I woke up to a note on my bedside table.

  Which surprised me way less than it should have.

  “Heading back. Take a break, be back tomorrow.”

  I stretched and yawned.

  Objectively, this job was horrible.

  One day it was dawn to dusk. The next, dusk to dawn. Or dawn to dawn.

  I still wasn’t even sure what the pay schedule was.

  I don’t know why that didn’t bother me more than it did.

  I guess it just…felt less and less like a job and more and more like a…life?

  I sighed and made my way to the washbasin to splash my face before starting the day.

  The room had a mirror behind the basin.

  I realized I hadn’t seen myself clearly in…

  Well, I couldn’t really remember when.

  Best chance I got was through a grimy window.

  From beneath my mop of tousled hair, piercing blue eyes stared back at me, courtesy of my elven lineage. Sharp features, softened by my human blood.

  It had never bothered me before, but I didn’t like how dirty and disheveled I looked.

  I would have to fix that. Maybe stop by and get some clothes on the way back?

  I shrugged and splashed my face before pulling my ever present dust cloth from my pocket.

  I proceeded to tie it around my head. It wasn’t a hat, but it would cover my ears.

  Something about having to hide who I was bothered me.

  Which was odd, because it never had before.

  I had learned my place.

  On the corner of No One Wants You Boulevard and Stay Quiet Way.

  I almost reached up to remove the cloth, but decided not to.

  The day was coming when I would not have to hide.

  But as of now, I couldn’t sneeze my problems into oblivion.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Yet.

  I stuffed my name tag into my pocket and headed to the door, stopping for one final glance at the mirror.

  I had never seen my eyes with that look in them before.

  Purpose.

  —-

  I stopped by the counter for some bread, and ended up staying for the breakfast of light stew and cheese.

  The fact that I wouldn’t have been able to even stop for the bread not that long ago wasn’t lost on me.

  No one bothered me - or even seemed to notice me for that matter.

  I took that to mean I blended in.

  Which was good.

  It would make my trip back smoother.

  I paid for the meal and thanked the cook - who seemed surprised at the thank you. She swept the coins up and hurriedly walked away, but I caught the light smile on her face.

  Sometimes - it meant a lot when people noticed your effort.

  I got that.

  I left with a smile, too.

  The streets were a lot calmer this early, and I found myself meandering.

  I wandered past a baker, busy swinging her rolling pin at a couple of thieves trying to take her wares.

  The warm scent of her wares drifted by me and I found myself thinking of the old goblin baker who had shown me kindness.

  I wonder what she is up to? I thought.

  I continued my stroll through the Human Quarter Slums, my mind a million miles away.

  The sigil on Tiqaro’s wall stirred memories I’d buried.

  And lit a fire for something I didn’t yet understand.

  A screech jolted me from my reverie, a cat bolting across the street in front of me with surprising urgency.

  I glanced around to see what might be chasing it, but it abruptly stopped and started licking its paw.

  I chuckled, thinking of Mr. Mekopolis in his ridiculous top hat.

  I sighed.

  First the Rune, now this.

  There was too much for me to continue to let lie.

  I would have to confront Vaarg.

  I had too many questions.

  Vaarg seemed to have too many answers.

  It wasn’t until I found myself staring absentmindedly into a clothes shop with no inclination to enter that I realized the truth.

  I didn’t belong here.

  The Human Quarter that is.

  Not because I wasn’t human, though I’m sure one glimpse of my ears would’ve settled that.

  No, I didn’t belong because I didn’t want to be here.

  I didn’t like the grey streets.

  The buildings that didn’t curve.

  The street lamps didn’t change color.

  I didn’t like the normal.

  I had glimpsed something more.

  And I wanted it. I wanted it badly.

  I glanced up towards the end of the street, where the soft glow from the runed-glass shoved between the cobblestones marking the beginning of the Non-Human Quarter beckoned to me.

  I smiled. The note had said take a break.

  So I did.

  Now? I was ready to go back to where the world curved. To where magic knew my name.

  I was ready to head home.