OLD TITLE: Abyss
Cover made by me.
P.S Xiao doesn't make a full appearance until near the endo of the first arc.
CONTAINS SPOILERS!!
{Modern/Futuristic AU mixed with fantasy AU lol}
(Also slow burn woot woot)
Will contain:
Enemies to Lovers + Misund...
Italics = Description for 'dramatic' effect, flashback, or a character's thoughts. The art above depicts Khaenri'ah's capital, Alberich City (generated by discord bot Midjourney. The image is edited by me). - It was 'nighttime', and Lumine went out with... Not the best intentions.
After some research on the darkest parts of the web and gaining the trust of some individuals, Lumine learned that there was a well-hidden black market within the outskirts of Ginnung. There, someone sells forged documents at a cheap price, along with false visions. Which is technically illegal... Yeah, not even the Abyss and Khaenri'ah itself are exempt from evil.
It was well-hidden, and if it weren't for 'connections', she wouldn't have found out about the place. She needed to go there, for making up excuses on the surface wouldn't help.
As Lumine stood in front of the door of the hidden black market, she hesitantly took off the hood of her cloak as she stared at the eye that looked back at her.
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It was a dark blue door, lined with dark blue, with a golden circle in the center. It was nearly camouflaged among the ruins, the only thing standing out was the words "Black Market" imprinted on the door. So much for secrecy.
As she took a step forward, she heard a yelp and a bump against her leg. Lumine looked down to find the familiar white hair poking out of her cloak.
"Paimon?! What the hell are you doing here?!"
"Paimon just wanted to know where you were going!"
"Yeah, but how in the hell..."
"I climbed underneath your cloak before you put it on.", Paimon huffed as she flew out of the cloak, "It was hard work, but I managed to avoid touching your back." The blonde rolled her eyes, staring at Paimon wearing the hand-crafted Abyss mage cloak. She stared back at the eye, "I am ready for what you have for me, Mr. Watcher."
The eye blinked.
"You measure my life in hours and I serve you by expiring. I'm quick when I'm thin and slow when I'm fat. The wind is my enemy.", the eye asked her a riddle, "Who am I?"
Lumine stared at the eye flatly, having already heard this painful riddle from Enjou, her brother's friend. Aether and her were tormented by countless riddles and puns from the fellow, laughing at the way they cringed and groaned as they were coerced to answer.
"A Candle.", she answered, "It's obvious."
"You may enter, young ones!", the eye looked pleased, "Come in but be cautious... For even you can't candle a scandal in the world of Khaenri'ahs Finest Black Market!"
Lumine rolled her eyes, grabbing Paimon by her hands as the door opened, ignoring the intense laughter. Heck, why did it sound so familiar to her?
"Just ignore it, Lumine, nothing important as of now."
"So, this is it....", Lumine looked up at the crystalline walls, "The Black Market..."
