Chapter 428 Between Rooftops and Warm Bread — A Typical Day in Vernesya City
Birds flew low above the narrow alley, which was adorned with round stones warmed by sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves. The aroma of burning wood, salted butter, and autumn leaves mingled, creating a calming atmosphere amidst the bustle. The city wasn't large, but it was full of sounds. Joanna often took time to reflect on the noise around her; within that chaos, she sought clues about who she was in a world that seemed to overlook her presence.
Vernesya, as the residents called it—a city in the southeastern part of Earth that grew from the ruins of an old port. Its architecture blended Etruscan-style stone houses with open red Mediterranean roofs, adorned with small flags fluttering from balconies. Every corner of this city evoked a longing for something greater, a sense of loss that Joanna felt in every moment of her presence there. Among the old stone walls and the scent of spices enveloping the air, she yearned for her lost identity in a magical realm full of mystery.
Joanna gazed at a round loaf of bread in the display case, letting out a sigh as if exploring the depths of the sweet and bitter choices before her. "What does it mean to choose in a world without magic?" she murmured, her voice almost lost among the clamor of the merchants. Lost in her thoughts, she questioned whether this bread was merely a substitute for something far more significant that had slipped away from her.
"I thought we would be facing demons, guardians of dimensions, or blood curses again."
Rui, wearing a light brown hood, rested her chin on the glass. A reflection emerged not only in the mirror but also in her heart—the question nagged at her mind about the meaning of power without responsibility. "But now... I think I'm more afraid of choosing bread than fighting cosmic entities." She voiced the uncertainty within her, a dilemma that seemed to preserve the peace from the world outside. Her desire to save the people in other dimensions now felt like a burden conflicting with her hope for a simpler life.
It had been three days since they arrived in Vernesya. Days passed, yet the feeling of alienation lingered. They tried to forge a new life in a place devoid of magic, but the peace sought in daily routines was often overshadowed by memories of past battles. Was it possible to hold two lives, two conflicting identities?
There is no magic. No rituals. In fact, the locals are not very familiar with the magical world. All they know are harvests, the seasons when ships arrive, and occasionally news of destruction far to the north. During every exploration, Joanna feels an unanswered question: What would happen if they had to return to their adventure filled with magic? Will the identity they built in Vernesya be enough to face that challenge?
They both rented a small room on the second floor of the La Sapienza inn, owned by an elderly couple named Almon and Edra. Their room's window faces directly onto the main road: Via Fleurs, where flower vendors and small instrument sellers compete in singing the funniest folk songs. Joanna and Rui often sit by the window, watching the seemingly utopian daily life, yet there is a gap that allows memories of the past to fill the void in their hearts.
"You know," Edra said, as she taught Rui how to slice, "your hands tremble like someone holding the world."