The night was quiet. Almost too quiet, there was no one on the streets. Well it works for me.

I put on some cheap black clothing I bought earlier today. I also bought another cloak. This one is a dark shade of blue, almost black. Sadly I couldn’t find a mask in this town. Luckily I still had my old one. I put on my rubbery orange tanned mask. The yellow hair and the wide beaming smile with bleached teeth make it all the more horrifying in the moonlight.

Save.

I make my way towards the Hemmed Shirt, the shop where I bought my first cloak. The guy owes me anyway so I’m just taking interest right now, interest. Technically I already robbed all the stores in this town. However I haven’t done a full run though of them all at the same time yet.

I quietly picked the lock on the back door of the shop. I am not really good at the subtle arts of stealing, but I had nothing but time to practice lock picking. Using two pieces of thin metal the door opened.

I sneaked my way inside the store. I have been here before during my practice runs so I went straight towards the lock box. It was hidden beneath some loose floorboards near the stairs going up to the second floor. I pulled back the wood and took out the small metal box. After some more picking at the lock it was finally open.

Behold, the shiny glow of gold.

There were about thirty-odd gold coins in there with sixty silver coins and a lot of bronze. I took all of it. That’s what he gets for overcharging me.

I left the house after putting the box back inside its hiding place. Continuing on in a circle around the plaza I robbed all the stores. When I reached the Sewed Buckle I found it had over a hundred gold coins. I guess a reputation of good prices is good for business.

One of the last stores was the simplest one to rob. The place was called The Rebound Book. I spent quite a bit of time here practicing to read. The owner was a grouchy old man who charges way too much for everything. The place mostly sold books meant for the Magic School. The Mage College had its own library and bookstore. It also had better security.

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The reason it was so simple to rob is because it had a combination lock safe. After I entered the house I moved toward the safe near the counter. After I entered the nine-nine-five-seven combination it opened. I only had to try out combinations until it opened and then remember the correct one. I do wish I started from nine-nine-nine-nine…

After swiping the six hundred or so gold and a similar amount of silver I closed the safe back up. This place does not deal in bronze coins.

The centerpiece of this operation is definitely the jewelry store. It is not a regular store of the area either. The same caravan that I plan to leave with apparently deals in precious jewels and metals. They rented the vacant storefront to set up shop for the following week. I would take the jewels but since I plan to travel with this exact caravan I plan to only take the loose gold coin. If they found some gold coin on me its not too bad. If they found their own jewels that would be a fun discussion.

The store is a bit weird. I didn’t plan to rob it since there are usually a few thugs posted outside, even during the night. But today it seems strangely empty so I think I’ll give it a shot.

*Clink* *Clink* *Clink*

Why would the guards be out tonight? There was a lot of noise, it all started from the Magician Society building. I peeked around the corner of the building I was behind. The guards left the building with purpose and spread out around the town. They went down the streets and even into the shops.

They had torches to light their way and their spears in the other hand.

The dancing flames were in synch as the guard’s steps hit the dirt. I watched as they continued to come out of the building and spread like a slow moving red tide. They would go in one house, then after a while they would come out. The only difference was their spear tips. When they went inside the house the spears were clean, they reflected the dancing flame of their torches. But when they came out the spear tips were red, dripping a vicious liquid on the dark ground.

Then the screaming started.

It was a few screams at first. Then more joined in like they were trying to bolster their forces. As the amount of screams increased it became a symphony of pain. The guards continued marching and taking. They took the live right out of the houses. They make no sounds and have no emotions on their faces, like this was just routine work. I was moving back towards my inn now. When I looked back I saw an orange glow in the sky above the Magician Society. The guards started setting the houses on fire once the screaming reached a level of a banshee wail.

People were beginning to leave their houses, looking towards he orange glow. The confused faces, with fear mixed in, were wondering where the guards were. Where were their protectors?

I passed by the Grey Boar Inn. I don’t think there is a reason to go in. I feel bad for the proprietress. I did live there for over a year. However I want to live. I start sprinting towards the wall, towards the gate, towards the exit. My heart is pumping, my vision is becoming hazy, and the screaming is pressing on my eardrums. I started to smell the burning wood and also a smell akin to bacon.

As I reach the gate I stop. The gate is closed. There are no handles, there are no leavers, and there are no mechanisms to move the slab of stone.

I stand in confusion for a few minutes. After I forcefully calm myself down I remember that I can still leave.

Load.

There is no screaming, there is no smoke, nor is there the burning smell of flesh. Thank God.

I look outside the window, ah its already dark.

*Slam*

I ignore the protests of the other guests as I forcefully open the door and run down the stairs. I run outside and sprint towards the Gate.

The Gate is closed.