[ As death-touched, Merrin entered the city freely, without having to undergo the unpleasant potion many of the others did. The necromancy probably also helps her feel entirely comfortable walking around a city of spirits, even one as stark and grim as this—after all, her clan's fortress wasn't all that different.

This place is cheerier, even. There's actual daylight, underneath all the rain.

So, nonplussed, she approaches anyone she might recognize, even if they haven't spoken before, and asks conversationally: ]

How did you die?

[ "Die," that is, for their cover story—though it might not be obvious from her tone. ]

[ The bazaar is certainly an experience to be had, as rowdy and chaotic as any shadow-port she's passed through in her travels across the galaxy. Merrin takes her time exploring the place, stopping to window-shop the stalls and watch street performances, though she doesn't buy anything.

Unfortunately, at least one shop owner—a little old lady—takes a shine to her for some reason she couldn't even begin to fathom, and she finds herself on the receiving end of a lot of fussing. ]

That really isn't necessary.

[ The old woman is pushing candies into her hands, undeterred. ]

[ As it turns out, trying to find one particular child in the bazaar is like searching for a teardrop in the ocean. Merrin splits her attention between the puppet show and scanning the large crowd for a girl that matches Cosette's description, though she's growing more exasperated with Matthias and his wild bantha chase by the second.

By the time the girl-puppet is killed by animals, though, her gaze is fixed on the show. When it ends, she brings her hand to her cheek, surprised—and a little confounded, frankly—to find tears there. ]

What is this?

[ It's dark in the alleys surrounding the Whispering Houses—dark and devoid of any tow-headed girls Merrin can see, though there are definitely a number of patrons, loiterers, and urchins to be found instead.

She mostly ignores them as she searches, summoning a ball of flame-like ichor to her palm that casts pale green light down a shadowy alleyway, also devoid of girls.

With a sigh, she finds her companion and asks: ]

Have you found anything?