Tap. Tap. Tap.
Seagulls cried faintly in the distance as Kael moved along the cobblestone road. The sun hung low on the horizon, climbing slowly into the morning sky. A soft breeze tugged at his hair with every step.
The steady rhythm of leather boots against stone cut through the hum of the waking city. The sun had barely risen, but Kael was already on the move.
'Same as yesterday, then...'He reached down, fastening his coat as he walked.
He had given it some thought since the day before, and the more he considered it, the more certain he became that she had noticed him.
And it wasn't just a passing suspicion. Syleena was considered a genius, even by noble standards. In this situation, she held every advantage. The pattern of visiting regular spots wasn't simply habit, it was designed for moments like this, when she needed to mislead anyone trying to track her.
If she really had noticed him…
He exhaled softly.
Then he had little hope of finding her.
Still, he chose not to change his approach, sticking to the same routine as yesterday.
Why? The answer was simple, he was trying to show good faith.
If he adjusted his search pattern to match hers too closely, she would only grow more suspicious.
If he could track her down through his usual methods, then fine, he would take the opportunity. But the need to stay unnoticed changed everything. It restricted his movements and limited his options, forcing him into a passive role he couldn't afford to break without risking her trust before it even existed.
So, like before, he made his way to the café.
He sat supporting his head with his hand, a cup of coffee resting in front of him. The atmosphere remained as pleasant as ever, soft voices and faint laughter filling the air, but Kael's expression remained neutral. He didn't enjoy this waiting game, tethered to a passive role with no means to shift the situation on his own terms.
Hours passed.Syleena never came.
Kael rose, walking to the counter where the same barista from yesterday stood. She seemed livelier this morning, writing something down in a small notebook. But as soon as she noticed him, her pen paused mid-stroke. Her gaze lifted, only to meet a pair of cold, unreadable eyes.
"Can I help you, sir?"
There was a flicker of hesitation in her voice.
"Yes."
Kael's response was sharp and direct, leaving no room for anything else. He described Syleena again, his tone flat, his gaze steady.
The barista straightened slightly, answering without delay.
"Yes, I saw her. She was here just a moment ago, she left around ten minutes ago."
As she spoke, Kael's expression sharpened, his features hardening further. His emerald eyes locked onto hers with a cold intensity that made her shift slightly, a faint unease tightening in her chest.
But before the tension could settle deeper, the young man turned abruptly, walking out of the café without a word. The door swung shut behind him.
Only then did she realize how tense she'd been, releasing a small breath she hadn't known she was holding.
'How did I miss her?'
Kael walked with hurried steps towards his next destination
He had tracked every breath taken inside the café, every movement, every detail. And yet he was supposed to believe that Syleena had not only entered but also ordered her tea and pastry, sat down, eaten, and then left without him noticing.
He could not accept it.
He knew his limits well. Which only made the unease settle deeper. She shouldn't have been able to pull that off without him catching even the smallest trace.
Something was wrong.
His jaw tightened slightly as he replayed every detail in his mind, searching for a mistake or an oversight.
As his thoughts churned, the library came into view, its structure towering above the nearby buildings.
Kael stepped inside, ignoring the shelves stacked high with books.
Without slowing, he made his way straight to the front counter where the librarian stood. The moment she noticed him, she straightened, turning to face him fully as he approached.
When he reached the counter, he gave her a small nod.
"I need your help."
The librarian perked up slightly, her interest piqued. That was what she was here for, after all.
Kael described Syleena's appearance and habits once more, asking if she had been in today. The librarian tapped her chin thoughtfully before shaking her head.
"No, she hasn't been here today."
Kael exhaled softly, a hint of relief washing over him. There was still a chance.
He thanked her and turned to find a table, but before he could take a full step away, the librarian called out again.
"Would you like me to let her know you're waiting for her?"
Kael glanced back and gave a firm nod before heading to his usual seat.
He settled in, a single book in hand, flipping through its pages without much thought. His eyes occasionally drifted toward the entrance. With a slight lean back into his chair, his fingers tapped idly against the wooden table.
There was nothing left to do but wait.
And waiting came with a price. Every shift in the room, every whispered word, every soft turning of a page demanded his attention. His senses stretched thin, his focus pulled in every direction. His mind strained to hold onto every detail, pushing itself closer to its limits with each passing minute.
Time dragged on as he waited, each passing moment stretching thinner. Before he knew it, his time in the library was up. Syleena hadn't appeared once again.
Kael sat still for a moment longer before rising to his feet, pressing his thumb and index finger against his temples, massaging them gently. A dull throbbing echoed in his mind, the weight of the day settling in heavier than he cared to admit.
He adjusted his coat, picked up his cane, and made his way toward the counter once more.
The librarian, absorbed in her book, didn't notice him approach. Kael didn't waste time on pleasantries.
"Has she visited?"
The librarian snapped out of her focus, blinking up at him with a slightly dazed expression. Then, realization struck. Her face paled, and she smacked her forehead with a palm.
"Oh no! I completely forgot. I'm so sorry, sir. She was here just a moment ago, but I forgot to tell you."
Kael cast a cold gaze at her before turning away, his steps steady as he made his way to his final destination.
Now he was certain. Something was off.
There was no way he would have let himself miss her twice.
As he walked, the familiar ache in his head persisted from the intense strain he had put his mind through.
'How did I miss her twice? Has she been using a second alias? No, that makes no sense… She is a representative of the Eirendaile family. She has no reason to hide her name. Could she have sent someone else to carry out her routines under her name? No, that does not add up either. Maybe she has a mote that helps conceal her presence? But that would contradict the whole point of these habits, which is to make her seen.'
The world faded as Kael sank deeper into thought, piecing together the situation in his mind. His steps carried him forward on instinct, and before he realized it, he had reached the shore. He lifted his head briefly, casting a glance at the sun dipping toward the horizon, then dropped his gaze back to the ground, lost in thought once more.
The bench came into view, but Kael already knew it would be empty. He didn't even look at it as his feet carried him forward, his mind spinning with every step.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
He closed in on the bench, his steps steady, gaze cast down, focused on nothing, as though searching for answers in the stone beneath his feet.
Then, a few meters away, his steps halted. His body stiffened, frozen as his thoughts finally caught up.
Slowly, he lifted a hand in front of his face and let out a soft breath, then a low laugh slipped past his lips, quiet at first, barely more than a breath. Another followed, a touch louder, edged with something between amusement and frustration.
He wasn't laughing at anyone.
He was laughing at himself.