THE MAZE OF DECEPTION

of freshly baked bread, roasting meats, and exotic spices wafted through the air, making her stom

wd for any signs of trouble. Aria's grip on the pouch tightened, her mind racing with the possibi

to relax, a gruff voice

u're a sight

dagger sheathed at her belt. A burly man with a thick bear

pouch into her pocket. "What bring

musement. "Just looking for a little...

square. She knew that Mack was looking for val

u," she said, her voice low. "Meet me at t

ou're a real entreprene

hest. She felt a pang of guilt for stealing, but it was a necessary evil in her li

buzzing of a harp string. She felt a shiver run down her spine a

agic. That's when she saw him – a tall, dark-haired figure wi

and all she could feel was the thrum of magic in the air. Then, the stranger vanish

appened, Aria felt a presence behind her. She spun around,

o more than ten years old, with

d, her voice trembling. "You

the girl. "I'm fine," she said

understanding. "I know how that feels," s

algia. She remembered when she was th

se of longing. She wished she could go back to tho

ia had to keep moving forward, no

into her pocket and set off into the crowd,