Soren walked the streets, his senses still buzzing from the encounter with Nurse Lysandra. At home, the shadows had seemed thicker, darker, pressing closer to him than ever before. He had accidentally knocked into a few Shades—his reactions clumsy, untrained—and each contact left his mind reeling with fragments of thought and emotion that weren't his own.
By the time he reached the corner shop tucked between two larger buildings, he felt a mix of relief and tension.
The sign read "Madame Evara – Fortune and Curios", painted in curling gold letters.
Inside, the air was warm, fragrant with herbs and candles.
The shop seemed impossibly safe. Soren immediately noticed something strange: the Shades outside the shop's windows did not enter.
A woman behind the counter, older than she looked, with sharp, intelligent eyes, smiled at him.
"Ah… you're not like most customers," she said softly.
"You see what others cannot."
Soren froze. "What do you mean?"
"Those things," she gestured vaguely toward the faint flickers of shadow outside the shop, "they are called Shades. They are born from Enigma—the energy of the world itself. Every living thing, every thought, desire, and memory, releases it.
Most humans cannot perceive it. You… can."
Soren blinked, trying to process the information. "Enigma…?"
"Yes," she said, her voice calm but firm. "It is the source of power for beings like you, and for the Shades themselves. Control it, and you survive. Abuse it, and…" She let the sentence hang.
She motioned to a table with four cards laid out neatly. "Before you take anything from my shop, we must see what path you walk. These cards will show your present, your dangers, and your potential."
Soren approached cautiously.
The Lantern Walker: A hooded figure walking through mist with a small lantern.
"Curiosity lights the way… but beware, the light attracts shadows," the shopkeeper explained.
The Blooming Life: A glowing tree sprouting from stone. "Life persists, even in darkness. Value it, protect it, and it may protect you."
The Shadow of Death: A figure draped in black smoke over fallen shapes.
"Overreach, and you risk everything."
The Seeker Bound: A figure chained, reaching toward glowing knowledge. "Some truths demand a price. Seek wisely, young one."
Soren felt a chill. "So… these are warnings?"
"Guidance," she corrected. "For those who can see the unseen."
The shopkeeper poured tea, her hands moving with practiced ease. "You'll need strength for what lies ahead. Lots of sugar will help."
By instinct, Soren dropped several cubes of sugar into the cup. Habit, maybe, but also… something else. As the cubes dissolved, warmth spread from his hands through his chest, and he felt a faint pulse in the back of his mind, a reminder of the strange power within him that had no name yet.
"Now," she said, "you may select items to help you survive. Charms, instruments, herbs… but be warned—herbs are… binding. If you do not take them when asked, you may find your mind… harder to protect."
Soren nodded, uneasy but determined. He selected a few protective charms, small items meant to ward Shades or shield his mind, and complied with taking the herbs.
The shopkeeper's eyes twinkled knowingly, almost as if she could see what he was thinking before he thought it.
As he left the shop, clutching his purchases, he noticed a faint shadow lingering outside the doorway. It could not enter—but it watched him, patient, silent, and unnervingly intelligent.
Soren exhaled. "Safe… for now," he muttered, though the weight behind his eyes told him this was only the beginning.