The city didn't feel the same anymore.
Every screen Ava passed seemed to replay the same shaky footage purple explosions, broken streets, and seven glowing silhouettes standing in the smoke.
She pulled her hood lower.
"Relax," Mira said beside her. "You're walking like a criminal."
"That's because I feel like one," Ava muttered.
The market street was crowded, people moving between stalls and cafés like any normal afternoon. The smell of fried food and coffee filled the air.
Normal life.
Except every few seconds someone mentioned the battle.
"Did you see the video?" a man at a fruit stand said.
"Those glowing girls?" another replied.
"They're calling them The Seven Lights online."
Ava stiffened.
Mira noticed. "Don't react."
"I didn't react," Ava whispered.
"You definitely reacted."
They kept walking.
At a nearby café, a TV mounted on the wall showed a news broadcast.
"Authorities still have no explanation for the unidentified figures seen during last night's incident," the reporter said.
Behind the anchor, the footage replayed again.
Seven glowing forms.
One of them Ava's form was clearly visible throwing a blast of blue energy.
A teenager at the next table leaned forward.
"Wait… pause it."
The boy froze the screen on his tablet.
Ava felt her stomach drop.
He zoomed in.
"That one looks human," he said.
His friend laughed. "They're all human-shaped."
"No, I mean the face structure," the boy said. "Look."
Mira grabbed Ava's arm. "We should go."
They turned to leave.
Too late.
The boy looked up.
His eyes moved from the screen… to Ava.
Back to the screen.
Back to Ava.
His mouth slowly opened.
"You…."
Mira stepped in front of him instantly.
"You're mistaken," she said calmly.
The boy shook his head. "No… that's…"
Ava grabbed Mira's sleeve. "Let's go."
They walked quickly down the street.
The boy stood up behind them.
"Hey! Wait!"
People turned.
A few phones lifted.
Ava's heart started racing.
"Don't run," Mira whispered.
"Why?"
"Because running makes it obvious."
They kept walking faster.
Behind them, the boy shouted louder.
"I'm serious! That's her!"
More people looked.
One woman whispered, "What's going on?"
Mira cursed under her breath.
"Ava…"
"What?"
"Now we run."
They bolted down the alley.
Footsteps echoed behind them.
Ava's bracelet pulsed faintly.
"Don't transform," Mira said. "Too many cameras."
They turned another corner, then another.
Finally the noise faded.
Both of them leaned against a wall, breathing hard.
Ava slid down to the ground.
"That was close."
Mira nodded.
"Too close."
Ava stared at her bracelet.
"So this is what it's like now."
"What?"
"Being a rumor with a face."
Mira looked up at the sky.
"Sooner or later," she said, "the whole world is going to know."
Ava didn't answer.
Because deep down…
She knew Mira was right.