As the puppet made his way through Sumeru City, the place was eerily silent. The usually lively and busy streets felt almost deserted, leaving only him to stroll his way through. The present onlookers would whimper and recoil at the sight of him, avoiding his gaze, as though hesitant to make eye contact. Confused, he'd blink. When he spoke up and asked why they looked so afraid, they'd shrink away from him, and some would even flee the scene in fear. Something felt... off. Unsettling. Even the usual chatterbox Cyno was silent this morning and walked right past him. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was something that gnawed at his conscience, every instinct telling him to run, to put up his guard.

While he was used to initial wariness from others due to his upbringing, this was beyond how people would usually react when he passed by.

It was too quiet.

Too ominous.

The Wanderer couldn't understand why people were ghosting him like the plague. His mind raced with possibilities, each one more baffling than the last. Then he froze. He knew just who to go to. "Hey, Buer, do you have any idea why—" His eyes widened when he entered the Akademia. Nahida wasn't there like he'd hoped. No one was inside—not even Alhaitham or Faruzaun, who were normally engrossed in their studies. It was as though they were avoiding something—or someone.

That familiar feeling of isolation loomed over him, loneliness and paranoia heavy on his shoulders, and he sighed in resignation.

His footsteps were the only sound audible through the silence as Wanderer left the Academia and made his way back to the lower floors. He could only hope that he could visit Kaveh or find Layla somewhere, maybe then he would get answers. But to no avail, he couldn't find a single person he knew. Frustration bubbled up in his gut. Those who were around would hurriedly hide or run off entirely, and the air felt heavier by the minute. His indigo eyes narrowed with unease, his lips pressed into a thin line, deep in thought. Despite the deserted streets and fearful civilians...

He felt like he was being watched.