Days passed by, one after another, and before they knew it, the early winter had arrived.
The weather grew colder, the daylight shortened, and the sun could no longer nurture the remnants of life after the disaster. The nights descended upon the land like a giant hand, pressing down with coldness and darkness, which Zed called it comfort.
"When will it snow?"
"Son, you'd better pray that not a single white falls from the sky this winter..."
"Why is that?"
"Because people freeze to death in winter."
"Then spring must be better, right?"
The young boy with dirt-smeared eyebrows looked up at the old man before him. He crushed a cleanser spore in his hand and pushed his small fist into the barrel of a modified gun, rubbing it vigorously.
The old man sighed, his gaze fixed on the ever-growing city walls, but he remained silent.
"Excuse me," a voice interrupted.
Two figures approached, wearing masks with the markings of poker cards. They donned loose khaki jackets and white shirts, both of which were slightly oversized. One of them carried a knife, while the other had his hands in his pockets.
The young boy wiped his mouth with his arm and quickly moved the small stool aside, speaking with reverence, "Welcome to the market, gentlemen."
The two men passed by, tossing two coins to this 'street business', who promptly nodded and bowed in gratitude.
Only when the men were far away did they dare to whisper among themselves.
"Are those... Ani Coins, a silver?"
The old man held one up, gazing at the gloomy sky, trying to find the right angle to look it closely.
"It's incredible. I've never seen such thing before. What's printed on the coins in our district?"
"A fox, I believe."
"Yeah, it seems so. They said coins were crafted by a group of Mega class using elementals, look at it! It even contain real traces of silver..."
"Wouldn' that make silver cheap?"
"Stupid! Do you have any idea how many places we lost? There are mines out the wall, wasted mines ..."
****
Zed and his spade seven made their way through the bustling Dark Market, with Adrian following closely by his side, one arm empty and a blade in the other.
"What happened?" Zed asked, his voice devoid of any discernible emotions.
Adrian raised his lone arm and scratched his forehead with the hilt of his blade, his body still devoid of a shadow.
In turn, he was also missing the gray glove on his hand.
"You know, on that last mission, the emergency one to rescue survivors from a plane crash. Some reckless idiots never bother to check if there are any Ghoultick onboard... everything happened too fast though."
He chuckled slightly as he spoke.
"It's alright, I can still wield a blade with one hand."
Zed sighed heavily, saying nothing in response.
He had been working tirelessly to track down the elusive Shadow Thief, not only for the sake of Adrian but also for his own sake. He was quite sure that DR gave him chance not just for 'stay' in city.
He had went out of the city four or five times, reclaiming spores from the surrounding area, while also earning a basic salary and gaining more authority in the city's investigations by reporting for the Wild Diver badge at the Awaken Hall.
Yet, despite his efforts, this wanted fugitive continued to elude them all. The Demon had nothing on progress. This thief truly lived up to his name, like a shadow that would never disappear, looming over the entire city of Newford.
At times, Zed had begun to doubt if Fox was truly the Shadow Thief, as he claimed to be. But the fox imprinted on the silver piece seemed to mock his foolishness time and time again.
*Crunch*
Their military boots pressed against the frozen ground as they entered the front yard of a house. The yard was surrounded by red bricks, and there were large chunks of debris atop the waist-high wall. Zed noticed some sprinklers in the yard, spraying a liquid with a slightly stronger scent than nutrient spores.
"Are these mute spores?" Zed asked.
"Could be. It's been a while since we received any commissions," Adrian replied with a smile behind mask, patting Zed on the shoulder before leading him inside.
This time, there was no iron gate blocking their way. The winery now had a proper front yard, prepared for springtime despite the ongoing winter.
*Knock*...*Knock*
*Creak*
"Oh, you're here early! Come in please!"
An old man without mask greeted them with a jovial smile, inviting them inside.
As Zed stepped over the threshold, he felt the overwhelming senses gradually fade away, along with the hunger in his belly and the prickling sensation from the sunlight.
'Some Awakened come here specifically to escape the flaws and reduce the risks of losing control over their abilities. Apparently, they even charge a fee for it,' Zed thought to himself, didn't voice his musings.
He observed the layout of the winery, still resembling a grand hall, but now with an additional staircase leading to the second floor, its destination unknown.
Seemingly aware of Zed's curiosity, the old man patted him on the shoulder as he passed by, sporting a grin.
"Hey, how about giving the second floor a try? It's all about healthcare, healthcare..." he teased.
Zed pretended not to catch the tone in the old man's voice and asked about their aim for today.
"Old Moss, when will the guests arrive?"
Moss coughed twice, glancing at Adrian, he didn't ask about Adrian's missing arm. Moss respected Adrian even more now because he wore a face card, the first one Moss had ever seen—Jack of diamond.
Moss placed his hands in front of him and gave a slight bow, signaling the waitress at the bar in the distance to bring some drinks. He spoke, asking, "Still the same as last time?"
"Beer."
"Any wine."
Adrian tilted his mask slightly, surprised, and asked:
"Why is not tea? I even had Kyle buy some extra leafs from Li."
Zed didn't look at him, his gaze fixed on the table as if trying to avoid something.
"Well, do you remember the last time I got drunk?" Zed asked.
"You mean the time you got wasted in the hotel? Man, you were really wasted... I remember the doctor saying you vomited until anemic..."
Adrian casually waved his katana and asked:
"Well, then why do you need alcohol this time?"
The young man didn't say much.
"Last time, I drank tea."
"Okay... you got drunk on tea..."
Adrian sounded puzzled, but Zed was already walking ahead, heading towards the table where Old Moss had already placed the chairs, that meant their guest had arrived.
There were three chairs this time, not a complete set.
'Finally...' Zed thought, 'Finding a pair of something in this time is rare. Should treat it like meeting an old man, a child, or a lonely woman in the wilderness...'
After the two of them sat down and didn't wait long, a mature female figure slowly walked in. Her hips were wider than her shoulders, and she took small, deliberate steps. Zed couldn't help but feel his shoulders ache as he looked at her voluptuous breasts.
As she approached, both of them gradually opened their mouths in surprise because they recognized this woman. She was the owner of the shop where Zed bought the chain and asked for an ID in Dawnrain shelter. Zed remembered giving her a little finger as magical material.
Yes, she was Mask Off.
"Ann, what are you doing here?"
Adrian called out her name directly, and Zed quickly grabbed the empty sleeve of the one-armed man next to him.
Then, he crossed his hands and formed a steeple, waiting for Ann to speak first.
The woman walked over, tossing her long hair over her shoulder, casually pulling out a chair. Today, she was wearing a red dress, a half-moon dress if Zed was not mistaken. The color matched her captivating eyes, as if making a silent invitation.
As she sat down, she chewed gum in her mouth and blew a purple bubble in front of both of them. The bubble was so big that Zed could confidently say it was the largest, most transparent one he had ever seen. He had no idea gum could be blown so big, not even on TV shows. He couldn't believe it, absolutely not...
Just as Zed was waiting for the bubble to burst, he saw the woman's finger pinch it near her mouth.
*Thud!*
A heavy sound echoed around the wooden table. It was a crystal ball, solid and adorned with countless stars, exuding an indescribable sense of mystery.
'What type of Awakener is this?' Zed saw this scene and was stunned, contemplating out of habit.
Ann didn't say anything but stared at Zed while holding the crystal ball in her hands.
"I'm here to find you," she finally spoke.
"To find me?"
Zed shook his head briefly.
"I don't believe in this stuff."
The woman raised an eyebrow and lowered her voice.
"I'm very accurate with my readings."
"I've already told you I don't believe in it. You didn't have to risk revealing your abilities for this... wait, isn't this place protected muting awaken?"
The old man had leave the room, it seemed Winery knew that today was Dawnrain's internal meeting and had provided the three of them with a private space.
"My abilities are quite unique."
The woman wiped the crystal ball and added:
"Besides, I can also find clues about the Shadow Thief from you."
"Why not do the reading at the inn then?"
Zed asked directly, recognizing the key issue. The inn offered even more privacy, so there was no need for this act without masks.
"Because—"
"You mean it's the witch's idea, right?"
Adrian leaned back, crossed his arms, and addressed Zed, who was puzzled.
"Because Dawnrain's ranking in the city is too low. All the tasks at the Awaken Hall have been taken, and we require a witness."
The woman winked at Zed.
"That's right."
Zed's expression behind the mask darkened. Since it was DR Leader's intention, he had no way to refuse at now. All the bullshit about rankings might just an excuse to probe into his true abilities, but Zed was gradually becoming less afraid. Though he still needed this platform...
Not enough, not quite there yet.
Zed pretended to ponder for a while, then relaxed his tone.
"Go on then, if you're not at risk of losing control."
The woman slowly lifted the crystal ball, inside of which the stars seemed to breathe. They swirled, gathered, and dispersed, shining and dimming, like a string of history that could move forward and backward at will.
Adrian leaned forward, his body not touching the table, as if he saw something rarely seen, and a mocking smile emerged.
"Tsk, playing tricks and acting mysterious. No wonder you were so rush to find us. Turns out your own shadow has been stolen too."
It was only then that Zed noticed something strange about the woman's face. The angular nose was illuminated by the lights but left no trace of a shadow.
"I was always a prophet."
The woman ignored him and focused on maintaining the ritual. She said to Zed in a calm tone:
"Think of something, anything about you."
After receiving a confirming nod from Zed, she closed her eyes and tightly gripped the crystal ball. The purple crystal instantly turned red, and it seemed like two beams of ruby light shot out from her eyes.
Zed heard Adrian's breathing intensify beside him, and he furrowed his brow.
It seemed that there were many stories within Dawnrain that he didn't know about yet.
Just then,Ann took a deep breath, her lips moving in an unfamiliar spell.
as her muttered faster and faster, her face drained of color, cold beads of sweat trickling down her forehead.
"Stories begin at their end," she uttered, her voice weighted with solemnity, "and every story leads to death again."
Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, urgency lining her voice.
"Quick, what were you thinking just now?!"
Meanwhile, the crystal ball on the table shattered into a myriad of fragments. The room filled with the tinkling sound, reduced to a powdery residue that coated the table.