Time ticked by as seconds turned into minutes and nearly an hour passed by. Mau sat on one of the couches in the waiting area with closed eyes. She appeared focused and indifferent. Only her tapping finger betrayed her impatience. The lobby had suddenly disappeared twenty years ago, which was a blow to her organisation. They learned the hard way that relying on others always came with risks. The organization had to restructure, losing much of its influence. There was even some luck involved in its survival.
The upper echelons were vivid, swearing to never trust the café again. However, when opportunity came knocking and they were unable to grasp it, everyone became anxious. Of the few people left no one was suitable for the job. Thus, someone suggested seeking the café again and the others begrudgingly agreed.
Mau herself didn't have much of an opinion on the café. She was pragmatic. Everyone took what they needed. No one owed anyone.
However, she couldn't help but wonder what had happened when she realized that the café had a new boss. The old boss was one of the most unfathomable people she had ever know. In his presence Mau felt like she couldn't hide anything. Even her thoughts were seen through. In contrast, this new boss was too disappointing. With one glance Mau could tell that he wasn't used to his role yet.
This was also evident by how long the new boss made her wait. If it was the old boss, a few seconds would have been all it took.
Olivier didn't know Mau's thoughts. He was still immersed in the vast universe, searching for Ray. The concept of time was difficult to grasp. He switched from planet to planet, coming across multiple people resembling Mau. He wondered how they were connected. Was it a coincidence or was there a common origin? Olivier was unable to figure it out.
At this moment Olivier landed on another planet. There was a sprawling city in front of him. It was a rather backwards society where swords and magic reigned supreme and the common people had to scrape by. Olivier could see armoured soldiers patrol the street and a person engulfed in wind flying through the air. Olivier was amazed as this was the first time he saw people with magical abilities unrelated to the café.
A force pulled Olivier along and he reached the core of the city, where a massive black tower overshadowed its surroundings, emitting an oppressive atmosphere. This tower certainly belonged to someone of high status, perhaps the ruler of the city.
Olivier stopped in front of the cold, black behemoth, at the height of a balcony. A few people were standing there, surroundings a woman like the stars embellishing the moon. This woman looked very much like Mau, but with a completely different demeanour. She wore a dark-blue regal dress, her black hair cascading over her shoulders, adorned with a simple, black crown on her head. Yet her cold temperament matched well with Mau.
[Ray de Sano
Lifespan: 141,5/873,3
Origin: Levror Capital, Phi]
Olivier's eyes lit up as he finally found his target. He had even started to doubt whether this person really existed. What if Mau's information was wrong? Or if Ray had died over the last few years? Now, all his doubts dissipated like smoke. A notion appeared in Oliver's head, and he could invite Ray to become a contract partner.
Ray was coldly overlooking the city, listening to the ministers chattering, her face not showing any emotions. Suddenly she froze for a moment.
"Your majesty…?"
"You are dismissed."
"But…"
One of the ministers thought he still had something important to say. But with a glare from Ray, he felt his bones freeze and shut up. The others looked at him, gloating inwardly. They knew this minister had already lost her majesty's favour.
All the minsters bowed deeply and walked backwards until they were out of her majesty's sight. Only then did they straighten their backs and left the tower. Ray made sure to inform the servants of a few things before retreating to her own room. Only then did she agree to the mysterious request lingering in her mind.
Suddenly Olivier felt himself being pulled back to the lobby. He opened his eyes and was just in time to see Ray enter through the door clad in her regal dress. From up close she was an even more impressive figure.
Mau's eyes opened and she abruptly turned her head. For a fraction of a second Olivier spotted smiles on the faces of the two women. But it might have just been a misconception as Ray and Mau greeted each other with cold voices.
"Ray."
"Mau."
"Haven't seen… twenty years."
"Yes…"
Olivier was quite surprised by their interaction as Ray actually spoke Mau's language. This again showed that this wasn't the first time they met. But it was only a short greeting before both women approached the counter, demanding a contract from Olivier.
The barista nodded and turned around. Compartment number two was already shining lightly. Olivier took everything out, presenting the customers with a contract, two rings, and a key.
Mau and Ray put on the rings. For a moment they both froze as they shared some memories. When they recovered, they directly swapped their appearance, confusing Olivier once again. Ray now looked like Mau and vice versa. What were they planning?
Olivier received his answer when Mau opened the contract and Olivier got a look. It actually differed from the contract between Marcus and Exaner. The contract stipulated that Mau and Ray would swap places until Ray had finished the mission given by Mau. Both would pay seven years of lifespan per year of the contract being active.
The entire interaction filled Olivier with questions. Why did the contract change? Was it according to the customers' wills? Why was the price different?
Olivier was left alone with his questions. He felt a comfortable feeling surging through his body as he was rewarded for facilitating the contract.
After signing the contract with blood, Mau and Ray didn't stay much longer. They exchanged a few more reminders before leaving the lobby through the swirling darkness behind the door.
The world changed in front of Ray's eyes, and she found herself in familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings. A sprawling city spread around her, built from dark stone. The city was the biggest she had ever seen, covering an entire mountain from top to bottom. People of all kinds could be found in the city, from powerful magicians to dark cultists, swindling merchants, and more.
Ray seemed to be in some kind of backyard. An old well was in front of her, exuding a mouldy smell. This was different from what she recalled. Ray got going, choosing the single arch leading out of the backyard, arriving on a narrow street. She received a few scrutinizing gazes, but no one made a move. Ray frowned lightly. Why were there so many unsavoury individuals on the street? She was unsure if the conditions of the city had deteriorated a lot or if she had entered one of the darker districts.
Suddenly Ray perceived some conspicuous footsteps. She turned to the right and saw a man walk out of the shadow, his attire similar to her own.
"Are you… Ray?"
"Yes. And you are Eff?"
Ray sounded uncertain. The man from her memories was Mau's partner. Not in a romantic sense but in a having-each-others-backs kind of way. However, he used to be quite the dashing young man, an agile fighter, always walking confidently. But the one standing before her appeared nervous, sticking to the shadows, the face below his hood deformed by a large burn wound.
"Yes, it's me."
"What…?"
"I know you might have a lot of questions but for now let's leave this place. Stick to the shadows. We are not exactly welcome here."
"Alright. I will cover us."
"Yes."
Ray waved her hand and an invisible force embraced both her and Eff. She immediately felt much more comfortable as she felt the observing gazes retreating from her body. It was not that she and Eff had turned invisible. But in the minds of others, they had become less conspicuous. Others simply ignored them, soon to be forgotten, like an ordinary face in a large crowd.
Eff also felt much better. He was amazed that Ray had not regressed one bit after not seeing each other for so long. He, on the other hand…
Ray followed Eff as they hurried through shadowy streets and narrow lanes. The vast Central City was rather chaotic. Not only its people, but also its architecture. Built along the mountain there were three main streets spiralling upwards, mainly used by carriages. Pedestrians would usually choose to travel through the countless side streets, tunnels, and stairs. Ray often thought about how she would have constructed the city if she was the queen. With orderly rings, broad streets for the military, and towers to overlook the ninety-nine districts. It was a pity that Central City was older than her by a few thousand years.