Seaside Town

The rhythmic crash of waves against the rocky shore fills the air. A gentle breeze carries the faint scent of salt to Linden's nostrils as soon as he comes out from the dimension door.

The place where Linden and Lyra came to work is an abandoned wooden cabin in some seaside town. The sun has set, and they can hear the ambient chatter of people partying nearby. This place is immersed in a lively atmosphere.

"Night?" muttered Linden when he looked outside the cabin window.

It was morning when Linden went to the office, and not much should have passed since that. His mind is a bit disoriented.

Lyra noticed it and said, "This kind of thing is normal. Sometimes we need to work in a place with a totally different season. Adjust yourself!"

"Okay," replied Linden.

In the end, Linden only needs a minute to adjust himself. He is now ready to do the work, "Okay, senior, let's go?"

"Wait," said Lyra. She pointed to Linden's body, "Your clothes. You want to go out wearing that?"

Linden looked at his body. He also checked his senior's clothing. Both of them are wearing formal business suits. Looking at the people partying outside, Linden knows that their outfit is not a perfect fit for this situation. They will stick out like a sole thumb.

"I will go back and change. You should, too," said Lyra. She then picks up a temporary portal from her bag. She then used it on a door and connect this place with the office.

"You go first," said Lyra opening the door.

Linden didn't think much about it and went through the door, back to the office first. Not wasting any more time, he walked toward the office's main door and back to his home in a matter of seconds.

…

A few minutes later.

"Looks like I am the one that is ready first," muttered Linden.

Looking from the window, he observed the crowd once again. As of now, his outfit is a perfect fit. He is wearing short pants and a loose T-shirt. Of course, he didn't forget the staple on a beach, sunglasses.

Right now, he can walk up to the crowd and join them without anyone raising their eyes.

"Ah, you are here already," sounded a girl's voice from behind him.

Lyra is back at this place while Linden is still looking outside. Lyra is wearing a black hoodie and dark blue denim pants.

Lyra's outfit match perfectly with hers. Her silver hair, tied up in a ponytail style, gives her a fresh and sporty look. Unknowingly, Linden's eyes are locked on Lyra.

"What? Why are you looking at me?" asked Lyra. She then grins and continues, "I am beautiful right? I know that already~"

Linden is surprised. His mouth is a little open. He had wanted to praise her. But after hearing what she said, Linden decided to swallow that praise back to the deep of his heart.

"I am joking… Let's go?" said Lyra.

* * *

"Looks like this is the place," muttered Linden.

Both of them have walked to the outskirts of the small town toward the mountain. In contrast to the maximum energy of the crowded area nearby the beach, this place has zero amount of that. Linden can only see a handful of people in this desolate area. Most of them are tired.

"It should be this building," said Lyra. She is checking her PDAs, ensuring they are in the right place.

In front of them is a two-story building with many holes in the wall and its windows. Based on its outer appearance, this building should have been abandoned for a few years.

"I don't feel anyone inside. But, just in case, prepare your weapon too," said Lyra. She then moves to the main door before gesturing to Linden to be ready.

Linden wonders how she could notice the presence of someone inside. But as he didn't have time, he just followed what Lyra instructed.

When Linden is ready with his gun, Lyra kicks the door open. It flew a few meters back inside the building, and when it landed, it pushed the dust on the ground around.

Linden looks around the place, but as Lyra has said, he finds no one inside, only a normal room full of dust. In the room, many pieces of furniture made from wood have been eaten by bugs and termites, leaving many holes in them.

"Go check the PDA. Find the specific place that we need to check."

"Based on the coordinates, the place that we should check is… below?" muttered Linden. Linden has only worked for a day, but he has grasped the way to read the coordinate.

"Yeah, that should be the case," replied Lyra. "You go that way. I will search this way."

"Okay,"

Both of them then search for a stair to go below the building. It didn't take long for Linden to find the stair.

"Senior! I found it!" shouted Linden.

The stair to the basement is made mostly of wood. The step is made of wood, and it can be seen that it has aged a bit. Its railing is also made from a long carved wood in a shape of a dragon on its end.

It didn't take long for Lyra to come. Then, both of them go down toward the basement. The stairs make a creaking sound every time they get stepped by Linden and Lyra.

"This place is drier than I thought," said Lyra.

When talking about an abandoned basement, it is normal to think about a dark, damp, moldy, and overall humid place. But this place is different, well except the dark part.

Two rooms are lined side-by-side in the basement. And one of them is opened already.

That opened room has nothing special inside. Meanwhile, the other room has many kinds of weird stuff inside.

It also has a weird circle painted on the floor. Some candles are lined up specially.

"Summoning ritual, huh?" muttered Lyra.