Veiled Revolutions; Nastasia's Awakening

3. A Stranger, one might say.

December 26th, 1929.

Nastasia still finds those journals quite baffling, she brought all of them home with her to her old, crappy apartment.

"What.. what is the meaning behind this? For God's sake.." she groans.

In the quietude of her apartment, a subtle disruption fractured the peace. A soft patter echoed, catching her attention. The atmosphere, once serene, now hummed with an unexpected discord. Her focus shifted to the origin of the sound, and there it was – a leak in her roof.

"Fuck." Cursing under her breath, annoyance etched across her face, she surveyed the unwelcome intrusion. "Guess I'll have to fetch something to mend this mess," she grumbled, resigned to the inconvenience. The leaking roof became a disruption that demanded her attention, a small glitch in the tranquility of her abode. With determined steps, she set out to find a solution to remedy the unexpected flaw in her sanctuary.

She abandons the confines of her apartment, determined to find materials for a sturdier fix.

Stepping into the rain-soaked streets, the cobblestones glistening under the city lights, she heads towards the local market. The rhythmic tap of raindrops on her umbrella becomes a companion as she navigates through the dimly lit alleys.

As Nastasia navigates through the street, just about to make a turn to  the market, a sudden collision interrupts her focused stride. Startled, she finds herself face to face with a lady of intriguing presence.

The stranger, with short, tousled brunette hair and eyes that hold a subtle allure, wears a brown blazer that exudes an air of professionalism. A brief, unexpected connection lingers in the shared gaze, an unspoken moment within the silent atmosphere of the rain.

"I apologize." Nastasia quickly said, wanting to walk away from the awkward situation.

"No, no! It was my fault." The woman said, a soft smile tugged on her lips. She seemed quite kind.

"...alright." As Nastasia attempted to resume her journey to the market, a surprising pull on her arm halts her in her tracks. Startled, she turned to find the woman standing closer than expected.

A firm grip on her arm, the woman's eyes betray a sense of urgency or perhaps a hidden determination. "Wait," she says, her voice carrying a mixture of concern and intrigue. The unexpected physical contact sparks a subtle tension in the air, and Nastasia, momentarily caught off guard, waits for an explanation or a revelation that might explain this peculiar interruption in her quest for a roof repair. "... uhhh??"

"I.. I want to know your name, haha, y'know? I'm Irina Kovalova." She chuckles nervously, rubbing the back of her neck with her fingers.

"Oh, okay then. My name's Nastasia."

"Nastasia! What a beautiful name, how fitting for a beautiful face!—"

"...thank you?"

"Aha! I'm a detective, one of the youngest yet best in town, actually. Do you need a detective by any chance? Because I'm the right person to help if you do!" Irina asked, holding up her right hand which was clutching a detective badge to show she wasn't bluffing. She was not expecting Nastasia to actually accept though.

"... actually.. I think I do." Nastasia says, thinking about those journals she found in that abandoned mansion.

"Huh?" Irina's eyes widen slightly, a little surprised. "W-well! What is there for me to help you with?"

"I found.. some very suspicious writing in a journal that is related to my surname somehow, and I want to find out the meaning behind it."

"Oh? That sounds interesting.."

"The journal is back at my place though, so if you're willing to follow me.."

"Oh, uh, sure! No harm in that, right?" Irina obliged almost instantly, much to Nastasia's surprise.

"Really? You're gonna trust me that easily? We just met, Irina." Nastasia frowns disappointedly.

"Ah.. well, I don't know, the energy I feel from you.. it just.. it just feels right to trust you."

——— END