New Trier, Intis. March 31, 428, 16:30 P.M. In an unknown alley in the Sienna Quarter.
Lana entered the alley that Michael had run toward.
The alley was narrow, less than six meters wide.
The smell of garbage and rotting food was overwhelming, enough to make anyone sick.
Lana paused for a second, reacting to the foul smell.
"Ugh, I can't believe that boy ran in here..." she muttered, covering her nose.
She looked around while moving through the alley.
Cockroaches crawled along the walls, and small rats scurried away from her.
The alley lay between two three-story buildings. The roofs of these buildings extended over the alley, so the rainwater from the gutters poured directly into it, making the place extremely damp and ideal for the spread of pests and mold.
The shadows of the buildings enveloped the entire alley, leaving it dark even during the day.
The farther Lana went, the worse the smell became.
"Ugh, I know that as a traveling journalist, I need to be ready for any situation, but I never thought I'd end up in a disgusting alley on a business trip..." she murmured as she finally reached the alley's end.
She looked down and saw a young man in a purple suit lying unconscious in a pile of garbage bags.
She leaned closer to the boy.
"He's breathing... Is he sleeping? Doesn't look like it..." she murmured, gently touching his face.
She touched his purple suit, as if searching for something.
"This doesn't feel like a cheap suit. Trier has that whole noble culture with colors... Could this boy be a noble?" she wondered, studying him closely.
As she turned his head slightly, the boy suddenly grabbed her hand, waking up.
"It's quite rude to touch someone while they're unconscious, my lady."
He let go of her hand.
Lana smiled, looking into his eyes.
"Sorry, I was just curious why a young man like you was lying in the trash..."
"I mean, you don't look poor. This suit of yours seems high-quality..."
Michael's breathing was shallow and weak, as if he didn't have much strength left.
My head is still weird after what just happened... and now I have to deal with this weirdo...
Lana noticed Michael's fragile state and offered her hand to help him up.
Michael looked visibly surprised by her action.
He held her arm, letting her help him stand.
"I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Lana Walker. Just call me Lana. I'm a traveling journalist from Balam," she said, supporting him as they walked.
A traveling journalist? From Michael's memories, they're journalists who roam the world, writing about their experiences... What a nice job...
Since I don't know her intentions, I'd better not give away too much...
"It's alright. I apologize, too, for not introducing myself. I'm Gregor Alighieri, a wandering clown..." Michael said, leaning on her shoulder to keep his balance.
Lana paused, eyeing him before continuing to walk. She gave a sly smirk before saying, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Gregor Alighieri..." pausing slightly before his name.
"You can just call me Gregor," Michael replied.
He seemed clearly uncomfortable needing help to walk.
After some time, they left the alley and sat on a nearby park bench.
"Gregor, would you mind telling me why you were lying in the trash?" Lana asked, intrigued.
Michael rolled his eyes, annoyed. "I wasn't sleeping. I was feeling sick and decided to go to a place where i wouldn't disturb anyone, but i ended up fainted for some time..."
Lana looked up at the sky.
"Got it, got it..."
They kept talking for a while before a young girl in a dark purple dress approached them.
Shit! I can't let Becca say my name!
Michael suddenly shouted to catch Rebecca's attention.
"Oh! My dear partner, Ms. Samsa! I finally found you!"
Rebecca looked surprised but decided to play along.
She looked Michael up and down, as if mocking him.
"Well, my dear partner, where were you?" she asked, waiting for an explanation.
"Forgive me, Ms. Samsa. I know we were supposed to meet, but I felt ill, and this lovely lady helped me," Michael said, flashing a small smile.
Lana looked back and forth between Rebecca and Michael before speaking.
"Yes, I found Gregor unconscious in an alley and helped him out..."
Michael gave Rebecca a pleading look, urging her to find a way to take them out of that situation.
Rebecca took a deep breath and spoke.
"Thank you, miss, but my... partner and I are running late and must go. I hope we meet again so we can repay you for your kindness," Rebecca said, dragging Michael by the hand before Lana could respond.
"Gregor Alighieri, Ms. Samsa... I think I might watch one of their shows..." Lana murmured to herself as she took a carriage to her hotel.
....
Michael and Rebecca took Burey's carriage.
"Mike, when I asked if you were meeting some secret lover, I was joking. I didn't think you'd actually be with one..."
"I mean, you're young, so of course you'd want to keep some things private, but even using a fake name... poor girl..."
"And what a weird name huh, Gregor Alighieri, you are really creative...
Rebecca teased, trying to hold back laughter.
Michael stayed silent the entire ride, enduring Rebecca's taunts.
....
New Trier, Intis. March 31, 428, 18:00 P.M. At a hotel in the Arianna Quarter.
Lana was finishing her column after hours of writing.
As she wrote the dedications, she included her editor, friends, and others important to her.
Finally, she added the last names.
"I would also like to dedicate this column to the friends I made in Trier: Gregor Alighieri, Ms. Samsa, and, last but not least, Michael Burey."