Way in to the Memories

II _ You came

Three days before 28/8/2023, 5:30 on a Monday morning in autumn:

Sunlight flickered on the horizon, painting the sky with an orangish glow that heralded a majestic presence. This hour was dominated by clouds and fog, casting a chill over pedestrians commuting early or without a place to call home. The earliest train from Cilum City to Visperia also arrived around this time, ferrying hurried passengers to their destinations.

"We have arrived at Whistle Hill of Visperia. We hope you have a great visit. Thank you for choosing our service. See you again next time!"

A young man dashed out as soon as the doors cracked open. Moving so swiftly, he narrowly avoided colliding with the door handle, instead bumping into another person standing nearby. Both stumbled, shoulders dropping as their feet slipped over the doorstep.

Despite the fall, he quickly regained his footing and helped the unfortunate girl up from the floor.

Libra's head spun. She hadn't wanted to catch a train this early in the morning, but her mother insisted they leave not just two hours, but three days ahead of schedule.

She had finished packing the night before, ensuring everything was ready for departure. Yet, despite her preparations, she found herself running like a maniac to catch the train, all because her morning shower had taken too long.

Once aboard the bullet train, her eyelids began to droop, threatening to close. Libra found herself unexpectedly captivated by the scenery passing outside the windows. They passed a crop field where green buds flickered in their own dance with the wind. Although the sun had not yet risen, she couldn't discern which plants the farmers were cultivating. Instead, she witnessed something even more incredible: the sun beginning to bloom beneath the horizon like a fiery flower, casting a gorgeous and powerful light that turned the night sky a bright red, forming a palette of dawn.

This tranquil atmosphere gently lulled her to sleep with its silent lullaby. In fact, she was still half asleep when the young man bumped into her, jolting her awake.

The young man helped her up and quickly apologized with a nod before running off as soon as she assured him she wasn't hurt. However, she did have some scratches on her knees and arm, though they didn't swell or bleed, so she needed nothing more than an apology.

Libra stood there, curiously staring in the direction he had gone for a few seconds, only snapping out of it when the train's emotionless voice urged passengers to hurry as it was about to depart.She rushed back inside to grab her suitcase and bag before losing them to the departing train. Luckily, as her suitcase rolled its last tiny wheel out of the line, the doors closed promptly without delay.

As the train pulled away, Libra checked her belongings and scanned the surroundings to ensure nothing had been dropped during the accident. While none of her luggage seemed missing, she did spot a wooden keychain meticulously carved from ebony. It resembled a magic circle used by witches and sorcerers, reminiscent of a dream catcher with interlocking circles and lines, adorned with small wings on the outer edge.

Fascinated by the mysterious object, Libra picked it up and looked around for its possible owner, but there was hardly anyone in sight. She examined the keychain carefully, hoping to find a name, her interest growing with each passing second. Her thoughts oscillated between keeping it or handing it in at a nearby police station in hopes its owner would retrieve it.

Initially suspecting the young man who had collided with her moments ago, she decided to dismiss the thought. Exhausted from lack of sleep, she wasn't willing to walk another mile to the police station voluntarily.

Libra lightly shook her head to dispel any lingering guilt before picking up her bag and suitcases. The path ahead was steeper than expected, but fortunately, it wasn't slippery.

From the train station to the University of Preservation (UoP), students had to walk or drive through a steep hill and continue straight in the same direction for another 10 minutes. This led them to a town atop Whistle Hill, named after its largest and only university, the town of Preste.The school was centrally located within the town and first recorded in 1965. Over the years, locals cherished it, sometimes even worshiping it as the heart of the city. Despite this, there didn't seem to be many UoP students from the area.

As Libra walked along the path on the quiet street, she noticed that shops, local stores, and house doors were beginning to open, with people stepping out for early morning exercise. Coffee, pastries, and traditional dishes were available on either side of the walkway, their aromas absolutely divine.

The smell of freshly baked breakfast triggered a deep hunger within Libra, and her belly rumbled loudly each time she passed a shop, until she finally convinced herself that the breakfast was worth the cost.

Spotting the nearest bakery, she walked in through the aesthetically pleasing door beneath a wooden sign inscribed in old English, which loosely translated to "Welcome to the Youth Bakery". As the door swung open, the bell above it softly rang, announcing the arrival of today's first guest to the welcoming couple inside.