As Zay looked at the girl whose frame had been illuminated white by the flash of lightning moments ago, only one thought ran through his mind at the time. 'A Noctern which had a shadow of her own?' It was the only thing he could think of. After all, Nocterns are known—well, were known in previous lives of his—to not possess a shadow of their own. Seeing this Noctern girl wield a shadow of her own that followed behind just like a human... it was a sight to see, to say the least.
Their eyes locked as Zay stared into the endless dark pink of her gaze while she looked back into his dark amethyst ones just before lightning struck again.
"Well, I did buy you... but you're free to go do whatever you want, as I have things to do. I do wish you luck," Zay said with a half-smile on his face, trying to be somewhat considerate.
Naomi stayed silent as rain hammered against the library's roof. The windows were streaked with rain, the droplets falling in a rhythmic, relentless manner, creating glistening rivulets that slid down the glass. Outside, the street lamps flickered to life, casting muted halos through the downpour as metal vents opened with a hiss, releasing plumes of steam into the mist-choked evening.
Her ears twitched slightly, unaccustomed to such a cacophony. She turned her head toward the window, then pivoted on her heels and walked slowly toward it. Reaching out, she lifted her right hand and pressed it against the cool glass. The chill seeped into her palm, and she pulled it back after a few seconds, her expression unreadable as she glanced over her shoulder at Zay.
"And where should I go then? I have no home... I don't even know where I am. And if you're saying that I'm... free, then that means I have no master to follow either."
Zay didn't answer. She was right, and he knew it. He had no idea what to say. She wasn't like a typical Noctern born from desire. She was something entirely different—born of both vampire and Noctern. A hybrid. And in truth, he had no clue what direction to point her in.
Nearly a full minute passed in silence, save for the rain and the distant rumble of thunder. Then Zay's eyes widened for a brief moment. A subtle smile tugged at his lips as an idea formed in his mind. He finally spoke.
"Would you like to join... an organization? It's called Mystic. It's something I'm starting."
"Mystic..." Naomi echoed softly, repeating the word to herself five times quietly. Her eyes slowly lifted to the ceiling. Thick wooden beams stretched overhead, connecting the ceiling to the upper walls. A single rope hung down from one of the beams, and at its base, encased in a narrow glass tube, two thin metal filaments crossed, glowing faintly.
Her gaze drifted back to Zay. She nodded once, then blinked twice. The first blink was slow, her eyes closing gently before reopening at the same pace. The second came faster—her long lashes brushing against the delicate skin beneath her eyes as she opened them again.
She brought her hands together, fingers lacing briefly as she tensed her arms. The muscles in her forearms shifted under her skin. A quiet hum of aura began to flicker around her fingers. Then, without a word, she slipped off her gloves and let them fall to the wooden floor. They landed with a soft thud.
"I'll join then," she said, her voice steady as she raised her eyes to meet Zay's once more and gave him a single, firm nod.
Zay gave a small nod in response and turned toward the door of the room they were in, his footsteps quiet against the floor. Without a word, he walked out. Naomi followed behind him, her steps just as silent. Together, they moved through the vast, dim halls of the library toward its grand entrance. Neither of them spoke—there was no need to. The air between them was filled with silence.
Zay reached the heavy front doors first. He pushed one open and held it there, his hand steady against the handle as Naomi stepped through and Zay followed her out, closing the door behind him. The rain had calmed to a light drizzle, the streets slick with water reflecting the warm glow of gas lamps and the faint hiss of venting steam.
His gaze slid over to Naomi. His eyes move down her body —from the strands of black hair clinging to her face, down the fabric of her sleeveless black dress, across the bandages that covered her arms, and finally down to her bare feet.
"Let's get you some new clothes, and shoes." he said flatly.
Naomi glanced down at herself, her eyes trailing across her body. Confusion flickered in her expression, but she gave no protest. With a brief nod, she accepted the suggestion and fell back into step beside him.
As they walked away from the entrance, Naomi's gaze drifted upward toward the top of the library. A prickling sensation stirred in the back of her mind. She stopped mid-step, her pupils narrowing slightly. Something was watching them. A faint trail of green aura lingered in the air like a mist, curling above the roof's edge. Her ears twitched at the subtle sound of footsteps—fast, light, and retreating.
She said nothing, not yet. The identity of the presence was unclear. Was it someone working with Zay? A scout? A rival? Or perhaps something else entirely? The uncertainty made her cautious.
'This might be an issue for my master...' she thought.
Quietly, she released a wave of her dark pink aura, extending it outward in a controlled twenty-foot radius. The energy shimmered for only a second before she compressed it down, guiding it into the shadows cast by her body. Her aura melded seamlessly into the darkness beneath her feet, hiding it from view. From then on, every step she took carried that aura, concealed within her trailing shadow like a cloak.
Zay noticed the faint shimmer before it vanished. His eyes flicked to her once, then forward again.
'Weird,' he thought. He didn't comment. He didn't care enough to question it, but made a note to keep his senses sharpened. If a Noctern felt the need to hide her aura like that, it meant something was noticed that she didn't exactly enjoy the attention of.
The two of them continued walking through the drizzling rain of Cindra until they stopped in front of a store that was still open. Zay reached out and grabbed the iron handle before pulling the door open, and the two stepped inside.
Naomi shifted her gaze as she sensed the same lingering green aura from across the street. She still didn't mention it, but the presence was beginning to make itself more obvious to her senses.
She turned back to face the storefront, her gaze slowly taking in the rows of garments displayed beneath the soft amber lighting. The interior was warm, cozy, and quietly elegant, the air scented faintly with dried lavender and old wood. Racks of cloaks, tunics, gloves, and boots lined the walls, with several tables at the center displaying folded trousers and carefully bundled scarves.
Behind a polished walnut counter sat a woman with long, pointed ears and a small, sharp nose. Her short silver hair shimmered faintly under the hanging lanterns, and her amber eyes held a calm intelligence. She wore a flowing white dress, its sleeves embedded with tiny emeralds that glinted softly as she moved. At the sound of the door's small bell, she stood gracefully and looked up, her gaze immediately catching Zay and Naomi.
She stepped out from behind the counter and offered a welcoming smile. "Welcome to Miven's Clothes'. My name is Rilov. If there's anything you need, just let me know and I'll be glad to help!"
Naomi didn't respond right away. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she examined the woman's features, lingering on her aura for a moment before glancing around the store. Her attention was soon caught by a pair of crimson-colored gloves resting neatly on a nearby display. She walked over to them, lifted them in both hands, and gently poured a stream of aura into the fabric.
The gloves shimmered, then darkened into a deep pink hue—identical to the color of her aura.
"Woah..." she whispered, eyes wide with faint awe. She retracted her aura, and the gloves slowly returned to their original crimson shade.
"Ah, those are called 'Aura-reactive gloves'," Rilov said, watching with interest. "They're a fairly recent concept—well, introduced a few years ago, but only now starting to catch on here in Cindra."
Zay's gaze lingered on Naomi for a moment before he turned toward Rilov. "We'll just need a simple, all-black tunic, gloves, new shoes, and black trousers. Make sure they fit her properly—or slightly loose."
Naomi gave a small nod at that. She had no desire to keep wearing the dress she had on any longer. It reminded her too much of the market, and she wasn't in the mood to carry that memory any further.
"Certainly!" Rilov replied cheerfully, turning toward one of the larger racks. She quickly sorted through the options before pulling out several black tunics and matching trousers. With practiced ease, she laid four tunic sets across an empty table, each accompanied by a pair of black trousers folded neatly on top.
"We don't currently have a proper way to take measurements," she explained, dusting off her hands. "A partner business took the only sizing device we had, and we won't be getting it back for another year or so. It was sent all the way north to the Kingdom of Iron."
Zay's eyes widened slightly at the name, before narrowing again with suspicion. 'Iron? Why does the northernmost kingdom of Gyro have connections to a random clothing store in Cindra?'
His thoughts raced. 'In my previous life, Cindra and Iron's rulers... King Varnem of Gyro—well, more like the self-proclaimed king of Gyro who fancied himself ruler of all Gyro. If you ask me, he's just an imposter compared to the other kings of the continent. And Queen Rhea Despina of the Kingdom of Iron… she's something else entirely.'
'I never met her in my last life—I never went north—but from what I remember, she was brutal with outsiders, loyal to her own, and had zero tolerance for bullshit. The kind of ruler who'd burn a diplomat for lying and then weep at a peasant's funeral. Rules above all else, yet she still showed remorse, even giving people time off each year to grieve the death anniversaries of loved ones. A king in stature, but a ruthless queen in heart.'
As those memories surfaced, he stood silent, lost in his own mind for several long seconds.
By the time he returned to the present, Naomi had already changed. She now wore a black tunic and matching black trousers. On her hands were the same crimson gloves, now turned dark pink with her aura flowing through them. Long black boots covered her feet and half of her legs as well. She looked up and lifted an arm, gently tugging at the sleeve of his trench coat.
Zay blinked, shaken from his thoughts. He looked down at her and took a steady breath, pushing the noise of the past back into the recesses of his mind.