The Market was not far at all, given that it was about a mile down the road from where the caravan was parked. Shelly was off doing some spying, in the form of one calico cat... so she had to make herself scarce if this was even going to work just right. As long as she avoided any cat gazes, she would be fine. She only wanted to get to know them a little, to know who she was protecting. Anya chose to where a corset and a dress and apron with a red shade that made it look like she was merely a traveler. This chest they found proved to be very useful for one, although Shelly refused to open it. Anya busied herself out of sheer boredom, before this whack idea came to mind.
Walking at a calm pace down the dirt road, keeping her hood over her head as she neared the gate with a wither basket.
"Why 'Ello, there miss~ come to market, yes?" greeted this warm little man guarding the gate.
"Why yes, sir..." Anya answered, in the most convincing accent she could manage. "Long road ahead,"
"Indeed. I wish you a safe journey, go on in, my lady." the man replied and opened one side of the gate.
Although her face was half hidden, Anya smiled before walking through into the Ghetto. She could feel this sort of static surround her as soon as she went through, reminding her of just how delicate all this was.
As soon as she was in, Anya gave out a breath of relief that she actually managed to make it inside. Now, she had to ask herself... Was this going to be worth the trouble?
How could it be expected to be hidden and protect these people at the same time? From what they were told, they were to keep them as calm as could be during the great danger that looms outside of the spell's barrier. There was nothing too specific about hiding so much, as long as she would blend in just right. So far, as Anya walked, no one did not even turned their head towards her. She kept her head down right until she reached on part of the street that she had recognized from her point of view from skyward. Once she spotted the Barber shop beside the connected courtyard door, Anya did not look ahead in time before she bumped into someone's shoulder. Clumsily, she dropped her basket all the while before a kind voice greeted her.
"Oh! Goodness, do pardon me ~" the airy voice belonged to a stout, well suited man with a bowler hat and a bamboo cane, who was accompanied by a reddish brunette woman.
"Oh! Forgive me, sir!" Anya tried to keep her voice well masked when her hand was taken to help her back up.
"How silly of me," he chuckled, handing her basket back into her hand. "I do hope you are not injured…"
"Oh, far- um, far from it, sir, thank you." Anya smiled back, a little panicked deep down. However her heart was fluttered at all this kindness.
Anya got the chance to see the man she observed before in the morning hours, this time without his white smock on. She felt a sense of relief. Rather, he was quite dapper, accompanied by a lovely woman who seemed quite curious.
"Funny, I've never seen you around here before." the lady said.
"I travel." Anya answered, hoping to be brisk. "I am commonly a milk maiden."
"Oh? Traveling to?"
Anya swallowed, locking on each of their eyes to not seem frazzled. "I- Osterlitch."
"How very interesting," the gentleman hummed. "A pleasure to meet you, eh - Miss…?" he winked a blue eye, hinting at her to introduce herself.
"Oh! Anya… Anya Flavershem." she quickly had to come up with something.
"Anya, such a delight~ Charmed to meet you. I am Charlot Elden, and this lovely lady here, is Hannah Jeakel."
As they were talking, a Calico cat peered out from a bricked corner with risen fur on its back, wide eyed. Trilling with deep anger, it sneaked away into the alley. Anya was used to people who bumped into her to keep going without a second thought, and here she felt so welcome. Cherished even… She felt safe with these people.
"It is very nice to meet you, Charlot… Sir! Madam," Anya tried to make a moment for her to leave, but obviously it wasn't possible. "Thank you both so much. You are very kind… I must be off before it gets dark…"
"In such hurry?" Charlot asked, a little bewildered at her change of attitude. "Where do you lodge?"
"Oh, just on the side of the road — " Anya realized her mistake when she said that and paused, feeling the presence of the couple behind her.
"You speak of the outskirts?" Hannah asked.
"Oh surely, you shan't be out there after dark, young lady." Charlot mentioned, sporting a firmer tone. "It isn't safe."
"Oh, w-well…" Anya courageously turned to them, trapped now thanks to that slip of the tongue.
"No need to be modest, child. We'll provide you lodging for the night." Hannah offered with a smile. "And we will walk you out in the morning —"
"No, I… I really don't want to impose~" Anya was speechless at this, as Hannah politely handled her empty basket.
"Oh, do not be silly," Charlot tipped his hat to her and Anya found that she was between the couple. "You may continue your journey come dawn. And no beating about the bush."
Sir Charlot warmly took her hand and Anya linked her hand to his arm, while Hannah took to her right as they began to walk. The sky began to take on a lovely pink, telling her that it was already late. Anya kicked herself about this, that Shelly was right about one thing. However, they were so kind to her… Not a single negative glance or shrewd words, not a lick of condescending or sarcasm. Just pure, honest, hospitality… "What are you in for? We will help you shop before the vendors tuck in." Hannah asked and offered.
Anya had to hide that her eyes were tearing up and cleared her throat. "Oh, just apples and bread…" she answered, slow. It concerned the gentleman Barber.
As evening was falling, above in the dipping sunlight there was an aurora seemingly hovering over the town for about twenty or so miles. Such an anomaly was obvious to someone looking on from the outside below the clouds. It was an irritation that the warp was being held in a cast iron grip, even with the slight interaction would not matter in the slightest among the scheme of things, in their entirity. Two young women were tasked of keeping all those under the Confundus charm calm, and their target was right at the center of it. A former tramp on the streets which, at the time, who seemed harmless. One who barely had a voice, found it and mastered it so strongly that it completely reversed the effects of everything that was planned… The peace of which it brought was certainly birthed by purely magical means, by use of purity. A phenomenon that still stumped the magical world by far… That beloved barber had a drop of magical blood in him that he was entirely oblivious to. The chosen variant before who had been switched by that little tramp had to be dealt with from knowing too much… However to return the timeline to the desired outcome, of the regime completely leading way for the Dark Lord's desires, that former tramp, that Barber had to die. To ensure that pure essence remain hidden and unknown, and a blood line forever tainted. Those two girls sent in to guard that small town, they were in the way.
This other spy who neared the enchanted barrier shrunk low into the form of a snake, slithering its way toward a parked caravan on the the side of the road. Shelly was already returned from kicking the entire perimeter, finding no changes at all, and oh woe was she on fire on the inside.
She was angrily combing her hair, feeling all dusty from climbing around earlier, finding a fir in her hair.
"Yeah, brilliant. Gone off to mingle with them, damn it, An~ you can't control yourself. I have to do everything myself. Now she won't want to leave… I knew this would happen… It was the only reason she wanted to come…" Shelly groaned, stretching and snapping her hair tie and tied it around her hair.
Soon enough, she began to feel something ominous and gazed to the window. On edge, she slowly reached under her mattress and slowly took out her wand. Easy, she looked out the window. Quickly, she pressed her back to the wall to catch her breath. Perhaps it was wise of Anya to not return. She bravely closed her eyes and prepared herself.
She searched outside in the fields, holding onto the feeling that she was being followed.
"You should have stayed in the Ghetto, kitten." said a slithery voice from behind her. The teenager held them at wand point, still and fuming. "Your feathery friend sure made the right choice."
"One of us has to keep you away… I'm warning you!"
"Soon enough, one bite… is all it takes." spoke the hooded man. "And it will all start over. Permenantly this time."
"Never."
"…keep telling yourself that." the man revealed his face to her, a rather handsome, dark haired young man. "That barrier can't stay up forever. When it falls, I'll be waiting."
After having shared that, he smirked and turned. Shelly saw him shrink into this one slithering line that disappeared into the grass. Shelly was pale and her arm was shaking…