Part 15 Lumen
One day, Sirius decided to update his wardrobe and stopped by a clothing store he had never visited before.
The store immediately caught his attention. There was a sense of style in everything. Moving slowly between the aisles, he observed not only the clothes but also the space itself.
The interior was designed in accordance with approved standards, yet seemed to balance right on the edge of them. The furniture featured smooth, soft shapes, while an abundance of metal counterbalanced the almost total presence of white. Each rack had a metal back panel, against which the snow-white clothing stood out with striking clarity.
Surprisingly, even after Lucarne, Sirius felt at ease here. It seemed as if even the clothes had character — a subtle, almost imperceptible individuality.
He picked out a few items, placed them in a basket, and approached the cashier.
Behind the counter stood a beautiful woman. Seeing him, she gave a faint smile.
— Good afternoon, sir.
Her voice felt enveloping — low, velvety, with a barely noticeable rasp.
— Good afternoon, ma’am, — Sirius replied calmly, returning a slight smile.
— Is there anything else you would like?
There was no warmth in her appearance whatsoever. White hair, white lipstick, glossy white manicure. The cold metal of her jewelry only emphasized this almost unnatural monochrome. Her large eyes seemed unreadable, yet it was the faint smile that unexpectedly drew attention.
— No, that’s all.
While she was packing his purchases, Sirius looked around once more.
— You have a very beautiful store. And truly stylish clothing. It’s a shame I only discovered this place today.
A more genuine smile appeared on her face.
— Thank you very much, sir. I actually design this clothing myself. And I also own the store.
Everything suddenly fell into place. The interior, the clothing, and the woman herself were parts of one whole.
— That’s truly impressive. I think I’ll be visiting again.
— I would be very happy to hear that.
— May I ask who designed the space itself? — Sirius asked, professional curiosity taking over.
She held his gaze for a moment.
— My husband did. He works with spatial design.
— He has an excellent sense of composition, — Sirius said. — It’s immediately noticeable. I also work with spaces.
She gave a slight nod.
— Has he been working at the Ministry for long? Perhaps I know him?
The question sounded almost casual.
Her smile slowly faded.
— Unfortunately… he no longer works there.
Her voice barely changed, but a faint glimmer appeared in her eyes.
Sirius did not need an explanation to understand.
He simply nodded.
A few seconds of silence settled between them.
— Do you work with public spaces or private residences? — she asked first.
— Until recently, I only worked on apartments. Now I design houses as well as public spaces.
— Interesting. Which ones? Perhaps I’ve been there before?
Sirius hesitated for a moment. Was it worth mentioning Lucarne?
He wanted to distract her from heavy thoughts, yet at the same time felt a strange urge to say more than he usually allowed himself.
— I haven’t worked with public spaces here yet. Only… in another city.
She froze.
Her lips parted slightly.
Sirius did not know whether she knew anything about the other world. But for the first time in a long while, he lost his usual caution.
— And where is that other city? — she asked quietly.
He looked directly into her eyes.
— Abroad.
She studied him carefully, as if assessing him, yet her gaze revealed a struggle between curiosity and restraint.
— Very interesting, — she finally said. Restraint won.
Sirius understood it was better to end the conversation. She would not open up further now. She herself was not sure whether she should ask more. And he, although sensing she was likely not loyal to the system—especially considering her husband’s history—still understood that caution was necessary.
— Well, it was a pleasure meeting you, — he said, closing the conversation with a faint smile.
— Likewise, — she replied, looking directly into his eyes as if trying to read more than he allowed. — Take a discount voucher for next time, — she added, offering a sincere smile.
— Thank you very much. I might use it, — Sirius said, taking the voucher. — Have a good day.
— And you as well.
He lingered for a second longer, still looking at her face, then turned and walked toward the exit.
Perhaps she wanted him to return — otherwise, why give him a voucher? It could be a hint.
Sirius stepped outside with a faint smile and almost immediately nearly bumped into a group of police officers passing by the store. They looked at his face with mild suspicion and quiet disapproval. His smile vanished at once.
After that, he was no longer of interest to them, and they moved on.
Sirius headed toward his parked car.
In his hands, he held the voucher:
“Lumen Store. 20% discount on your next purchase. Fashion designer: Adjela Lumen.”
He studied the name for a few seconds.
Such a beautiful first name. And an even more interesting surname — as if it meant a beam of light in itself.
Sirius started the engine and drove home, thinking about when he would return again.
He already wanted to go back.