Chapter 61: Catching the thief
The silvery trail from Riku’s ’Tracker’s Scent’ led them away from the bright, bustling market square.
The trio plunged into a maze of increasingly narrow and shadowy alleyways. The grand stone buildings of the main thoroughfare gave way to leaning timber structures, patched with mismatched planks and tarpaulins.
"Are you sure this is the right way, Riku?" Lila asked. Her voice was a little hushed as she navigated a particularly tight passage. "There doesn’t seem to be a single soul around here."
"The trail is clear," Riku replied, his eyes scanning their surroundings. "Our thief is definitely trying to lose us in these backstreets."
Elara clutched Lila’s arm, looking around with wide, nervous eyes. "Papa always told me these areas were where the forgotten people live."
"Forgotten, maybe," Riku said, "but not necessarily dangerous. Just... different. However, there seems to be no one here. Could this be an abandoned district?"
He himself had never encountered such a district in EverRealm Online; the game’s cities were always pristine. While it was hinted that there were less fortunate people somewhere in the city as well, it was not a part of the main game. This felt far more real, and far more complex.
The silvery trail finally led them to a low, arched opening. It was a crumbling section of an old city wall, half-hidden behind a pile of discarded crates. It looked less like an entrance and more like a burrow. A damp, earthy smell wafted out.
"In there?" Lila wrinkled her nose.