The Bookkeeper

The desert whispered its story—one of hardship and torment. Every movement stirred a desperate desire to find something cool, something merciful to cling to.

It took only a few hours to cross to Lunar City, but with the sun blazing behind them and relentless heat bleeding through the dunes, neither could stomach the desert's tale. It was torture.

Raiden and Noelle doubled over, hands on their knees, panting as they tried to soothe their burning skin. Ash rested against Noelle's shoulder, his face crimson from nothing but the brutal heat.

They were a few steps away from covering the distance to the city's entrance, and the thought of finally being away from the desert made them almost languid with relief.

The city's entrance opened onto a bustling marketplace filled with stalls sheltered beneath colorful cloth canopies. Buildings of sand-colored stone rose around them, adorned with arched windows, intricate latticework, and graceful domed roofs. Palm trees dotted the streets while potted plants spilled from balconies above.

The streets teemed with people in flowing robes and turbans, none paying them any mind. Unlike the lifeless Dark City during daylight hours, this was a city worth visiting. If they didn't know any better, they'd call it the most beautiful in all of Noor. But appreciation would have to wait—right now, they only cared about finding relief from the scorching heat.

"I think we should find a place to stay for a bit…" Raiden said, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Yes, I think so too," Noelle said, her voice barely above a whisper as she forced herself upright.

Raiden glanced at her—sweating but obviously in much better shape than him. He couldn't help but berate himself for how weak this new body had made him. But first things first: he needed a shower before his skin started peeling.

"Come on, let's go," Noelle said, already walking away.

Raiden clenched his fists, forced himself upright, and followed her, wiping the streaming sweat from his face.

The moment Noelle took a step past the entrance, crossing the city's threshold, she paused with a perplexed look. As soon as Raiden caught up to her, he paused too. They exchanged glances, and soft smiles spread across both their faces.

Whatever was causing it remained a mystery, but the air within the city felt so different, so cozy. A pleasant chill ran down Raiden's spine, his body practically vibrating with excitement.

Their exhaustion melted away instantly. It felt like the entire city was one giant sanctuary. Raiden couldn't tell if he loved the atmosphere so much because of the hellish desert they'd just endured, but right then, that cool air was the most beautiful thing he'd ever felt against his skin.

"This is a safe haven," Noelle murmured, her expression more reverent than even Raiden's.

They ventured into the city, their eyes darting between faces while sellers beamed at them with welcoming waves. The streets were carriage-free—just one massive boulevard teeming with merchants and tourists, with benches lined down the middle for weary travelers.

However, Raiden snapped out of his daze and hurriedly reached for his pocket. He needed to exchange his currency from Persa to Nou. The instant he felt the money, his eyes started darting around, searching for somewhere to make the exchange.

A fruit seller on his right caught his eye, smiling and waving. Raiden smiled back.

"You guys should wait for me…" he said to Noelle and Ash as he approached the merchant's stall.

He was wrapped in a robe that pulled taut over his considerable belly. His brown eyes followed Raiden eagerly as he positioned himself to grab whatever fruit might catch his eye.

"I want to buy a few things, but I only have Persa money," Raiden said with a gentle smile. "Do you accept foreign currency, or must I exchange it somewhere?"

The man's cheerful expression melted away, replaced by disgust and disappointment. "I don't take foreign currency," he said bluntly.

Raiden put on a practiced disappointed expression. "I would have liked a few apples…" he said with a sigh. The man barely paid attention to him now, but Raiden wasn't done—he knew he could get more.

"I'm very interested in these apples. Where can I exchange my money to purchase them?"

This should have cheered the man up a little, but it didn't. In fact, he seemed hesitant to interact. Raiden locked eyes with him, tracking his movements, trying to draw him into conversation.

The man let out a sigh and pointed to a white building three blocks away on the left. "There… go there." He wouldn't even look at him.

The man's reaction made Raiden uncomfortable.

Usually, sellers would be enthusiastic about potential customers, but this merchant wasn't his target anyway. Raiden smiled at him and went back to Noelle and Ash.

"We need to exchange our money over there," Raiden said to Noelle, nodding toward the shop as they began walking over.

The moment they were within range, Raiden's expression darkened. Several men lingered in front of the shop, and something about them struck Raiden as wrong.

"These people look very healthy compared to those in Dark City," Noelle commented. Raiden turned to her with a shrug as the men outside the shop began dispersing.

"Every city has its own history, I suppose," he said, stepping up to the shop's wooden entrance.

There were no signs whatsoever indicating what kind of establishment it was, but judging by the noise from inside, it was likely an inn or tavern.

Raiden gently pushed the door open, causing the doorbell to ring, but before he could enter, Ash's voice rang out behind him.

[Something isn't right, Papa.]

Raiden stopped immediately and signaled Noelle to halt while his right hand remained on the door, holding it slightly ajar.

[There is something wrong with this place.]

Raiden knew his instincts were right the moment he felt Ash's heart rate spike in fear. But before he could better assess their surroundings, voices started echoing in his head. They weren't his thoughts, nor Ash's or the System's. The sounds were alien and disjointed—some kind of ancient incantation.

He pulled his hand from the door and clutched his head, Noelle doing the same. The voice brought no pain, only overwhelming stress that made him want to tear it from his mind.

The incantation grew louder, and with it came drowsiness that pulled at his consciousness. He collapsed to the floor, his vision turning blurry.

Through the haze, he saw Noelle collapsing beside him, but before darkness claimed him, he caught sight of the men from the shop returning, rushing toward them with eager excitement in their eyes.

He willed himself to move, but the voice drained what little strength he had left, and darkness swallowed him whole.