The bookstore was a maze to the uninitiated. A winding collection of corridors and towering shelves that gave the constant impression that they were teetering on the brink of collapse. They never would, of course. Nearly a dozen assorted runes prevented theft, ill-intent and - thankfully - collapsing bookshelves.
The three-story building wedged discreetly between a coffee house and a four-story law firm in central Ceres Centropolis would seem cluttered and disorganized to any not familiar with the intricate and very carefully planned layout. In truth, it was arranged to keep the mundane inquiries on the ground floor, while those here with more... supernatural tastes would find themselves drawn skyward. This was no ordinary bookstore. It was a safe haven for any seeking knowledge and information, no matter how eclectic or forgotten. Fighting would not be tolerated within the store, nor would any form of discrimination. “No mind-reading. Ever.” The worn out neon yellow sign near the counter heralded the one exception to the discrimination rule.
The day had been a quiet one, not that Uly was drawn to counting pennies come tax time. As the sun began to fall, Uly was tempted to close up briefly in favor of retrieving a coffee but decided against it. Instead, she remained sat at the front desk by the door, head bent over a small pearl-like stone inscribed with a patchwork of runes. It was nowhere near done, but she was making progress on the wish stone. They were in high demand with her clients and it would sell for a fortune.
A brief warmth from the bracelet on her wrist - one of five - drew Uly’s attention away from her work, signaling the presence of someone nearby. Listening for a moment, she heard the familiar tapping of feet on the second floor heading towards the spiral stairs. With a yawn, Uly tucked away her stone and twisted the ring on her index finger twice to shift her eyes back to a natural almond brown. The icey blue hue that came with her working on charms often made people uncomfortable.
As the figure approached, Uly leaned forward on the counter, an eyebrow lifting. “Need something?”
