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Five years ago
413 Horizon Calendar (HC)
AtzilutH ArtifactS
Inside the AtzilutH ArtifactS shop, Infori stood behind the counter, holding an artifact he was wiping clean. The artifact was clean again, even reflecting a small smile on Infori's face—even his red eyes, which were still shining, were clearly reflected.
However, he was distracted by a loud noise in his left ear. Infori turned to his left and saw his father squatting down, opening the desk drawers.
His father appeared to be searching for something inside the drawers, and Infori questioned his father's intentions.
"What are you looking for, Dad?"
His father answered honestly, still searching there. "Of course it's an artifact. If I'm not mistaken, I kept it here, but why isn't it here?"
"What kind of artifact is it?" Infori asked.
"The artifact is a rather large gauntlet," his father turned to Infori. "Have you seen it?"
Hearing that, Infori thought for a moment. He seemed to have seen the artifact his father was referring to, but he didn't know the details.
"The artifact is a gauntlet..."
Infori remembered it a little, so he wanted to confirm it.
His father continued his search, but still found nothing. Meanwhile, Infori placed the artifact he had just cleaned on the table and walked up to the second floor of the shop.
"Where is it? How come I forgot where I put it?"
Infori's father let out a long sigh.
"Haah... There was someone who wanted to buy that gauntlet."
Suddenly, Infori called out to him, making him turn to look at Infori, who had just returned.
"Father."
He was carrying an artifact, a long glove, also known as a gauntlet, that when worn would cover his arm. When you held it, you could immediately feel its material—it was made of a fairly light yet strong iron material.
It was metallic gray, with a line circling the gauntlet near the wrist. It was housed in a clear acrylic case meant to mask its energy.
"...!?"
"Is this the gauntlet you were talking about?"
His father paused for a moment after Infori brought and showed him the gauntlet, but he was immediately delighted to see it.
"...Yes! This is what i were looking for! The Gauntlet of Rebirth! Thank God, I found it!"
Infori then handed the acrylic case containing the gauntlet to his father, and his father was overjoyed to see it. He could clearly see it—the gauntlet that customers in this shop would now purchase.
Infori was still confused at the sight of his father's joy at finding the artifact, but in his mind—he simply assumed it was just another artifact.
"...?"
That's why Infori immediately asked. "What artifact is it? Why are you looking for it?"
"Oh, Infori. This artifact is a special one that someone entrusted to me. They said if I could—they might sell it for a high price."
Infori examined the gauntlet inside the clear box.
"What's so special about it? I just see it as any other artifact."
"Well, that's what makes all rare artifacts so interesting. They always seem ordinary, but they're not what they seem."
His father then handed the box to Infori to hold. Infori examined every part of the gauntlet.
"That artifact is a rare artifact; it has its own name. It's the Gauntlet of Rebirth."
"Gauntlet of… Rebirth," Infori said, his voice very low. "So, did you get this from someone? Who?"
"Uh… I can't tell you now. You'll have to find out later, Infori."
"…"
The ringing sound of a bell was heard.
This caused both of them to turn in the same direction, toward the door, realizing that someone had entered the shop—a customer, obviously.
A figure in a white robe stood up, then removed her hood. It revealed a woman with hair as blue as the midnight sky, skin as white as snow, and eyes as blue as the ocean.
"Excuse me," she said.
Infori's father welcomed her into the shop.
"Welcome to AtzilutH ArtifactS, you seem to have arrived early, huh?"
"Do you know her?" Infori asked.
"Oh, this woman is the one who will be purchasing this gauntlet for 100 platinum."
"I see."
The woman then walked toward them calmly, her face revealing nothing suspicious. She simply smiled a small, friendly smile at the two of them.
"Yes. I was just afraid you hadn't opened it yet, so I came as soon as I could."
But her gaze shifted to Infori, who was still holding the box, and his father immediately understood.
"Oh, this is my son."
Then, Infori introduced herself, leaning forward with a friendly smile. "My name is Infori Atziluth, nice to meet you."
"Wow~, my name is..., nice to meet you too, Infori-kun~," said the woman, introducing herself with a friendly smile.
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A man walked calmly, his feet tapping on the Storm of Road path. Others were walking in the same direction or in the opposite direction, while others were simply relaxing. Since it was morning, many pedestrians were enjoying the atmosphere.
Here, in the inn in the plaza, Lilith had just woken up. She opened her eyes and slowly got out of bed.
"..."
Her bedroom door then rang, knocked on several times by Iris, who was waiting outside.
Back again—The man exhaled, then stretched—it was Infori Atziluth. He had just woken up from his sleep in the inn in the plaza and was out enjoying the scenery.
(...It's so nice to go outside right after a rest. Well, even though it's cold, it's still quite pleasant.)
"Hey, Infori," a voice called out from her left. He immediately turned to check. It turned out that Flynn was walking towards him.
"Oh, Flynn."
Flynn stopped next to him.
"How unusual for you to be outside so early in the morning."
"Well, I just wanted to get some fresh air."
"Get some fresh air? The morning wind on Storm of Road is really cold, so you're still able to survive."
Infori chuckled. "Haha, I have immunity to wind."
"I see," Flynn replied, simply agreeing with his friend's words.
WOOSHHH
A calm breeze then blew from in front of him, gently moving the fabric and his hair, which also moved with ease.