The streets grew busier and busier as Ellenians started their day, visiting various shops and the market in the town square. Kari searched the brightly lit streets for an enchanted goods store, drawing several looks from passers-by as he strode through.

Chatter throughout the city streets varied. Some were anxious, and some were excited. Most just wanted to pretend the flying metal mountain didn’t exist.

“Do you think the eyesore in the sky could be related to the new human King in the Capital, love?” a kindly heavy-set elvish lady asked her companion, as Kari approached, scanning the storefronts.

“King Rolynd? That seems like a bit of a far-fetched thought, don’t it? I don’t see why he’d do anything that causes such a ruckus. He’s been a far cry better than the old tyrant, be a shame if he were to start causing trouble now. We could be due to another revolution. Humans just love to rebel, don’t they?” the second elf, a male, said, either oblivious to or uncaring of Kari’s presence.

“Sorry about my friend.” The first elf offered to Kari, trying to laugh off the awkward atmosphere.

Kari gave her one look and ignored them.

Eventually finding what he was looking for, he stepped into a quiet, well-lit store. Golden sunlight streamed down from above through skylights made from amber.

There was only one other customer, a young-looking male elf.

The elf was leaning quite eagerly over the counter, discussing a very intricate talisman which lay between himself and the shop owner. The two Ellenians spoke in lilting, musical elvish, which Kari had no hope of understanding.

At Kari’s arrival, the young elf afforded Kari a quick glance but not much more, intent on continuing his discussion with the shop owner. Unfortunately for him, the shop owner smelt a deal in the way of Kari.

“Can I help you?” he asked Kari. The human regarded the elf carefully for a moment before responding, debating how much information he should share.

“Maybe if we could have some privacy,” Kari replied, clearly indicating that he prefer the younger elf to leave. The shop owner raised an eyebrow.

“Elwin, if you would.” The shop owner said. “We can continue our discussion later.”

Elwin merely nodded and took his leave, brushing past Kari as he did so. His golden eyes briefly met Kari’s blue ones, before flicking back down onto the shop’s waxed wooden floor.

“So, what can I help you with?” The shop owner asked once Elwin had exited. “It looks like that bracelet could use some repairs. You’re walking around with an alchemist’s powder bomb strapped to your wrist.”

The elf has a keen eye. Kari noted. “You’re very right. How long will it take, and how much will it cost?” he asked.

“It’s been damaged in many places, but luckily, nothing too individually significant. Shouldn’t take too long. Let’s say, fifty crowns?”

Fifty crowns was a large sum. Enough for a week’s worth of food and lodging at an inn.

But the bracelet was worth far more than that to Kari. “Deal.” The human replied. He handed his bracelet to the shop owner. The enchanter got to work, procuring various tools to operate on Kari’s bracelet. “What do you know about that giant thing in the sky?” Kari asked him.

“That flying continent to the East? No idea, but it’s an eyesore. Our precious morning sun is being blocked by that monstrosity. Casts a shadow larger than the Terrible Crown itself.

“Has it done anything, as far as you can tell? You elves have all sorts of magical devices don’t you?”

“Not really. The dwarves over the sea to the south could probably tell you more. I’m just hoping it leaves without causing too much trouble.”

“…Yeah.” Kari agreed. He discreetly brought out the book he had taken from the body of the mysterious man killed in Kajesh. “Do you know what this is?” he asked.

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The shop owner looked up at Kari, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

“Nay. I can’t say I do. Mind if I take a closer look?” the elf asked back, gesturing.

Kari obliged. The shop owner began to inspect the book, starting with a simple perusal, and then advancing to a tool-assisted inspection. His implements appeared completely random to Kari; things such as amber lenses, bent wooden sticks and strands of fine hair-like plant fibres.

“Forty crowns.” The elf offered a few moments later with a wry glance.

“It's not for sale,” Kari said in a lower, more serious tone than before.

“Worth a try.” The shop owner said with a smile. “Where did you get it?”

“I found it,” Kari said simply.

“…in Kajesh.” The shop owner said, finishing Kari’s unspoken sentence. Kari made to defend himself, his mouth already opening, but the shop owner cut him off with an open-palmed gesture. “Don’t worry. I know how it goes.”

Kari shook his head to clear it. “In any case, can you tell me anything about the book?” he asked.

The shop owner cleared his throat. “Well, it’s certainly enchanted. Bound in animal skin, standard stork-bark paper pages. Outwardly, it could be a normal book if you ignored its small size. Beyond that, I can’t tell you much more than you already know. It's written in a language I’ve never seen before. Our librarians may be able to tell you more. Though frankly, I doubt it. If I had to guess, this language it's written in was invented.”

“Invented? Isn’t every language invented?” Kari asked.

“Yes, but I mean, invented by someone who didn’t want curious eyes to know what is written. Like a cypher.”

“Who would do such a thing?” Kari asked.

“I would be wary of asking that question.” The shop owner advised. “Often with esoteric, enchanted items like these, the will of unsavoury characters tends to be attracted.”

“Hmph… well, thanks for your help,” Kari said.

“Of course.” The shop owner replied coolly as returned to the task of repairing Kari’s bracelet.

Kari wandered around the shop, waiting for the finishing touches to be made by the craftsman. Enchanted items in glassy amber cabinets and shelves ranged in value and application. A magical pincushion which allowed the holder to be pierced harmlessly. Future-vision sunglasses which allowed their wearer to see the most probable courses of fate. A dark, skintight suit of magical fibres that greatly improved one’s flexibility and dexterity. A metal lotus that burrowed into the flesh of its user, granting supernatural toughness and strength. A possessed anchor that would protect its user by teleporting itself into the way of any incoming strikes. There were also charms that improved or modified the performance of one’s Gift. Weapons which drew blood from the user into a network of capillaries, thereby protecting it from being commandeered through Universal Law. Magic enhancers and reagents… The store’s inventory went on and on.

In the end, Kari could not decide on anything to purchase. Items that he may have considered useful to him were simply too expensive.

“Done.” The shopkeeper called.

Kari handed over a fat bag of coins to the smiling elf before stepping back onto the street. Sunlight falling from between the gaps of the Prime Moontree played off the etchings of the freshly repaired seal on the golden bracelet.

The Stasis Bracelet contained a Spirit of Stagnation. By default, the seal was fully active, rendering the bracelet a mere ornament. However, when the bracelet was activated, the seal was weakened, allowing the spirit’s essence to leak out in whichever way the wearer chose. Although Apolaphia had its fair share of old wives’ tales surrounding possessed items, the items themselves were quite commonly used by all sorts of characters.

Possessed items were protected from being tampered with through Gifts or Magic, through Universal Law as they contained souls. Without protection, enchanted items could quickly become a liability if an enemy were to simply destroy or alter them.

While still in the centre of town, Kari resupplied his essential travel goods such as food, as well as securing a new map for the rest of his journey through the forest. He also took the opportunity to have his cloak sewn and patched up after its various abuses at the hands of would-be murderers and bandits.

It might be time for some new clothes soon. Kari thought to himself. But practically, he knew that he wouldn’t have the money to spare. To a traveller, there were more salient things than one’s appearance.

Kari visited Ellenia’s library in the hopes of finding more answers about the book, yet just as the savvy store owner had predicted, Kari failed to learn anything of much import.

Nevertheless, with his preparations done, he continued on his journey, walking through the beautiful elven city. Crossing various streams and bridges, marvelling at the architecture, where everything seemed to exist in harmony with nature. Kari was quite simply enjoying himself. It had truly been a while since the human had visited a place so pleasant. It was a welcome change.

Unfortunately, Kari was completely unaware that he was being followed. Ellenia was quite a busy place, after all, and the pleasant atmosphere had lulled him into a false sense of security.

Eventually, Kari reached Ellenia’s East Gate, on the border of the shade of the gigantic Prime Moontree that Ellenia was founded on. The immediate forest around Ellenia was not too dense, having been tended to by the elves. But a few hundred meters in, the canopy of oak trees became quite thick, blocking out most of the sunlight.

It was only after some time since leaving through the East Gate that Kari noticed a presence behind him. Deep in the forest, barely on the extremity of his Gift’s range, sudden footsteps caused the grass to part behind Kari.

So, the hydrohand stopped walking.

His pursuant also came to a sudden stop.

Kari turned around…