8:40 AM, 24th of December, 1728

  The catalogue was almost unreasonably extensive, with each article of clothing coming in different vibrant colors, and the suits coming in all shades of white, gray, and black.

  With the help of the store clerk, Alexander picked out the clothing he felt most suited for him. For daily wear, he selected two identical brown overcoats, ready to replace his own tattered one. In addition, he chose three pairs of black slacks and some simple shirts.

  As for the suits, he chose a few different shades of gray, finding them subtle yet nice enough to wear at work.

  The tailoring was of no charge, which was a happy surprise to Alexander, who would have skipped out on it otherwise.

  “That will be eleven coppers then, I’ve added on a one-copper discount as you’re a first-time customer.”

  “I appreciate that.” He said, handing over the coins. “I’ll make sure I come back here next time I’m in need.”

  “Fantastic, let me bag these up for you.”

  Grabbing the bags, Alexander made way back to the street.

  He was leaving the shop when, unexpectedly, he ran face-first into what seemed to be an invisible wall, landing on his backside, his bags falling to his side.

  As he did, a high-pitched yelp called out in response, though he only heard it once.

  What had just happened?

  A smooth tonal voice called out to him, sounding like a calm ocean, “Are you alright?”

  Again, he had only heard it once.

  And where was it coming from? He could hear the direction but saw no one there.

  “Hello? Sorry, I bumped into you. I was lost in my own mind.”

  A hand reached out, grabbing at his own, attempting to pull him up.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  He recoiled, his hand flying back, startled by the sudden contact.

  “Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. I do really need to get on my way now, though! Sorry again!”

  With that, he heard the mysterious, invisible figure continue walking off. Though he only heard her footsteps once.

  Unable to stave off his curiosity, he reached up to his blindfold, bringing it down to reveal one eye. Walking away from him was a girl, her hair blonde, wavy, and long, reaching down to her lower back.

  He quickly brought the blindfold back up, the nausea already getting to him.

  Why couldn’t he see her in the future? Why couldn’t he hear her in the future? It was terrifying.

  He stood up, his clothes luckily still contained within his bags, looking off in the direction the girl had left.

  Standing there, dazed, Alexander’s stomach rumbled, reminding him of what he needed to do next. In view was an outdoor market, dozens of stalls set up, each offering different fruits, vegetables, poultry, meats, spices, and baked goods.

  With only three coppers to spare, he was unsure of how much food he would be able to purchase, but knew he had to get his money's worth.

  Every item had a minimum purchase amount, adding up to a single copper, meaning he would only be able to make three purchases at a maximum.

  With the meat already acquired in the form of the hog, Alexander decided to buy a mix of vegetables to accompany it, along with some bread. Each would last him the week, but now he was left with only a single copper.

  Standing at the stall he had just purchased bread from, he questioned, “Excuse me, do you know where I can find some odd jobs for extra cash?”

  The baker looked Alexander up and down, carrying multiple bags full of clothing and others full of food, a confused tone in her voice as she responded, “You could check out the job board just outside the court if you’re really in need.”

  -

  The court stood before him, just as grand as when it shut its doors in his face only two days prior.

  He had stopped by the inn, leaving his bags before quickly making his way over.

  As the baker had said, a large board, covered only by a small overhang, was hung on the side of the court. An uncountable number of papers lay out on it, each detailing different jobs, descriptions, and their pay.

  He looked at the highest-paying job first, feeling hopeful that it might be possible for him to complete, but that hopeful feeling went away as soon as he began reading it.

  Job Offer

  Request - Slay the wretched monster that took over my home.

  Details - A meteor struck my land, birthing out some hellspawn, which has since made my home its home.

  Pay - Three gold coins.

  He instantly pushed the offer to the back of his mind before looking over the others.

  Surprisingly, there was a rather high-paying job that interested him.

  Job Offer

  Request - Find who it was that murdered my wife.

  Details - My wife has been murdered, and they even attempted to frame me for it, though the truth prevailed. Please find the wretched bastard who did it.

  Pay - Two silver coins.

  Who would attempt to frame someone for murder in the City of Truth? It seemed rather idiotic. Alexander quite liked the idea of looking into it, though, the money seeming like an extravagant reward.

  Taking note of the address, though unsure of where it was, Alexander asked around, getting pointed towards a large three-story house.

  The building was constructed of the same material as all the rest, but stood out due to its excessive size. Plants lined each window, overgrown and as if attempting to invade the interior, their roots spreading everywhere. Vines grew down from the room, and a nearby tree cast shade over the front of the home.

  The steps up to the door were cracked, with roots growing out of them as well, spreading in an almost intentional way, acting as barriers to trip any would-be visitors.

  Alexander would normally be put off by the odd atmosphere of the building, but his Authority was silent, and his mind was filled with the idea of money, and so, he made his way up the cracked stairs and knocked on the large white front door.