Two hours earlier.
Ithri awoke to the sharp crunch of shattered glass beneath him. Disoriented, he blinked rapidly, his vision adjusting to the dim, flickering light. A cold morning wind swept through a broken window, biting against his skin and sending chills through his bruised and aching body.
Every muscle throbbed, and his limbs protested as he moved. Sleeping uncomfortably on the hard ground had done him no favors, especially with the wind from Anshin whipping directly at him. His weak immune system didn't help. With a sneeze that seemed to shake his whole frame, he muttered, "Achoo... fantastic start to the day."
Groaning, Ithri pushed himself upright, wincing as glass shards clung stubbornly to his clothes. His mind felt clouded, but he forced himself to focus.
"Right," he mumbled under his breath, surveying the room. "Let's clean this disaster before someone sees it."
The aftermath of the chaos was clear glass scattered across the floor, an overturned chair, and heavy tension in the air that seemed to hang like a bad omen.
He moved methodically, starting with the larger shards of glass, tossing them into a corner for now. He righted the chair and swept up the rest as best as possible. The thought struck him like a hammer: If the proprietor sees this mess, especially the broken window, I'm as good as dead.
The realization spurred him into action. He tidied the room to the best of his ability, though the jagged, broken window remained a glaring issue he couldn't fix alone.
By the time the first rays of sunlight pierced the horizon, casting the city in a golden glow, Ithri stepped outside. The cold air stung his face, clearing the fog from his mind and bringing a measure of clarity.
He had an old friend waiting for him just outside the city.
But instead of heading directly to the coast, Ithri turned down a quiet street leading to the docks. The city was beginning to stir, its hum faint but growing louder as the day broke. The shop he sought stood inconspicuously along the street, already open as it always was at this hour.
It bore no sign, just a plain dark wooden door. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of sawdust mingled with the faint tang of saltwater. Shelves lined the walls, crammed with tools, coils of rope, and other nautical oddities.
Ithri exchanged a brief nod with the shopkeeper, a wiry man whose sharp gaze made unnecessary words seem wasteful. Their conversation was low and to the point, spoken in the language of people accustomed to keeping their dealings private.
Minutes later, Ithri left the shop. As the brisk air filled his lungs, he broke into a steady jog.
Running wasn't just for convenience it was something Ithri did whenever he felt the need. It served as his morning sport, and today, it carried him toward the familiar company of an old friend.
----
About half an hour later, Ithri's pace slowed as the forest around him thickened. Roots and rocks jutted from the ground like relics of a wilder age, forcing him to tread carefully. The trees thinned just enough to reveal the edge of a cliff.
Far below, the city sprawled against the endless expanse of the sea. Its towers stood as faint shadows on the horizon, dwarfed by the shimmering, untamed abyss of water.
Ithri stopped to catch his breath, leaning against a weathered tree. His hand dipped into his pocket, pulling out a coin, which he began flipping absently. The coin caught the morning light as it spun, reflecting the turmoil in his mind.
"Will I join?" he muttered, flipping the coin once more.
The coin slipped through his fingers, hitting the dirt with a soft clink.
"Still clumsy, huh?"
Startled, Ithri turned to see a mouse emerging from the trees. It scampered up his arm with surprising agility, settling on his shoulder before morphing into a small, cartoon-like avatar a humanoid mouse with exaggerated features.
"Mickey," Ithri said, a faint smile breaking through his usually guarded expression. "Still snooping where you're not wanted?"
Mickey stretched lazily, his whiskers twitching. "Call it what you like, but I've been waiting for you," he replied, his voice carrying a teasing warmth. "Why'd you return so quickly? The city guard will grow suspicious if they notice our meetings. Be more careful next time."
Mickey's presence was forbidden in the city. In a world wary of anything that blurred the line between magic and reality. He was forced to remain out of sight, his appearances limited to places far from prying eyes.
Ithri picked up the coin, brushing dirt off its surface as he straightened. "I wasn't planning to come back so soon. You know how it is life, chaos, and bad decisions."
Mickey chuckled, a sound like rustling leaves. "Ah, but chaos suits you, doesn't it? You've always had a knack for finding trouble or letting it find you."
" Funny " Ithri replied dryly, " I was just thinking the same about you. "
Mickey leaped gracefully from Ithri's shoulder to the ground, standing upright in his avatar form. "Come now, don't be like that. I'm the best company you've got out here, and you know it."
"Debatable," Ithri said, though the faint smirk tugging at his lips betrayed a glimmer of fondness.
Mickey tilted his head, his black eyes gleaming with curiosity. "So, what's got you tangled up this time?"
"Long story," Ithri replied with a shrug.
As the sun climbed higher, casting the forest in warm golden hues, Ithri began to speak. He recounted his exploits in black markets, secret revolutions, mysterious artifacts, and the enigmatic Enigma. Mickey listened with rapt attention, his whiskers twitching at every twist and turn.
"Well," Mickey said after a thoughtful pause, "it sounds like you've dived headfirst into a mess. But I have to admit, this Enigma character intrigues me. What's your next move?"
Ithri's gaze hardened, his resolve sharpening like a blade. "For now? I'm playing along. But make no mistake, Mickey I'm no pawn. If they think they can use me, they're in for a rude awakening."
Mickey nodded sagely. " That's the Ithri I know reckless, stubborn, and just clever enough to survive. "
Ithri dusted off his coat as he stood. "Come on, Mickey. Let's see if this revolution is worth the trouble."
After a dib breath from ithri Mickey's whiskers twitched as he folded his tiny arms, tilting his head. "Okay, I know you. You didn't bring me here just for this. You never take my approval for anything, so spill it."
Ithri paused, his expression turning serious. "Actually," he said, his tone low and deliberate, "I need you to negotiate with someone."
Mickey's ears perked up. "Negotiate?" He narrowed his eyes. "With who?"
"Elira Midas," Ithri replied, arching an eyebrow as if to gauge Mickey's reaction.
Mickey's black eyes gleamed his expression a mix of mischief and intrigue. "Midas, huh? This'll be interesting."
Mickey wasn't just a pet he was a spirit companion, a creation born from Ithri's experiments in the forgotten depths of the library. Using fragments of ancient techniques and scraps from an old spellbook, Ithri had transformed an ordinary mouse into something extraordinary. Mickey wasn't alone in this peculiar collection; there was also a bat, equally bizarre yet invaluable.
Their bond went far beyond ordinary companionship. Through it, Ithri could see through Mickey's eyes, share his senses, and even control his small, agile body when necessary.
Ithri crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "Elira Midas. Sounds like a headache already. This better be worth it."
Mickey smirked, his whiskers twitching with amusement. "Trust me, it will be."