Omnipotent Perception

Short summary: During a summer trip, the protagonist and Rafayel explore a city tied to his past. She glimpses his loneliness as a Lemurian adapting to the human world, while their romance deepens through shared moments: a rainy confession, a bathtub scene, and a dreamlike promise of devotion. Yet Rafayel’s secrets linger, blurring reality and myth.

Timeline Notes:

Event	Timeframe	Notes
Protagonist visits antique shop	Summer, present day	She buys One Lemurian On A Stormy Night; Rafayel observes secretly.
Rafayel’s past in the city	Years ago (implied long)	Studied art, lived with an old butler; nostalgic but vague on timelines.
Bike ride & shared memories	Same day as antique shop	Rafayel reveals he once lived there; they bond over his past.
Rainstorm & bathtub scene	That evening	Romantic tension peaks; protagonistlearns of Lemurian love customs.
Dream & departure	Next morning	Antique shop is mysteriously empty; Rafayel deflects questions.

Rafayel’s loneliness:
- Themes: Loneliness, cultural displacement, the ephemeral nature of memory.
- Antique Shop: Represents fleeting human connections; vanishes like Rafayel’s past.
- This is solved finally in Banquet Ablaze, when he fully opens up to her.
Relationship:
- Physical intimacy (bathtub scene, kisses), emotional vulnerability ("Will you still like me no matter who I become?"), shared future metaphors ("drown in the ocean together").
- Nuance: Rafayel hesitates to fully reveal himself, but his actions show deep commitment.

Full Transcription

Antique Shop Owner: I have everything you can think of. Dinnerware made centuries ago, glass ornaments, even manuscripts from well-known artists...

Antique Shop Owner: Or maybe you want to see something else, miss?

Protagonist: Don't mind me. I was just passing by and thought I'd look around...

Amongst the rows of cabinets and display cases, there's no one else in this small, quaint antique shop.

Antique Shop Owner: Then do you just want that book in your hand?

Protagonist: Yes, I do want to... buy it...

I nod absentmindedly and glance at the book I have grabbed to cover my face—

...One Lemurian On A Stormy Night?

Antique Shop Owner: It's a rare book. In all my years, I've only ever seen the copy in your hand.

Protagonist: Mister, did you happen to see a young person around my age stop by the store?

Antique Shop Owner: A young person...? You're the only customer I had since I opened the shop this morning.

Protagonist: ...I see. Thank you so much. And... Could you please wrap this book for me?