Thats girls smiled faintly as she played, a warm yet enigmatic expression that danced with the melody she created, entrancing everyone who watched. Her face seemed to move in harmony with the music, hypnotizing the crowd. The audience remained silent, as though caught in a spell woven by the music. Each note seemed to grasp their hearts, evoking feelings long buried—a yearning for home, for the past, or for someone who had been lost to time.
As the final note faded into the air, the world seemed to pause for a moment. The crowd remained motionless, unwilling to let the moment pass. The woman gazed at them with serene eyes, then bowed her head slightly, a simple yet profound gesture of gratitude. She had left an indelible mark on their hearts, a memory that none who witnessed it would soon forget.
Arga was stunned, letting his mind try to process what he had just seen and heard. His gaze shifted to Sana, who appeared lost in her own thoughts, like someone who had just been pulled into a different world. Slowly, Arga nudged her shoulder.
"Sana, I'm a little shocked. There are Chinese people here too? I can't believe it... She's Chinese, isn't she? Or am I seeing things? Her face was covered... but her clothes—they look... right," he said, his tone filled with curiosity.
Sana didn't respond immediately. Her eyes remained fixed on the small stage, as if the voice she had just heard was still echoing in her head, holding her consciousness in a profound silence. Arga sighed and nudged her a bit harder.
"Hey, did you hear what I asked?" he said, louder this time.
Sana snapped out of her trance. Her expression turned slightly confused before she sighed and gave a faint smile. "Ah, sorry. I... I got carried away. The music was extraordinary, Arga. It made me feel calm, like all the weight on my shoulders disappeared instantly."
She looked at Arga for a moment, then frowned. "What did you ask earlier?"
Arga raised an eyebrow, half annoyed. "I said, weren't you surprised? She's Chinese; it's obvious from her clothes."
Sana chuckled softly, shrugging casually. "Yeah, she is. And what else is there to ask? You were just as amazed earlier, weren't you?"
Arga rubbed his face, slightly frustrated. "Ah, forget it. Actually, I just wanted to know where you're from. You've never told me."
Sana looked at him briefly, then answered nonchalantly, "I'm from America, Arga. My family moved there from Europe, specifically Germany. That's all."
Hearing that, Arga fell silent, mumbling more to himself, "Sana, maybe there are more people in this place than we thought. Who knows, we might even meet our families again?"
Those words made Sana flinch. Her face changed, her eyes briefly filled with emotions that were hard to decipher. "I... actually don't want to meet them again because they'd hate me if they saw me," she replied softly, almost like a whisper. "But I miss my children so much. They're probably happier without me."
Arga was about to respond, but the atmosphere suddenly shifted. The previously still crowd began to move, some even running eagerly toward the small stage. The woman, who had just finished playing her music, gracefully stepped down from the stage. However, her previously soothing expression now seemed different—slightly stiff, like someone used to being the center of attention but eager to leave.
People jostled, scrambling to approach the woman, some nearly colliding along the way. Arga and Sana could only watch from a distance, trying to understand the sudden commotion.
"What's going on?" Arga muttered, his gaze locked on the woman.
Sana shook her head, her eyes once again fixed on the figure now walking away, her long shadow swept by the afternoon sunlight.
The commotion gradually turned into chaos. People pushed and shoved, some nearly falling as they tried to get closer to the mysterious woman. Arga began to panic. His eyes searched for Sana amidst the sea of people moving aimlessly.
"Sana! Sana, where are you?!" he shouted, his tone filled with worry as he tried to push through the crowd.
The crowd grew wilder, the constant jostling making it hard to move. His breath quickened as he caught a glimpse of Sana's face, tucked among the throng. Quickly, he reached for her hand.
"Sana! This is dangerous! We barely even know this place!" he exclaimed, his voice rising with fear.
Sana turned, her eyes showing a hint of surprise. But before she could say anything, someone bumped into Arga from behind, almost making him lose his grip. He tried to hold onto Sana's hand, but in an instant, his fingers lost their grasp.
"Sana!"
But Arga's voice was swallowed by the escalating uproar. Sana turned, her face remaining calm despite the slight disturbance in her gaze caused by the surrounding chaos. She took a deep breath before replying, "I'm fine, Arga. But yes, we need to get out of here." Her voice remained clear despite competing with the crowd's growing noise.
Meanwhile, the beautiful woman from the stage began to step down gracefully. Her aura remained captivating, though her expression stayed neutral—almost cold. The people around her immediately moved, trying to get closer with eyes full of admiration and curiosity.
Suddenly, a shout rang out from the middle of the crowd. "Bandits!" The voice shattered the atmosphere, causing many heads to turn anxiously. A group of burly men appeared, walking steadily toward the beautiful woman who had just played her music. Their eyes were filled with determination, their intentions clear—to go after her.
But as they closed to within two meters of the woman, something invisible struck them. As if hitting an unseen wall, their bodies were flung backward, rolling onto the ground. For a moment, silence enveloped the area. Everyone held their breath, shocked and frightened at once.
The crowd erupted again, this time in panic rather than awe. People began to push and shove, trying to run away. But before the situation worsened, a group of guards suddenly appeared out of nowhere. They formed a solid human shield around the woman, their steps firm and disciplined, as if they were used to handling such situations.