I walked back over to my bench, my absolute favorite spot in the district, thanks to the deep, cool shade of the old oak tree, and sat down once more to think. I needed to figure out how to infiltrate the Dodorant Citadel completely on my own. But there was a glaring issue: I didn't actually know how to get there.
Standing up, I gripped my canvas cloak tightly around my shoulders and began wandering the bustling streets of the 4th District, keeping my eyes peeled for a cartographer or a shop that sold regional maps.
As luck would have it, my eyes caught a familiar face. Set up along the cobblestone path was the stall of Brick, my favorite merchant. He was a good man who always sold his items at a fair, low price.
The moment I approached, Brick smiled warmly.
"You again, traveler! Caring well for that notepad I gave to you? I know you're mute, but tell me, what can I do for you today?"
I pulled out the very notepad he had gifted me, flipped to a clean page, and wrote down two words before showing it to him:
Dodorant Citadel
Brick's eyes widened slightly in understanding.
"Ah, you're looking for the geography of the eastern waters. The Citadel itself is classified, but it's detailed right on the official map of Lulu City. Well, I happen to have a few of those maps right here. Since you're my favorite customer, traveler, I'll let it go for a very low price. Just one silver coin."
Relieved, I dug into my leather purse, handed him a single silver coin, and accepted the parchment. The map of Lulu City clearly illustrated the surrounding eastern territories, detailing the exact location of the isolated island where the Dodorant Citadel stood.
As I tucked the map securely into my cloak, I looked up at the sky. The harsh glare of high noon had finally faded, the sun dipping lower into the afternoon sky. The intensive street inspections by the knights had finally wound down for the day. It was finally safe for me to move without the constant threat of being cornered by a patrol squad.
With the map in my possession and a plan forming in my mind, I turned on my heel and quietly proceeded toward the gates of the 3rd District, heading straight for the comfort and secrecy of my safehouse.
I slipped quietly into the 3rd District, the familiar sights of the residential quarter bringing a slight sense of relief after a chaotic day. As I walked down the cobblestone path, I crossed paths with Renny, who stopped in his tracks upon seeing me.
"Eirene, you're back! You've been gone for four whole days. Your little sister has been worried sick about you."
My heart sank a little. Evelyn. My precious baby sister. I had been so intensely focused on hunting down the Neospider Queen and coordinating with Alta that I completely forgot to leave a note or warn her that I'd be absent for a few days. If I had just used my blood-wings to fly back and forth during my partnership with Alta, the travel time would have been slashed to nothing, but I couldn't risk exposing my monstrous form.
I gave Renny a grateful nod, handed him my silver toll along with my status card to log my safe re-entry into the district, and hurried toward House 132.
Reaching the front porch, I rattled the doorknob and found it firmly locked from the inside. Renny had mentioned it was her day off from her duties as a Luminous Knight, so she was bound to be inside. Instead of forcing it, I raised my right hand and tapped out a specific, rhythmic knock, a secret code that only Evelyn and I knew.
A moment later, the lock clicked, and the heavy wooden door swung open.
There stood Evelyn, looking absolutely beautiful. She was wearing the simple commoner dress I had recently bought for her, and just as Alice had predicted, it fit her frame perfectly. But what caught my eye immediately were the bioluminescent blue-green tips of her hair, flaring brightly, a clear, physical manifestation of her relief and lingering anxiety.
"Big sister! Where have you been? I've been so incredibly worried for you!"
My heart melted. Still balancing my heavy purse, which now contained the map of Lulu City and the classified files on Don Anthony, I reached out with my lone right hand and gently patted her head to soothe her. I looked directly into her eyes and subtly moved my lips, forming the silent word:
Sorry.
No voice came out, but my genuine remorse was written all over my face.
Evelyn, knowing me better than anyone, understood instantly. The bright glow at the tips of her hair began to soften into a calm, gentle shimmer.
"It's okay, big sister, I'm just glad you're safe. Come inside, I actually prepared some pastries that I bought from the market earlier. Let's eat."
The moment I stepped inside, my survival instincts kicked in. I immediately went around the room, pulling shut the heavy curtains that Evelyn had opened to let the afternoon light in. With the room safely dimmed, I unstrapped the heavy Death Chant Shotgun, unhooked my purse, and hung my canvas cloak onto the coatrack.
Free from the constraints of my clothing, I finally let my guard down. With a soft rustle, my massive crimson blood-wings deployed, stretching out fully into the open space of the living room.
Evelyn watched them unfurl, a warm smile spreading across her face.
"It's good to see you back in your true shape, big sister."
I walked over to our worn-out couch and collapsed onto the cushions. My wings relaxed completely, draping comfortably over the back and sides of the sofa. I looked at my sister, making eye contact, and moved my lips deliberately to convey my thoughts, letting her read my silent words:
"Sister, I accomplished our mission. During those four days I was gone, we successfully fended off the monsters that were being controlled by the immoral rogue knights."
A rare, genuine smile tugged at my lips, and my wings twitched slightly in satisfaction.
Suddenly, a spark of memory hit me. I remembered the parting gift the Petrivna Tribe had given to us before Alta and I left the cavernous depths. I stood up from the couch, went over to the coatrack, and rummaged through my purse.
I pulled out the pouch of exotic agricultural seeds and the beautifully bound tribal recipe book, walking back to show them to Evelyn.
She tilted her head, her blue-green hair tips shimmering with curiosity.
"Huh? What is this, Eirene?"
I grabbed a scrap of paper from the table and quickly jotted down an explanation:
A recipe book and rare seeds from the Petrivna Tribe. For you to cook and grow.
Evelyn's eyes lit up as she took the gifts into her hands, flipping through the pages of unique tribal dishes.
"Wow... thank you, big sister! I can't wait to see what kind of pastries and meals I can make with these."