Zani might have dreamed. Or maybe she didn't. If she had, it had slipped from her mind too smoothly like a butter. She opened her eyes and silenced the alarm clock still ringing by her bedside. The morning light streamed through the windows, outlining the edges of the carpet in a soft, golden glow. She took a minute to force herself to fully wake up, and with that, the last fragile fragment of the dream dissolved into nothing.
Not that it mattered. It probably wasn't a good dream anyway.
With all the recent overtime, even Zani's dreams had become meaningless and fragmented, often just mishmashes of unfinished tasks running through her mind. There was no escape from the pressures in waking life, so why would she ever expect to find one in dreams? "Alright, enough of that. I've got an important job to take care." Zani gave her cheeks a light slap to snap herself out of her thoughts. She knew she needed to handle this assignment the right way if she ever wanted to secure that promised paid vacation from her supervisor – a vacation that felt more like a myth lately. Facing the mirror, she straightened her attire meticulously, adjusting her tie until it was just right. She glanced briefly at the small, worn notebook on her nightstand, then pushed the thought away. She didn't know much about the mysterious guest she was assigned to. All Zani knew was that they had a very special Echo, and that the family had provided them with a fair sum of funds.
For some reason, she felt like there was more than met the eye. Perhaps it was just lingering unease from that strange dream, but she couldn't shake the feeling that whatever she and this guest did over the next few days would determine the fate of many in Ragunna. "Heh, come on. I'm just an ordinary employee." So ordinary that if a billboard in the Montelli Quarter fell, she'd be crushed along with a dozen others. Zani pulled her cloak off the rack and draped it over her shoulders, just like she did every morning. She yawned. Thankfully, none of her colleagues saw her. She wasn't assigned too many tasks today. Mr. Alberto had said she'd be free to leave once she helped that esteemed guest complete their business at the bank. After that, her only responsibility was to serve as their bodyguard and guide until the Carnevale ended. Sounded like an easy task.
"Just do my job and I'll be good." Zani took a deep breath. Strangely enough, she felt nervous, her tail swishing behind her without her even realizing it. She quickly reviewed the mental itinerary stored more reliably than any app. "If they arrive at lunch time, I can suggest dining at Trattoria Margherita for Ragunna's specialities. And if they refuse, I'll go with the backup plan," Zani quickly ran through her internal schedule. "We can have pizzas at Bratta's Bakery and enjoy a relaxing afternoon by the Whisperwind Haven..." She went over the contingencies again and again, only allowing herself to relax when she couldn't find any more gaps. A small, professional smile tugged on the corners of her lips. There, through the bank's gate, she spotted the esteemed guest, dressed distinctively. Just as she had been expecting.
"We've been expecting you, أنت. Welcome to Averardo Bank."
