The rain had stopped, but heavy clouds still hung low in the sky, refusing to let any light through.
Ray stood before a storefront, a letter of introduction in his hand.
"Although this operation is an infiltration, for an occasion like that you at least need decent attire."
"Here take this to a boutique called 'Masked Reverie' and have a proper uniform tailored for you."
That was what Carlotta Montelli had said as they parted ways at the cemetery.
He had heard of the shop. It was said to be a top-tier, renowned fashion house in all of Ragunna.
But its proprietor was rather eccentric. If you wanted her to tailor a garment for you, money alone was far from enough. You also needed her to be in the mood to grant you the favor.
"Speaking of which…" Ray paused outside the shop door, looking up at the signboard with a thoughtful gaze, murmuring to himself, "What was the owner's name again? Naya…"
"Nyarla."
Suddenly the shop door creaked open slowly.
Before Ray could fully react, a strange sight appeared before him, a suit of clothing stood upright on its own, without a hanger, suspended seemingly by invisible hands, emanating an air of mystery.
"Huh?"
Ray was taken aback, staring at the suit of clothes before him, unsure what to do.
Did… that suit just speak?
"Mhm? A new face. A new customer, it seems."
Now Ray was sure. It was the suit of clothes speaking.
No rather, it was the shop owner speaking through it.
"You…"
"I know you have many questions," Nyarla said, taking the letter of introduction from Ray's hand and flipping through it casually. "The mask of witty remarks, the Echo in lavish attire, the vocalist of graceful form… The people of Ragunna have more descriptions and titles for me than the names of roles I have personally performed."
"The imagination of my true form has, along with countless gazes, focused upon this invisible vessel"
"One could say people's curiosity and imagination have bestowed upon me a thousand different faces."
"So, in your heart, what do I look like?"
Ray was slightly stunned. He felt… these words were somehow familiar.
Coupled with that strange name, Nyarla…
Could it be… Nyarlathotep, the Crawling Chaos, an Outer God?!
Uh, that was probably too far-fetched. This invisibility was most likely just her Resonance ability.
"Oh? Recommended by Miss Carlotta?" Nyarla gently set down the letter of introduction, her tone carrying a hint of something inscrutable. "This is a rarity. For Miss Carlotta to write such a letter, specifically requesting that I use the finest fabric in the shop to tailor a formal suit for you…"
She spoke softly while walking a light circle around Ray, examining him from head to toe with a meticulous eye.
"Excuse me…"
"Don't mind me. I'm just roughly assessing your measurements," Nyarla interrupted him unhurriedly, then turned and walked toward a cabinet, deftly pulling out some professional measuring tools. "Well, time is pressing. Let's begin."
Some time later, the preliminary work for tailoring the suit was already completed.
Nyarla gave a light clap of her hands, looking at Ray. "Alright then. Please wait patiently for my message."
Ray gave a slight bow. "I appreciate your trouble."
With that, he walked out of the shop. He took out his terminal from his pocket, quickly tapped on the screen, and sent a report to Carlotta.
[The suit has been ordered.]
Soon, the terminal screen lit up with Carlotta's reply.
[Good, I understand.]
[By the way, there's a concert performance at the theater tonight.]
[Although it's just a small show and Giacomo Fasciaspina won't be attending, you might as well go and take a look around the theater first, familiarize yourself with the layout.]
[I've already had someone purchase a ticket for you. Someone will contact you proactively.]
Oh ho, even a free concert ticket?
[What about you, Miss Carlotta? Will you be coming along?]
[Is that an invitation to watch the concert together? How regrettable. I still have work to attend to. However, after this current matter is concluded, I might seriously consider your invitation.]
Just then, the terminal screen lit up again, this time with a message from Zani.
[Sorry about yesterday. Something came up and I had to leave.]
[By the way, why aren't you at work today?]
Ray stared at the message from Zani, his eyes flickering slightly as thoughts swirled in his mind.
He hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided not to tell her the truth.
After all, Carlotta had specifically warned him about a potential traitor within the family. It wasn't that he suspected Zani, but this matter was too critical. The fewer people who knew, the safer the operation.
[It's nothing serious. Just feeling a bit under the weather, so I took a sick day.]
[Not feeling well? A cold?]
[Something like that. A bit of a fever, feeling lightheaded.]
[Mhm, alright. Take care and get some rest. I won't disturb you then.]
After that, Ray let out a soft sigh of relief, put the terminal away, and looked up at the overcast sky.
This sudden day off had completely disrupted his normally tight schedule. For a moment, he felt a bit lost. Now that he had free time, he wasn't sure what to do with it.
"Well then... I guess I'll go back to sleep," he murmured to himself, a touch of listlessness and resignation in his voice.
...
Late at night, quiet, bathed in cold moonlight.
The sky was studded with stars, like fine, scattered sand forming the Milky Way, lying across the blue-black vault of heaven.
At a corner of a street in Ragunna, there was a warm and quiet café. The soft, warm yellow light from inside spilled through the glass window, casting a gentle glow.
And just outside the café, a young woman sat.
Even with people coming and going on the surrounding streets, it seemed to have nothing to do with her as if she were a ghostly frequency adrift outside the mortal world, wandering alone amidst the hustle and bustle.
Past memories, like yellowed scrolls, would always rise like the tide in such quiet moments, often with pauses, like a sob caught in the throat.
When life is extended indefinitely, what kind of path should one walk in this world?
She didn't know.
She felt an unprecedented sense of emptiness and distance that left her at a loss.
She looked ahead at the theater, where a concert was quietly preparing to raise its curtain, its melodies already faintly flowing in the air.
"Well then..." she murmured. "I might as well go take a look."