"So why aren't you affected by the whole dimensional mess?" asked Xopil.

Boris scratched his head and shrugged, "Ye got me, I dunno either."

"Alright... then how about some breakfast?" Xopil climbed out of bed and went to the bathroom.

"Xiara, just how much does he remember?" asked Boris as he headed out of the room.

"Almost nothing, but even so... it's quite remarkable what he can still do." she replied happily.

"These games of his though." Boris shook his head, "It's not easy lying to him, even under his own orders...you have been doing your part too, and not just been enjoying yourself?"

"...Well about that..."

"10 years I waited for him and you both returned. Do try to remember the time limit imposed on this game of his, especially since you both are outside it."

"Of course...sorry."

Boris closed the door and his footsteps faded as he went to the kitchen. Xiara stuck her head into the bathroom, "Room for one more?"

"I'll be out in a minute," Xopil shook his head as he lay in the tub and waved dismissively, shooing her out.

Xiara retreated in a huff. It's your own fault you know. I never asked to be like this, but it's not all bad either.

Xopil exited the bathroom, "Your turn."

Xiara walked past him, dragged her hand across his face, and inhaled deeply the scent wafting from his body before disappearing into the bathroom and locking the door behind her.

What was that all about I wonder? Xopil headed for the main room of the inn, and found Boris waiting for him with a decent meal spread on a table.

"Ah, that looks delicious; and you should join me, there's more we need to discuss."

"What can I do fer ye?" Boris took a seat and helped himself to some of everything.

"This place is literally a ghost town, I haven't seen another person since we arrived here."

"Ah that's..." Boris stopped himself by filling his mouth with food.

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"What?" asked Xopil, filling his own mouth with food. "We've checked the houses, one of the mansions and we've been down the fountain."

"Sometimes the easiest thing to miss is right in front of yer eyes," replied Boris rather cryptically.

Xopil paused as he was about to stuff his mouth. "What?"

Boris shrugged helplessly, "That's it."

Xopil resumed eating as he contemplated what Boris said. Easiest to miss is in plain sight huh...

"In other words, you're looking so hard for the forest that you can't see it behind the trees?"

"Well, that's the general idea... but what if ye don't see the trees to begin with? Thanks fer letting me join fer breakfast." Boris rose and quickly retreated. I do hope I didn't say too much and he's still able to enjoy the puzzle.

"Hidden in plain sight, it's not because you're looking at it and don't see the singular instead of the group, it's because you can't see the singular object? So even though you're looking right at it, you see right through it...?" Xopil just scratched his head. That's about as confusing as it gets...

Xopil rose slowly from the chair and table, and walked to the door of the inn. He turned to look inside the inn. It was empty, only he and Boris were there. And the table he just left had yet to be cleaned. Boris is standing over there, looks like he's talking to himself and laughing... I feel like he's mocking me.

Xiara walked into the room noticed there's some food left on the table, and sat down to eat.

Xopil examined the room once more. Okay, what is strange about what I'm seeing? Xopil scratched his chin as his eyes scanned the room. Xiara is there eating, there's plates and mugs on the table. There's empty tables and chairs... but there's also tables with plates and empty chairs. Should be people at those tables. If there are, I'm not seeing them... Boris is talking to himself and laughing... huh? What if I just can't see who he's talking to?

"Boris," Xopil called out.

"What can I do fer ye?" replied Boris,

"Who are you talking to?" asked Xopil.

"Is this a trick question? I'm talkin to ye." he replied.

"...I meant before I called to you." Xopil clarified.

"Yer imagining things. I wasn't talkin to anyone." replied Boris looking confused.

At this point Xiara continued to eat casually, occasionally glancing at Xopil.

So I'm the only one who can't see the people in this town? Xopil took another look around the room. His gaze fell on one other person, "Xiara, bring me that pitcher please."

"Let me get another one," Boris interrupted.

"Yeah okay, any pitcher will do really. Fill it up with water."

"Thirsty?" asked Xiara.

"Something like that."

Boris appeared on cue with the water pitcher. Xopil said two words only, "Dump it."

"I'm sorry?" Boris obviously didn't want to dump the water on the floor of the inn.

"Hand it here then," Xopil reached for the pitcher and deftly knocked it out of Boris' hands spilling water all over the floor.

Xopil examined the water closely, particularly at tables with dishes on them. "Well now that's interesting. Spots where the water can't get to, because there's feet in the way."

All at once the room immediately filled with people, chatter, along with the sounds of forks, knives and spoons hitting plates.

"I initially thought that the people of this town were abducted or locked up, and in fact they were just hidden from my eyes. So now we can go to the next town?"

Boris nodded, "Well done. That's two towns' issues solved now."

"Right... 10 years to solve the first one." Xopil stated, "And just over a day for the second."

"Anyway, shall we move on to the next town?" responded Xiara.