As Vertin walked through the winding path of the forest, she soon found herself approaching a clearing from which she could vaguely see the appearance of a cabin.
That cabin wasn't grand nor was it flashy and only harbored a sense of warmth and comfort around it — a perfect place for a retreat.
"It turned out better than I anticipated." She mumbled to herself as she gradually walked towards the cabin. As he she did so, she couldn't help but notice the unfinished path that was being made that led to the entrance.
Soon, a figure emerged from the doorless and windowless cabin that quickly noticed Vertin's approach.
"Vertin, what are you doing here?" Druvis asked, exiting the cabin and greeting her.
"I'm just checking it out, don't worry." Vertin explained herself as her eyes gazed at the cabin. Then, she turned to Druvis. "I heard that you were the one who built the majority of this. Is that true?"
"That's correct. But I also had help from others — notably Isaac, who was the one whom I wanted to help." Druvis nodded before descending down the stairs and standing beside Vertin.
Vertin seemed to have pondered for a moment before following up with another question, her eyes pensive and seemingly highly interested in this matter. "I see. But I'm curious — why are you here? Did Mr. Isaac share this cabin with you?"
"Indeed he has." Druvis agreed. "After a short discussion, he decided to lend me this cabin while he's not around as a form of compensation for helping him build it."
Vertin stopped looking at the cabin and shifted her gaze to Druvis whose eyes were wistfully looking at the cabin. There was a brief silence between the two, as if they each wanted to take that moment to scan that of which their eyes were laid upon.
To Druvis, it appeared as though she was looking at something she longs for, while Vertin was observing her expressions.
After a few brief moments of silence, Vertin soon asked slowly. "This cabin... has it been comfortable for you?"
"Well, it was just constructed yesterday." Druvis made a subdued chuckle. "It barely has anything inside of it, so other than solitude, there's really nothing inside of it yet."
"Fortunately, Isaac has gone out this morning to buy furniture. That way, this humble cabin can have more life in it and for me to enjoy it." She added.
"Wait... Mr. Isaac is buying furniture?" Upon hearing that phrase, however, Vertin's tone suddenly became awkward. "That can't be right..."
Vertin paused and seemed to have pondered something in her mind.
"Is something wrong?" Druvis asked, noticing all this.
Vertin looked up to meet Druvis' curious gaze, unable to speak for a moment, before releasing a soft sigh. "Well... It's just that..."
"There's no home improvement depot within the Foundation. It's outside... And you need a request to leave or have an agent buy them for you." She explained.
"..." Hearing this, Druvis also froze, unsure of what to do next. "If there's no such thing..."
"Then where is Isaac right now?"
---
"...Where the hell am I?"
He asked himself that question, unsure of where he was at the moment nor the direction he was supposed to go.
From the looks of it, he was in some kind of library — but it was too big! Rows and rows of bookshelves lined his sights as far as the eye could see! Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration but the idea stands.
He was lost in some kind of giant library.
"I won't meet a blue-haired AI here, right?" He murmured to himself while walking down an aisle. "Or a guy in a suit wearing a black mask...?"
Truth be told, he was just rambling on nonsense to pass the time. Since he still hadn't seen the exit, he might as well distract himself to prevent eventual boredom.
Finally, after wandering through that labyrinth of a library — they should really put some signs there — Isaac was finally able to find an open path that could lead to the exit. On the sides, rows of tables where people can read books were present.
Isaac saw one person sitting there, and, as a naturally curious and clueless person, he decided to approach her and ask a question.
"Excuse me, sorry for the bother, but is there a home improvement retailer within or near the Foundation?"
The seeds Isaac needed for his arm were easily acquired since the Foundation possesses a department dedicated to arcanists whose abilities resonate with plants. As such, acquiring them wasn't a hassle.
But for furniture, Isaac didn't know if there was a retailing store here. The Foundation was big, after all — so he thought that it might have at least one.
The person, who was reading a couple of articles, stopped reading and looked up to Isaac, adjusting her glasses in the process. Then, speaking slowly in a measured tone, she answered. "No, there's no such thing within the Foundation. However, there is one outside a few kilometers away."
"A few kilometers away..." Hearing this, Isaac was just about to grumble when he suddenly recognized the person he was talking to. 'Hold up.'
A wavy, dark brown hair that falls just past her shoulders, a fair complexion, and sharp, thoughtful dark eyes behind a pair of round, thin-rimmed glasses, giving her a scholarly air...
Isaac scanned her appearance and froze for a moment, realizing who it was. 'Madam Z?'
Indeed, it was one of the allies Vertin has within the Foundation for the upcoming arc.
To meet her here of all places... was too much of a coincidence, to say the least.
Briefing looking at Madam Z, Isaac's eyes narrowed. It was because, in a few months, perhaps she and him would need to enter a partnership to survive the incoming political war that would sweep through the Foundation.
To achieve that outcome, he has to make good impressions on her to build future trust.
Pretending to not know her, he continued speaking. "That is... unfortunate. Sadly. Hmm..."
He then looked at her clothes as if he was observing each and every detail on them, before continuing. "Say, are you an agent of the Foundation? If it's no problem, then can I ask something of you? Pretty please?"
It was pretty rude to ask someone seemingly on their break time to do their job — Isaac knew that, of course — but he still needed to shoot his shots. Was it shameless of him? Absolutely.
Madam Z stopped reading the article she was holding and turned to Isaac, looking at him with a calm gaze. She paused for a moment before speaking. "Yes, what is it?"
'She's playing along...' Isaac controlled his expression and softly smiled. "Can you pass on a request from me to some agents? I'm willing to pay in advance for some furniture to be bought and delivered to the Timekeeper's team."
He deliberately mentioned the word 'Timekeeper' to let her know which team he was on.
Sure enough, when he mentioned that word, Madam Z — albeit subtle — showed a reaction.
She looked at him, scanned his appearance briefly, before speaking. "You're with Vertin?"
"Indeed I am. The name's Isaac." He spoke with what seemed like pride. "I've been rescued by Ms. Vertin and owe my life to her. Why do you ask?"
"...It's nothing." Madam Z shook her head before standing up, holding the article she was just reading with her. "I'll make sure to pass on your request."
Hearing this, a joyous expression appeared on Isaac's face. "Thank you so much! Ms...?"
"...Z. You can't just call me Z." She said while nudging her glasses. "Well then, I shall go now. Farewell."
"Yeah, farewell!" Seeing how well that interaction went, Isaac waved a hand at her. However, a moment later, he grimaced before running up to her. "Oh, uh, wait...!"
"Let me follow you to the exit!"
This library needs more signs.