[Realm: Álfheimr]
[Location: Heart Kingdom Outskirts]
[Virelheim Mountain Village]
The journey back to the village had been quiet. The same silence that had draped the descent lingered on the ascent. Though the encounter with the Deseruit Beast hadn't escalated into anything grave, it had left Mikoto with more to think about than he'd care to admit. Something larger had begun to piece together, thanks in part to Gretel's insight—but he knew better than to rely on her alone.
And so now, beneath the shade of a warped overhang, Mikoto sat with his back leaned against the wooden frame of a crooked little building. The sign above him read "The Dust Archive" in faded lettering. The cracked glass windows were cluttered with parchment ads for outdated plays.
