The next morning, Tom practically burst into the living room, the energy of a sudden breakthrough fueling his every step. Gregor was there, settled comfortably in an armchair, his nose buried deep in an old, leather-bound book, the kind that smelled of dust and forgotten secrets. The quiet rustle of pages turning was the only sound in the room.
"Gregor!" Tom called out, breathless with excitement, "I've found a lead."
Gregor looked up slowly, blinking against the sunlight filtering through the curtains. "A lead?" His voice was calm, almost too calm compared to Tom's frantic energy.
Tom dropped onto the couch beside him, pulling up the screen of his laptop and turning it toward Gregor. "Apparently, a journalist wrote an article about the Emerald of Firan fifteen years ago. It's archived online, and I managed to track it down."
Gregor leaned in, his eyes scanning the article. He murmured as he read aloud, "An ancient gem, rumored to have powers beyond comprehension… blah, blah, legends, myths… typical fluff."
After a few minutes, Gregor shut the laptop with a soft snap and shook his head. "There's nothing concrete in here. No details, no clues about its location. Just rumors and sensationalism."
Tom didn't look discouraged; in fact, his eyes gleamed brighter. "That's not the point," he said, tapping the screen decisively. "The article itself isn't important. What is important is that someone else, someone outside our circle, knew about the emerald. And if they wrote an article, it's possible they knew where to find it."
Gregor raised a skeptical eyebrow. "You want to visit the journalist?"
"Yes," Tom nodded eagerly. "We have to. If there's even a remote chance they have more information, or if they're connected to someone who does, we can't ignore it."
Gregor sighed heavily and rubbed his temples. "Where does this journalist live?"
Tom scrolled through the article's byline and showed Gregor the address. "They live in Grendale City, in Westlake State. It's quite a ways from here, almost a thousand miles."
Gregor exhaled slowly. "Alright. I'll handle booking the flight and the logistics. You focus on whatever else you need to do."
Tom gave a grateful nod. "Thanks. I knew I could count on you."
****
Later that evening, Tom lay sprawled on his bed, the glow of his phone illuminating his face in the dim light. He was texting back and forth with the two women from the hotel, Celine and Raila, as well as Selene, the mysterious girl he'd met in the park. Even though he knew Gregor wouldn't approve, part of him was intrigued by Selene's calm demeanor, the quiet confidence that radiated from her, and of course, her undeniable beauty.
Selene's messages were casual but inviting. After a few exchanges, she sent a simple, unexpected invitation: "Come visit me tonight."
Tom stared at the screen, hesitation flickering through his mind. It wasn't the safest idea, breaking routine, meeting someone new who might be trouble. But curiosity won out. He glanced toward the door, half-expecting Gregor to appear and disapprove, but the apartment was quiet.
With a quick decision, Tom switched off his location services and slipped his phone under his pillow. Quietly, so as not to disturb anyone, he climbed out the window onto the fire escape. The cool night air hit his face as he dropped down to the street and broke into a light jog, following the directions Selene had sent him.
Her apartment was in a beautiful, well-maintained building nestled in an upscale neighborhood, a striking contrast to the run-down places Tom had expected. Its smooth brick walls were illuminated by warm street lamps, and polished glass doors reflected the glow softly. Ivy curled delicately along the balconies, and the whole place radiated quiet luxury and tasteful elegance.
Tom took a steadying breath before climbing the narrow stairwell, reaching the third floor.
He raised his hand and rang the doorbell.
The door swung open almost immediately, revealing Selene standing there in a soft, cream-colored robe that clung to her like a whisper. For a moment, Tom's eyes drifted upward, there was no sign of anything underneath, just smooth skin catching the soft light from the hallway.
Caught off guard, Tom's gaze flicked away quickly, but Selene's puzzled expression deepened.
She looked down at herself and then back at him, realization dawning. A small smirk played on her lips as she teased, "Don't get any ideas. Whatever you're thinking, it's not going to happen."