After I got off the train and left the subway station in the 18th district, it took me about 20 minutes to walk to my destination.
The place resembled the other residential building where I delivered the second package. It was tall, not a skyscraper, but still quite large.
While the lobby was smaller, it felt lively. Bright yellow couches and chairs lined one side, and an aquarium covered the entire other wall.
Entering, I had half a mind to just sit there for a while and enjoy the cool air inside. That would get me in trouble, though.
I bet that woman is counting down the seconds as she waits for me to call back.
While it would be fun to make her wait, that would make the rest of my week less pleasant, that's for sure.
So, I just walked to the reception desk.
The attendant behind it was a young-looking woman with ginger hair and a pretty face. She wore a yellow shirt and a black vest.
"Welcome! How may I help?" She greeted me with a smile.
Now I just hope I remember the name right.
"Good afternoon. I have a package for a... Alice Valentine? She lives here, right?"
The smile on the woman's face seemed to have faltered for a moment before she coughed once.
"Yes, Ms Valentine is one of our residents. You can leave the package with me. I will bring it to her personally later."
"Ah, sorry. My boss is... a handful to put it lightly. I must hand it over myself, if it's possible."
She looked me in the eye for a few seconds, seemingly deep in thought.
"It's... Well, it's not really a problem... She lives in room 625. 6th floor. The elevator is next to the aquarium."
"Thanks."
With that, I turned around, left the desk, and walked towards the elevators.
"Just..."
Hearing the receptionist's voice from behind me, I turned my head back towards her.
"Just be kind to her. She can be difficult..."
"...Sure? I will do my best."
She nodded her head, returned her attention to her screen, and began typing.
Once in the elevator, I pressed the button on the side, and it began to ascend.
One side was translucent, so the fish in the tank could be seen while in the elevator. Made one wonder just how big the aquarium was.
Well, that was weird. Then again, not being weird is the strangest thing in this city.
"That would make you normal, no? Average even." As if on cue, the same annoying voice echoed in my ears.
"Oh, now you talk." I muttered under my breath, "Finally up for a game? Not like it's a hard thing to win against me."
The only answer I got was silence, followed by a ding of the elevator and the doors opening to a long, wide hallway.
The walls were white, with yellow flowers painted on as decoration.
After two turns, I stood in front of apartment 625. It had a plain brown door with a plaque showing the number. Next to it was a black button with a bell symbol.
The bell went off faintly through the door, but no response came, even after a bit of waiting. So, I pressed it again, this time holding it down for a bit.
What followed could only be described as a cacophony of sounds coming from inside.
Something fell on the ground and broke, then came a dull thud followed by... a cat yowling loudly?
"No! Mr Whiskers!" A girl shouted, before more stuff breaking and falling echoed from inside.
'Should I leave?'
Once things quietened down, I knocked on the door.
"Uh...Package for Alice Valentine?"
Slowly, the door opened, and a girl who looked to be my age came out. She slammed the door behind her so fast I couldn't see anything from the other side.
She was shorter than me, almost by a head, maybe. She had pale skin and long, messy white hair with a slight pinkish hue at the ends.
She wore an oversized white shirt, buttoned incorrectly in a few places, and black shorts.
She also held a curved sword with a circular crossguard and a shiny black scabbard.
What did I say about this city and weirdos? Oh, yes...
"I'm sorry!" She said, turning to face me and holding up the sword with one hand. "I was taking a nap, and then I had some difficulty finding this thing..."
Her face was pretty, but she had her eyes closed for some reason. A slight blush gave her cheeks a rosy colour. Her mouth seemed to always curl up into a faint little smile.
Do I want to ask?
Yes, I do...
"Uh... Okay? I don't know why you need a sword for taking a package, but sure. Must be a rough neighbourhood."
"Hm?" She tilted her head to the side "Sword? This is a seeing aid."
…And I thought the fanatic was going to win the weirdo of the day prize…
"Look."
She pushed the sword toward me, holding it so I could see a light blue string tied into a ribbon between the handle, running through the holes in the circular cross-guard, and covering a bit of the sheath.
"It's tied, so it can't even be drawn. I just need it to see properly. Without it, I'm blind."
"Hm... Guess it's cooler than a cane."
"Right?" She smiled then, "It gets me in some trouble, but thanks to it, I can see somewhat. For example..."
She looked me up and down, or well... moved her head like that.
"Brown dress shoes, long brown pants, white shirt. Around... 16 maybe? 168 to 172 cm tall, lean figure. Pale, but not unhealthy, skin. Long blond hair and... glasses."
I let out a short whistle.
"Wow. That was… pretty accurate. One cool cane. I get why you would want to have it with you now. Is it an artefact?"
"Yes. It used to be my father's. It's a bit strange though... I can't see your eyes..."
I felt my heart skip a beat and my smile falter a bit. Suddenly, my headache worsened. I tried to compose myself, but my fingers kept twitching.
Why is it always my damn eyes? But how did she even…
The sword! It has to be that.
"It's green... But that's enough talk about me. I have a package for you. You are Alice Valentine, right? Or did I get the wrong address?"
"No, that's me. Alice Valentine, at your service."
She did a little courtesy, her smile growing wider.
I nodded, then pulled the bag from my side to the front and took out the one remaining metal box.
After checking quickly for any damage, I held it towards her.
"Here you go. No signature needed."
She ran her hand down the box. Then she tucked it under her arm—the one holding the sword.
"Thank you! Oh, I hope I'm still in time. I need this to get into a good class at the Academy. How about you? Did you apply?"
For a second, I thought about how I should answer that.
"Yeah, I did. Even got accepted. Not that there is much of a choice if you want to become a Scion and actually be able to progress."
Scions of the Shattered World, or simply Scions.
People who are capable of extraordinary feats. Those who enter the worlds on the other side of the Gates and seek power beyond human understanding.
Said powers, and even the process of gaining more after the first step, are suppressed within the city.
Only students — and even they, only on Academy grounds — and people given permission by the government can be exempted from this rule.
"Right." Alice nodded. "Or you could leave the city. But that has its own problems. Besides, I do want to try the school life aspect of it too."
For a little while, neither of us said anything.
"So... Why did you need something from a bookshop for that? Is it...like an answer sheet for tests at the start of the year? Because I know I need one of those too, then."
She chuckled at that.
"No. But that would come in handy."
She leaned her sword against the wall. With her hand now free, she moved the package, then pulled out a linkframe from her pocket.
Holding it to the box's top, the lid popped up.
Inside the package was a book with a white leather cover, runes and symbols running throughout.
"It's a Weissmann Codex. I heard it's the best for those who want to become Scions. Helps with taking the first step."
"Hm..." I hummed, my eyes narrowing as I looked at the book.
"You never heard of it? I guess Solomon's Book is more widely known. It is the standard one, but I heard this one's better. People just don't like it because they are afraid of Lucas Weissmann himself."
"Well, you can't exactly blame them. He's the second most wanted criminal in the country and in the top three of at least two others."
"He's also a genius. He had the best grades and most achievements out of any graduate in the Academy's history. They say that he rivals even Solomon himself. And he is just a fraction of the Founder's age."
"Well, he-" I stopped myself from finishing that sentence.
"That, I can't argue with..." I said after a pause.
I checked my linkframe for the time.
"Better get going. Have to be home soon. See you at the Academy, I guess."
"Ah! Wait!"
As I started to walk away, I heard her voice from behind me, prompting me to turn back.
"Uh, can I have your name?" She asked in a low tone. "I don't know anybody else who wants to go to the same school, so..."
"It's Alexander. Alexander Rosegrave."
"Ah, thank you! See you at school, Alexander!"
She waved vigorously at me while I walked away.
Once I was in the elevator again and the doors closed, I leaned forward and pressed my forehead against the cold metal door.
My headache was getting worse, my head pounding.
"Hah! You almost got caught there. That would be most unfortunate, no? Better be more careful."
"Oh, screw you! All I need now is your commentary. Just go back to your corner and leave me alone. I had enough for today."
When the elevator stopped moving and the door to the lobby opened, I walked outside. With my head throbbing, it was going to be a long way home. I just hoped the voice would stay quiet.
Unfortunately, it didn't…