The sun's golden radiance spilled across the streets of Memphis, staining the stone slab road gold and crimson. The air was thick with the scent of incense and roasting meat. Ian strolled through the market, his gaze sweeping over the crowd while his ears caught every whisper. He heard people discussing certain secrets of the city.
As he listened intently,
Ian gathered some information.
Several men stood around a pottery stall, selecting jars while murmuring among themselves.
"Did you hear? Someone disappeared again last night."
"Yeah. An old carpenter who lived on West Street. This morning, his neighbors found his door open, but he was gone."
"How many has that been now? Three last month, and another two this month..."
"Some say it was the shadow near the temple."
"A shadow? Don't scare me... I passed the temple walls last night and really saw a figure leap over them. It looked... like a person, but not quite."
Ian slowly moved closer, pretending to browse the pottery while keeping his ears pricked.
"Could it have been thieves?"
"What thief would dare commit a crime near the temple? Besides, none of the missing people had anything stolen from their homes."
"Then what do you think it was? Ghosts? Or... Divine Punishment?"
Before the words had even faded, one of the men suddenly noticed Ian. His expression changed drastically, and he jabbed his companion with an elbow. The group immediately fell silent and warily sized up the unfamiliar outsider.
"Shh—"
The sound came to an abrupt halt.
Everyone instantly shut their mouths and turned toward Ian in unison.
Their eyes held a mixture of vigilance, suspicion, and unease. Ian straightened up and offered a friendly smile. "Sorry, I'm lost. Could you tell me how to get to the Temple of the Sun God?"