The clothing market was pure chaos. Fabric hung in uneven rows, bright bolts of cloth swaying overhead while vendors argued loudly over copper coins. Felix looked delighted. Ember looked personally offended.
"You expect me to wear this?" Ember demanded, holding up a muted brown tunic that looked like it had been dyed in a puddle.
Felix squinted at it. "Ah, yes. The Mortal World's greatest fashion crime: subtlety."
Melissa hid a smile behind her hand as she examined a pale yellow dress—simple, woven cotton, but elegant in its own way.
"It's not so bad," she said gently. "It's… grounding."
Ember groaned. "I command the eternal flame, Melissa. I do not 'ground.'"
Kai, however, wasted no time. He had already chosen plain, dark clothes—functional, unremarkable, and efficient. The moment he changed, he blended into the crowd so perfectly that Felix lost sight of him twice in five minutes.
"That's terrifying," Felix muttered. "He looks… normal. Like a regular person who pays taxes."
Kai reappeared beside him, silent as a shadow. "That is the point."
Felix sighed theatrically and picked out a soft green shirt with loose, airy sleeves. "If I must blend in, I shall do it tastefully."
Moments later, they regrouped near a stall of leather boots. Ember adjusted her new outfit irritably, pulling at the rough fabric. "I feel underdressed. Exposed."
"You look approachable," Melissa said, smoothing out Ember's collar.
Ember blinked, her ears turning that familiar shade of pink. "…I hate that."
Before Melissa could respond, someone bumped into her shoulder with a sharp thud.
"Hey—watch it—"
The voice stopped abruptly.
Leo stood there, clutching a small bag of grain. He froze, staring at them—or rather, registering something familiar about their faces.
"You again," he said, pointing a finger directly at Kai. "The theatre guy."
Felix choked on a laugh, doubling over.
Kai closed his eyes briefly, praying for patience. "I told you, I am not—"
Leo leaned closer, squinting at Kai's new dark tunic. "Huh. New costume. Definitely less dramatic, yet still weirdly intense. Is this for a gritty reboot?"
Ember crossed her arms, stepping into Leo's space. "Do you always insult strangers, or are we special?"
Leo shrugged, unfazed. "Only the ones who look suspicious. And you lot look like you're hiding a whole palace under those rags."
Melissa stepped in, her voice calm and de-escalating. "We didn't mean to bother you. We're just… new to the city."
Leo glanced at her—really looked at her this time—and something in his expression softened. The defensive wall in his eyes dropped just an inch. "…Right," he said awkwardly, his voice losing its bite. "Sorry. I've had a long day."
Then his eyes flicked to Felix, who was still grinning. "You're smiling too much. It's creepy."
Felix beamed even wider. "That's my natural state !"
Leo snorted despite himself, a small, genuine spark of amusement crossing his face. Suddenly, his wrist pulsed beneath his sleeve—a sharp, hot throb. He frowned, rubbing the mark absent-mindedly.
Kai's eyes narrowed. He noticed the gesture immediately.
"What's your name?" Felix asked casually, though his gaze was sharp.
Leo hesitated, the caution returning. "...Leo."
As the name left his lips, something shifted. Not dramatically, but enough to be felt by those sensitive to the weave of the world. A ripple in the air. A settling of dust.
"Nice meeting you, Leo," Melissa said warmly.
Leo nodded, already backing away into the safety of the crowd. "Yeah. You too. Try not to start a play or something. The guards here don't have a sense of humor."
And just like that, he disappeared.
Ember exhaled a long breath. "He's irritating. Why is he so irritating?"
Felix smiled thoughtfully, watching the spot where the boy had vanished. "He's interesting. Did you see his eyes? He's been through a lot."
Kai stared in the direction Leo had gone, a strange unease settling in his chest. "He's the one."
Melissa didn't speak. She looked down at her hands, then at the cobblestones beneath her. The earth felt… alert. Awake. As if it had finally recognized a heartbeat it had been waiting centuries to hear.