As it turned out, finding a single person based on their name was near impossible. Even when he asked around for any famous Melissas, all he got in return were blank stares and hastily said sorries. After half a day of searching, Daniel cursed himself for not asking the witch for more information. He had been so preoccupied with leaving that it had slipped his mind.

So, it was with surprise that he heard someone hollering at him. “You there! Come back with new clothes, have you!? You better pay up now.”

Turning his head, he noticed a place he had seen what felt like an age ago.

Madam Li’s Wonderful Fortune Shop.

She was still sitting in the old, rickety chair, her beads swaying in the wind. Compared to before, her green and blue silk garments were replaced by a traditional red robe, leaving a bit too much flesh exposed for a woman her age.

“Ah! It’s you,” Daniel said, recalling old memories. She had called him poor until anger consumed him. At the same time, she had also directed him to the church. Had he not heeded her suggestion that day, his life would’ve been completely different.

“Shush. Fewer words, more money,” Madam Li said, pointing at a nearby bowl. “Five crowns for the fortune I read you previously.”

Daniel pondered the issue for a few moments, but he supposed he owed her that much. Her smile got wider as she heard the pleasant sound of iron hitting iron. Biting into it and examining it under the sunlight, she must have concluded it was genuine.

“I’m feeling generous today, and you look confused. For the small price of ten crowns, I’ll help divine whatever you’re looking for.” Like a shark smelling blood, she glanced at Daniel’s coin purse. He clicked his tongue at her.

“That’s too expensive. Ten crowns for two questions - that’s the most I can do.” It was no small amount of money, and if he had to spend the rest of the day looking for Melissa, then so be it.

“Do you take fortunes for mere farts!? I am performing a great service for you at a cheap price! Ten crowns for a question is more than reasonable.”

Daniel jumped back from the sudden cry of outrage. He met her gaze, and then decisively turned around. Before he could count to three, he heard another shout coming from behind him.

“Hold on. God bless my soul, I’m willing to perform charity for the poor and the needy. If you’re too impoverished to pay ten measly crowns for a question, so I’ll answer one extra, free of charge,”

Madam Li’s voice grew louder and louder, grabbing the attention of several passersby. Suddenly, Daniel found his skin to not be thick enough. He never was any good with crowds.

“Why are you doing this?” he asked as he came closer to her.

“Child, everyone has to make money. Just because you’re poor doesn’t mean I have to be,” she cackled at his blush and rising anger as he dropped the ten coins into the bowl.

“Alright, alright, ask your questions,” she said.

“A witch asked me to deliver a package to someone named Melissa. Where can I find her?”

Without skipping a beat, she replied. “Denvar Street. She has a lovely little shop set up there - can’t miss it.”

“Know her?” he asked, surprise written on his face.

“Old crones need to know each other in order to survive out here. I’m sure she has something fun planned for you.” Madam Li said while smiling ominously.

“Second question. I’m heading out for an important expedition in a few days. How will that turn out?” he asked the only question that truly mattered to him. The more he thought about it, the more nervous he got.

She sighed, picking up a cloudy and chipped crystal ball. Then, she proceeded to bring it right next to her right eye and stare into one of the cracks. The doubt that she was a scam artist instantly doubled in Daniel’s mind.

The crystal ball began to emit a pale glow. Mist twirled around like an otherworldly dancer, creating countless shapes and figures. A faint crackle of mana escaped the crystal, reflecting a thousand different possibilities.

“A bloody moon, a misty night, and a harsh sun. Draw your own conclusions from that,” she said, carelessly tossing the crystal ball to the ground and slumping into her rocking chair.

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Truth be told, he didn’t know what to make of it. He already expected that it would be bloody, and he knew the wolf could turn into mist, but that seemed too obvious to even consider. The only question was whether the harsh sun would be directed towards his enemies or him.

“Well, thank you anyways,” he said, still deep in his thoughts.

“Yeah, yeah. Next time bring some more money with you, you poor bum.”

She just refused to have a nice, pleasant conversation without insulting him every two seconds.

As he followed instructions to his new destination, he was surprised to find that Denvar Street was one street over from the beast shop. Then again, any time Daniel came here, he kept his head low to not provoke any undue attention. Now that he was here, it was just like Madam Li had said - the shop was impossible not to notice. In the midst of grey, black, and blue buildings, a pink, pastel-painted cottage drew the attention of anyone walking by. Soft clouds were carelessly doodled on top of the walls.

On top of the building was a hanging emblem of a white feather, sparkling no matter which angle one looked at it. Next to it was a signboard, and on it, written in intricate, elegant letters, was Twilight Dreams.

Aha, perhaps the trip would be worth it after all. If there was one thing he loved, it was sleeping. A soft chime resonated through the shop as Daniel opened the door on which hung the same dream shapers he had seen in the village and revealed a scene from what could have been a painting. He stepped on a lush purple carpet that softened his steps and looked around.

Nearby, luminescent orbs hovered mid-air, bathing the room in navy blue. A polished mahogany table sat low to the ground surrounded by four fluffy, white pillows, one of which was occupied by a fat cat. It lazily rolled on its belly, looking at Daniel with its two upside-down eyes. On the table sat two clay cups, either half-full or half-empty depending on one’s mood.

The occasional shelf here and there housed both worn and new books, filling the air with the ever-so-familiar scent of paper, parchment, and ink. It mixed with the sweet flavour of both vanilla and lavender to create one of the most pleasant aromas Daniel had ever smelled.

Deeper into the room was a small counter with an open journal with doodles of small animals covering every inch of the parchment. Though the artist wasn’t skilled, there was a certain charm to it all. Above it, on another shelf, was a wide array of products that would cut deeply into his finances. “Slumber Tea”, “Starlit Blanket”, “Dreamcatcher Amulet”, and “Lullaby Music Box” promised Daniel to fall into such sleep that he might never wake up again. He wanted it all.

“Oh, dearie, we’ve got a visitor.”

An elderly voice came from behind a string-bead curtain, and soon after, a woman followed. The first thing he noticed was a luxurious blue nightgown that resembled a ballroom dress more than anything else. It enveloped her so that it must have been two sizes too big, and a large portion of it dragged along the carpet behind her. He had to admit - it did look comfortable.

Melissa herself looked to be a woman in her sixties. Her face was surprisingly free of wrinkles, and if not for her voice and the way she walked, she could’ve passed for being twenty years younger. She quickly stopped by a mirror, brushed her curly, brown hair, and turned back to smile at Daniel.

“Welcome to Twilight Dreams. Make yourself at home here,” she said, meeting his gaze. Daniel stared into her white crystal eye, which sparkled with magic. For a moment, he forgot to even think, lost in its depths.

“Melissa, right? I’ve got a delivery from the witch in the bog,” he said, snapping out of his reverie and putting down his backpack. From it he pulled out a brown box.

Her smile dropped for just a moment, enough for Daniel to wonder if he had imagined it.

“From sweet old Lucy? It’s been ages since I’ve seen her. How is she doing?” Melissa beamed at him as she took the box and hid it behind the counter.

“Dealing with a nasty curse. She must have offended the wrong sorceress.”

“How horrible. Then again, Lucy has always been very adventurous. I’ve always told her to stop playing around with fate.”

Daniel saw her hold up a water stone and fill up an empty cup. Plucking a few leaves from a potted plant and dropping them in, she cupped her hands around the mug, which flashed orange for a brief moment. Just seconds later, the water was steaming hot.

“A friend of Lucy is a friend of mine. I couldn’t possibly let you go without repaying you. Hold on, I’ll grab some coins from the back. Have some tea in the meanwhile,” she said, placing the mug on the table.

“It’s fine. I can’t possi-”

“I insist. My mother, may Morvina bless her soul, taught me proper hospitality. It’ll be just a moment,” she said, interrupting him before he could say anything else.

Daniel scratched his head as she went past the bead curtain. He sighed and sat down, staring at his reflection in the cup. It smelled of lavender and mango. As he reached to pick it up, his hand stopped mid-motion and a thought struck him as odd. Perhaps it wasn’t the wisest of ideas to drink tea in a shop that sold sleep for crowns. Besides, she was also friends with the witch and Madam Li, which automatically made her untrustworthy.

And so, he waited and counted the seconds in silence. The shop was whisper quiet, and even his own breathing felt too loud here. A minute passed, then two, and before he even knew it, he was leaning against the table, struggling to keep his eyes awake. His shoulders became relaxed, his arms were no longer tense, and he couldn’t muster any strength to move. Even thinking was so, so much effort. When was the last time he was this relaxed?

Sleep was beckoning him to come into her sweet embrace with each moment. He softly breathed out, now staring directly into the cup. Once again, he breathed in the scent of the tea.

The darkness took him.