I pushed away the mug of water I had asked for at breakfast. I had pondered whether to order something else to keep up appearances, but the sun was shining so brightly that I decided I could make do with its energy.

"Probably because the residents throw their waste into the water reservoir..."

I flinched slightly when I heard a cold, delicate voice suddenly answering my rhetorical question for some unknown reason.

I looked around. Despite the early hour, the room was full of people. My table was more on the edge, but it turned out that behind me, in a corner under the wall, was another table, shrouded in shadow, and at it sat a young-looking boy.

Under my gaze, he straightened up a bit defiantly and looked me directly in the eyes. His pupils were golden and reminded me of snake eyes. His scent also didn't seem too human.

[Skill Upgrade: Observant I upgraded to Observant II]

[New Passive Ability Acquired: Sixth Sense I]

Ah! So I was right to sense something amiss.

I stood up and, without caring about the left-behind mug, approached his table and sat down.

"Shouldn't you ask if this seat is free and if you can sit?"

His voice had a venomous edge, but I ignored it.

"Why? It's clear to see and hear that you're not the social type and aren't waiting for anyone. And I don't intend to ask; the guild doesn't belong to you, which means these places aren't yours. To sum up, I can sit here."

He looked at me for a longer moment in silence. I even began to wonder if I had something on my face or in my hair, but I didn't intend to check like most vain women.

"Who the hell are you?"

"I'm Omora."

"Strange name."

"And it's better than yours, which currently doesn't exist."

"What do you mean doesn't exist? I have a name..."

"But I don't know it, so I don't recognize its existence."

A longer silence.

"I'm Lux... and you're seriously very strange..."

"Nice to meet you, Lux."

Despite his sour comment, I greeted him with courtesy. He snorted at that and smiled amusedly.

"So tell me, what are you doing here, Omora?"

"Waiting for... my bodyguard, who as usual can't get up quickly for breakfast, and then we plan to go on our first mission in the guild."

I tried not to let pride swell too much in me as I talked about the mission, but Lux must have read something akin to excitement, for he snorted lightly again.

"A child like you in the guild? And on a mission?"

The same thing again. I gritted my teeth slightly.

"No. I am. Not. A child."

I enunciated, trying to keep my composure.

"You are."

"I'm twenty years old, so I'm an adult... sorry, but you don't look more than fifteen to me."

I opened my mouth to say something and jumped in my chair, feeling a large hand on my shoulder and smelling a subtle scent of coal.

"My lady considers herself to be very mature, but she won't divulge her age because it's not fitting for someone of her position."

As stood behind me, and I don't know why, but he looked at Lux like a predator about to pounce on its prey.

Lux seemed to sense it, for he backed away slightly and straightened up.

"Let me guess... The bodyguard?"

"Yes, this is my bodyguard, As."

I said quickly and swiftly pushed his hand off my shoulder with a quick movement. He seemed surprised for a moment but then sat down next to me, not too pleased.

"And you, what are you doing here?"

"Looking around and searching for interesting company for a certain mission..."

He trailed off and leaned over the table towards me.

"Interested?"

"You should ask first before agreeing, right?"

I smiled defiantly, which should have been answer enough. The corner of Lux's mouth twitched slightly as if amused, but his icy gaze studied my face intently.

"Alright... You remember how we talked about the water? There have been a lot of illness cases recently, and the water is getting worse... We need to investigate the sewers and find the source... So, still interested?"

I felt As's disapproving gaze on me, but I didn't care. I leaned towards Lux, so now we were only a few centimeters apart.

A smile appeared on my lips again.

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Meet a new character created @TreflIkki in a contest!