The area looked completely different from the night before. What had been a quiet, empty space was now filled with life. Market stalls had been set up across the open area near the fountain, forming rows of makeshift shops covered with cloth canopies. Merchants were already calling out to passing customers, advertising everything from fresh produce to cheap tools and fabrics. The smell of cooked food drifted through the air, mixing with the noise of people talking, bargaining, and moving from stall to stall.
It felt like an entirely different place.
I walked behind Mio as she navigated through the crowd with ease.
"Uh…" I said after a moment. "Sorry for crashing the night."
"It's fine," she replied without looking back.
"I appreciate it," I added. "You really saved me yesterday."
"I paid my debt," she said with a small shrug.
"I wonder what Bone and Jugo did," I muttered.
"Curse them," she said quietly. "They ran away."
