The underground realmgate warehouse of Soragant's MIST Union HQ popped out in front of the Night siblings as they passed through the dimensional portal. As the two returned back to the warehouse, they felt the familiar chill of the underground.
It was as if both realmgate divers reverted back to the time before they traveled to the Prosperous Kingdom Realmgate. Their adventuring leather outfits disappeared, replaced by their original, mundane, modern clothing.
It was like a dream fading away as reality embraced them. Yet, the low-level spatial backpacks they were holding in their hands told them that the dream might not be less real than reality.
Sparrow took his breath to adjust his mindset. Unlike the Prosperous Kingdom they had just left, this world was stifled by routine and surveillance. They had to be cautious.
"Row! Ree!" A voice broke through the uneasy silence. Sparrow turned to see Autumn Elheart, their aunt, standing with her arms crossed against the fluorescent lights. Her fair skin glistened under the harsh white, and her green eyes sparkled with maternal concern.
"We're back, Li'l Aunt!" Canary chirped, her bright mood unchanged by the gloom that often enveloped their reality.
"Any issues?" Autumn lifted an eyebrow, already half aware from the tired drawn lines across the siblings' faces that their journey might hold more than what met the eye.
Sparrow wore a calm façade, nodding in response. "It was normal. Just like what you have explained," he replied, his voice steady, but an air of unspoken truth lingered.
Canary's gaze darted sideways at Sparrow, sensing that now was not the time to reveal all. Instead, she utilized her gift, [Mind Power], a soft whisper threading through their soundless connection. 'It's time for your Timeless Jellyfish, Li'l Aunt.'
Autumn's expression shifted, the astuteness of a seasoned agent dawning on her. "Alright," she stated, already summoning her magical soulcard and crushing it.
As shimmering light enveloped her, the Timeless Jellyfish materialized again. Its pure, translucent body moved as though swimming through the air. The moment enveloped them in the warmth of timelessness, disconnecting them from the audience of the real world.
"Now, tell me everything," Autumn instructed the siblings with serious curiosity.
With the world muted, Sparrow and Canary exchanged glances before launching into the tales from the Prosperous Kingdom. They described that the realmgate didn't just have one single mission... to explore and survive, like what their aunt informed them.
Sparrow's {Eye of Truth}, now upgraded to {Eye of Wisdom}, had unveiled more than mere exploration; it had revealed intricate plots and clandestine connections.
They revealed that there was a secret mission to investigate the fallen nobility, entangled in the web of vampires threatening the realm. And this could only be encountered when they reversed the currently accepted strategy. Only by exploring the outskirts first and the city later, would they be able to encounter the elements that could solve the secret mission.
Canary's voice fluttered eagerly, in a rapid fire speed. "We met Leon Hunt, Li'l Aunt. He was the protagonist of that world! He was a badass monster hunter. But a little gloomy though. Together, we fought the vampire nobles. They were ugly as hell. And then, there were those stinky hellhounds too. Hah! My flying knives destroyed them easily. And then, a vampire boss appeared and beat that Mr. Hunt down. But Birdbro and I defeated this boss later. We're even more awesome than that Leon Hunt, aren't we?"
"Awesome indeed," Autumn raised her eyebrows, amused, despite the seriousness of the situation. "There is more to it, right?"
Both siblings nodded in unison, Sparrow adopting a more serious tone. "The Secret of the Sage King. It was a unique legendary quest. I don't think it can be encountered again."
Canary started her rapid fire story telling again, "We finally solved that quest just before we were back here. It's in a library, Li'l Aunt. There's a secret spatial hall. The former king was chained there. But he was not king anymore. He transformed into a devil, the Devil Sage. We fought him, but he was cheating. He could teleport and summon demons. Luckily, I'm amazing and had created many magic shards. We beat him in the end. I'm almost dead though."
"You almost died?" Autumn whispered, widening her eyes in deep concern. The realmgate was supposed to be a 'newbie dungeon' which should not be that dangerous. "What happened?"
Canary shuddered at the memory. "I broke my leg and got pierced by the devil's black spear. But that ugly guy got pierced by my lightning knives too. Hah! Take that, stupid devil!" The tiny bundle of energy continued in full enthusiasm, quickly bouncing back from a moment of gloom.
More secrets spilled between them. The siblings described the twists and turns of each fight, their rewards, and their rapidly increasing familiarity toward their power.
Yet, what struck Autumn most was the siblings' current levels in their mystery classes. Achieving the tenth level in just one realmgate dive was never heard before. "You both advanced beyond what I could have imagined…"
As the shimmering light of the Timeless Jellyfish slowly waned, Autumn quickly made a decision. "The information you've acquired from the realmgate needs to be shared. We need to whatever help we can to face the surreal creatures threatening our world."
She sighed and continued, "However, it won't be now. And it won't be us who shared this. I'll find a way to anonymously spread the information. I don't want to paint a target mark in our bodies. Too dangerous." She gazed beyond them, where the walls seemed to hum with unseen energies, as remnants of realmgate magic entwined with their present.
Canary, grinned, her green eyes alight with determination. "We understand, Li'l Aunt. Low key, positive mindset, nonstop vigilance, right?" She quoted the Elheart's family principle eloquently.
Sparrow nodded, his silence speaking volumes. There was grandeur in fame, but there lay wisdom in caution.
The Timeless Jellyfish disappeared completely. Time, once more, moved following its natural course.
"Alright! I'm pretty sure you'd prefer to take a rest now. We have guest rooms here for realmgate divers," said Autumn with a relieved smile. "Let's take your documents and have a rest. This evening, I'll take you to a very important place for mystery agents... the Mystery Market."
Canary widened her eyes, gleaming with curiosity and enthusiasm. "Mystery Market?"
Autumn grinned. "You'll know it later. Now, retrieve your documents and rest."
---ooo---ooo---ooo---
The dim, artificial light of the underground corridor hummed, casting long shadows that danced with Sparrow's every step. The air, recycled but clean, tasted faintly metallic, a sterile contrast to the oily scent of vehicle engines and the sweet fragrance of Canary's potted flowers that usually filled their old house.
Sparrow shifted his weight, the muscles in his tall frame adjusting under the simple black t-shirt and joggers he wore. The scar on his left cheek, a pale line bisecting his tanned skin, tugged slightly as he turned his head. His right green eye, sharp and observant, scanned the clean, grey walls.
Beside him, Canary practically bounced, her long braid swaying like a happy pendulum. Her green eyes sparkled with an almost unbearable energy.
"Li'l Aunt! Are we really going to a secret market? Really?" Canary's voice was bright, echoing slightly in the wide corridor. She skipped a step to keep up with his longer stride.
Sparrow, too familiar with her boundless enthusiasm, merely watched in silence. He let their aunt, Autumn, handle the explanations.
Autumn, walking slightly ahead, turned her head, a wry smile playing on her lips. "It is indeed a secret for normal people. For awakened like us though, it is Mystery Market. In our town, it lays almost directly under the Soragant Church of Justice. Sounds unbelievable, doesn't it?"
Autumn's short, dark-brown hair swung as she kept walking. Even in this mundane corridor, there was a subtle alertness in her posture, a vigilance that Sparrow recognized, that they both had inherited.
"Convenient," Sparrow finally spoke, his voice a low rumble. "If you want to keep something hidden, put it where people least expect it."
Autumn chuckled, a sound that echoed in the surprisingly empty space. "Exactly, Row. You always get it."
"Yeah! Birdbro is always good at understanding strange people's mindset." Canary teased her brother. "Do we have to go to MIST Union first to get there, Li'l Aunt?"
"Well, not exactly so. There are three accesses to the Mystery Market. This way from MIST Union Headquarter is one. The Church has its own secret entrance, naturally. And… surprise, surprise, so does the Soragant Naval Base. It keeps things… diversified, in a way."
Canary's eyes widened. "The Naval Base too? Wow! So, like, secret agents and priests and sailor soldiers all shopping together?"
"Something like that, Ree. Though 'shopping' might be a bit of an understatement. Think of it as a… resource hub for the… uniquely gifted." Autumn's tone became carefully neutral, the kind she used when discussing sensitive topics, a tone Sparrow had grown familiar with over the years.
They walked in comfortable silence for a few more minutes. The dim lights cast long shadows ahead of them, giving the impression of walking towards an unknown depth.
"So, Li'l Aunt," Canary piped up again, her endless curiosity bubbling over, "what kind of 'resources' can you get at this market?"
"Oh, all sorts of things, Ree. Weapons, equipment, tools, medicines, artifacts, information, unidentified items, surreal stones, hired bodyguards, mystery pets, maybe even… illegal objects."
Canary beamed with excitement. "It sounds great!"
Autumn winked, a playful glint in her green eyes. "Just remember what I said. My pockets are emptier than your brother's stomach before mealtime. Whatever catch your eye, you are on your own."
Canary giggled, a bright, cheerful sound that always managed to lighten the listeners' mood. "Don't worry, Li'l Aunt. Birdbro and I aren't exactly broke."
Sparrow remained silent, but a faint smile touched the corner of his lips beneath the eyepatch. Broke was an understatement.
Thanks to the nightmares and the memories, or whatever they were, that had plagued him since childhood, he had found an outlet, a way to channel the darkness into vibrant worlds. The fantastical stories he wrote, under the pen name Brother Owl, had unexpectedly resonated with surprisingly high number of readers.
And then there was Canary. Driven by a mix of youthful ambition and sibling rivalry, she had taken to songwriting with a natural, dazzling talent. The songs written by Nightingale, as she was known in the music world, were currently dominating the charts.
They were rich, yes, but nobody outside their small circle knew it. Their maternal family, from whom they had inherited their striking green eyes, had instilled in them one core principle: "Low key, positive mindset, nonstop vigilance!" It was practically their family motto. Flashy displays of wealth were simply invitations for trouble.
After what felt like an extended, hushed journey beneath the bustling city above, the corridor opened into a wider space. Ahead, an imposing iron gate, intricately wrought with symbols Sparrow didn't recognize but instinctively felt were significant, loomed in the dim light. Two figures, clad in what looked like stylized security uniforms, stood guard on either side of the gate, their faces impassive, their eyes sharp.
"Well, kids," Autumn said, her voice losing its playful tone and acquiring a professional edge. "Welcome to the Mystery Market."
She approached the gate, her posture straightening, and Sparrow followed, Canary close behind, a thrill of anticipation, mixed with a hint of unease, tingling under his skin. The Mystery Market beneath the Church of Justice. He wondered what kind of justice, or injustice, awaited them beyond that iron gate.