The evening air in Vienna had turned from a brisk chill to a biting frost as the sun dipped behind the jagged silhouette of the city cathedral. Kai and Elea walked away from the grand entrance of the military museum, their shadows stretching long and thin across the damp pavement. The tension that had simmered between them during the gallery visit remained like a physical weight, thick enough to choke any attempt at genuine conversation. Every glance they exchanged felt like a probe, a silent check on the integrity of their mutual masks.
"I think a walk through the narrower streets might be nice before we find a taxi," Kai suggested, his voice low and seemingly casual. "The main boulevards are a bit too loud for my taste tonight."
Elea nodded, her eyes darting toward a black sedan idl
