It had been so long that he’d almost forgotten what she looked like. For a moment, he’d rather believe that this was a nightmare, an illusion conjured by his enemy who wished to exploit his mind. Yet, that lifelike figure was there, her almost unblemished face peeked from behind the playful doctor. Captain Ottis and Rosaline stood watch without saying a word.

  “Selena?” Ulrich called out, his voice a little weak.

  Selena's hair was golden, like threads of fine silk woven from gold, emanating a yellow brilliance no different from the Odetree. Her face and skin weren’t without scratches and injuries; whoever took her was no saint. And as she heard Ulrich’s voice, her green, ivory eyes flickered with life.

  “Ulrich?” She murmured, and the golden jewelry on his neck and ears trembled slightly.

  Yes, it was her. That voice, though low and barely audible, was indeed hers. Impatiently, the seer gathered the strength on his two feet, then leaped to the door, startling Captain Ottis silly. The man, despite his usually stout demeanor, didn’t speak a word and jumped down, standing next to Rosaline with a knowing gaze.

  Ulrich stood facing Selena, only a few feet apart. His eyes narrowed at the injuries on her face, neck, arms, and even ankles, feeling a bit guilty.

  “Are you okay?” He asked, the concern and emotion swelling beyond his control.

  She nodded, her lip a bit dried and lifeless, but that crimson color remained. “I’m fine, Ulrich. It just felt like…” Selena paused, staring toward the smashed window. “I had a long dream.”

  Hearing that, his heart skipped a beat. Truly, the transmigrator’s heart since the beginning was a still lake, an unperturbed sea isolated from every shore. And no amount of changes in the past would have stirred a wave in his heart. He’d imagined his life as being lonely, even accounting for the Shelbys’ family, Adeline, and the like.

  Ulrich was a lone boat floating amidst the vast sea, trying to find his way home. That was how he saw everything.

  “Did they do anything?” He asked.

  Selena's eyes flickered back into the present, then stared at Ulrich, noticing the injuries and blood on his clothes.

  “No. I heard from that gentleman down there that someone had taken me. He had asked if I remembered anything, but I can’t recall. It was like I took a nap, a long nap.” Her voice was still weak, barely audible, but each word was no less a thunder to the seer’s ear.

  “I saw many things, strange things, Ulrich.”

  Strange things?

  Ulrich didn’t question it much. With Captain thoroughness, there was no way that he hadn’t checked for signs of abnormality, and still have Selena spoke to him. If she was allowed to move freely in this manner, then it meant that Selena was normal, or at the very least, she was not affected in any way, ordinary or supernatural.

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  “What are those things you saw?”

  Selena didn’t answer. She grew silent, as though hesitating. It felt weird, for Ulrich at least. They had known each other for a long time, and there was little that they avoided asking or speaking.

  After a brief silence, Selena leaned forward, her breath warm as she whispered into his ear.

  “I dreamt of fireworks, very big fireworks. A giant square structure that rises from the ground toward the sky. I dreamt of a graveyard, myself placing a flower there. And—“ She froze, finding it difficult to recall the memories.

  “And I saw bright, blue light. It reminded me of the blue stars in the sky.”

  By the time she walked back to a respectable distance, Ulrich's heart thundered, and his expression almost shattered into shock.

  This… she’s dreaming of modern-day structures!

  But why the fireworks? And why the graveyard? Additionally, Ulrich had a feeling he’d heard of that word before, “blue stars". For a seer, intuition was a powerful tool, a sense that allows him to gain insight into matters which are normally hidden from ordinary people, even Weavers.

  At this moment, Captain Ottis coughed, perhaps feeling the need to interrupt the reunion between these two young people.

  “Sorry to interrupt your reunion, but we must return to the Inner District,” He said, looking at Selena's vacant eyes, who didn’t seem to care in the slightest. “Young Selena will need to have a check-up for her injuries, and also give the official police a statement before she can freely return to her home.”

  As for Ulrich, he only glanced at the young seer and didn’t speak a word. Ottis Owen believed their junior was smart enough to understand the procedure and not intervene in the process too much. If push comes to shove, he’d rather have their junior go on an early vacation if it allows him to maintain a clearer state of mind. Better have a sane Watchman than one who was too emotionally unstable on duty.

  With that said, he clapped his hands, concluding Operation Ursus and the rescuing of Selena Morris.

  …

  Days have passed since that fateful night. The rain came late, but it came nevertheless. For the past few days, Belham was soaked, drenched in seawater from the eastern coast to the western district. No land was spared, not even the surrounding sea. Indeed, Monsoon came prepared. And even at this moment, as Ulrich stared out the window, appreciating the scent of tea and pastry, the dark cloud triumphed over all.

  “Ma’am Anna, I didn’t expect to see you again.” Ulrich greeted a familiar ‘servant worker’ who walked to his table.

  Anna Castella wore that same black dress. Her sleeves and skirt were long, and her eyes, pitch black, were radiating a kind of light similar to the sun. The seer didn’t notice it before; perhaps he’d never paid her much attention when he thought she was an ordinary worker. But looking at her now, her appearance indeed had some oddities.

  “Liar.” She said blankly, placing a plate of sponge cake on the table, followed by De Monte, an alternative drink similar to coffee in the modern world.

  “You have been visiting this place every day. I have been watching.”

  Ulrich's gentleman-like smile almost faltered, unable to offer a counter argument.

  “What can I say, I am a regular here.”

  She narrowed her eyes, but didn’t strike him down. “You still owe me that meal,” Anna said, recalling that night.

  You remember that?

  “And I intend on fulfilling my words.”

  She didn’t seem to care much about it and leaned forward over the desk. “I assume you didn’t come looking for me just to have a chat, did you?”

  Had it been anyone else, he’d be cautious with his interaction and manner. However, Anna Castella had proven herself when she helped him without asking much in return. As a matter of fact, he quite likes that old stinking priest now. A friend of that priest is a friend to the seer!

  “Ahem. I just wanted to ask you to take a look at a friend, a close friend.” He said.