Josie returned to Squirrel Street, where her home was, carrying the Nolan Chanter poster Helan had given her.
Her home was an alchemy shop at the very end of Squirrel Street. She had lived there for as long as she could remember.
Squirrel Street was considered one of Nolan's most prosperous streets, but because her father was so hopeless, the shop barely saw any customers all year round.
The household had always been supported by her mother, an apprentice of the Purple-robed One.
Josie pushed open the door to her family's alchemy shop. Just as she expected... there was still not a single customer inside.
As Josie was about to set down her Backpack, her younger sister hurried downstairs in a panic.
"Big Sis..."
Before she could react, a girl slightly shorter than her threw herself into her arms.
"What's wrong?"
Josie reached out and touched her sister's forehead. Unlike her... Joia had inherited most of their father's traits. Her eyes and hair were both black.
But her sister had possessed a strange physical trait since birth. Whenever she panicked or was frightened... she changed color, or rather, faded.
Josie looked at the sister clinging to her. Half of Joia's long black hair had already turned pure white.
This fading symptom did not only affect her hair. Even the color in Joia's skin gradually drained away.
"Upstairs... upstairs..." Joia pointed at the staircase, unable to organize her words. "There's... a girl I've never seen before."
"Don't be afraid. She might just be a customer... Let's go take a look."
Josie comforted her sister. Unlike Josie... although Joia looked about the same age as her, her mind was still that of a child.
That was why Josie had already begun attending the Advanced Magic Academy, while her sister still stayed at