The Inside of the shop (2)

As Erik ascended the stairs, a sudden noise jolted him from his thoughts. It was a soft sound, almost indistinguishable from the ambient noises of the slums, but to Erik's finely tuned senses, it was as clear as a bell. 

He stopped in his tracks, heart pounding, and peered cautiously around a corner to identify the source of the disturbance.

To his surprise, he found Rebecca standing there, her eyes wide with curiosity and her posture tense. Erik quickly stopped channeling mana through the Chameleon Veil's neural links, allowing his form to become fully visible once more. He stepped out from behind the door, his expression a mixture of relief and curiosity, and showed himself to the woman.

"Rebecca? What are you doing here?" He asked, his voice betraying a hint of frustration. This was not part of the plan, and Erik was not one to appreciate surprises in the middle of a delicate operation.