Chapter 16

I decided to venture out and explore the area surrounding the hotel, with Sapir accompanying me, though never straying too far. According to what he told me, we were near a residential district dotted with parks and green spaces. A short walk away lay the commercial district, where the streets would be far more crowded. Since I planned to visit that area tomorrow with Aedric, I figured it would be better to scout this quieter neighborhood today, where I could get my bearings without feeling entirely overwhelmed.

I eventually arrived at a sprawling park—so vast that it would take more than an hour to traverse entirely. It was filled with people lounging on the grass, eating, and fairies fluttering about. There were also enormous lakes teeming with life.

As I strolled through the park, my attention was drawn to a girl who appeared to be around my age. But it wasn't just her appearance that caught my eye. She stood with her hand extended toward the sky, gazing upward with an intensity that stirred something within me. I had the strange sensation of having witnessed this exact scene before, back when my memories were intact. She lowered her gaze and locked eyes with me.

"Do we know each other?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"No, I only arrived in the city a few hours ago," I replied. "Do you enjoy looking at the sky?"

"I'm not sure. I've never left this city," she said.

"But you can see the sky from here," I said, confused.

"Is that the real sky?" she murmured, her voice tinged with melancholy. "To me, it feels more like a cage. This entire city feels like a cage."

"Then why don't you leave?" I asked.

"Would you take me outside?" she said, fixing me with an intense stare and a smile that awakened something familiar within me—as if I'd experienced something similar before. The sensation sent a chill through me, and a dull throb began building behind my eyes.

"I'm just an apprentice," I said with a forced smile, trying to mask the pain. "I'm only here temporarily with my master."

"You're different," she observed. "You're curious. You're not like the others here."

Suddenly, her expression hardened. Without warning, she bolted away.

"I hope to see you again someday," she called back, already several paces away.

I didn't have time to respond. Her departure was so abrupt that it seemed as though she'd seen something behind me. I turned to look, but there was nothing out of the ordinary—just people strolling through the park.

I continued walking, still perplexed by the strange encounter. Before I realized it, I'd reached one of the park's exits. What I discovered beyond it took me equally by surprise: an enormous mansion, seemingly as vast as the park itself.

"What is that building?" I asked aloud.

Sapir emerged from my pocket, circling around me.

"That is the residence of House Aithmuir," he explained. "One of the great houses. They govern this district."

"It's impressive," I admitted.

"I would advise against getting too close," Sapir warned. "The mansion is heavily guarded, and they don't appreciate strangers lingering in that area."

"So if you don't have money and wealth, you can't approach them, is that it?"

"Even if you did have wealth, you couldn't dream of getting close—not unless you possessed considerable power."

I noticed several figures clad in long robes that covered their entire bodies moving nervously through the area, as if searching for something. Deciding it was best not to invite trouble, I made my way back through the park. After a while longer, Sapir warned me that dinner would soon be served, so I made my way back to the hotel.

When I arrived, Hina was already waiting in the reception area.

"Have you rested?" I asked her somewhat abruptly as I approached.

"Ah, there you are. Are you getting used to your room?" she replied.

"It feels a bit strange compared to what I'm accustomed to," I admitted.

"I prefer normal electricity as well," Hina said. "Though I didn't see what it truly was until I visited Aedric's house."

"When I discovered what electricity was, I decided my home needed to have it," Aedric said, appearing suddenly behind me.

"I've never known a mage to accept science so readily," Hina remarked.

"I never quite fit in with the other mages," Aedric shrugged.

Quindle's words echoed in my mind. Everyone in that house was running from something. Everyone had their own story.

Aedric headed toward the dining hall. It was 7 PM—far earlier than I was accustomed to eating. Back at Aedric's house, we'd eaten at this hour as well, though I still hadn't fully adjusted to the schedule. Where I came from, dinner was eaten much later.

The dining room was extraordinarily spacious, spread across multiple levels with trees interspersed throughout the space. The floors were elevated at various heights around the trees, forming platforms of crystalline glass with dining tables positioned atop them.

"What a peculiar dining room," I commented as we entered.

"It has its charm," Hina said with a slight smile.

We climbed winding stairs that spiraled around one of the great trees until we reached the level where the tables were set. The three of us sat down, and within minutes, three servers arrived. They appeared to be elves—two men and a woman. They served our drinks and began bringing food.

"Were those elves?" I asked, surprised.

"Yes, they're relatively common in this area," Aedric confirmed.

The meal itself didn't seem unusual—it was quite similar to what Aina had prepared for us back home. It appeared that food was much the same on both sides of the magical divide.

"In four days, we'll arrange for you to get your identification," Aedric began, his tone turning serious. "Tomorrow, we'll sell the merchandise at my friend's shop. I'm sure you'll find the place interesting."

"It's full of things," Hina added.

"And I shouldn't have to say this, but while we're here, you need to keep as low a profile as possible," Aedric continued. "You're without identification, so if you're caught, you could face serious trouble."

"I'll be careful," I assured him.

"With that said, rest today and try to enjoy what you can," Aedric concluded.

The three of us finished our meal and rose to return to our rooms. The three elf servers bid us farewell. In the reception area, Hina and I parted ways, and I headed directly to my room.

Once there, I decided to take a shower, though I wasn't entirely confident about the Azuris. Sapir stayed close by, just in case anything went wrong. I approached him with a heated stone, and the creature's eyes suddenly snapped open. His tongue flicked out, snatching the stone from my hands. In an instant, he sprayed scalding water directly into my face. The shock was so intense I let out an involuntary yelp. I saw Sapir cackling at my misery while I stood there, drenched in boiling water.

"This is going to be a long process," I muttered to myself.

I began handing him alternating stones of cold and hot water, trying to regulate the temperature to something bearable. It took several attempts before I finally managed to shower, though I made it quick. Once I'd stepped out, Sapir took it upon himself to stop the flow of water, as I was far too exhausted to manage it myself. The moment I was dry, I collapsed into bed and surrendered to sleep.