The old alley hadn't changed.
The bricks still crumbled in odd places, as if time itself was afraid to fix what lay hidden between those walls.
The shop sat at the far end, same as before—tucked away like a forgotten nightmare someone had locked in a drawer and left to rot.
The crooked wooden sign above the door was still too faded to read clearly, but I recognised it.
An unknown symbol, etched in some language I couldn't understand…it was the only proof this place even existed.
Ding.
The same shrill bell rang above my head the moment I pushed the door open, its sound too sharp for something so old.
It sent a ripple through the thick air of the shop, like I'd just disturbed something that liked being left alone.
Dust and metal. That was the scent. Same as last time.
Dusty wood and a faint metallic tang that reminded me of dried blood on cold steel.
The place was dim, lit by rustic hanging lanterns and candles that seemed to burn without flames.
