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    A noblewoman’s voice, perfectly enunciating every word ‘—absolutely divine! I’ve never tasted tea like it. The Jade Court imports are all the rage now. Everyone at court is switching to tea. Coffee is so… common these days.’


    I heard steps. ''It’s not the tea,'' I said, glancing at the staircase. ''It’s the status. If the Jade Court started importing enchanted water, the nobles would be bathing in it by week’s end.''


    Emberfist leaned back in her chair, rolling her eyes. ''Tea? Don’t they have better things to talk about.''


    Instead of a tray floating up with my order, Brenna the cafe’s owner had brought it up personally. My usual order—a steaming cup of enchanted calming brew and a starfruit muffin.


    Brenna glanced at me with a knowing smile. ''Enjoy it today, Lord Tavalor. We’re closing tomorrow for the Lantern Festival.''


    I blinked. ''Lantern Festival?''


    ''You must be new to town,'' she said. ''It’s a big deal here. Lanterns, light shows, gondola parades. The canals will be packed. You should go.''


    ''Noted.'' I sipped my coffee, glancing at Emberfist. ''What do you think?''


    She shrugged. ''Could be fun. Or it could be a nightmare if we’re still dealing with assassins.''


    As I walked, I couldn’t help but marvel at the city’s layered existence. I was searching for an obscure bookstore I’d heard about from one of Emberfist’s contacts. Vallenport was an old city. You could tell because it was a labyrinth. It had grown to what it was. Buildings leaned against one another as though sharing secrets. Balconies met randomly, draped with vines or tattered banners from forgotten festivals. The air carried a peculiar mix of damp stone, sea brine, and the faint tang of magic.


    As I stepped deeper into the alleyways, a soft grunt and the clatter of falling items drew my attention.


    An old woman, hunched and frail, had stumbled over the uneven cobblestones, her basket of shopping spilling across the ground. Brightly coloured fruits—golden oranges, pale green pears, and an odd spiky yellow one—rolled in every direction.


    ''Here, let me help,'' I said, kneeling to gather her scattered items.


    ''Oh, bless you, young man,'' she wheezed, brushing off her hands on her faded apron. ''These stones have a mind of their own, I swear.''


    I scooped up the peculiar spiky fruit and paused, turning it in my hands. Its surface was like a miniature fortress, with ridges and points that didn’t seem entirely natural. ''What’s this?'' I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.


    The woman chuckled, her toothless smile warm and genuine. ''That’s a starfruit. Imported from the southern isles, where the sun always shines. Sweet as honey, it is. Haven’t you seen one before?''


    ''Can’t say I have.'' I handed it to her, but she pushed it back into my hands.


    ''Keep it,'' she said, winking. ''For your trouble. A little sweetness goes a long way.''


    I kept the fruit. ''Thank you.''


    We swapped pleasantries and the old woman left.


    As I straightened, an old man with a long white beard sitting on a stool outside a nearby shop caught my eye. He was smoking a pipe, the smoke curling lazily into the air like whispers of old tales. His gaze lingered on the starfruit in my hand, and he gave me a knowing nod before turning back to his pipe.


    The sign above him read Aurum Tomes. Its lettering so faded it seemed like it might disappear entirely with the next rain.


    I pushed open the shop’s creaky wooden door. A small bell chimed softly, and the scent of aged paper and something faintly metallic enveloped me.


    The space was dimly lit, with narrow aisles formed by towering bookshelves that threatened to topple under the weight of their contents. Every surface seemed to hold something—scrolls spilling from baskets, tomes stacked precariously, and jars of strange artefacts gleaming faintly in the light of a lone enchanted lantern hanging from the ceiling.


    I rubbed my chin, thinking.''For utility, I’m thinking I need something to help me see better, especially in dangerous or unknown situations.''


    [Watcher’s Eye] for versatility, [Arcane Sight] for magical details. Both sound useful. Do I need both?''