The streets of Eidolon seemed quieter as the day stretched on. A soft golden light bathed the upside-down buildings, and floating lanterns drifted lazily through the air. Kazuki wandered ahead with Lumi trailing behind, her bag of snacks noticeably lighter. For a brief moment, everything felt almost… peaceful.
But peace never lasted long in a place like this.
"Hey, Lumi," Kazuki called, glancing back. "Where exactly are we headed now?"
"Oh, you'll see!" Lumi skipped forward, her eyes glinting with mischief. "There's a super secret spot I've been dying to show you!"
Kazuki frowned. "Super secret, huh? That doesn't sound suspicious at all."
Lumi giggled, then suddenly stopped. Her expression turned serious for a second—an expression Kazuki wasn't used to seeing on her. Before he could ask what was wrong, she spun around with her usual grin. "Hurry up, slowpoke! You're gonna miss all the cool stuff!"
Kazuki rolled his eyes but followed. They weaved through alleyways that seemed to twist and bend in impossible directions until they emerged in a wide courtyard bathed in twilight.
There, in the distance, was the same young woman from the casino—the one with the silver hair. She stood at the edge of a stone bridge, gazing at the shimmering water below.
Kazuki froze. "It's her again…"
Before he could take another step, the man from earlier—the one balancing on the table—appeared on the opposite side of the courtyard. He leaned casually against a wall, tossing a small crystal in the air and catching it repeatedly.
"Okay," Kazuki said, turning to Lumi. "Now you have to tell me who they are."
Lumi bit her lip, clearly struggling to come up with an excuse. "Um… just tourists?"
Kazuki raised an eyebrow.
"Very dedicated tourists?"
The silver-haired woman glanced over her shoulder, her eyes locking onto Kazuki's. For a brief moment, she smiled—kind and calm, just like before. But something about that smile sent a chill down his spine.
"Tourists, huh?" Kazuki muttered.
Before Lumi could respond, the silver-haired woman turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows. The man with the crystal followed her shortly after, tossing his crystal one last time before catching it with a flourish and vanishing into the air.
Kazuki felt the weight of something unseen lingering in the courtyard.
"Lumi…" he said slowly. "I don't think they're tourists."
Lumi sighed, scratching her head. "Fine, fine! You're right—they're probably not tourists. But you'll find out soon enough! I promise!"