Vyral

Chapter 0: Part 9 - Answers filled with questions

The next day, Kayden and Reyna set their plan into motion. Their morning begins in the Social District, the heart of the Colony's community events and daily hustle. Markets buzz, shopkeepers laugh, and the air hums with life. It's been a while since Kayden last wandered these streets, yet for some reason, the glances they receive carry no malice—only familiarity, and the quiet respect earned through time.

Shopkeepers greet them warmly, cracking jokes as they guide the pair through stalls brimming with fresh, locally produced goods and essential wares. What starts as casual browsing quickly turns into a breakfast hunt. After a bit of snooping around— and Reyna's stubborn refusal to eat whatever Kayden's last-minute stomach pain decides— they settle at a modest table in their favorite coffee shop, order a light breakfast, and chow down with incredible haste. Yet, the real mission still awaits. To find Maverick.

Their first sweep of the district turns up nothing, with no sign of the man in question despite the lively Sunday morning. He'd be the center of attention by now, captivating the attention of the town with his incredible stories told through a charming voice. Yet, today remains calmer than usual. Undeterred, they circle back for another round—this time targeting his usual haunts, barging into his office as a last resort, hoping he just fell asleep at his desk. Still nothing. Could he be out on another mission?

The previous day left the pair shaken— with far more questions than answers, and no easy way to obtain the latter, one task weighs heavier than the rest on Kayden's shoulders. An apology. He needs to face Mell and Amina, who were victims of a difficult choice he'd rather not have made. That conversation starts at the library.

Knowing Amina, the odds she's there are relatively good. She prefers the library to home, to avoid the constant back-and-forth of hauling massive tomes that practically weigh more than she does. She often vanishes into long study sessions, where she subconsciously tears pages from the books to aid her in sketching complex blueprints for her projects—a methodical process to her madness. Thankfully, she always reports her changes to the librarian, who adjusts the records accordingly. Being in the library seems to help soothe her restlessness, and book-destructive tendencies.

As Kayden and Reyna step into the quiet sanctuary, the soft chime of a small bell above the door echoes their arrival. A crow-skull, dream-catcher, and a bundle of colored feathers jingle in tandem with it, ornaments the librarian enjoys collecting through her travels. They make their way toward the front desk, preparing themselves to ask an array of questions.

Kayden: "Good afternoon, lady Hannah. How are you doing today?"
Miss Hannah: "Oh my!! If it isn't the one and only Kayden Moss, accompanied by my little princess, Reyna!!" - She retorts in a calming voice, almost as every word is wrapped in a smooth cotton candy. Not too sweet, yet hardly sour or grainy.
Kayden: "At your service madam."
Reyna: "Don't call me little, of all things!"
Miss Hannah: "My my, still taking things to heart, are you?" - Reyna's eyes roll. "And Kayden, you're far too young for that sort of treatment." - She giggles through a grin.
Kayden: "For what?
OH! OH NO HANNAH!! DON'T PUT THAT IMAGE IN MY HEAD, REYNA'S RIGHT HERE YA WEIRDO!!"

Hannah Ventry is a remarkably well-preserved 57-year-old woman, sporting short, slicked-back brown hair that matches the earthy tone of her eyes, hidden behind round black glasses. She wears a loose forest green sweater made from thick fabric, paired with a dream-catcher necklace and a dog tag hanging beside it. A long black skirt with open slits above the knees flows over tall black leather boots. Her ears are adorned with black plug earrings, each threaded through with two droplet charms for added flair.