They walked for another ten minutes before Seth began to hear new sounds mixing from a certain distance.
It was the sound of the creaking of wheels and the steady clatter of metal on stone.
The narrow forest path opened onto a wide road paved with smooth, dark stones that gleamed as if still wet from a recent rain.
Seth blinked, his eyes struggling to take in the sudden rush of movement and noise.
Strange vehicles moved up and down the road.
They weren't cars or trucks, but small, three-wheeled contraptions powered by drivers who stood and pedaled.
Each one looked like a rickshaw crossed with a bicycle, with just enough space under a flimsy cloth canopy for two passengers to sit squeezed together.
"They're called pedicabs."
Phoebe muttered, noticing how he stared.
She assumed that Seth must have forgotten what these things were called as she saw the confusion on her face.
"Stay close to me."
She lifted a hand, and one of the drivers steered his creaky vehicle toward them.
The wooden wheels wobbled dangerously on the smooth pavement.
Seth quickly ducked his head, letting the deep hood shadow his face as the man pulled up.
He could feel the driver's curious glance lingering on him a moment too long.
"The Linere District, please."
Phoebe said, her voice bright and clear.
"Is 35 bathala fair?"
The driver wiped sweat from his forehead with a dirty sleeve.
"Linere? Which part of Linere?"
Phoebe immediately answered, as though familiar with such a question.
"The one near the hotel, there's a road entrance there that the pedicab can enter through."
The driver's face immediately contorted.
"That's nearly to the outer rim! And with two of you? Make it 50, my lady. The road to the entrance near the hotel is rough and rocky!"
Phoebe simply nodded.
"Alright."
She climbed into the small cabin without another word.
Seth followed, surprised she hadn't argued.
The wooden seat groaned under their weight.
Inside, it was even more cramped than it looked...
Seth's knees pressed against the flimsy front panel with every bump.
The whole thing felt like it might shake apart.
This thing definitely belongs in a children's toy section, not on a real road...
Seth thought as they lurched forward.
The driver stood on the pedals, and the vehicle swayed from side to side.
Seth gripped the thin side rails tightly as their pedicab joined the chaotic flow of traffic.
The city center was quite noisy and bustling with activity.
Dozens of similar three-wheeled vehicles wove between heavy horse-drawn carts and crowds of people on foot.
The air was thick with voices, the clatter of hooves, and the ringing of a distant bell.
Even though it was late, the wide stone streets were lit by lanterns hanging from tall poles.
The light fell on shops and stalls that were still open.
Some sold fruits and vegetables stacked high in woven baskets.
Others had bolts of fabric in deep reds and blues.
Seth could see people gathered near small eateries, their laughter mixing with the sizzle of meat and the clang of pots.
The buildings on either side were large, made of grey stone and heavy timber, with roofs of dark clay tiles.
Some were three or four stories high, their windows glowing with warm, inviting light.
Flags with strange symbols fluttered above wide arched doorways where guards in leather armor stood, holding short spears and watching the crowd.
Seth stared in silence, feeling the cool night air on his face.
'I don't seem to be in a different country... This isn't the modern era at all!'
The thought sent a cold knot of fear and confusion tightening in his chest.
'Just where am I?'
They passed through a crowded intersection where people moved between market stalls.
Children ran barefoot across the cobblestones, chasing a stray dog.
Riders on tall horses trotted past the slow-moving pedicabs, their tack jingling.
The smell of grilled meat, woodsmoke, and dust filled Seth's nose.
It took quite awhile, around nearly an hour before they finally left the busy heart of the city.
The crowds thinned, and the noise faded to a distant murmur.
The road narrowed, lined with old iron lamp posts that cast dim, yellow pools of light on the cracked stone.
The grand stone buildings were replaced by simpler wooden houses with tiled roofs.
Fewer pedicabs passed them now, though the occasional person walking by still glanced curiously at Seth's hooded figure.
When they stopped at a main crossroad, Phoebe counted out 50 small, copper coins and placed them in the driver's hand.
The man pocketed them with a grunt and pedaled away, his vehicle creaking with every push.
"That driver... he saw my face very clearly."
Seth muttered, watching the pedicab disappear into the road.
Phoebe patted his arm.
"This city has thousands of people in it. And your home is hours away from this district. He won't remember one passenger's face by morning."
Seth was silent for a moment.
'Then what was the point of the hood? It didn't even cover my dirty clothes...'
She pointed toward a cluster of houses in the distance.
"We'll see if I can take you to your sister tomorrow... I might just call for her to pick you up here instead."
"But for tonight, you need to rest. You can stay at my place. You can ask all your questions there."
Hearing this, Seth did not have much of a problem with it.
He was quite confused and lost with his current situation...
"Do you live alone?"
She shook her head as she led the way.
"I live with my sister and my mother."
She said.
"They're out tonight as they have to buy stuff for our store. They won't be back until tomorrow or the next day. But they definitely won't mind you staying. They've met you before."
Seth nodded, but a question rose in his mind before he could stop it.
"How long... did you say I was buried for?"
Phoebe kept walking, not turning her head.
"Three days."
Seth stopped dead. His feet felt rooted to the spot.
"Three days?"
His voice was sharp with disbelief.
"And your family... they still don't know I died? How is that possible?"
Phoebe finally stopped and looked back at him.
The candlelight flickered across her face, making her expression hard to read.
"My family has only met you once."
She said after a thoughtful pause.
"I... haven't found the right time to tell them what happened. I was planning to mention it over dinner, but..."
She let out a soft, almost embarrassed chuckle and looked down at her boots.
"Heh. I tend to eat much later than they do. So I never got the chance."
Seth just stared, his frown deepening.
He had no idea how to respond to that.
Phoebe turned left down a narrow gravel path lined with short, wooden fences.
Small potted herbs sat on windowsills, their scent filling the air.
At the end of the path stood her house.
It was a rather large, two-story building made of dark stone bricks, with wide glass windows.
Lanterns glowed softly from inside, casting a warm, yellow light on the front steps.
The front gate was made of sturdy wood, painted black, but rust spotted the iron hinges.
The house was a mix of old and new... one part had smooth, white plaster walls and a modern metal lamp in the small yard, while another section showed its age with moss clinging to the stone and roof tiles that were chipped and uneven.
As Phoebe pushed the old wrought-iron gate open, a sharp bark sounded out from the front door.
A small, fluffy white dog came running toward them.
Its fur was a little dirty from lying on the ground.
It barked a few more times, then recognized Phoebe.
Instantly, it dropped to the ground, rolled onto its back, and wiggled, its paws curled and its tail thumping happily against the gravel.
"That's Bella."
Phoebe said softly, glancing at Seth.
"You probably don't remember, but when you visited before, she really liked you. Probably because of the cologne you wore that day. Go on, you can pet her. She's friendly."
Seth hesitated.
He slowly crouched down and reached a hand toward Bella's head.
But before his fingers could touch her, the dog let out a small whimper.
She scrambled backward, ducking behind a wooden porch post.
She peeked out at him, her ears flat against her head, her eyes wide and uncertain.
Seth froze, his hand hanging awkwardly in the empty air.
He quietly pulled it back and stood up.
Behind him, Phoebe watched the entire scene, her face calm and unreadable...