KamiKowa: That Time I Got Transmigrated With A Broken Goddess-Chapter 107: [] You Feel Like Home

Xavier and Rachel descended the curved staircase, leaving Lukas’s office behind. The main room of The Golden Fox had grown more crowded since their arrival, with well-dressed merchants and nobles gathering for midday drinks.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Xavier deliberately loosened the drawstring on his coin pouch. He let it slip from his belt as they crossed the main floor, the small leather bag landing silently on the polished wooden steps.

Outside, the cold air bit at Xavier’s face. The sky had darkened, heavy with the promise of snow. Rachel pulled her fur-lined hood up, her breath forming clouds in the frigid air.

"We should return to the inn," she said, already moving in that direction. "There’s much to discuss about what Lukas told us."

Xavier patted his pockets and belt, feigning surprise. "My coin pouch. I think I dropped it inside."

Rachel’s pale eyes narrowed. "How convenient."

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"The purple-haired hostess. You recognized her."

Xavier didn’t bother denying it. "She might be one of the people I’m looking for."

"And you need privacy to confirm this." Rachel sighed, adjusting her gloves. "Fine. Meet me back at The Frozen Hind. Don’t take too long—the streets aren’t safe after dark."

"I won’t."

Rachel turned and walked away, her dark cloak blending with the shadows between buildings. Xavier watched until she disappeared around a corner, then headed back inside.

Xavier scanned the room, looking for Nessa. He spotted her near the bar, speaking with a server. As if sensing his gaze, she looked up, her gray eyes meeting his. Without a word, she turned and walked toward a hallway at the back of the room.

As she moved away, Xavier noticed something dangling from her hand—his coin pouch, swinging gently behind her as she walked. Her hips swayed deliberately, drawing attention to both the purse and her figure in that thin black dress.

Xavier sighed and followed her, weaving between tables of patrons too engrossed in their drinks and conversations to pay him much notice. The hallway she’d entered was dimly lit by wall sconces that cast dancing shadows on the wooden panels. At the end of the corridor, a door stood slightly ajar. As he approached, he saw it was a storage closet filled with linens and cleaning supplies.

He pushed the door open. "I believe you have something that belongs to—"

The words died in his throat as Naomi launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into the small room. The door swung shut behind them as they stumbled backward, Xavier barely keeping his balance as Naomi clung to him, her body trembling.

"Xavier," she whispered, her voice breaking. "It’s really you."

Her grip was surprisingly strong, her face buried against his neck. They lost their footing and sank to the floor, Naomi still holding onto him as if he might disappear if she let go.

"Naomi," he said quietly, awkwardly patting her back. "It’s okay."

She pulled back just enough to look at him, her gray eyes red-rimmed and puffy. Her purple hair was pulled back in a simple style, but her face was unmistakably Naomi’s despite being framed differently.

"It’s not okay," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Nothing about this is okay. I woke up three days ago in someone else’s body, in someone else’s life, with everyone calling me ’Nessa’ and expecting me to know how to serve drinks and deal with handsy merchants."

"What do you remember about coming through the gate?"

"Everything went black after I got pulled in. Then I woke up here, in a small room above this place." Naomi wiped at her eyes. "The owner said I’d been sick with fever for two days. He was concerned about his ’best hostess’ not being able to work."

"Has anyone else come looking for people like us? Anyone from our class?"

She shook her head. "You’re the first familiar face I’ve seen. When I heard your hint, I almost screamed your name." Naomi gripped his arm. "What’s happening, Xavier? Where are we? How do we get home?"

"We’re in a place called Frostfall. It seems to be some kind of... narrative gate."

"Narrative gate? Like Professor Rousseau mentioned in class?"

"Exactly. And we’re not the only ones here. The prophecy Lukas mentioned talked about seven people coming through."

"Seven," Naomi repeated, counting on her fingers. "You, me, and five of our classmates. That fits."

"I think one of us is in Hearthome, possibly in the body of someone called Selene Flameheart."

Naomi’s eyes widened. "Lady Selene? I’ve heard the merchants talking about her. She’s important—niece to the ruler there."

"I need to get to her. I’m leaving in a few days with a caravan."

"Take me with you," Naomi said immediately, gripping his sleeve. "I can’t stay here alone any longer."

Xavier hesitated. "It might be better if you stay. We need information, and you’re in a perfect position to gather it."

"No." Her voice hardened. "This place isn’t safe for me. The owner expects... services... I’m not willing to provide. I’ve managed to avoid it so far, but I don’t know how much longer I can keep making excuses."

Xavier’s jaw tightened. "I understand."

"Besides, I have money," she added. "Nessa apparently saves everything she earns. There’s a small fortune hidden in her home."

"That could be useful." Xavier nodded. "Alright. We leave tomorrow."

Naomi leaned back against the wall, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "Thank you."

"We need to be careful, though. I don’t know if we can trust Rachel."

"The woman you were with? Who is she?"

"A seer who found me in the snow. She knows more than she’s telling me."

Naomi pulled a small piece of paper and a bit of charcoal from a pocket in her dress. She scribbled something quickly. "Here’s where to find me. Come tonight after the tenth bell."

Xavier took the paper. "What about your job here? Won’t they look for you?"

A cold smile crossed Naomi’s face. "Let them. Nessa might belong to this place, but I don’t."

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