Double Image

[Thexare]

"There's a lady in violet here to see you, Z," Lauren said, poking her head into the break room. Zack had been reading a story about a small village founded just after an apocalyptic event, and the trials of its inhabitants. They had just slain a vicious void dragon, but there were still more trials ahead.

But that chapter would clearly have to wait.

"Interesting phrasing," he muttered, putting his tablet down. "I'll explain later," he added, noting her quizzical look.

---

"Eighth Arcanum welcomes you, Elia. What brings you here?"

"I found something I wanted you to take a look at," she replied, fishing from her pocket an ornate brass-colored pendant set with brilliant purple gemstones.

"I'd think you'd want a different color. You know, as an accent. Purple on purple is just redundant," Lauren commented, leaning on the counter.

"Mm. I'm curious about its origin, if you get my meaning," Elia explained quietly.

"Ah, of course," Zack replied, pulling a small laser-like pointer out of his right pocket and shining it on the pendant. Over the metal portions, it was a pale bluish color, with a hint of red in the center of the beam. Shone into the crystal, it illuminated the gem, casting a beautiful blue light inside.

"So what's that mean?"

"It's safe, I can say that. I'd get a different light if it wasn't. I'm going to guess the metal is some sort of alloy, but I'm not sure. The crystal's definitely Thelaryst, which hasn't been seen in any artifacts to date," he said, hastening and lowering his voice toward the end. Elia looked interested, so he continued at his normal pace and volume, "Thelaryst first became a popular decorative stone a few years into the artifact boom; it has a similar look to the stones in some artifacts, but it's a lot cheaper. Shortly after the ban, it saw a second surge in popularity, because it's legal. This alloy metal doesn't have the proper coloration, it's too light to pass for an artifact, which tells me it's relatively new - within the last twenty years, after Liberty's ban took effect. People wanted the style, but not the LSF harassment. Where'd you get this?"

"A smuggler was trying to sell it," Elia replied quietly, a sly smile on her face. "I talked him down to five hundred credits, he was panicking and wanted to ditch it. If it wasn't even an artifact, though.."

"Might've been a rookie, mgiht've been a theft, might've been an inept con artist. The good news is, you weren't ripped off. You won't make anything off it either though. I'd take it to the police in case it was stolen, if the police weren't the LPI."

"I see. Well, thanks for the information, Zack," Elia said, taking the pendant back. "I think that'll be all for me today. Another time, then," she said, turning toward the door.

"Okay, now what's going on with this girl?" Lauren asked, leading Zack to the break room.

---

"So what you're saying is, she's a dead ringer for the goddess you call the Lady in Violet."

"Yes."

"But she's not the Lady in Violet, because you made her up."

"Mhm."

"Does it ever occur to you just how goddamn weird your life is?"

"Lauren, I'm an undercover Order agent in disguise as a fortune telling security contractor and owner of an occult shop that entertains fantastical stories of alien encounters that typically result from high doses of hallucinogenic drugs, who is at the end of the day grateful for his peaceful, near-soundproof break room to get away from the nonsense. Yes, I think I know how weird my life is."