Septis, 01 Lus 911 Aven — 3:00 PM
In a lightly dense forest, a rock stood in a place that seemed deserted.
But suddenly, everything changed.
A gentle whirlwind—calm yet swift—swept through the area. A black, gray, misty portal opened, revealing a girl dressed in a simple, flowing dress, wearing a large straw hat.
Once outside, the girl began to walk.
As she strolled calmly, her thoughts wandered.
(Ah… it's getting worse and worse. Why here, of all places? Why near Drelons? If I'm not mistaken, that makes things even worse. The city of Drelons in Unidom… that's where those two live. The third son of my biological father and the second daughter of that mother… This is going to be complicated. They're very active in this city. If I use too much energy for spells, they'll show up very quickly, and shaking them off will be difficult… still.)
As she walked, she caught sight of a small rustic village, made up of only a few houses.
Seeing this, she immediately rushed toward the village, wearing a wide, enthusiastic smile—like an eager tourist.
Soon, she arrived in town, roaming the streets with excitement. She passed through the center, where a fountain stood, then through the market, where she tasted a few local specialties without lingering… except at one particular stall: the spicy meatball stand. There, she took her time.
She approached the stall gently and spoke, curious:
— Oh! Hello, sir, is this what I think it is? Chili peppers?
The merchant, upon seeing her, flashed a knowing smile.
— Indeed it is. And I assure you they're made with ingredients of the finest quality—especially the chili 🌶️.
Aliss leaned closer and whispered:
— In that case, I'll take a sample of each one you have. You must understand, I'm only passing through—I probably won't be staying more than a day.
The merchant took on a disappointed look 😞.
— Oh, that's truly unfortunate. Today, we have an exclusive extra-hot batch, just for the day. A little bonus… and for whoever finishes it, it's free. That was today's challenge. Too bad—you surely won't have time to try it. Such a shame.
Hearing this, Aliss immediately grew excited.
— Don't say that. I'll take on the challenge.
The merchant looked at her doubtfully.
— Little one… are you sure?
Aliss paused dramatically, then declared with confidence:
— You clearly don't know me. My name is Alise, and I've been traveling the world of chili peppers for quite some time now. So don't worry. Until now, I've never backed down from a chili. Bring on the sauce.
Hearing this, the merchant served her a bowl of spicy meatballs—just for her.
At the sight of the bowl, Aliss was filled with joy and attacked the first meatball without hesitation. In an instant, the explosion of flavor hit hard and fast. Under the heat of the chili, she seemed to ignite: her eyes sparkled, her smile froze wide upon her face. Her mouth was on fire… but she was happy 😊. Pure joy.
She continued through the blazing heat, devouring the meatballs one by one until the very last. The plate emptied before one could blink, until nothing remained.
She then extended her hand toward the merchant, waiting for her reward. The man, astonished by such a feat, replied with a warm smile.
Alise left the stall with a backpack 🎒 containing her prize.
Shortly afterward, she sent the bag through her arrival portal—this time smaller—but accompanied by a clearly visible sign:
Do not touch.
After that, she headed toward a large building constructed like a medieval castle, its gray bricks appearing recently renovated.
Upon reaching the entrance, she barely noticed the two guards wearing light armor stationed near the gate. For their part, the guards did not seem to pay her any attention either. She thus entered the building without issue—it turned out to be a museum.
Inside, she examined every corner with enthusiasm: the armor displayed at the entrance, the paintings of former owners… She climbed the stairs almost skipping, then turned left, crossing several rooms she explored with stars in her eyes.
Eventually, her attention was drawn to a particular room. On a small slanted table lay many stones.
Intrigued, she stepped closer to observe them more carefully. As she leaned in, she discreetly activated special lenses in her left eye.
As she examined the stones, she was slightly surprised.
(Oh… how strange. It's not here. Could I be mistaken?)
Lost in thought, yet maintaining her enthusiastic appearance, she was suddenly startled by a voice.
— It's you, my savior. Look—I have what you desire, right here in my hand.
The voice belonged to a small girl with grayish hair, eyes tinged half green, half yellow, with a white pupil. She looked no older than seven. In her hand was a yellow stone.
At the sight of her, Alise subtly put herself on guard, without showing it too openly. As a precaution, she activated the spiritual form of her heterochromatic eyes. A cross split each of them: red crossed by yellow, and yellow crossed by white.
As she activated her spiritual eyes, her attention focused on a single point—the little girl's forehead. There, she saw a tiny star ⭐.
A faint smile curved Alise's lips.
— Interesting… very interesting.
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