As consciousness suddenly jerks into my waking mind, I find myself once more in the familiarity of my apartment. Yet, remnants of a vivid dream cling stubbornly to the corners of my consciousness, refusing to dissipate with the morning light. “ Uhg! That dream again. However, I think that the last part was new. I can’t even fully remember it. Last I had that dream was before meeting with Mister DoDo. It was even before coming to this apartment.”
As I contemplate the enigma of my dreams, a soft nudge against my side draws my attention. Lyla, a peculiar moss cat with four eyes, my loyal companion and ever-present source of comfort, greets me with gentle affection. I offer her a fond scratch behind her ears, feeling the familiar texture of her mossy fur beneath my fingertips. There's a strange parallel between her and the majestic panther that haunts my dreams, a similarity that has never failed to intrigue me. Lyla has been by my side since childhood, her ageless presence a testament to her life aether attunement. Though I can't pinpoint her exact age, I know she has been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember.
Shaking off the lingering tendrils of my dream, I rise from my bed and prepare for the day ahead. A glance in the mirror reveals a fair-skinned youth with moss-green hair and iridescent eyes staring back at me. I notice that my disguise module has been deactivated, revealing my true appearance to the world. With a resigned sigh, I reach for my necklace, a tangled web of feathers, leaves, flowers, and various natural aetheric materials.
Among the chaotic jumble of adornments, my gaze falls upon a rainbow-coloured feather, its vibrant hues dancing in the morning light. It's a beautiful specimen, but as I inspect it closer, I realize that its module has dimmed, its once brilliant glow reduced to a mere flicker. With a frown, I carefully remove the malfunctioning module, examining it for any signs of damage or wear. Finding none, I resign myself to the fact that it simply needs to be replaced.
“Where did I put the rainbow cuttlefish scales again?” Rummaging through the cluttered drawers of my modest abode while going through my morning routine, I unearth a forgotten treasure—a handful of shadow-stalker fur, a somewhat rare material prized for its unique properties. A spark of inspiration ignites within me as I realize that this fur could be the key to upgrading my disguise module. With a sense of anticipation, I set to work, carefully blending the shadow stalker fur with a pinch of rainbow cuttlefish scales and the previous module, each shimmering scale reflecting the morning sunlight in a dazzling display of colour. The fur becomes unassuming shadows and striking dark borders as they mix with the previous module.
As I weave the strands of fur and scales together, I can feel the latent energy coursing through them, a potent reminder of the magic that suffuses the world around me. With precision, I shape the mixture into a small, marble-sized module, channelling my own aether into the concoction to bind it together. The process is both exhilarating and draining, the delicate balance of aetheric energies requiring my utmost concentration.
After what feels like an eternity, the module finally takes shape before me, its surface shimmering with iridescent hues that seem to shift and change with every passing moment. As I keep looking at it, it sometimes feels unremarkable and others a beautiful gem that I want to look at. "This is going to be handy during my meeting with Mr Oliver."
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With a satisfied smile, I insert the module into the rainbow feather, feeling a surge of power as the two elements merge seamlessly together. It's a testament to my skill as a crafter.
With the module securely in place, I take a moment to adjust its settings, fine-tuning the illusion to suit my current needs and make me unremarkable. I watch with a mixture of fascination and satisfaction as my appearance begins to shift before my eyes, my moss-green hair darkening to a rich ebony hue, and my iridescent eyes losing their otherworldly glow, settling into a warm shade of brown.
With the final adjustments made, I take a step back and admire my handiwork. With my disguise module in place and my appearance suitably altered, I turn my attention to the tasks that lie ahead. The clock on the wall reminds me that time is of the essence, and I can't afford to dawdle any longer. With a quick glance at the mirror to ensure that my disguise holds true, I set about my morning routine, moving with practiced efficiency as I prepare for the day ahead.
Dressed in bark-textured jeans and a hoodie lined with light-coloured fur, I double-check my backpack to ensure that all of my essentials are accounted for. Satisfied that everything is in order, I lace up my stony moss-textured boots and make my way to the door. After exiting my apartment I place a module into my wooden door so that it melds into its frame and no one can open it without me extracting the module.
As I step out into the bustling streets of the city, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement coursing through my veins. Today is no ordinary day—it's the day of my meeting with Mr. Oliver, a prominent figure in the world of enchanted gadgets. With a nervous flutter in my stomach, I set off towards my destination, eager to showcase my wares and make a name for myself in the competitive world of magical craftsmanship.
The journey to Mr. Oliver's office is uneventful, except for the time when the eye-like stone marble seemed to vibrate slightly, it is an item that activates when someone is staring at me intently, though it could have been a mistake as I still had my disguise module activated. The streets teeming with life as the city awakens to the morning of a new day. But as I approach the nondescript building that houses Merchants of Enchanted Gadgets, a sense of anticipation washes over me. I had thought that the building would be more extravagant but after checking the address I find that this is it.
As I step through the doors of the office building. As I enter it I hear a robotic voice say, “ Welcome to Merchants of Enchanted Gadgets or M.E.G for short. How can we help you.” A holographic man in a tuxedo appears before me. I say, “I have a meeting with Mr Oliver about selling some of my wares.” It says back to me, “Yes, we have an appointment about that. You must be Mr Anavrit. Please sit in the waiting room. We will call you when Mr Oliver is ready.” It then took me to the waiting room to sit down. As I sit down I feel that the chair I am sitting down in is the worst one I have sat in all my life. I think, “How can such a named company have these horrid seats?”
After a couple of minutes, the holographic butler appears in front of me and takes me to meet Mr Oliver.
With all of my courage, I raise my hand to knock, steeling myself for the encounter that lies ahead. Before entering the room I activate the new setting of my upgraded disguise module, making me seem more interesting. With a deep breath, I push open the door and step inside, ready to face whatever challenges await me on the other side.