"Miss."
Auriel turned her head slightly, expecting to see another vendor, but instead, she found herself staring at a teenage boy.
He was thin, with sharp eyes that seemed both cautious and curious. His clothes were simple and worn, the kind that suggested he belonged to the lower class, but his posture held an odd confidence.
She tilted her head slightly, studying him.
"Yes?"
The boy's gaze flickered briefly to Carol, who was standing in the distance, then back to Auriel.
"You're interested, aren't you?"
He said, his voice low enough that only she could hear.
Auriel's fingers tightened slightly around the warm pastry in her hand.
"Interested in what?" she asked, playing along.
The boy smirked faintly, as if he saw through her pretense.
"The Holy Sanctuary of Salvation."
