stone house

Esther, come here."

"Old gentleman. Mr. Smith."

When Esther heard someone calling her, she immediately came out of her daze. Just now she tried to communicate with the little bug huddled in her breast pocket, but there was no response at all. She began to stare at the vase in the corner of the room, wondering if she had been abandoned by that little insect.

Or perhaps its lifespan had expired? It's just a bug after all.

Just as Esther pondered over it, on the verge of tears due to the loss of her friend, she recognized the sound of the door being pushed open, interrupting her wandering thoughts just in time.

"Yes, we need to wait for the senior deacon sent by Backlund to confirm the situation. You need to stay behind Chanis Gate for these two days."

Esther didn't ask any questions, assuming it was some sort of temporary detention center, and obediently followed Dunn and Old Neil. The two nighthawks didn't exchange many words in front of Esther, wary of potentially triggering her hostility.

There were only three sets of footsteps echoing through the long corridor.

Esther gazed at the double door carved with seven intricate patterns. The door, weathered and thick, seemed to have stood there for ages. Esther's intuition whispered that those patterns held special meanings and power.

The guard stationed next to the door appeared particularly aged, not just due to his years, but because of the quiet weight in his soul. He nodded to Dunn, and after a brief exchange, the guard holding a lantern swung open the black iron door. Old Neil remained outside, waiting patiently.

Dunn instructed Esther, "Follow me closely, and don't lose your way. The passages inside can be labyrinthine."

"Okay," Esther replied, trailing behind Dunn through the narrow opening. She couldn't help but voice her curiosity, "This door looks quite peculiar. Is it meant to prevent the prisoners inside from causing trouble?"

"You could say that," Dunn acknowledged.

Esther's initial impression of Dunn was of someone taciturn yet dependable, with a receding hairline and eyes that held depth and tranquility. As Esther observed Dunn's age, her assessment of him shifted to one of maturity and stability. Recalling the reverent look in Ms. Daly's eyes whenever she mentioned the "captain" at the shop, Esther couldn't help but wonder about Dunn's impression of Daly.

But her musings were quickly drawn back to the present.

The air beyond the door felt noticeably chillier than outside, but what struck Esther more was the origin of this coldness—a deathly silence akin to the aura exuded by the guard. Strangely, it didn't unsettle Esther; instead, it strangely soothed her fear of the gloomy environment. She gazed into the space around her, unable to discern anything tangible, yet this peculiar power evoked an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Could it be a hint of fondness? Esther pondered in confusion.

Candle sconces lined the walls, holding silver-white candles adorned with intricate carvings. The blue flames resembled the will-o'-the-wisps of Esther's imagination. As the caretaker shut the door behind her, Dunn guided Esther through the corridor. Esther suppressed her curiosity, refraining from scrutinizing her surroundings too closely.

This place seemed clandestine, and Esther felt it impolite to show excessive interest, lest it sour their hospitality. After all, both Dunn and the caretaker seemed solemn at the moment.

They descended down a flight of stairs, the surroundings growing progressively darker. Were it not for the caretaker's dim lantern, Esther felt she might have stumbled in the darkness.

Finally, the caretaker halted before an unmarked slate door nestled among the rooms lining the corridor. After swinging it open, Dunn gestured for Esther to enter.

The room beyond the door resembled a solitary cell. Stone tables and chairs were rooted to the ground, while a stone bed with a lumpy pillow occupied one corner. An empty iron chamber pot lingered in another corner, the room otherwise devoid of adornment.

Esther turned to Dunn, inquiring, "Mr. Smith, could I have a quilt and blanket? If not, I can ask someone to fetch them from Slim Bakery. Also... there's a wallet in the attic where I reside."

Esther felt a twinge of embarrassment at the end, fearing she might be imposing too much.

Dunn nodded amiably, surprising Esther with his easy demeanor. "Certainly, we'll arrange for everything you need. Please wait here for a moment."

"Thank you," Esther responded gratefully.

Dunn hesitated briefly before asking, "Would you require any food? We can arrange for an extra serving for you."

Esther's eyes brightened. "Really? Do I need to pay? I don't have much savings, and I might not afford meals and lodging..."

"No, we can settle the expenses later," Dunn reassured her.

Esther's light-hearted reaction softened Dunn's tone momentarily. Quickly regaining his composure, he nodded to Esther before closing the door and departing with the caretaker.

Settling onto the stone bed, Esther found it surprisingly less cold than she anticipated. Perhaps the pervasive aura of death in every nook and cranny here contributed to her relaxation. With a sigh of contentment, Esther stretched out on the bed, finding it rather comfortable.

"It doesn't look as grim as I imagined. It's much better than expected. At least there's a bed to rest on."

A glass cover hung on the wall, encasing a candle that emitted a blue flame. Beside it lay a mask; pulling the attached cord would obscure the light entirely, shrouding the room in darkness.

After experimenting with it briefly, Esther snuffed out the candle, enveloping herself in the comforting darkness.

"Little bug? Are you still there? Are you alright..."

No response.

Esther pressed her palm against her chest, patting it twice. "Never mind. Sweet dreams, then."

A hint of sorrow tinged her voice, echoing pitifully in the lightless underground cell.

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