Lumine made her way to the Grand Bazaar, the largest market in Sumeru city. She planned to find dinner after a busy day at Akademiya.
It was already 9 PM. Yet, the girl had eaten nothing since noon. Lumine, overwhelmed by the sheer number of activities at Akademiya—meeting with field supervisors, submitting reports, looking for references at the House of Daena— neglected her own well-being.
The Grand Bazaar was located in the city center of Sumeru City. If using Sumeru Akademiya as a benchmark, the distance is one kilometer. Access to there is possible through private and public transportation, or even by foot, for those who wish to engage in physical activity.
Upon entering, the Grand Bazaar captivated Lumine. The building design of the market is exquisite. Despite having withstood for hundreds of years, the building remained remarkably sturdy and showed no signs of significant deterioration. Her gaze drifted across the rows of stalls. The stalls sold clothes, fabrics, knick-knacks, Sumeru ceramics, carpets, rugs, and various local specialities from the Land of Scholars. Everything is available at the Grand Bazaar.
Lumine walked briskly to the Grand Bazaar's food section. Her stomach rumbled, demanding food. A stall specializing in large portions of Sumeru dishes was where she went.
"Good evening, Miss. What would you like to order?" the owner asked.
"I'd like a large portion of Tachin, Uncle. The beverage is plain water." Lumine replied.
"Okay. The sum is 3500 Mora."
Lumine paid the exact amount.
"Thank you. I will make the order immediately. Please wait a moment."
Lumine took a seat on a backless wooden chair at the wall-integrated table. Seven minutes later, the owner finished the order and delivered it. Lumine immediately ate the dish.
The food was all eaten within 30 minutes. Once the food had settled in her stomach, Lumine thanked the stall owner and departed.
As Lumine approached the rear entrance to the bustling Grand Bazaar, her eyes fell upon a slender, hunched figure seated near the doorway. A pouch was in his hand, pointed forward. Those who walked by paid no attention to the man seeking their compassion.
Witnessing the scene, Lumine felt a surge of empathy. Approaching the man, she had withdrawn five coins, each valued at 200. As the blonde-haired girl drew closer to the man, she transferred the coins she had been holding to the pouch that the man was carrying.
"Thank you, Miss." The man mumbled.
"You're welcome. I hope this helps, sir," Lumine replied and walked away from him.
Unbeknownst to Lumine, the man had risen to his feet and was now positioned directly behind the girl.
"Miss," the man called out.
Hearing someone calling, Lumine turned around.
"Yes...?" Lumine's brow creased as she looked at the man.
How could a person who looked like he hadn't eaten in days be able to stand upright like a soldier?
"That's very kind of you, to help someone like me."
The man said firmly. It was as if his behavior earlier was just an act.
"To help others in need is a right thing to do." Lumine replied.
"I want to go home, but I don't know the way. Can you help me?"
"Where do you live?"
"I live in the Chinvat Ravine district."
The outskirts, Lumine thought. Its distance from the city center was five kilometers.
"Alright. I'll order an online transportation for you. May I have your address, sir?"
"Why don't you escort me instead, Miss?"
"Umm... My motorcycle is at the front entrance, sir."
"I'm willing to wait."
"Okay. Please wait for a moment, sir. I'll pick you up right away."
Lumine rushed back to the front door and took her electric motorcycle. She rode to the Grand Bazaar's rear entrance and instructed the man to sit in the back. They departed from the Grand Bazaar, heading for Chinvat Ravine.
Without realizing it, someone dressed in black witnessed their movements. He then put on a helmet, hopped on his sports motorcycle, and followed Lumine and the man.
***
"Is this the right way, sir?" asked Lumine.
"Yes."
Lumine turned the motorcycle towards the road.
"Stop right there, Miss." The man abruptly spoke as they passed a convenience store.
Lumine brought her bike to a stop and parked it in convenience store's courtyard.
"I want to get some fresh air," said the man after getting off Lumine's bike.
"Do you want to come along?" He looked at Lumine.
Lumine wanted to answer 'no'. But she gasped the moment their eyes met. Shortly thereafter, Lumine obeyed and followed the man.
They arrived at a river delta. A vibrant natural landscape beautifully framed the river, complete with a variety of trees, bushes, and flowers. However, it was dimly lit by a single lamp, which created an eerie and haunted atmosphere.
"You are really too kind," said the man.
Lumine gasped and looked around her. This is the delta of the Sumeru river.How could I have walked this far without getting tired?! Lumine thought.
"Now... I want you..." The man faced Lumine.
"To be... part of us!"
A black mist suddenly enveloped the person's body. Soon he transformed into a figure Lumine didn't recognize. His body became completely purplish-black.
His posture remained unchanged, yet his eyes glowed white, devoid of pupils. Fingers on both hands stretched, transforming into claw shapes. The man—monster swung its hand at Lumine.
With a scream, Lumine instinctively dodged the monster's attack.
Lumine fled from the monster. The creature was still swing its claws at her, but Lumine was still able to deflect them.
Fueled by adrenaline, Lumine sprinted with all her might. She proceeded down the alley until she discovered she had reached a dead end, causing her to stop in her tracks. The girl cursed herself for not thinking of choosing the way to Sumeru City.
"He-he-he... You have nowhere to run, little girl!"
Lumine could only walk in reverse until her back met the alley wall. The monster was making its way toward her. The distance between them shrinking with each deliberate stride. Once more, the monster swung its arms.
Lumine had no choice but to accept her fate.
However, something unexpected happened. A spear suddenly cut the hand that was only halfway off. The monster suddenly screamed, its limbs getting chopped off. Like a sudden streak of lightning, a person appeared in front of Lumine and, with a powerful kick, sent the monster crashing to the ground.
"Lupus Aureus!" The monster exclaimed as it got up and saw the figure that had made it crashed.
Lupus... Aureus? Lumine looked at the figure in front of her.
The figure was about 10 centimeters taller than Lumine. His entire body was covered in black and gold-colored metal from head to toe. The head of the Lupus Aureus reminded Lumine of the head of Anubis, a mythological animal from Sumeru.
Driven to battle Lupus Aureus, the monster ran. But the purple ribbon-like thing containing unrecognizable characters instantly entangled its body.
"You're becoming more daring... approaching a human and trying to infect them." Lupus Aureus said as he lowered his hand. Turns out, he was the one who entangled the monster.
"I would have succeeded if you hadn't come to interfere!"
The spear that had severed the monster's hand stuck in the wall. Lupus Aureus stretched his hand forward, towards his weapon. The spear flew backwards and returned to his grasp. He spun the spear around and stomped it on the ground.
"Unfortunately, your game is over."
Lupus Aureus ran. He darted upwards, then plunged his spear right into the monster's heart.
The monster screamed.
Its body slowly cracked. The monster's body then shattered into a million pieces, dissolving into dust.
The purple ribbon-like thing used to bind the monster also disappeared.
"Th-Thank you...," Lumine said after the monster perished.
"Don't be easily persuaded by strangers. The Abyss has many forms. If you get injured, there are only two choices. Become one of them, or die."
"H-Huh?" Hearing that made Lumine surprised.
Lupus Aureus did not respond to Lumine's words. He walked off until he was just a speck to Lumine.
At that moment, Lupus Aureus' form changed into a human. Lumine's eyes widened in shock as she witnessed the scene.
That's...?!