That afternoon, the sun hung high over Beysolun, shining down on the bustling market filled with the shouts of vendors hawking their wares. Among the crowd, a girl with shoulder-length, dark brownish-black hair wound her way through the market lanes.
Her eyes, the dull green of old moss, kept moving, not in search of prey, but merely observing. She wore simple, dark clothing, slightly worn but light enough to allow for agile movement.
Lyra wasn't on duty. Today, she was just wandering, buying some fruit with a few glein she had in her pocket. No one knew who she really was, and that's exactly how she liked it.
As an informant within her group, Lyra was used to infiltrating, listening, and knowing more than most people.
As she walked, her mind returned to a conversation that had taken place a few days ago at their headquarters—a place they called the Shadow Base.
---
The base was just an old building in a corner of the city, its walls covered in soot stains and the faint scent of burnt wood still lingering in the air. Inside, the only light came dimly from a few oil lamps. The atmosphere was silent. No other members were present except her and a man named Rasmus, one of the veterans in their group.
Rasmus sat on an old wooden chair that creaked every time he shifted slightly. His face was always flat, almost expressionless, with a sharp, calculating gaze.
"But, Lyra... do you believe someone from another world could teleport here?" he asked suddenly.
Lyra stared at him for a moment, then chuckled. "Huh? Why are you suddenly asking that?"
Rasmus didn't answer directly. He just stared at her sharply, making Lyra frown slightly.
"I don't know..." she said finally, shrugging. "Rumors like that have been circulating for a long time. One of the most famous ones is even about swapping senses."
Rasmus remained silent, listening intently.
"They say the ritual is used to replace a damaged body part," Lyra continued, her tone more serious now. "For example, a blind person could get new sight from someone else from a different world. But the swap isn't like literally taking and attaching someone else's eye. Physically, their eyes remain the same, but something inside changes—some energy, or whatever it is."
She looked at her own fingers, as if imagining the concept.
"And the person who is swapped doesn't immediately lose their senses, but they'll start to feel the change slowly. If it's sight, maybe it's just a little blurry at first, then gradually gets worse until they lose that ability completely. The same goes for hearing, or even the sense of touch."
Rasmus gave a small nod. "So you know quite a bit about this."
Lyra smirked slightly, then twirled her index finger near her temple. "Hey, I'm an informant, remember?" she said in a joking tone.
Rasmus only glanced at her before leaning back in his chair again.
"I was just asking," he said briefly.
Lyra tilted her head, sensing something odd about Rasmus's attitude. "Hey, hey, is this our new business, Boss? You're so serious. Smile once in a while, maybe I should give you a kiss first, huh?" she teased, sticking her tongue out slightly at him.
Without changing his expression, Rasmus simply said, "No, you smell like charcoal."
Lyra's face immediately soured. "Tch. What an annoying man."
---
In the middle of the market, Lyra took a bite of the apple she had just bought, letting the sweet-tart flavor fill her mouth. Her mind was still busy turning over their conversation.
Why did Rasmus suddenly ask about that? Was he suspicious of something?
And more importantly... was it really possible for someone to have successfully swapped senses with a person from another world?
Lyra gazed at the bright midday sky, her heart filled with a growing curiosity.
---
The midday sky over Beysolun stretched wide, its rays piercing the stone-paved streets, making the air feel more oppressive than usual. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the market, filled with vendors' cries and the sound of footsteps, Lyra strolled casually, her fingers playing with the small fruit she had just bought.
Her eyes swept over the crowd without any particular aim—until someone almost crashed into her.
"H-Hey!!"
she exclaimed reflexively, nearly dropping the fruit in her hand.
The figure who had almost collided with her was a woman with loosely tied, deep red hair.
Mariela.
Lyra knew her name. Not from personal interaction, but from information that often circulated at the base. Mariela had once been a target for their group, especially for Kieran and Greva.
But right now, the woman didn't seem aware of her surroundings. She was running, her face full of anxiety, not even turning when Lyra called out.
Lyra watched her retreating back, then frowned. What's wrong with her?
Before she could guess further, her ears caught the conversation of several men nearby.
"You hear that? There was an explosion at the Beysolun library!"
"What?! Seriously?"
"Yeah! They say the library almost collapsed! Lots of people are running over there!"
Lyra's chest tightened. An explosion? At the library?
Without a second thought, she immediately moved. Her steps were quick but not suspicious. She could have used her usual tricks to get there faster, but that would only draw unwanted attention.
When she finally arrived at the scene, her eyes immediately took in the destruction.
The library was in ruins. Part of the building had collapsed, debris was scattered everywhere, and thin smoke still wafted from a few spots. Some people were trying to help clear the rubble, while others just stood around, whispering with frightened faces.
However, Lyra's attention was soon drawn to one person.
Among the crowd, a man with messy gray hair stood with a serious expression—Mr. Gharrick.
That name wasn't unfamiliar to her. He was the library keeper, and his name occasionally came up in conversations among her group members. Nothing important about him before this, but now…
Her eyes shifted to Mariela, who stood in front of Mr. Gharrick with a face full of emotion.
Lyra narrowed her eyes. She edged a bit closer, trying to catch their conversation. But before she could listen further, something happened.
Smack!
A slap.
Or at least, that's what should have happened.
Mariela's hand missed, throwing her off balance. The people around them immediately gasped in shock.
But before Mariela could fall, Mr. Gharrick moved faster.
With one swift step, he caught Mariela's body, almost like a scene from a cheap romance novel.
The crowd grew noisier.
Lyra's eyes widened, and unconsciously, her lips formed an amused smirk.
"Whoaaa, what is this?! A forbidden love story in the middle of library ruins?! Like some overly dramatic penny romance!"
For some reason, her heart beat strangely. Not from tension—but more from the thrill of seeing something juicy.
Unfortunately, the moment didn't last.
Mr. Gharrick soon released Mariela and turned to leave, abandoning the woman amidst the still-whispering crowd.
Lyra, still caught up in the atmosphere, reflexively followed his steps.
Nimbly, she slipped past the people busy clearing debris. Her eyes remained fixed on the man, curious where he would go after this.
A faint smile still played on her lips.
"Alright, Mr. Gharrick… let's see where you're headed now."
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