After I got off the train and left the subway station in the 18th district, it took around 20 minutes of walking to reach my destination.
The place was like the other residential building I delivered the second package to. A tall building, not exactly a skyscraper but still quite large.
While the lobby was smaller, it had a lively feel to it. With bright yellow couches and chairs on one side, and an aquarium covering the entire other wall.
Entering, I had half a mind to just sit there for a while and enjoy the cool air inside. That would get me in trouble though.
'I bet that woman is counting down the second as she waits for me to call back.'
While it would be fun to make her wait, that would make the rest of my week less pleasant that's for sure.
So, I just walked to the reception desk.
The attendant behind it was a young-looking woman with ginger hair and a pretty face. She wore a yellow shirt and a black vest
"Welcome! How may I help?" She greeted me with a smile.
'I hope I remember the name right.'
"Good afternoon. I have a package for a... Alice Valentine? She lives here, right?"
The smile on the woman's face seemed to have faltered for a moment, before coughing once.
"Yes, Ms. Valentine is one of our residents. You can leave the package with me. I will bring it to her personally later."
"Ah, sorry. My boss is... a handful to put it lightly. I must hand it over myself, if it's possible."
She looked me in the eye for a few seconds, seemingly deep in thought.
"It's... Well, it's not really a problem... She leaves in room 625. 6th floor. Elevator is next to the aquarium."
"Thanks."
With that I turned around and started to walk away.
"Just..."
Hearing the receptionist voice from behind me, I turned my head back towards her.
"Just be kind to her. She can be difficult..."
"...Sure? I will do my best."
She nodded her head and turned her gaze back down to the screen in front of her.
Once in the elevator, I pressed the button on the side, and it began to ascend.
One of the sides was translucent, so the fishes in the tank could be seen while in the elevator. Made one wonder just big the aquarium was.
'Well, that was weird. Then again, not being weird is the strangest thing in this city.'
"That would make you normal, no? Average even." As if on cue, the same annoying voice echoed in my ears.
"Oh, now you talk." I muttered under my breath "Finally up for a game? Not like it's a hard thing to win against me."
The only answer I got was silence, followed by a ding of the elevator and the doors opening to a long, wide hallway.
The walls were white, with some yellow flowers painted onto them in a few places.
After two turns, I stood in front of apartment 625. A plain brown door with a plaquette that had the number on it. Next to it was a black button with a bell symbol on it.
The bell going off could faintly be heard through the door, but no response came even after a bit of waiting. So, I pressed it again, this time holding it down for a bit.
What followed could be only described as a cacophony of sounds coming from inside.
Something fell on the ground and broke, then came a dull thud followed by... a cat yowling loudly?
"No! Mr. Whiskers!" A girl shouted, before more stuff breaking and falling echoed from inside.
'Should I leave?'
Once things quietened down, I knocked on the door.
"Uh...Package for Alice Valentine?"
Slowly the door opened and a girl who looked to be my age came out. She slammed the door behind her so fast I couldn't see anything from the other side.
She was shorter than me, almost by a head maybe. She had pale skin and long, messy white hair that had a slight pinkish hue to it at the ends.
She wore an oversized white shirt that was buttoned incorrectly in a few places and black shorts.
She also had a curved sword with a circular cross guard in and a shiny black scabbard in her hand.
'What did I say about this city and weirdos? Oh, yes...'
"I'm sorry!" She said while turning to face me, holding up the sword with a hand. "I was taking a nap and then I had some difficulty finding this thing..."
Her face was pretty, but she had her eyes closed for some reason. A slight blush gave her cheeks a rosy colour. Her mouth seemed to always curl up into a faint little smile.
'Do I want to ask? Yes, I do...'
"Uh... Okay? I don't know why you need a sword for taking a package, but sure. Must be a rough neighbourhood."
"Hm?" She tiled her head to the side "Sword? This is a seeing aid."
'...I want to go home...'
"Look."
She pushed the sword my way, showing a light blue string tied into a ribbon between the handle, through the holes in the circular cross-guard, and the sheet.
"It's tied, so it can't even be drawn. I just need it to see properly. Without it, I'm blind."
"Hm... Guess it's cooler than a cane."
"Right?" She smiled then "It gets me in some trouble, but thanks to it I can see somewhat. For example..."
She looked me up and down, or well... moved her head like that.
"Brown dress shoes, long brown pants, white shirt. Around... 16 maybe? 168 to 172 cm tall, lean figure. Pale, but no unhealthy, skin. Long blond hair and... glasses."
I let out a short whistle.
"Wow. That's one cool cane. I get why you would want to have it with you now. Is it an artifact?"
"Yes. It used to be my father's. It's a bit strange though... I can't see your eyes..."
I could feel my heart skip a beat, my smile faltering a bit. Suddenly my headache felt more noticeable than just a second ago. I tried to compose myself, but my fingers kept twitching.
"It's green... But that's enough talk about me. I have a package for you. You are Alice Valentine, right? Or did I get the wrong address?"
"No, that's me. Alice Valentine, at your service."
She did a little courtesy, her smile growing wider.
I nodded, then pulled the bag from my side to the front and took out the metal box from it.
After checking quickly for any damage, I held it towards her.
"Here you go. No signature needed."
She ran her hand down the box. Then she took it and put in under her arm, the one holding the sword.
"Thank you! Oh, I hope I'm still in time. I need this to get into a good class at the Academy. How about you? Did apply?"
For a second, I thought about how I should answer that.
"Yeah, I did. Even go accepted. Not that there is not much a choice if you want to become a Scion and actually be able to progress."
Scions of the Shattered World, or simply Scions.
People who are capable of extraordinary feats. Ones that enter the worlds on the other side of the Gates and seek power beyond human understanding.
Said powers and even the process of gaining more after the first step, are suppressed inside the city.
Only students — and even them only on Academy grounds — and people given permission by the government can be exempted from this rule.
"Right." Alice nodded. "Or you could leave the city. But that has its own problems. Besides, I do want to try the school life aspect of it too."
For a little while neither of us said anything.
"So... Why did you need something from a bookshop for that? Is it...like an answer sheet for tests at the start of the year? Because I know I need one of those too then."
She chuckled slightly.
"No. But that would come in handy."
She leaned her sword against the wall. Moving the package into her now free hand, she pulled out a linkframe from her pocket.
Holding it to the box's top, the lid popped up.
Inside the package was a book with white, leathery cover that had runes and symbols running throughout it.
"It's a Weissmann Codex. I heard it's the best for those that want to become Scions. Helps with taking the first step."
"Hm..." I hummed, my eyes narrowing as I looked at the book.
"You never heard of it? I guess Solomon's Book is more of a public knowledge. It is the standard one, but I heard this one's better. People just don't like it because they are afraid of Lucas Weissmann himself."
"Well, you can't exactly blame them. He's the second most wanted criminal in the country and in the top three of at least two others."
"He's also a genius. He had the best grades and most achievements out of any graduate in the Academy's history. They saw he rivals even Solomon himself. And he is just a fraction of the Founder's age."
"Well, he-" I stopped myself from finishing that sentence.
"That, I can't argue with..." I said after a pause.
I checked my linkframe for the time.
"Better get going. Have to be home soon. See you at the Academy I guess."
"Ah! Wait!"
As I started to walk away, I heard her voice from behind me, prompting me to turn back.
"Uh, can I have your name?" She asked in a low tone. "I don't know anybody else that wants to go to the same school, so..."
"It's Alexander. Alexander Rosegrave."
"Ah, thank you! See you at school, Alexander!"
She waved vigorously at me while I walked away.
Once I was in the elevator again and the doors closed, I leaned forward, putting my head against the cold metal door.
My headache was getting worse, my head pounding.
"Hah! You almost got caught there. That would be most unfortunate, no? Better be more careful."
"Oh, screw you! All I need now is your commentary. Just go back to your corner and leave me alone. I had enough for today."
When the elevator stopped moving, and the door to the lobby opened, I walked outside. With my head throbbing, it was going to be a long way home. I just hoped the voice would stay quiet.
Unfortunately, it didn't...