Entering the hotel, the inside appeared just as nice as the outside. Strewn about was comfortable furniture along with a coffee table sitting upon a dull red carpet. At the front was a help desk with a young lady whose smile was radiant.

As the three approached the front desk, the goblin remained cloaked and kept very close to Edith.

“Hello there,” Abigail greeted with her signature smile. “Could we get a room with two beds, please?”

“Of course!” With an overly joyful expression on her face, the beautiful lady with brown curly hair tied up in a bun and dark brown eyes reached for a room key labeled 208.

After naming the price of the room, the three looked between each other. Neither of them particularly wanted to pay, but eventually one of them had to give in. Soon, Edith relented and gave the lady the money with a heavy sigh.

Making their way through the hotel and up a couple flights of stairs, they eventually arrived at their room. Agnes rubbed her back while her face contorted in pain.

“So much walking…” she mumbled to herself.

Since they had been fighting and traveling around the forest for most of the day, Agnes’ back and legs were aching severely. So, as soon as they entered the room and she spotted the bed, she immediately sat down to rest. Similarly, the others did the same and they all rested for a few hours.

When Abigail noticed that the sun was beginning to sink under the horizon and street lights were illuminating the quickly darkening streets, she stood up and stretched a bit.

“I’m going to head out and expand my power a bit. Since we have quite a bit of exterminating to do, it doesn’t hurt to prepare,” she said whilst sauntering out of the darkly painted wooden door of the room.

“I think I’m going to do the same, you don’t mind watching the goblin for a little while, do you?” Without allowing Agnes to respond, Edith also left the hotel room.

Actually, I do, Agnes thought to herself as she glanced towards the creature. I should probably investigate who was stalking us.

Edith met up with Abigail who was already at the end of the hall. Quietly discussing something, they nodded to each other and parted ways.

Reaching the streets, Edith strolled down the side of the road as she watched vehicles drive past and people exiting trolleys to return home. After a few minutes of just sightseeing, she slipped into a dark alleyway that was made even darker by the setting sun.

Against the wall sat an older gentleman. He had a bit of stubble and almost lifeless eyes. It was clear to anyone that he was worse for wear and his tattered coat and pants only accentuated that fact.

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“Hello,” Edith greeted.

The man, who was slightly confused at the sudden greeting, responded in kind.

“H-Hello, is there a problem?”

“Oh no, not at all. I just wanted to ask you a simple question.”

“Oh… uh, alright?”

“What is it that you desire?” She asked, staring deeply into his green eyes.

Arop a building across the street from the alleway sat the strange figure with observant gray eyes. He narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized the interaction between Edith and the vagrant.

“So, what are we looking at?” Agnes mocked as she stood right beside him.

Startled, the figure lunged back from her. He was incredibly confused on how he didn’t sense her approaching at all.

Agnes smirked slightly as she saw that the figure had an unusually forgettable and ordinary face. It wasn’t so much that she didn’t bother to remember him, but it was more that she couldn’t.

A magical effect? Or could it be an artifact? She wondered to herself silently.

“Tell me, why are you following us? Let me clarify now, if you don’t answer immediately, I’ll kill you,” Agnes asked, pointing her cane at the figure.

Chuckling, the figure didn’t answer as he leisurely made his way towards the edge of the building. Smiling, he spread out his arms and simply fell backwards.

Sighing, Agnes went over to investigate. Unfortunately, the moment she peered over the edge, the figure had vanished.

“What I… desire?” The man asked again, confused.

“Yes, I am just simply curious.” Edith couldn’t contain her smile.

“Well… a home would be nice. Certainly some cash.”

As the man thought deeply, Edith waved her hand, causing purple light to form from thin air. The purple light curiously moved around and expanded until it seemed to engulf everything.

The man’s eyes jolted open and he sat up from the bed he found himself in. He wore a nightgown and saw that he was in a large bedroom of sorts with expensive looking furniture all around him. Strangely, he had a sense of familiarity with his surroundings.

“A… dream?” The man mumbled.

Happiness welled up in him, causing a large grin to stretch across his face. “A dream! Of course, I was never homeless!”

He joyfully jumped out of bed and exited his bedroom into an extravagant and large hall. Covering the walls were paintings and detailed statues of important figures. Traveling down the hall, memories came flooding into his mind, memories that felt so real and undeniable.

In his mind, he was an extremely wealthy businessman who owned multiple companies. He had three kids with a gorgeous wife who lived with him in his mansion. Truly, he had an enviable life, or so he thought.

Still in the alley, Edith continued to grin as she watched the man’s eyes regain its luster in his own world. Filled with vigor, she could feel herself grow stronger with power gained from the overwhelming happiness that the man felt in that moment. To put it simply, she absorbed the power that the man’s soul exuded as he sat in a dream-like state.

“Hmm,” she mumbled to herself. “I haven’t even learned this man’s name yet.”