Date: The Day Before Departure
Location: Accordum, Central Town
---
We split up at noon.
Not because of tension — because of tasks.
Everyone had something to buy, fix, or stock up on.
---
Anna and Riya vanished toward the market square.
Something about scarves, ink powder, and "emotionally aggressive jewelry."
Leander and Gideon went to the forge.
> Leander: "I need a sword that says 'handsome, dangerous, but emotionally available.'"
Gideon: "I need earplugs."
---
I went to a magic shop.
Not the usual ones. The old, creaky one tucked behind a forgotten alley — the kind with dust on everything and glowing charms that whispered when no one looked.
I was looking for something specific: A long-range mana channeler — something I could use to issue orders in mid-battle without needing to shout.
Not many stores carried them.
Even fewer had quality.
This one? I hoped.
---
The bell chimed when I stepped in.
Shelves groaned under the weight of crystals, scrolls, and strange orbs.
The shopkeeper — a man with too many rings and not enough teeth — waved vaguely toward the back.
> "Artifacts over there. Don't touch the blinking ones. They bite."
Someone else was already there.
A girl — maybe a year younger. Or older. Hard to tell.
Long coat, pale gloves, and eyes too sharp for a casual customer.
She was speaking to the shopkeeper. Something about "mana echoes" and "tri-phase lenses."
Her tone was calm, but her words were anything but normal.
Then she saw me.
She leaned slightly forward — too casual, too focused.
> "You. What's your name?"
I blinked.
> "I don't give that out to strangers."
She smiled.
> "Ah… cautious. That's good. You look like someone important."
> "I'm not."
> "Liar," she said — with no heat.
She returned to browsing, but not without a last glance over her shoulder.
> "If you ever come across a prism-tuned comm sigil… bring it here. I want to see what kind of magic you breathe."
And then she walked off.
No name. No explanation.
Just… odd.
I didn't find the artifact I was looking for.
But I left with more questions than I came in with.
---
Evening – Dormitory
By dusk, everyone had returned.
Anna was glowing. Riya had three bags. Leander had a blade with an absurdly elegant hilt. Gideon had an expression like he regretted everything.
Supplies were packed. Potions, rations, maps, enchantments.
We were ready.
---
Late Night
My door opened again.
No knock. Just that soft, deliberate click.
> "You're asking more often," I said without turning around.
Alice stood by the door.
She didn't answer right away. Then:
> "I overused blood magic again."
I rolled up my sleeve, expecting her usual routine.
But she hesitated.
> "...Neck," she whispered. "Please."
I looked at her.
Something had changed. Not her power — that was still calm, still cold.
It was her gaze.
Less predatory. More… curious.
I nodded.
She bit.
Gentle. Clean. Controlled.
When she finished, she sat at the edge of the bed.
> "There's something strange about this mission, isn't there?"
> "Yes."
> "And you're not telling the others."
> "Not yet."
She looked down. Then, softly:
> "...I want to know what you think. Not just what you plan."
I didn't speak.
Not yet.
She didn't press.
But when she left that night, I could feel it:
> Her hunger wasn't just for blood anymore.
---
End of Entry
> "One stranger. One question. One journey ahead."
Tomorrow, we ride toward Narshia.
And the storm doesn't even know we're coming