Out of the Shadows: Tilda’s Second Life Begins
Andy pouted wrongly and said, "Tilda, why don't you find me attractive when I'm working? Didn't you say a man looks his best when he's serious?" Tilda rebuked, "How many times do you think I've seen you working? I'm immune to it now." "Well, Una should tag along and learn a thing or two. If she saw the way you act when you're working, she'd probably be scared out of her mind." Una clicked her tongue. "I-is it really that bad?" "Of course not! I look ten thousand times cooler when I'm working. Anyway, see you later when I'm done." Tilda agreed, "Alright." After parting with Andy and Una, Tilda stuffed her hands in her pockets and decided to stroll around the movie town. Jeselton's movie town really lived up to its name. The sets and props were built with style and detail. Slosa had a movie town too. Tilda had visited once with Una, but it wasn't nearly as impressive or realistic as this one. It had snowed in Jeselton a few days ago, but today the sky was clear and the sun was warm. Tilda walked comfortably under the light, feeling at ease. She pulled out her phone, snapped a few photos, and sent them to the Comet Squad chat and a group chat with Andy and Una. Jarrett wrote, "Blank face emoji. Queen isn't just amazing at hacking. Even your photography skills are awesome. Love it!" Theo scolded playfully, "Hey! Jarrett, you stole my line! I was about to say, "Queen makes everything look epic!" Astrid chimed in, "Ugh, you two need to stop. Do you think Queen actually cares about your flattery?" Zach replied, "Agreed." As for Una and Andy, they hadn't replied yet. Those two were probably busy with something. Tilda soaked in the sunlight, gazing at the bright blue sky while wandering through the streets of the movie town. From a distance, she occasionally spotted film crews at work. The atmosphere felt peaceful and refreshing. Funny, since my rebirth, this is the first time I've come to a place like this. It feels entirely different somehow. She leaned against a stone arch bridge shaped like a figure, resting her chin on one hand as the winter breeze brushed her face. Tilda seemed completely at ease. She turned toward a nearby crew shooting a movie. From the costumes and makeup, it seemed to be some kind of ghost story set in the early 1900s. The setting was tucked inside a fake grove. Tilda suddenly noticed someone approaching. Her sharp instincts caught a strange, hard-to-place energy. She turned toward the figure. It was a Nomari woman. She wore a black robe, with a veil covering her face, showing only a pair of deep brown eyes. Her skin was a warm shade of olive, and jewelry with a distinctly Nomari style hung around her neck. She looked middle-aged, yet Tilda could tell, beneath the veil, was a face that was striking and refined. The Nomari woman's calm, dark brown eyes locked on Tilda. They were deep, almost endless, as if they could see straight through her soul. "Excuse me, do we know each other?" Tilda asked. She had met people from many countries, but this Nomari woman felt different. There was something unfathomable about her presence. It had been a long time since Tilda felt this way. The last person who gave her that same unsettling feeling was Jude, the night they first crossed paths outside the Nightingale Bar. And now, she was feeling it again—from someone else. "We've never met," the woman said softly, "but you are unique."She gave a small nod. "Forgive me for not introducing myself sooner. My name is Zorana Silva, but you can just call me Silva. I'm Nomari from Yaflana. My profession ... I'm a psychic." She spoke fluent Cetherese and reached out her hand. Since she had already introduced herself, Tilda shook her hand politely and smiled. "Nice to meet you, Silva. My name is Tilda Jenson. Psychic, do you mean like a medium?" "Yes," Silva said with a steady tone. "Since I was a child, I've seen things others cannot. It comes from my bloodline. That's how I became a psychic. Back in Yaflana, I'm fairly well known. Later, a film crew invited me to consult for a horror movie, which brought me here to Cetherland." She gestured toward the set Tilda had been watching earlier. "Well, that's interesting," Tilda replied. In her past life, she would have scoffed at such things. Back then, she was a tech specialist, traveling from city to city with her mentor, trained through formal education, and grounded in rational thinking. She grew up brushing aside superstition. But now, after her rebirth, Tilda saw the world differently. She understood there were countless mysteries science had yet to solve. For some things, it was safer to believe than to dismiss. The riddles of the universe. The dark void of black holes. The Bermuda Triangle. Necromancer, all of these remain untouched by human understanding. Even in an age of modern science, so much remained unknown.
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