Violet and Astrid walked through the central region of Viremont after disembarking from their coach. Violet was visibly irate at the fact that the final stretch had to be done on foot—no transportation of any kind was permitted beyond this point. Though the distance to the halls was not particularly long, Astrid was already beginning to tire, which only deepened Violet’s displeasure with the rule.
It was a warm afternoon. Both women were dressed in tailored pant suits and coats. Violet wore brown suit pants, a crisp white shirt, and her favorite red jacket—an old coat she had received from her aunt and refused to part with. Astrid, by contrast, was clad entirely in black: suit pants, polished shoes, a large coat, and a wide-brimmed hat pulled low. She also wore a mask to conceal her face.
In truth, they both did.
Neither Astrid nor Violet were faces one encountered on an ordinary day, and in the past they had drawn far too much attention for their liking. Attention that often veered into harassment—attempted harassment, at least. Violet had always been quick to put an end to such things, her gun serving as a firm punctuation mark for anyone who failed to understand the simple word begone. Masks were uncommon, but they afforded the cousins peace of mind, whether they were walking the streets or attending gatherings such as this one.
Moments later, they arrived at the Luminous Hall.
The structure towered above the surrounding buildings, a mastercraft of stone and light that dominated the skyline. The hall was an institution devoted to the knowledge and history of both the kingdom and the wider world. Renowned for its vast collections of ancient relics and artifacts from bygone eras, it was said to house more knowledge of runecraft and magic than any other place in the realm.
Every so often, the Luminous Hall would clear its storage vaults of items that had been fully researched—or deemed no longer worth preserving. These occasions were known simply as hall cleanings.
That was why the cousins were here.
During the last hall cleaning they had attended, Violet and Astrid had uncovered an ancient text concealed within an otherwise unremarkable slate. It spoke of forgotten forms of magic and runetech, and the discovery had been nothing short of extraordinary. Since then, attending hall cleanings had become a ritual between them.
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This, however, was their first time attending a cleaning hosted by the Luminous Hall itself.
As they approached the towering entrance, both women were filled with giddy anticipation.
As they passed through the open doors, they entered an immediately vast, open space already brimming with people of every status imaginable. Merchants haggled quietly in clustered corners, rune masters and runesmiths spoke in dense technical murmurs, and wealthy aristocrats lingered with the practiced air of collectors browsing for their next prize.
When Violet and Astrid stepped inside, several faces turned toward them. Some recognized them instantly, while others merely stared at the odd sight of the masked pair. It did not take long for interest to fade, however, and conversations resumed as before—the hall cleaning had yet to begin.
The duo found a pair of mercifully empty seats and claimed them so Astrid could rest. They waited in silence, watching the crowd swell as more attendees arrived.
Soon after, the large doors opposite the entrance opened.
A young man stepped through, white hair catching the light and bright green eyes surveying the hall. He wore a flowing robe-like outfit that marked him unmistakably as a member of the Hall. As he entered, the crowd fell silent. A calm, pleasant smile rested on his face as he regarded those gathered before him.
“Good day, everyone,” he began. “My name is Kyle Everstone, and I’m glad you could all make it today to help us reduce our rather… excessive load.”
A ripple of quiet amusement passed through the room.
“Unfortunately,” Kyle continued, “we of the Halls are very good at gathering knowledge—and very bad at knowing when to stop. It always leads to us having more than we can reasonably handle. It’s quite gracious of you to assist us in this matter. Otherwise, we truly wouldn’t know what to do with ourselves.”
A few chuckles broke the silence, and many smiled at the light humor.
“This hall cleaning will proceed as usual,” Kyle said. “You will be given two hours to skim through our collection in the holding rooms. Afterward, we will hold a mini-auction where you may bid on the items you wish to take home. Please—this way, ladies and gentlemen.”
In orderly—but unmistakably impatient—fashion, the crowd began to follow Kyle toward the holding rooms. Violet and Astrid joined them.
The holding rooms were every bit as vast as they had expected.
The collection was arranged in sections, and attendees were guided through in a slow-moving line that progressed from one area to the next. Each person was given only a few seconds to skim the information displayed for each item before being urged forward.
For most, it was frustrating.
For the cousins, it was enough.
Rather than lingering on the written descriptions, Violet and Astrid relied on their understanding of artificing and runic theory, quickly identifying each item’s nature and function before moving on. Their eyes lingered only where something truly unusual surfaced.
All too soon, the two hours came to an end.
A wave of grumbling spread through the crowd—complaints that the time had been far too short—but the rules were rules.
