Backlund.
"Fors, why are you up so early?" Xio yawned and rubbed her sleepy eyes, staring in disbelief at the fully dressed Fors.
She had recently taken on several long-term assignments at the guild and had been busy until midnight before returning home the night before.
Missing-person cases in the East Borough had been increasing lately, and even the guild had received a lot of requests to find people... Xio recalled what she had seen and heard at the guild recently.
"Early? It's already past eight." Fors pointed at the mechanical clock on the wall.
"Xio, you're far too lazy."
"Lazy? You're actually calling me lazy? Good heavens, what has happened to the world..." Xio's eyes widened as though she had heard something utterly preposterous.
She could not understand why Fors would call her lazy. The instant she heard it, she had not even argued back; her mind had simply shut down.
"I didn't get home until midnight last night, and... forget it..." Xio sighed. "What are you doing in my room?"
"Well... that Pen Friend of mine still hasn't written back." Fors grew unusually hesitant, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. Only after a moment's hesitation did she speak. "You said before that I could try looking for my Pen Friend..."
"His last letter didn't have a return address, but all his earlier letters came from the same address."
"And it's right here in Backlund."
"I sent my money to that earlier address, too."
"So I was wondering if I could go and take a look."
"Xio, could you..."
"Come with you, right?" Xio finished for her. Seeing the rare earnestness on her friend's face, she reluctantly threw back the covers.
"To be honest, I'm really sleepy right now, but..."
"Since you've finally worked up this