After Michael left the academy grounds and returned to the surface world, he did not rush straight home.
He missed his family. That much was true. After being away for so long, the desire to see them was real. But that was exactly why he couldn't return empty-handed.
At the very least, he had to bring gifts.
This city was very different from the one where his family lived. It was richer, more advanced, and far more exposed to the larger currents of the world. Even before the Federation had decided to become more open about the supernatural, some cities had never truly been in the dark. This was one of them.
Michael took his time.
For his aunt, he chose foreign spices.
