《A Magical Life: Ink Swan》Dust in the Library: 02

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Even the glaring suns high in the sky didn't reach this small alley. Doused in shadows, like a blanket, the individuals conversing within the alley were hidden away from the rest of the city.

Standing at the center of the black-clad group was a man in his early thirties. Unlike the others, he wore a bright outfit, with a pastel blue dress shirt and bright pink trousers with leather suspenders. Over his shirt, he wore a white vest. Furthermore, every single piece of clothing had the same rose pattern on them. Not a single corner was spared.

Evin ignored the schadenfreude of his colleagues over his attire and twirled the object in his hand. An oversized needle, dark bronze in color, was slowly rotating between his fingers. It was about a meter in length and just two centimeters wide at its base.

The shadows coating the alley seemed to bend with the rotating needle and sometimes even reached out as if to devour the needle. If it weren't for his grip on the needle and his ridiculous attire, Evin wasn't so sure he could keep this thing here.

A while later, the conversation of his colleagues stopped and he stopped playing around with the oversized needle. He smirked and said, “Time to punish a careless puppy.”

The shadows vanished with a swipe of the needle and along with them, his companions also disappeared. Glancing up at the small second sun, Evin couldn't help but laugh.

----

The midday air slowly blew away the fog rising from the cup filled with hot chocolate. Lisa took a spoon in hand and twirled the drink. She glanced at the seat where Era previously sat and let out a sigh.

She will be able to admonish the original owner of this body later at night, but regarding Era, she could only sigh with a bit helplessness. Especially, because it seems she is going to stay permanently in this body as Era wasn't so sure they would succeed a second time. If Era told the truth is another matter but all she really could do is accept it and go along with it. Maybe, this wasn't even so bad as she could now experience a plethora of new stories and find new spots to lose herself in.

Taking a sip of the hot chocolate, Lisa calmed down and restored her usual smile. At least she can keep her name. Her name means a lot to her.

Another sip of hot chocolate and Lisa shifted her attention to an exquisite silver ring, engraved with strange patterns, sitting on her left pinkie. Era had given it to her as it belonged to the original owner of this body. They had taken it off before the experiment so it wouldn't interfere. If she had to describe the ring in a short-expression it would be ‘a multi-purpose tool’.

It served as a storage ring, a key to this library, a catalyst, a defense, and other functions Era kept quiet about. She should find those out herself, Era had told her.

With a curious expression, Lisa put her left hand atop a small bag sitting on the table. Era had also given this to her as an ‘allowance’. Inside were coins made out of a material she didn't know. How much there was, she didn't know, but she shouldn't have to worry about money for the foreseeable future according to Era.

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Her hand on the bag, Lisa imagined it disappearing and reappearing in a wide, empty space. Some tens of seconds later, the coin bag started to dissolve in a myriad of particles. While leaven colorful trails behind them, the particles floated into the silver ring and disappeared.

Out of curiosity, Lisa imagined the reverse. It took her a few tens of seconds before the glowing particles reappeared from the silver ring. They floated under the spot where her hand was and began to grow. Moments later the bag filled with coins was before her again. Fascinated, she began to repeat the process over and over again with a smile. The spoon and cup of hot chocolate weren't excluded from becoming her experimental subjects.

By the time her curiosity was fulfilled, the hot chocolate wasn't so hot anymore and she was able to shorten the time it takes to store an object or take it out. When she gets more used to it, she should be able to use the storage function instantly, she thinks so at least.

Satisfied, Lisa drank from the cold chocolate while leaning back in her chair. Her vision roamed the city scenery while she relaxed. The shimmering lake at the center of the ground reflected the high sun with its little sibling following. Such sight really showed her the magical difference in this world from her old one.

Thinking of magic, Lisa zoned in on a tower standing near the lake. It stood out from its surroundings by being significantly taller. Other than its height, there didn't seem to be anything special about it as it was pristine white-colored like most other structures in this city. To Lisa though, the tower would be her destination for learning, according to Era.

She couldn't help but widen her smile in anticipation.

Lisa finished the rest chocolate drink leisurely before standing up to walk back into the library. After taking the cup into the kitchen further down the hallway, Lisa went back into the room she woke up in.

The room unlike before was now clean to the tops. She had asked Era earlier to clean the buildings of all its dust as a favor. She hadn't expected much but Era actually complied, and in barely a second the Library was as clean as it could be.

Walking in her new bedroom towards the wall closet, Lisa lightly opened the two largest doors in the middle. Some ten-odd outfits hung readily available within. Two of them were fairly complicated dresses, suited for formal occasions, the rest were more casual in nature. Lisa, alas, didn't look too deeply and rather looked into the full-body mirror embedded into the left door.

The girl reflected within reached out to feel the silky, pale blonde hair going down to barley below her shoulders. Next to her face, which was a bit rounder than her old, then to her eyes.

If Lisa had to describe the blue of her eyes it would ‘mellow’. The soft yet intense blue shimmered with the warmth of a last embrace. The embrace of a long lost presence coming back to reassure you. As she hugged you, she leaned into your ear and whispered with that usual smile in her voice.

Lisa abruptly shook her head with a sigh to dispel those thoughts and feelings. Looking back into the mirror, she pulled on her clothing. A loose grey shirt and shorts were her current outfit. The weather was refreshingly warm so, despite her loose clothing, she didn't feel too cold. Rather, she enjoyed the breeze grazing her exposed skin every now and then.

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Wriggling her toes a bit, she smiled wryly as she hadn't realized till now she wasn't wearing any shoes or socks. Thankfully, there wasn't anything sharp on the ground.

After she took off her clothing, Lisa began to contemplate on what outfit to choose. Aside from the gowns, the rest of the clothes didn't differ much apart from color and details here and there. Most outfits were empire-waist umbrella skirts ending just above her knees along with a sleeveless blouse. Not wanting to fret too much about it now, Lisa picked a grey skirt with a white blouse as well as some black thigh-high socks from one of the drawers.

Done dressing and putting some brown boots on, Lisa made her way out of the bedroom and down the wide corridor. She ignored the rest of the building for now, for the sake of magic. Anyway, there would be enough time to explore the two hallways and the door in between them later.

The double door leading outside opened and Lisa came to face with a small, adorable street. With only a few passersby going on with their life it was relatively quiet. Although, she could hear the bustle of a city not too far off to her right. Closing the doors behind her, Lisa saw her silver ring shimmer for a second before dimming. Era had told her about this. The ring would also function as a key to this house, so no one but her can access it. How it worked was beyond the current her.

Walking a few steps on the street she turned to look at her new home. The building, also white and red in color, seemed to be the same size as its interior would suggest. Lisa was a bit disappointed as she hoped it would be one of those famous space-bending buildings.

With a shrug and a small smile, Lisa began to walk towards the city noise she could hear. She wasn't sure how she should get to the tower, as big cities can be more difficult to navigate than labyrinths, but she is just going to follow the bustle for now. Finding a busy place shouldn't be a bad place to start. Maybe there even is a map posted there or she could ask someone for directions.

The paved street was in a surprisingly decent state. She couldn't see any real wear down coming from any sort of carriage. Although, this street is probably just too small to allow a carriage pass through.

It made her a bit wonder what this world's technology level is. From what she has seen so far from it, she has absolutely no clue what it is. She also can't pull up any references as she is completely and utterly inept at history! Art was always more up her sleeves. Anyway, the existence of magic and such should direct the development of technology in a bit different way than that of her old world.

As Lisa walked down the small street, a few passersby greeted her with a smile and a nod. She returned the greeting with a small smile but didn't linger.

The bustle of activity coming nearer, Lisa passed a few other small streets before she reached a large street. The boulevard, as she better call it, stretched on to her left and right and was filled with a myriad of people. They strolled through the boulevard to relax and shop in the countless stores lining the street. Bakeries, boutiques, cafes and other various stores could all be found on a single glance here. There even were shops of nature she couldn't quite understand.

It was certainly a busy day as the citizens of this city went on with their shopping, outings and dates. There were also market stalls, that were set up near the lush trees lining the boulevard on both sides in an orderly manner, adding further to the bustle. They sold the products of their corresponding shops in a much more accessible way. Or even ‘limited timed’ products. Lisa resisted the urge to go on a shopping trip of her own in this new world. She'll have time later for this, so for now, she just ignored all the unknown and interesting stuff.

With a small smile, Lisa turned left and strolled towards a wide plaza she could see not too far off. Of course, she passed a multitude of stores and people while she walked. As she did, a few stores ahead of her, a girl nearly a head shorter than her left a store with an ice cream cone in hand. Her long reddish-brown hair went down the back of her short white-black dress.

After savoring the taste of the chocolate ice cream, the girl turned in Lisa's direction and began to walk. When she lifted her head to see properly, Lisa came to face with two wide honey-colored eyes. The, to Lisa, sugar-coated eyes widened as both of them met eyes.

Lisa smiled at her with warmth and a tilt of her head. The girl, however, almost dropped her ice cream while she stared into Lisa's blue. With an abrupt turn and a blush on her cheeks, the girl walked across the street while only glancing once back with dazed eyes.

Not minding the scene, Lisa chuckled with a hand before her mouth. Whose presence did she feel while looking into her eyes? It made her a bit curious. A shame she ran away, she was really cute.

Passing the ice cream shop named Mevila's Refresh, Lisa came to a still again. The suns are still going strong and she still has a long journey before she will reach the tower. In this heat going without something to cool her body down would not be very wise.

A few minutes later, Lisa left the shop with a familiar chocolate ice cream in hand. After tasting it, Lisa could only say that while it's certainly sweet, those honey eyes were much sweeter.

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