After finishing their meal, the two of them eventually left the small restaurant and began heading back toward the inn.
It was Stella's suggestion, a simple return with nothing unusual on the surface. Evelyn agreed without hesitation, still in a relatively relaxed mood after the walk through the city. The streets around them remained busy, filled with constant movement, voices blending with the distant sound of the sea.
Stella walked slightly ahead, not rushed, not obvious, just enough to set the pace.
Her attention moved quietly across the surroundings while Evelyn continued speaking about small things she remembered from the city, places from her childhood, buildings that once stood there, streets that had changed over time. It was a harmless conversation, the kind that lowered awareness.
Then Stella stopped. A small kiosk appeared ahead.
It was surrounded by a group of people. Simple handmade items were displayed on a wooden table. Accessories, small crafts, nothing important. Stella slowed slightly and looked toward it.
"That looks interesting," she said.
Evelyn followed her gaze, "It's just a small stall. Nothing special."
Stella looked at the crowd for a moment longer, "It won't take long."
She already started walking toward it. Evelyn paused, then sighed lightly, "I'll wait here then."
Stella did not answer and continued forward.
She moved into the crowd. People naturally filled the space around her, blocking her from view.
The kiosk was still busy, and Evelyn remained at the edge watching.
At first, everything seemed normal.
That was enough. Stella stepped into the group surrounding the kiosk and disappeared between bodies and movement as the crowd naturally closed around her.
Evelyn remained at the edge waiting, she was probably just looking closer or asking about prices. Nothing worth worrying about.
But as more time passed, the crowd shifted slightly and there was still no sign of her.
Evelyn frowned and stepped closer, calling her name once, but there was no response. She moved into the area, scanning between people and checking the narrow space behind the stall, but there was nothing.
The kiosk led into tighter alleys between buildings, quieter and almost empty compared to the main street.
Evelyn slowed down, realizing something was wrong.
Meanwhile, Stella had already moved deep into the side streets. The separation had been simple, a natural break in the crowd, a turn into a narrower path, then another. The noise of the market faded quickly behind her, replaced by quieter streets and fewer people.
The city felt different here, less controlled, more fragmented. Stella slowed only after confirming enough distance and then quickly adjusted her hair, tightening it into a more secure tie. The loose strands were no longer useful. In a place like this, attention needed to be minimized. Her expression remained calm and focused.
The plan had worked better than expected. Evelyn was still unaware, the crowd had done its job, and the timing had been ideal. No resistance, no immediate pursuit, only clean separation.
Now movement mattered. Stella turned into a narrower path between two tall buildings, the air growing quieter the deeper she went. For the first time that day, something close to relief surfaced in her mind. It was done. No more observation, no more controlled movement, no more waiting for permission or guidance, just open space ahead, and she exhaled slowly.
"Now I need to hide well within the city for the next few days, then find a way to leave it, and after that I'll go explore and…"
A voice cut through the silence behind her.
"Where are you going, Miss Alina?"
Stella stopped instantly. She did not turn immediately, but the atmosphere around her shifted.
The narrow street, previously empty and quiet, now felt heavier. A presence had been there from the beginning, waiting, watching without urgency.
Slowly, Stella turned her head.
Behind her, partially framed by the dim light between buildings, stood someone she recognized immediately. The same calm tone, the same controlled posture, the same gaze that should not have been here.
"…Have you already grown tired of staying with us?" the voice added quietly.