As the girls stepped down from their hired carriage into the bustling downtown market, an unexpected stillness greeted them.
Many shops had their shutters drawn for the afternoon—shopkeepers retreating for lunch and rest. Only a handful remained open, yet even those felt abandoned, with no one tending the stalls.
"We really should've thought this through," Maylyn said, arms crossed, her voice flat and eyes shadowed with quiet disappointment.
"Yeah... I forgot the market closes around this time," Elise murmured, her gaze vacant as she stared at the shuttered storefronts.
Withney remained silent, though the flicker of frustration on her face was unmistakable.
The four exchanged glances—unspoken disappointment hanging between them—before deciding to return later, under the cover of evening.
They made their way back to the carriage station, passing groups of students returning from nearby eateries or wandering the campus—some laughing carelessly, others lost in shadowed thoughts.
Upon entering their shared dormitory, they paused. Two sets of luggage sat neatly by the two empty beds—silent proof their other roommates had arrived ahead.
"Looks like our last two roommates got here," Elise said, her voice light but not quite masking the weariness beneath.
"Yeah... I guess we just missed them,"
Withney sighed, the hope she'd carried that day quietly deflating.
"Cheer up, Withney. We'll get back to the market later," Maylyn offered, patting her shoulder with practiced ease.
"Yeah! Maybe we can invite the new roommates too," Cynthia added, a grin tugging at her lips despite the lingering shadows.
Withney nodded, swallowing the quiet sting. "No point sulking over what didn't happen. Let's rest for now."
The afternoon sun cast a gentle glow through the windows. Spring's warmth seeped softly into the dorm, mingling with the faint scent of blooming flowers—almost a balm to their restless minds.
Before stepping inside, Maylyn and Cynthia quietly pressed some coins into Withney's hand—their share, and Elise's share of the lunch.
"Don't mention it," Maylyn said softly.
Withney blinked, startled, her expression blank for a moment before she simply nodded.
Inside, Elise pulled a novel from her backpack; Cynthia opened her diary, pen poised. Maylyn and Withney leaned close, whispering in low tones.
"Why did you ask about 'artifacts' and that hand motion earlier?" Maylyn asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It caught my attention," Withney said quietly. "On the way to the restroom, I overheard talk of an artifact hidden somewhere in the Hiddleston wilderness. One of the men made that strange gesture before leaving the restaurant."
"...The Hiddleston wilderness. Interesting," Maylyn murmured, eyes narrowing.
Their conversation halted abruptly as the doorknob clicked—the sound sharp in the otherwise quiet room.
All four turned toward the door as two figures appeared—a red-haired girl with piercing brown eyes and a strong, toned frame, and a brunette with a more moderate build, also toned and alert.
The redhead stepped forward, voice steady but with a hint of warmth.
"Hello. You must be our roommates. I'm Solaria, and this is Candice. I'm in the Practical Magic Department; Candice studies Spear Combat."
Withney thought silently, Candice in Spear Combat, my guess would have been on Solaria being one of those fierce warriors.
"Nice to meet you all. I hope we can be friends," Solaria said, a hopeful smile breaking through her composed exterior.
"Nice to meet you both. I'm Withney, this is Maylyn..."
"...Elise and Cynthia," Elise chimed in smoothly.
"Come sit with us, we were just talking," Maylyn gestured.
The two newcomers settled on their beds, joining the circle of whispered conversation and wary smiles.
"Just Practical Magic for now, Solaria?" Withney asked.
"For now. Thinking about adding another department, but undecided," Solaria replied.
"I'm the same," Withney said softly.
"Maylyn's in Magical Studies; Elise's in Magical Tools. Only Cynthia has two—Practical Magic and Marine Biology."
"Really? Already decided? We have till week's end. You must love marine life," Solaria said with a knowing smile.
"Yeah... since I was young," Cynthia answered, her voice light but with a touch of longing.
The six girls chatted on, the afternoon stretching toward evening.
"Want to explore Hansforth with us?"
Withney asked, eyes bright.
"We don't have plans. Why not?" Solaria agreed.
Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted. Solaria moved to open it.
Two men stood there, mid-twenties, hauling suitcases and a cart heavy with more.
"We're here to deliver your luggage, misses," one said.
Solaria stepped aside as they moved the bags inside, then swiftly left for the next delivery.
The girls busied themselves with unpacking, organizing their rooms before deciding to explore.
By 5:30, all was ready. The six stepped out into the market's lively chaos—the smell of fried food, hawkers' cries, and the buzz of haggling filling the air.
Withney's eyes widened at the cacophony, while Solaria, Candice, and Elise looked amused at her reaction. Maylyn and Cynthia remained composed, unshaken by the noise.
"Let's split up and meet back in an hour and a half to compare our finds," Withney suggested with a mischievous grin.
"I like that," Maylyn smiled faintly.
They dispersed—Withney and Maylyn headed separate ways; Cynthia and Elise paired up; Solaria and Candice did the same.
Withney wandered through stalls, eyes sharp for anything interesting. She purchased small trinkets, then suddenly stopped before a rundown store—its door cracked open like a whispered invitation.
Drawn in by something unseen, she stepped inside.
The room was sparse. Dust hung in the air. Symbols caught her eye—an eye pierced by an arrow, repeated on faded walls.
A man sat quietly at a table in the center, engrossed in a book. She hadn't noticed him upon entry.
He closed the book slowly, lifting his gaze to meet hers.
"Come. Sit," he said, motioning to the chair opposite him.
For a moment, Withney hesitated. The table and chair hadn't been there before—had they? A trick of her vision?
Her instincts warred, but curiosity won. She sat.
The man's face was calm but unreadable.
Withney's voice barely a whisper, "Who... are you?"
For a moment she saw the man's eyes fill with a look she couldn't quite decipher. As fast as his fluttered they back to their calm self.
She felt she was looking at a calm sea with no hits of disturbance and even no malice.
"A remnant of what you will soon be Key part of. What is your name?"
Something deep inside Withney urged her to tell the truth.
"Withney. What do you mean by 'Key part of'?"
"You'll understand soon. I hope to meet you again."
A solemn smile curled his lips before the shop around her shifted walls fading, floorboards groaning.
She blinked, and the rundown store was gone—its door now nailed shut with thick boards.
Dazed, Withney checked the time outside a nearby shop—no time had passed.
Still shaken, she cut her trip short and returned to the carriage stop, waiting in silence for her friends.
One by one they returned, their arms full of goods and laughter.
Together, they made their way back to the dormitory.
Dinner was a quiet affair—food spread across the table; new purchases scattered on beds.
Maylyn noticed Withney's silence and pulled her aside.
"Did something happen?" she asked quietly.
Withney blinked, caught off guard.
"I'm fine. Don't worry," she said, voice distant.
"I don't think so. You were the first at the carriage stop—that's not like you."
"I just got there early. Didn't feel like shopping today."
Something deeper urged Withney to keep the strange encounter secret.
Maylyn nodded slowly, dropping the subject.
That night, as the others drifted into sleep, Withney stared at the ceiling—her thoughts lost to dust, boarded doors, and symbols burned into faded walls.
Hermandry had only just begun.
And already, something ancient had stirred.