…
The five hundred pounds was my ticket, after all.
Pressing down the brim of his top hat, he hailed a passing carriage, climbed aboard, and departed the bar's shadowed street.
...
Lawson's Folk Herb Shop. Near the boundary of Institutional District.
Selina, who had been wondering the habit, Darkwill displayed on occasions, kept a mild indifference as she faced a bubbling, small cauldron placed atop of a metal frame being heated by a fire from a pan of burning ashwood and birch bark.
"Now pour the essential oil over the simmering sundew leaf drop. Keep in mind its quantity as those specific types of oil are quite expensive." Darkwill guided, pointing at a vial containing light blueish-yellow liquid.
Selina nodded and upon doing so, the cauldron suddenly began to emit refreshing air, identical to the sea breeze from the coasts.
Darkwill clasped his hands, seeing Selina's work, he declared. "That's it for today."
He then glanced at the bay windows, which now reflects a street bathed in golden glow.
"It's already noon." He added. "I hope you'd take the lessons to heart as your trial is very limited."
Selina gave a polite smile at Darkwill. Taking her sun hat from the counter, she replied. "I will. Have a pleasant evening Mr. Darkwill."
She then performed a brief courtesy before him.
Darkwill brushed it off by saying. "Yeah, yeah. Pleasant evening as well, now leave."
After donning her sun hat, Selina thought to herself just as she was about to leave. It's going to be two days soon... And Mr. Darkwill's store hadn't received customers yet...
Maybe it's because of his medicine looking a bit... Suspicious? She murmured to herself before stepping out of the store's entrance.