Chapter 16: A Foreign Guest (Part 2)

“Her name is Fiona. Do you know her?”

The words replayed in Molly’s mind as her gaze drifted behind her, toward the unfamiliar guest. She stood quietly, listening to their conversation.

The guest in question stood a few paces apart from Eric as he posed the question.

A frown settled on Eric’s features while he studied the young man before him. “I don’t think I know who you’re talking about, sir,” he said.

“Are you certain?” the young man probed, his voice calm. “I was told she lives nearby.”

Eric shook his head. “I believe you may have taken a wrong turn, sir. To my knowledge, there isn’t anyone around here named Fiona who matches the description you’ve given.”

A deep, weary sigh escaped the young man’s lips as he smoothed the loose strands of his silky blond hair. “Oh, Fiona… at least give me more details when you send a letter,” he muttered to himself before offering a brief upward curl of his lips, his crimson eyes settling on Eric. “Thank you very much, and my apologies for wasting your time.”

Eric nodded. “No trouble at all, sir.”

With another sigh, the young man turned and began making his way toward the exit. But as if suddenly recalling something, a soft “ah” slipped from his lips.

He glanced back at Eric, who had been staring at Molly as she stood silently near the entrance. Eric’s mouth opened, clearly wanting to say something to her, but he paused at the sound the young man made. His brows lifted a fraction when he noticed the young man clearing his throat. “Ah… would you happen to know if there’s a bakery nearby?” he asked.

Eric frowned at the question but answered regardless. “There are three bakeries around here.” He began to explain further, his hand lifting to gesture, but he stopped short. His golden eyes shifted toward Molly as she walked slowly to where he stood.

When Molly reached Eric’s side, she gave him a brief nod before turning to face the young man, who now wore a faint, weary frown as he regarded her.

Molly offered a short bow of greeting. The black orb drifted out from her robe and hovered beside her, dissolving into shimmering particles:

~ Good morning, sir. Forgive me for eavesdropping on your conversation.

She lifted her gaze to meet his, already strangely fascinated as he watched the black orb.

~ I believe I might know who you’re looking for.

At those words, the young man’s brow rose, his head tilted slightly. “Truly?” he said, watching as Molly gave a short nod.

A bright expression bloomed across his face. “Well then, young miss.” He gestured toward the exit. “Would you kindly lead the way?”

Molly nodded briefly, her eyes flicking to Eric, who stared at her with a worried look.

She gave him a thumbs up, a silent reassurance that she would be all right.

Eric watched her for a moment, his worry deepening. He didn’t believe her.

Seeing this, Molly sighed. She turned back to the waiting young man as the tiny particles swirled and formed a sentence.

~ Sir, might I have the honor of knowing your name?

Upon reading the words, a spark of realization dawned on the young man. “Ah, forgive my manners. I seem to forget introductions on occasion,” he said, pausing briefly before parting his lips again.

“My name is Sebastian,” he added. “A close colleague of Fiona.”

Molly’s shifted slightly, her expression lit up at the word “colleague.” She offered another short bow.

~ My name is Molly.

She straightened from her bow and gestured toward Eric.

~ And this is Eric, my friend.

Molly then motioned toward the entrance.

~ I hope you won’t mind. I’d like to run a few errands before leading you there.

An amused expression flickered across Sebastian’s face as he read the words. “I don’t mind,” he said, shaking his head. “Not in the slightest. In fact, I’d love to learn a bit more about a few things while you go about your errand.”

Molly gave a brief nod. She turned to Eric, waved at him, and then walked alongside Sebastian as they left the stall.

Eric watched Molly depart with the peculiar stranger named Sebastian. But just before her figure crossed the threshold of the exit, her left hand twitched ever so slightly. Before Eric’s eyes, the black orb that had already slipped into her robe silently drifted back out.

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It hovered in the stall for a moment before dissolving into words.

~ I’d like to ask a favor of you.

The particles shifted into another sentence.

~ Could you visit Eoma’s bakery and inform a woman named Fiona that a young man called Sebastian is looking for her?

~ I’ll pass through this street on my way to the bakery. Signal me with a thumbs up if she knows him, and a closed fist if she doesn’t.

The tiny particles swirled one final time, forming a concluding sentence.

~ And don’t worry. I’ll be fine. Thank you.

Eric watched as the particles reshaped themselves into a ball, then shrank until it was smaller than a pinprick before floating out of the stall. He found himself staring at the empty air for a long moment.

A breathless laugh finally escaped him. Surprise flickered across his face. “Did she just use the signal signs from ‘Born Detective’?” he murmured, unable to stop himself.

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