Chapter 88: Three’s a Crowd—Or a Party
"We survived hours of mental torture and now we’re pulling a midnight heist?" Cynthia said with a joking tone, hands on her hips, her voice laced with playful disbelief. A half-smile tugged at her lips, though the faintest trace of exhaustion still lingered in her eyes.
"I’m not complaining," Marcus replied casually, glancing over his shoulder toward the moonlit square behind them. His hands were tucked loosely in his coat pockets, his posture relaxed, but a glint of anticipation shimmered in his gaze.
"The night’s still young."
"So where should we find information on this myth of ours?" he asked, brows raised as he shifted his attention back to Cynthia.
"Going to an inn itself to ask might be risky," Cynthia said thoughtfully, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as her tone grew more serious. "Two students from the academy heading to an inn together at night will definitely spread another kind of rumor..."
Marcus chuckled under his breath. "A random passerby then?"
"Hmmm, that definitely sounds better..." Cynthia nodded, tapping her finger against her chin as if weighing the pros and cons of local gossip channels.
But before they could go further into their impromptu investigation plan, a sudden voice pierced the stillness of the alley.
"...Marcus? What the hell are you doing here?"
The voice was trembling, confused—and unmistakably familiar.
Like a cosmic joke tossed in by the universe, another figure emerged from the shadows.