Chapter One Hundred & Seventy: The Veil

Evgenikós gazed at Velma with a knowing look, her eyes gleaming with a mysterious intensity. With a gentle touch, she placed her hand on Velma's furry neck, and in that moment, a strange sensation washed over Velma. It was as if she had stepped into a void, a space devoid of sound and color, where time seemed to stand still.

Suddenly, Velma found herself standing in the midst of an urban area that was eerily silent. There was unsettling quietness, the stillness broken only by the distant hoot of an owl and the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze.

Velma was surprised at Evgenikós appearance but she could not speak.

Where, how? She wanted to ask. It was as though Evgenikós could hear her because the witch replied.

"No point wasting time trying to get around the guards," Evgenikós said. "I have used my magic to determine where our goods where placed and to make us disappear from there. They did not check the luggage or they would have taken the gold."