A knocking was what woke her up. Her eyes greeted by the jolly dancing of light. Indeed she had slept through the night. Twice. The experience really amazed her considering she was not a big sleeper. She examine herself for any suspicious markings and was happy to find nothing. After that she hauled herself to the door and open it a sliver of the way to see who it was.

Shelia was towering. Her lips twitching a smile.

"هل أنت مستعد؟" The same teardrop earrings swayed with her motioning hands to come. Her way of speaking was slightly off.

It didn't take great deal to understand what she wanted her to come with her. It was probably to eat. So she followed her to the usual area and settled on the soft seats. The morning had started but the commotion that came from the streets were already loud enough to be heard inside.

The thud of fresh food being set before her grafted her attention back. Many plates containing sauces, bread and what looked to be eggs was sprawled out. The vastness of her hunger hit her instantly but she held it in for mannerism. How could she eat first when the host wasn't here. She wanted to wait for Niklas. To lure him into revealing more details but settled for breakfast instead.

Why do they care so much?

They treated her better than normal kidnappers.

From gleaming rocks, abnormality of the people and the space she was in, for sure this shouldn't be Earth. Even if this was all stimulated, that would be too much for one person or if it was a prison that too was absurd. If it was all this for some illegal genetic and physiological experimentation then maybe that would be a bit logical. There was no way to make sense of anything. All she can do for now is low low and trust instincts.

Lead footsteps that could only been the house keeper made way nearer to her vicinity. The male quickly sat in front of her, ready for the working day. A prayer of thanks was given and breakfast was ate in relative silence.

It was decided from that moment on. She would stay with the guard till she knew enough about everything to leave.

~

A few days felt like a week. Hours lasted longer than needed. Chatters by passerby was what kept her sane or drove her to insanity. The sun cursed her by never going down or coming up. Songs and clatters from the market pricked her skin. Impatience was a noose around her neck. Her body rebelled painfully by the change in environment and habits. All she was able to do was laze around in sweat, cold floors her only restitute.

Chats with Shelia was her only life line. Although one sided and crutch, there was times when the message got across. The language barrier was getting less apparent. She could understand what was being said. At least, most of what was spoken.

~

"That...دكيه!!! How dare he come again after what happened!!" The back door slammed shut.

It was one of those days. A day where Shelia would come in complaining about her lover. Their relationship was rocky. One day he would express great love to her as ..... in front of the market. Another he would be seen with another of the city's girl.

Even though Shelia looked to be fully grown, she had a heart of a young girl. In fact she was just of age. Niklas had told her that one evening and about the extended life the netizens of Sihir have. He would tell her about the great intelligence of the Sahrians and the strength Timals, secretiveness of the Nimers and etc. Not that she believed him but the more she asked about the world the wilder the answer was. She wasn't sure if he was they were lying or playing her for a fool.

~

"What is دكيه?"

It was lunchtime. Niklas had just stopped by for a meal.

The look of sheer confusion and belightment sprang up.

"I heard it from Shelia. What it mean?"

She would always ask him for unknown vocabulary like a schoolkid.

"Worry it not."

He got up to the kitchen and hushed voices ensued. Eliza knew it was about her and the so called "foul" word as Niklas describe it. Silently she ate her meal and tried her best to ignore what was being said. After that Niklas left and Shelia apologized about everything.

It never did bother her but from the reaction it must have been a very terrible thing to call someone. She spent many years in places were even worse was said. Soon, however, she was back to the daily routine of listening in on the average stranger. Anticipating good gossip from them. Half of the time they were about the prices at the markets, complaints about spouses, whispers of instigation of crime or more intimate affairs. However, if she listened very closely there would be talks about the Munariws. A group of rebels running around the country. Quiet remarks about the صفاف, the governor of Aledah and of the string of missing people. Albeit small, it was enough to get the jist of the surroundings.

Once she felt she had listened enough she would retire a book from the shelves to scour at. They were all books that Niklas bought and he let her read them when she asked.

Plenty of the books had pictures and each was of the countries of Sihir. An encyclopedia of the world and its numerous plants and creatures. The words were in different languages but at times the letters would form together for her. It would weave into sentences and complex concepts. All fluttering around her mind, like connect the dots.

Soft fabric glazed her face, sending her interrupting her reading. Shelia, an oak tree, stood there laughingly. Held in her hands were gaudy fabric and jewelry.

"That's for me, eh?" Eliza pointed.

The clothing was dropped on her lap. The bundle comprise of a clean long sleeve black robe, a gray cloth stash, plain black pants and adornments. What really took the cake was the large embroider cloth. In rich royal blue and aurelian, threaded in a flowery stitch with golden tassels at the end.

"Thank you." She give Shelia a little bow and left to change.

In a snap she had put the essentials on. What was really a struggle to put on was the jewelry and the scarf. Thankfully Shelia had came to help once she had asked for it.

"There. Beautiful." Finishing touches were made and Shelia looked proud.

"What is this for?" Realization of the language barrier reappeared. There was still no way for converse fully.

"We are going out today." Shelia didn't mind that barrier and answered regardless.

Eliza had not been outside for a good deal of time. This could contradict everything or confirm it all.

Shelia was gone before she could reply. Her scurrying could be heard from one end to another. In no time at all she rushed Eliza out.

Torrid heat skewered her as she stepped out. Her breath felt hot enough to bake a cake. The new clothes stuck to her skin. The only shade was the Lithma, as Shelia called it, over head. Eliza kept count of her steps as they went unto the active marketplace.

She was determine to focus on intel gathering as Shelia drag her though the streets. Snipets of daily life and haggling was splatter the corner shops and in front of stalls. Children were prancing circles about their mother's legs. There wasn't much to go about. Multitude of people kept their opinions simple and unbiased. Although, the one matter that stuck on the roofs of the market mouth was that of the disappearances of common folk. All ages and both genders, especially the young ones. Before it could be elaborated a loud noise cut the conversation short.

Phooot!!! Phoooot!!!

The sound clash over the noise of the people. Rapidly, the crowded area was hushed and divided to provide a pathway. Everyone rushed to bowed down, including Eliza herself. Another trump was given and a cry was let out.

"Here he comes." A loud powerful voice announced.

"We welcome the City's Keeper!!" The square erupted with chorus of all the people.

She wasn't sure who exactly it was they welcome but they were powerful enough to stop the activities of the market with the drop of a hat. The asthmatic marching vibrated the earth. Silhouettes swayed on the ground. They stomped not too far from her. The trumpet resonated once more. It blares serrated her ears. If not for the covering of the lithma, she would feel her ears bleed.

Long stillness cloaked the square. She would have thought all was for nothing if not for the an all familiar roar. Fear and curiosity mix in and she spied the scene. Powerful paws griped dirt centimetres by. Violet and sterling fur was their covering as the pair of big cats walked further away. Few feet behind them with his nose high as the sky was the cause of the misshaping. The City Lord.

His feet were most of all she could see. They looked like they've never walked upon the earth the moment he was born. His beige skin wrapped in gold sandals. It didn't help by the fact his runway was made by the clothing from the backs of the citizens.

A loud grunt directed her gaze to the darken face of the guard beside her. Roughly he banged her head upon the dry dirt. Pangs brandished her nose as warm coral liquid dyed the earth. It lasted for a while before cooling down. She wished her hardest that she would go unnoticed. Considerable time flew and nothing happened. The last trump was sounded. Manifold moments pass and the vigor returned to the market.

After the pins and needles subsided from her legs, Eliza searched for Shelia only to find no one. She rubbed the blood and dirt from her nose inquisitively watching the market. In the commotion of it all they had separated.

However, She didn't panic because it meant that as she retraced her steps she had time to explore and figure ways of fleeing. Going back she looked closely at the faces of passerby. Their micro expressions, how they talk, walk and associate. It was good to see the way of the land. It made it effortless to go in and out.

While being discreet, she would take time to look at the vendors. Listening to their talk and gently declining their urging her to buy their product. This gave her time to check her back. Watch for threats and trails.

For the most part there was no hostility however, she did noticed the shadow of a rather large man in the reflection of the valuables.

It paused her for a second but once she confirmed it all she set up a countermeasure. Distance had to put between her and the assailant. She needed him in her view but far enough to access the situation.

Nevertheless she would feel him get closer. She picked up her pace a little, trying to loose him in the sea of consumers. That prove futile as he gain on her.

She was walking the plank on this one. The only route is where she came from recently. With the ever declining gap between containment and worse, she darted through the crowds. Her small frame proving efficient to weave the bigger populous of the market.

Never looking back she started to recall the certain number of steps she took. Those number quickly dwindling in her mind as her eyes landed on the recognizable structure of the alleyway. It also caught the curly feather-like-hair of Shelia. Amid all of her chattering she had unconsciously thought Eliza was with beside her.

A swelling filled Eliza's heart at the well known gentle smile of her company. Her feet sped up; determine to get there first. Which she did.

"Eliza. What has happen to you??"

Withholding the worry glances from Shelia, Eliza grabbed the girl's hand and strung her down the alley back to the cramped residence.

"You must be hungry." Shelia rummage through her pockets for the keys.

Eliza's eyes was fixated down where they came. Her problems prove themselves as an ever so familiar outline came to view. The stalker guard had tripled and they look set on pouncing straight for them.

"Shelia the keys!!!"

"Okay, okay."

The thrill of finally being understood was over taken by the same grunt she heard not too long ago. It was the same guard and his buddies, except this time Eliza could see the disgusting desires on his face.