"The gall of that witch....." - It had been a whole week since the man had arrived in the Dome neighbouring Duskae, and only this morning did his companion sent him a letter saying they should meet.

Trips through the forest of Quanta, had never been soft in his body nor his psyche. When the man's body was composed of younger bones, he would sometimes slip into dreams of glory and adventure - sword in one hand and distressed damsel on the other - it was a childish treat, a naive view of the world, something he realised far too late, but one that would still distract him from the constant feeling of dread one would get when travelling through the dark fog.

He refused to admit it, but deep down he understood that the feeling was his everlasting companion, one that he would never be able to shake.. but never had it crossed his mind that one day, moreso, in his latter years he would actually walk on foot through the fog.

"Madness I say! Madness...." - His sanity had been at a rope's end back then, slowly evaporating like alcohol next to a burning stove.

Now, imagine his anger and frustration when not even half a week later, his companion had suddenly come barging into his room asking to do it all over again.

Then to top it all off, to add the cherry on top, his companion - "That witch! That slithering snake!" - or so the man calls her dearly, the woman that was supposed to be in some respect his "guide" abandoned him not minutes after they were allowed inside the Dome known as Dayie.

To call him angry was an understatement, he was pissed; his fists clenched so hard his knuckles had started whitening.

He might have been in the Dome for a week, but because he had gotten lost so much, it had actually only been two days since he had arrived in the city of Dayie - his anger flared up as the memory of stale hay, the stench of manure and the distant mooing resurfaced in his mind. - "Grrr.... Give her a piece of mind! That I will do!"

Like a bowstring drawn tight, the man approached their meeting place.

It stood nestled along a cobbled avenue, its facade gleaming with polished woodwork and gilded accents. Through the glass, delicate pastries - layered with custard, enrobed in caramel glazes, or dusted with powdered sugar - they appeared to glint almost seducingly under the soft reddish light of afternoon.

Above the door, a hand-painted sign in elegant script read: The Velvet Petal - A name that had been in the mouth of all affluent ladies as of late.

This was certainly not a place that he would imagine coming in alone. At such a realisation, a sigh escaped his mouth and along with it, the anger he held within fizzled away.

"No, of course. I imagine it's hard to carry a burden such as I when trying to follow an elusive lead. - - The man had already started forgiving his companion in his heart.- "Perhaps I was being too harsh? Yes.... Of course. This is that kind of job after all"

Calmed and collected - this is how a passerby would describe him if they say him now - He ran along the waxed smooth strands of his moustache, the last vestiges of his anger slipping from his fingers as he did so, before entering the premises of The Velvet Petal.

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*****

- You wouldn't believe the wonders this city has to offer Little Lotus! - before the man adressed as Lotus had even managed to order anything, the woman he was meeting with barraged him with word after word, her eyes sparkling with excitement - I stood on the cliffs of the 20th district, watching as the mist lifted by the waterfalls rose over the valley. The 25th district had very intricate stonework, the scent of exotic spices also filled the air. The crystal clear lakes of the 4th district…..The golden wheat fields of the 6th district….

Lotus's jaw started tightening, each breath filtering from his mouth coming ragged and sharp, like steam hissing from a pressure valve about to burst.

*Crack* *Crack*

Unknowingly, he grabbed the end of his once priced moustache, each brush making it more disorderly as Lotus listened at the list of her "fun and enjoyable" activities.

It wasn't until a while later that she stopped - "Is there a hidden meaning I am not aware off?" - understading glinted within his eyes for he knew that this wasn't uncommon for people in their profession

But as he was thinking about the meaning of her words, she continued - …. Oh! Have I mentioned the cliffs of the 20th district yet? - A throb of anger passed by Lotus's temple.

- .....Anything else? - Lotus hissed.

Perhaps watching her little prank take effect had amused her for a gingerly laugh escaped her red supple slips.

Lotus hid his face, the gazes surrounding them piercing the back of his skull, among them, the most painful were from the maids around who were telling him with their gazes to keep it down.

- So? What did you call me in for? - Lotus tried to divert their conversation to the point of their meeting.

He was developing a mild migraine, he was afraid that any longer would cause one of his veins to pop.

But a soft delicate hum came instead of an answer. The woman in front of him had started playing with her tea cup's rim. Seeing this, Lotus could do nothing but shake his head.

No matter how much he tried to understand her, he had never been able to, the blindfold hiding her eyes was also doing the same with all of her thoughts.

Before long one of the shop's employee approached their table, bringing with him a tray on which a ramekin with some sugar, a mug of cocoa as well as some roasted smores could be found.

The woman lifted up her head, interested at the new scent dancing around her nose. - I am glad too see you haven't changed Connor. - It was a name that Lotus hadn't heard in a while, but nonetheless a welcome form of adress between close friends.

- I am glad to see you haven't changed either you old hag - Connor said in response.

He wanted to say more but then he noticed that after the employee had set the ramekin on the table, he hadn't left.

- Is there anything else? - he was prompted to ask.

At the question, the employee opened and closed her mouth intermittently, her hands flaying around to convey something, it was like watching a fish out of water. Ultimately, all she could manage was a small gasp before bowing and scurrying back to the counter. Yet her eyes, along with many of ther other workers, never left them.

- Out with it Julietta. - Connor adressed the woman in front of him with a hint of amusement. - What kind of thing have you done to the poor workers here?

"Me?" - she seemed to say as she pointed at herself - Nothing - she answered confidently.

Once again, she kept her adress brief. She then proceeded to scoop a spoonful of sugar into her tea before bringing it elegantly into her lips - It's still too sweet - her expression twisting and contorting in a grimace after taking a sip.

Connor added some into his cocoa - Still sweet? It's sugar, of course it is still sweet - only to pull away from the offending taste.

- THIS IS SALT! - he exclaimed reflexively.

After this, the owner could no longer bear their presence. Thus, they were promptly escorted out.