Then suddenly, a gentle tug came from his side.
"Brother Axel?" Ellory's small voice called out, and her hand shook his arm gently.
Another voice came next, more casual but filled with concern.
"You okay, bro? You're spacing out," said Owen, the little green slime curled under his hood, his tiny eyes blinking up at him.
Axelius blinked and turned his head slowly, The crowd around them had begun to move again, returning to their normal pace now that the music was gone. He looked back to the fountain—but the girl in black silk mask was no longer there.
"I…" he paused, then took a deep breath, slowly letting it out through his nose. "It's nothing. I just remembered something.""
Before anyone could say anything else, Cyruz suddenly gasped, pointing toward the nearby row of colorful stalls lined up near the town square.
"Look, Ellory! So many sweets! Let's go!" he said excitedly, his hand already reaching for hers.
