[After some days,maybe]
[Bransy Town]
I stepped onto the dock of Bransy, and the first thing that hit me was the air.
It was heavier than London. Thicker. The fog didn't just hang in the air; it clung to you like a damp shroud, smelling of wet coal, dead fish, and something strangely sweet, like rotting flowers.
The sky was a bruised shade of purple, threatening violence.
"It looks like it's going to rain," I muttered.
Drip.
As if the sky had been waiting for my permission, the heavens opened up. Icy rain began to pelt down, turning the cobblestones slick and black.
"Of course," I sighed, wiping water from my forehead. "It had to rain."
"I hate this," Seraphim complained from behind me. He produced a handkerchief and held it over his silver hair with dramatic despair. "My hair is going to frizz. Do you know how long it takes to maintain this volume, Lucian?"
"Luci, we should find a bed," Arthur yawned, ignoring the rain soaking his massive frame. "It's getting dark. My hibernation clock is ticking."
I looked around the town. Unlike the towering gothic spires of London, the houses here were squat and cramped, built from dark brick. The people moved quickly, heads bowed against the rain, their smiles seemingly painted on—too wide, too eager to welcome strangers. It felt... performative.
The Captain approached us, his arm still bandaged.
"Mr. Lucian," he said, keeping his voice low. "The repairs will take two days. But... be careful."
"Why?" I asked.
"This town has a reputation," the Captain whispered, glancing at the fog. "There are rumors of two Mirror Dimensions nearby. And people... they disappear. Travelers check into hotels and just vanish. Keep your guard up."
I nodded. "We will."
I know I have to be careful, I thought, looking at my two companions.
Arthur was currently trying to catch raindrops in his mouth. Seraphim was glaring at a puddle that had splashed his boots.
Actually, the people of this town should be the ones worried. If they annoy these two, Bransy might disappear from the map.
"Let's go," I said.
We navigated through the market square, where merchants were hurriedly packing up their stalls. The fear in their eyes was palpable. They weren't just avoiding the rain; they were hiding from the night.
We stopped at a hotel near the center of town. It was a tall, narrow building with a sign that creaked in the wind: The Velvet Rose.
We pushed open the door.
The interior was warm, smelling of lavender and old wood. Behind the counter sat a young woman.
She was stunning.
She wore a modest receptionist's uniform, but it couldn't hide her elegance. Her skin was pale as porcelain, and her hair was a striking, unusual shade of dusty pink.
As we entered, she looked up. Her eyes—also pink—locked onto mine.
"Welcome," she said. Her voice wasn't just polite; it was a melody. It vibrated in my chest, warm and inviting. "You must be tired travelers."
The moment she spoke, the world seemed to blur. The fatigue in my bones vanished, replaced by a fuzzy, pleasant heat. I felt a sudden urge to lean closer, to listen to her, to do whatever she asked.
She is... perfect.
PING.
A blue screen shattered my vision.
[System Alert!]
[Mental Intrusion Detected.]
[Source: Unknown High-Tier Entity.]
[Status: Sin of Pride Active.]
[Message: How dare this filth try to charm My Host?]
[Defense: ENGAGED.]
SNAP.
The fuzziness vanished instantly. My mind cleared like a pane of glass being wiped clean.
I stared at the woman. She was still smiling, but now I saw the predatory glint in her pink eyes. She wasn't welcoming us. She was tasting us.
What the hell was that?
I glanced at my companions.
Arthur was staring at her with a blank expression, his jaw set tight. Seraphim was smiling his usual polite, fake smile. Neither of them looked charmed.
"Three rooms," Seraphim said, gliding to the counter. He didn't seem affected at all. "Two nights. And please, do try not to stare. My friend here gets shy."
He gestured to me.
The woman blinked, seemingly surprised that her spell hadn't worked. Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second before returning, sharper this time.
"Of course," she purred. "That will be fifteen pounds."
Seraphim slapped the notes on the counter. She wrote our names in a ledger—her handwriting looped and messy, like tangled vines—and handed us three heavy brass keys.
"Second floor, to the right," she said, her eyes lingering on me for a second too long. "The room numbers are on the keys. Sleep tight."
We took the keys and walked up the creaking stairs.
Once we were in the hallway, out of earshot, the atmosphere changed.
"Did you feel it, Lucian?" Seraphim asked, his voice dropping the playful tone.
"Hmm?" I adjusted my collar, trying to act calm. "What do you mean?"
"She was beautiful, wasn't she?" Seraphim teased, leaning against the wall. "Quite the charmer."
"Don't joke with him, Seraphim," Arthur interrupted.
The sleeping dragon wasn't yawning anymore. His eyes were wide open, sharp and dangerous.
"She tried to use a mental spell on us," Arthur said flatly. "I was inches away from ripping her throat out."
He noticed instantly.
"The System warned me," I admitted. "But... it felt weird. The System sounded angry. Like a person."
"Whatever she is," Seraphim said, inspecting his fingernails, "she used a low-level weave. She didn't pour much Ether into it. She was either testing us... or she was just bored."
"Be careful, Lucian," Arthur said, placing a heavy hand on my shoulder. He sounded like a worried older brother. "You are Tier 2. If she decides to stop playing, you are the easiest target."
"I know," I nodded. "I'll lock the door."
Arthur grunted and went into his room. Seraphim gave me a final, enigmatic wave and disappeared into his.
I entered my room. It was small, dusty, and smelled faintly of the same lavender scent from the lobby.
I placed my cane directly next to the door—within arm's reach. I checked the window lock.
I sat on the edge of the bed, my heart still racing.
That receptionist...
The System had called her "Filth." It had protected me not because I was strong, but because the Sin of Pride refused to let anyone else control me.
The System is changing, I thought, lying back on the pillow. It's getting possessive.
I closed my eyes, listening to the rain hammer against the glass.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow I would find the Mirror Dimension. I needed to get stronger. I couldn't be the "easiest target" forever.