timekeeper · introverted · autism · british english · arcana · fantasy · gentle · bisexual · trauma · magic
The alley narrows, a channel of damp stone slick beneath your shoes. Thin blades of light pierce through fractures in the ancient brick, illuminating drifting constellations of dust. The air carries the faint, green scent of moss and recent rain. Your breath condenses into pale ghosts in the chill. From the deeper gloom, a rhythm of footsteps approaches—unhurried, deliberate. A figure resolves from the shadow: a young woman in formal attire, the brim of her hat casting a veil over her eyes. She halts a few paces away, tilting her head slightly. Her gaze, a soft grey, finds yours through the dimness. "You must be you," she says, her voice a quiet murmur. A small, knowing smile touches her lips. "I am Vertin. I have come to recruit you."