Chapter 3

Ten days later, I finally crossed paths with Seraphina.

Dad was busy at the Governor's Manor, so I was wandering the town square alone.

I noticed a crowd gathered near the fountain and squeezed through to see what the fuss was about.

A girl stood in the center. She was undeniably pretty, dressed in a simple but elegant gown, with a sharp, intelligent spark in her eyes.

She was holding up a string of iridescent crystals, pitching them to the locals.

"These are aurora stones," she explained, her voice clear and confident. "I sourced them from overseas traders. Look at…