After leaving the inn, Charlie, the young woman, and I made our way through the streets of Astravia's western outskirts.
The district remained just as lively as it had been yesterday evening. Pedestrians moved through the streets, merchants attended to their businesses, and horse carriages frequently passed along the roads. The western outskirts bustled with activity as people went about their daily routines.
The young woman walked quietly beside us.
Although she appeared calmer after resting, traces of fatigue still lingered on her face. Most of the time, she kept her gaze lowered, seemingly occupied by her own thoughts.
After walking in silence for a while, I glanced toward her.
"If you're studying at Astravia Academy, then your family must be fairly wealthy, right?"
The question seemed to catch her by surprise.
She blinked and turned toward me, a hint of confusion appearing on her face as though she hadn't expected me to suddenly ask something like that.
After a brief pause, she slowly nodded.
"Yes."
A thoughtful look appeared on her face.
Perhaps because she came from a wealthy family, she immediately interpreted my question differently than I had intended.
"I'll compensate you for everything you've done."
Her voice carried genuine sincerity.
After everything Charlie and I had done for her, she clearly felt indebted and wanted to repay us somehow.
However, I immediately understood the misunderstanding.
Shaking my head, I said, "That's not what I meant."
The woman blinked in confusion and looked at me uncertainly.
Seeing her reaction, I continued, "The two controllers who captured you yesterday are still alive."
Her steps faltered slightly. The surprise on her face was immediate.
"Charlie tied them up and hid them somewhere around here."
The woman stared at us for a moment, clearly caught off guard by the revelation.
"Charlie will give you their exact location later," I said. "If your family has enough influence, have those two interrogated. They might know where your friend was taken."
The woman immediately fell silent.
Her steps slowed slightly as she processed my words. Until now, her thoughts had been occupied by everything that had already happened, but my suggestion forced her to consider a different possibility.
What if her friend wasn't dead?
What if she was still alive somewhere?
The moment that thought crossed her mind, her eyes trembled.
For the first time since waking up, a faint trace of hope appeared within them.
Neither of us knew what had happened after her friend stayed behind. The situation had undoubtedly been dangerous, but dangerous did not necessarily mean hopeless. As long as there was no confirmation of her death, there was still a chance she was alive.
The woman lowered her head slightly.
"Thank you."
Her voice was soft and emotional.
This time, her gratitude seemed to carry more weight than before. It wasn't simply because we had rescued her. We had also given her something she had nearly lost during the previous night.
Hope.
After a brief silence, the woman spoke again.
"I'll make sure to repay you somehow."
There was a seriousness in her voice that made it clear she wasn't saying it merely out of politeness. Whether it was for saving her life, helping her escape the people pursuing her, or providing a possible lead regarding her friend, she genuinely intended to repay the debt she felt she owed.
I simply shook my head.
"There is no need."
The woman looked at me for a moment as though she wanted to argue. However, seeing that I had no intention of changing my mind, she eventually remained silent and continued walking alongside us.
The three of us proceeded through the bustling streets of the western outskirts for some time before eventually spotting a horse carriage preparing to depart for the city.
Compared to the previous carriage that had transported us from the village, this one was considerably larger. Several passengers were already climbing aboard while the driver completed his final preparations.
Fortunately, we had arrived at just the right time.
Without wasting any time, we approached the carriage and paid the required fare. Afterward, Charlie, the young woman, and I climbed aboard and found empty seats inside.
Before long, the driver cracked his whip. The horses let out a low neigh and began pulling the carriage forward.
As the wheels rolled across the road, the western outskirts gradually started disappearing behind us.
The carriage steadily advanced along the road, its wooden wheels producing a rhythmic sound that echoed softly throughout the interior. Outside the window, the scenery slowly drifted by as open fields, patches of woodland, and the occasional roadside settlement appeared and disappeared in the distance.
For a time, none of us spoke.
Charlie remained quietly seated beside me while I watched the landscape pass outside. Across from us, the young woman sat silently with her hands resting on her lap.
After some time, however, I began noticing something.
Every now and then, her gaze would drift toward Charlie and me. The moment she realized she had been staring, she would quickly look away and pretend to be focused elsewhere. At first, I paid little attention to it, but as the same behavior repeated itself several times, it became increasingly obvious.
It seemed as though something was bothering her.
Eventually, I turned toward her.
"Do you need something?"
The woman immediately looked embarrassed.
"N-No."
She quickly shook her head, but the awkward expression on her face made it obvious that something had been bothering her.
"It's just..."
Her voice trailed off as she hesitated. Her gaze moved between Charlie and me before finally settling on me once more.
"I can't shake the feeling that I've seen the two of you before."
A faint smile appeared on my face.
So that was what had been bothering her.
Thinking about it, her confusion was understandable. After all, the three of us had spent part of yesterday traveling in the same horse carriage. Even though we hadn't spoken during the journey, it was only natural that she would remember us and feel a sense of familiarity.
I gave a small nod.
Charlie remained silent beside me while I answered her question.
"We traveled with you in the horse carriage yesterday."
For a moment, the woman simply stared at us.
Then, as though a missing piece had finally fallen into place, realization gradually appeared on her face. Her eyes widened slightly as she looked at me before turning toward Charlie.
"The two of you..."
She paused briefly.
"The passengers from yesterday?"
I gave a small nod.
The woman continued looking between Charlie and me, carefully comparing our faces with her memories from the journey. It only took a few moments before the uncertainty in her expression completely disappeared.
A few moments later, she slowly nodded her head.
"I see."
The confusion that had been lingering on her face finally disappeared, replaced by a look of understanding.
After that, the conversation gradually came to an end.
Before long, nearly three hours had passed.
As the carriage continued along the road, the outline of Astravia city gradually emerged in the distance. With every passing minute, its towering walls grew larger and more distinct, standing prominently against the horizon.
Before long, the carriage reached the city gates, and we finally arrived in Astravia.