Misaligned Reflections

A muffled peal of thunder suddenly rolled across the skies above Faelun—minutes later, torrential rain descended, shrouding this small city-state in the southwestern seas like a hazy curtain.

The "light burst" that had briefly swept across the sky had already vanished beyond the distant horizon. The city's residents were still anxiously speculating about where those massive glowing objects that had fallen from the heavens had landed, and now this sudden rainfall seemed to have become an even more unsettling omen—in the rain, the already dim night grew darker still. World's Creation became a huge maw amid the storm clouds, seeming to writhe and tremble without end. The wind wailed through the streets and alleys, while wind-driven raindrops battered the windows in layer upon layer, fraying everyone's nerves.

Lawrence crossed the inn's lobby and saw many stranded guests gathered by the windows. They spoke in hushed voices about the flashes that had streaked through the sky earlier, about the downpour outside, and about the guardians' patrol that had just departed. A warm fireplace crackled nearby, while bright electric lamps fought against the boundless night beyond the windows like soldiers standing watch—in this unsettling rainy night, fire and light upheld the increasingly fragile barrier of safety in people's hearts.

"It's only ordinary rain..." A soft voice came from the little mirror at his chest. Martha spoke quietly to Lawrence. "I checked through the Spirit World. Nothing is going to happen."

Lawrence nodded lightly. He looked out the window and saw the curtain of rain blurring the streetscape, streams of water running down the glass and outlining distorted patterns of light and shadow. Martha's figure appeared in the window, smiling at him.

"I just used the mirror to jump over to the White Oak. Everything aboard is fine, so don't worry."

"Thanks for