Virginia and Elizabeth strolled through the bustling market of Arcadia, observing the wares displayed at various stalls. The market was brimming with activity; merchants shouted out their offerings of fresh fruit, vibrant fabrics, and jewelry, while children ran around laughing joyfully. Virginia noted how alive the city felt compared to Esverita.
"This city is livelier than Esverita," Virginia remarked as she scanned her surroundings.
Elizabeth nodded, her gaze fixed on a stall selling intricately carved wooden dolls. "Is Esverita not like this?" she asked, her voice full of curiosity.
Virginia thought for a moment before responding. "In Esverita, the streets are filled with guards and knights. There's an air of tension, as if the city is always preparing for something. But here... I haven't seen a single guard. Maybe this city is too peaceful to need them."
Elizabeth furrowed her brows. "If that's the case, why were we sent here? If the city is peaceful, what are we supposed to find?"
Before Virginia could reply, the Navigator's voice suddenly echoed in their minds. "Virginia, do you see a church or house of worship dedicated to the goddess Mephisa?"
Virginia paused, trying to recall. "No, I haven't seen anything like that," she answered softly. "Not even a single priest around this market."
Elizabeth turned to Virginia, her curiosity evident. "Goddess Mephisa? Who is that?"
Virginia shook her head, indicating she wasn't entirely sure. "I don't know much about her either. But I remember seeing her statue in Esverita. At the time, there was a priest who worshiped her and turned Esverita's prince into a vampire."
Elizabeth looked stunned at the revelation. "A priest turned the prince into a vampire? That sounds like a dark fairy tale."
Virginia offered a small smile. "It's no fairy tale, Elizabeth. That was part of one of our earlier quests. But you hadn't been summoned by the Navigator back then, so you didn't experience it."
Elizabeth fell silent, processing the information. "And here, in Arcadia, we haven't seen anything related to the goddess Mephisa so far?"
Virginia nodded. "Exactly. No signs of her statue or priests worshiping her. But that doesn't mean we can let our guard down. If the Navigator is asking, there must be a reason."
They continued walking, their eyes remaining vigilant. Elizabeth, who was usually more drawn to beautiful objects, began observing the buildings and people more closely, trying to grasp why this city felt so different from Virginia's stories.
"Virginia," Elizabeth said softly, "if this city really is too peaceful, could there be something hidden beneath all this?"
Virginia glanced at her, offering a faint smile. "Perhaps. Not everything is visible on the surface, Elizabeth. Our task is to uncover what's hidden here."
Elizabeth nodded, her growing curiosity fueling her determination. They proceeded through the market, hoping to find clues that could explain what was happening in Arcadia.
Suddenly, their steps halted as a voice called out to them from a small stall at the market's edge. The stall stood out with its shabby tent, decorated with peculiar patterns and bright colors. Elizabeth turned to see a figure seated inside, their face obscured by a long, dark purple cloak.
"Hey, you two, newcomers, aren't you?" The voice was friendly yet slightly raspy. Elizabeth, intrigued, stepped closer, but Virginia quickly grabbed her arm.
"Don't respond carelessly," Virginia whispered sharply. Yet Elizabeth, as usual, paid little heed to the warning.
"Yes, we're newcomers. What's it to you?" Elizabeth replied flatly, her eyes scrutinizing the stranger's every move.
Virginia sighed deeply, realizing she couldn't stop Elizabeth's impulsive behavior. She moved closer as well, standing beside Elizabeth with a wary gaze.
The mysterious figure chuckled lightly, the sound both calming and suspicious. "Relax, I'm just a fortune teller. I recently arrived in Arcadia, just like you. I only wanted to chat with fellow newcomers."
Virginia narrowed her eyes, her tone icy. "We never told you we're newcomers. How did you know?"
The figure shrugged nonchalantly. "Instinct. I can tell from the way you walk, the way you observe your surroundings. The locals of Arcadia wouldn't look around like you do, full of curiosity and caution. Besides, your clothing makes you stand out."
Elizabeth stayed silent, her sharp gaze fixed on the figure. Something about them made her uneasy, though she couldn't pinpoint what. The figure noticed Elizabeth's stare and chuckled again. "Please, don't look at me like that. You're a very beautiful young lady, but that glare makes me nervous," they said teasingly.
Elizabeth frowned, slightly uncomfortable with the comment. Virginia, on the other hand, maintained her frosty expression. "You say you're a fortune teller. What are you doing here? And why did you call us?" she asked, steering the conversation toward something more concrete.
"Ah, of course," the figure replied, adjusting their position behind a small table within the tent. "I offer fortune-telling services to anyone interested. But you two seem like people with intriguing stories, so I thought I'd strike up a conversation first."
Elizabeth glanced at Virginia, as if seeking her opinion. Virginia gave a subtle shake of her head but didn't stop the conversation. "We're not interested in fortune-telling," Virginia said firmly. "And we don't have time to chat."
The figure nodded slowly, their smile never wavering. "Understood, understood. But I'll be here for a while. If you change your mind, do come back. Sometimes, a fortune can open doors to unexpected answers."
Virginia exhaled again, feeling the conversation had led nowhere useful. "Let's go, Elizabeth," she said, gently taking Elizabeth's arm. Elizabeth followed without protest, though she cast one last glance at the figure before exiting the tent. There was something unusual about them, something that piqued her curiosity despite Virginia's evident dislike.
As they walked away, Elizabeth finally spoke. "Do you think he's really a fortune teller?"
Virginia sighed. "I don't know, but I didn't like the way he was watching us. We need to stay focused on our mission. Don't let things like that distract us."
Virginia and Elizabeth moved quickly away from the strange stall. Virginia gave Elizabeth a stern look and said, "Elizabeth, I know you're curious, but you can't just talk to random people like that. You need to be more cautious."
Elizabeth let out a soft huff, feeling slightly annoyed at Virginia's motherly tone, as if she were scolding a misbehaving child. She nodded indifferently and replied, "Yeah, I get it."
But Virginia wasn't ready to let it go. She continued, "I'm serious, Elizabeth. We don't know what could happen in a place like this. I want to ensure all Navigator team members stay safe, including you."
Elizabeth paused in her steps, turning to Virginia with a blank expression. "I said I get it, didn't I? I won't talk to random people again, don't worry," she replied in a lazy tone.
Virginia took a deep breath and then nodded. "Alright, if you understand, that's good enough for me. Just remember not to create unnecessary problems," she said, resuming her pace.
Elizabeth shrugged and followed her. She felt that Virginia was overly concerned about her, even though she didn't think she'd done anything wrong. Still, she understood that Virginia had a protective nature, especially toward their team members.
The two continued their journey through the market. Arcadia's market was lively, filled with merchants showcasing their goods. Virginia began conversing with several vendors, asking general questions about food supplies, the state of the city, and whether anything unusual had happened recently. However, all the answers they received were mundane. Nothing suspicious or noteworthy came up.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth chose to eavesdrop on the conversations around her. She caught snippets of casual chatter between buyers and merchants—discussions about rising prices, an upcoming small festival, and even the weather. None of it seemed interesting or relevant to their mission.
When they stopped at a stall selling simple jewelry, Elizabeth watched as Virginia politely asked the vendor, "Has anything strange happened in the city recently? Maybe something out of the ordinary?"
The vendor shook his head. "Nothing, Miss. The city is quite peaceful, as always. If anything unusual were to happen, the city guards would know about it. But so far, everything is fine."
Virginia thanked him and walked away, while Elizabeth quietly sighed. "This city is too quiet," Elizabeth muttered, loud enough for Virginia to hear.
"Maybe this calm is just an illusion," Virginia replied. "Sometimes, what seems peaceful hides danger beneath the surface. Stay alert."
Elizabeth looked at Virginia with a hint of admiration. Though she often found Virginia too rigid, she couldn't deny that the woman had a sharp understanding of situations.
"I'll stay alert," Elizabeth said finally. "But if we don't find anything, maybe we can head back to the city center and meet up with the others."
Virginia nodded. "Yes, if there's nothing suspicious here, we can move on to explore another area. But keep acting normal—don't draw any attention."
Elizabeth gave a small smile and followed Virginia's lead. Despite the earlier tension between them, she knew Virginia only wanted to ensure everything went smoothly. They continued walking through Arcadia's bustling market, hoping to find a clue that would bring them closer to their mission's goal.
***