Chapter 1 - Runic Sapphire

Years have passed since Hestia saved me from the dreadful curse, I woke with a strange feeling, though my days began routinely: visiting the marketplace, grabbing breakfast, and heading to work at Hestia's Emporium of Healing & Renown Potions its a mage workshop located in the Green Wizard City. Hestia, was away hunting rare materials for her famous potions—like the Emerald Fog Nectar that once saved my life. It’s been ages since she left. Yuna, her familiar helps keep the shelves stocked, a lifesaver in Hestia’s absence.

One day, the shop bell chimed, walking in was Cosmic Mage Solomon of the Road #2942, the atelier owner next door, stepped in. We’d grown close over time, trading goods and favors.

“Sondra,” he greeted, “could you watch my shop for a few hours? I’ll lock up and redirect customers here.”

Hesitant but swayed by his promise of a gift, I agreed. He assured me it’d just be drop-offs for repairs. He walked out, while I looked around and completed inventory.

Soon, Yuna approached, visibly anxious—unusual for her. As familiars often mirror their wizards’ emotions, I wondered about Hestia. I called Willow, my mischievous rat familiar, and asked her to fetch swamp moss flies to cheer Yuna up. Just then, a customer arrived.

“Workshop or Atelier?” I asked.

“Atelier,” he replied,

I'm dropping off a family heirloom for Solomon to repair, there’s food stains on them, I kindly took the garment and stored it away. He also purchased a gathering potion & a mana boost potion before he left. I was grateful and packaged his items for him.

After he left, Willow returned with the flies, delighting Yuna. But then, disaster—Willow got into the heirloom, smelling the food stains, ending up staining it with swamp mud. Panicked, I tried cleaning it, but the stains held fast. Hours later, Solomon returned.

Apologizing, I explained the mishap. He inspected it, calm. “I know a gas that’ll fix this,” he said, easing my worry.

Before leaving, he handed me a mysterious trinket etched with ancient runes—a thank-you gift. “It’s old, a vessel for grand magic,” he said. Thrilled, I promised to treasure it.

Examining the dusty trinket, I uncovered a sapphire gem with a rune inside. At home in The Sacred Valley, I cross-referenced it with a unique old scroll that I found to be one of a kind a while back. Though damaged, the somewhat readable runes hinted: Praeteritum nunc est, clavem intus, which translates “past is present, the key inside.” Suddenly, the gem glowed and shook, rising as blue light engulfed me—leaving me stunned, wondering what I’d unleashed.

Entered by: 0xD9f7…1b90 and preserved on chain (see transaction)