A spectre of smoke following a homeless man would be too suspicious and alert authorities. Not just the authorities, all of those media shows where they supposedly hunt ghosts will hound her case as well and she hates those shows.
So, Leah decided that Euglith should stick to the inner layers of her cloak and never come out unless asked. It was uncomfortable for both of them, but what other choice would there be? And the park ranger's corpse was disposed of. Euglith snuffed the body in smoke and ash like ants piling up on a body and tearing every little bit to pieces until there was nothing left.
It was an uncomfortable sight.
"S-so." The Farblight spoke within the cloak, trying to not let herself be blown away by the wind. "Where are we going?"
Leah fastened her garment. "Seattle."
"Is… that a kingdom?"
"Take it as a highly advanced village with a dense population of over ten thousand." Leah carefully peaked from the back of the truck. The tall metal pipes that Euglith would describe them as with blaring lights in the dark. The sentient wasn't the only one squinting at the unfamiliar view.
Twenty-four years. Perhaps they already have buildings that light up in the night already like this back when she was still the real her but she's long forgotten these sights. Only the view of gated villages grazing in the wide open field and the pristinely imposing castles she's seen became the norm for her.
Was she really going to find her husband and son? She lost touch with this world with no one to know her name. No, she will. And then, she'll…
"Azra?" Euglith called. Leah quickly raised her head before lowering them again to see the inside of her cloak.
"What is it?"
"Why are those villagers in metal carts pointing their box at us?"
People in cars, pointing their smartphones at Leah who was illegally taking a ride at the back of another truck. Of course they would. Even before the unfortunate encounter with Euglith, she already saw a couple of passing cars taking pictures of her. If the truck's company logo was in it, then the driver probably got fired as well. Necessary sacrifices, she'd suppose.
"Just ignore them. I'm wondering how you saw them anyway?"
"I'm… uh, on the walls of this long cart-- I h-hope you don't mind." She was still stuttering and stammering over her own words until now. Anything, anything for the Hero of Hope to not look at her that way again. Anything.
Leah glanced around. There were several noticeable smudges around the truck. It was a wonder how she's able to see with a thin layer of ash smeared around the place. Farblights defy basic anatomy and logic, that was for certain at least.
A couple of more minutes flew by, they raring to another point of civilization before reaching the city. As much as the dark has helped slightly, Leah wasn't too keen on running from the police again, especially when the ones located near a city would be able to deploy more forces to search for her.
There would be no reason for the police to go that far for a simple stowaway like her, but she'd just rather not have to deal with them in general. Not for now, at least.
As the truck turned a corner, Leah jumped off without a second thought. The humming of the street light alongside the bugs that flickered alongside it shined above her. There were still several dense patches of woods before she even reached the first block of the city. Houses were planted alongside the trees but so long as she doesn't cause a fuss, there'd be no problem.
Euglith let the stains on the truck be whisked away into the wind. It was a natural thing she'd do over the several years of recon she had done for the kingdom. And it likely pleased the king she was hiding within. It was nice to be close with him at long last but something just felt… different.
The spectre of smoke mentally shook her head as Leah carefully walked through the small forest. Euglith always ended up being wrong with her intuition anyway. The king was always right and knew what he was doing. Yes, she trusted him. Of course. There's nothing weird going on. Of course, of course!
Leah was worried about how long the thing stuck to her cloak would continue to stay with her. Euglith would prove useful in certain situations but the risk just made her want to pull her hair out. Should she have killed her right then and there? No, she hasn't even been in this world for even twenty four hours.
Whatever moral conscience she's clinging to would die off inside.
Soon, they reach the edge of the forest. Cars over the lit highway. The skyscrapers were closer yet getting closer would mean she has to walk along the streets. The night was still young, and the people would still lurk about.
Leah wasn't even comfortable in her new skin yet, how was she going to confront people now?
She'll have to go through alleyways, or perhaps wait until it was over midnight to even think of it. Criminals usually would come out at those hours, perhaps that would be the most opportune time then.
Finding a mook that works for something bigger shouldn't be too hard if she stayed around the slums long enough. It was the only conclusion that she came to during those hours she was wading around in the dark rainforest. How else would she be able to find her family?
And it wasn't like she hadn't seen the blackmarket before. It's just a matter of finding the certain type of people in the certain type of spots.
It was an idea, not a safe one but what else could there be? No one was going to believe her anyway. She's just hoping that the murder can be at least less than ten people and not anytime soon.
"Azra?" The smoke inside Leah's cloak spoke. "Will we… go back once we're done looking for your friend?"
That was the lie that she told the Farblight. Looking for a friend. Well, it wasn't entirely lying. Only the details were left unsaid.
"Of course." She confidently said. "Why do you ask? Do you miss anyone from back at Faudwick?"
"Aa… N-no. I was just, wondering. Anywhere that you… go, I'll be fine." Euglith seemingly leaned closer while still attached to the cloak as a large smudge. The faint embrace from the ash child. Leah pitied her, but she was still unforgivable. Both of them. They were unforgivable.
Leah had to always remind herself, the words that she told herself that night. In the delirium that she was in before running off. The words she whispered to Alga before she was sent off home.
"I have my right to live too… It's not wrong."