With the mayor and guards focused on securing the scene, Linus tiptoed through the drama studio, his mind spinning with possibilities. Jared, the actor whose body now lay on the stage, had been the man Linus had seen fleeing from the inn the previous night. The shadow bird Linus had stationed to watch the two mysterious men at the inn had not alerted him to their departure. The hurried way he had left the inn gnawed at Linus.

As his eyes scanned the scene, Linus noted the studio's disarray—props scattered across the floor, costumes haphazardly strewn about. His gaze fell on a cluttered desk nestled in one corner of the room, its surface piled with scripts, makeup kits, and personal effects.

He moved toward it, carefully shifting through the mess, hoping for some clue that might explain why Jared had been targeted. But despite his thorough search, nothing of immediate significance jumped out.

Determined to uncover more, Linus began exploring the other drama studio rooms.

In one of the smaller dressing rooms, surrounded by costumes hung neatly on racks, something caught Linus's eye—a torn piece of paper lying discarded in a trash bin. He knelt down, carefully retrieving it. It was incomplete, but the seal imprinted on the torn edge was unmistakable—the symbol of the mercenary guild. How is the mercenary guild connected to the drama studio?

He carefully returned the paper to its original place in the trash bin, ensuring no one would notice his interference.

His thoughts raced as he made his way back to the main area. Marcus stood nearby, organizing the city guards and trying to impose some order amidst the chaos. Linus approached discreetly, lowering his voice to a near-whisper.

"Marcus," he murmured, "I want to know the connection between Jared, the drama studio, and Scarface."

Marcus nodded, his face serious. "I'll look into it immediately, Master Linus."

Linus watched as Marcus swiftly disappeared, his trusted servant already planning his next steps. He allowed his gaze to sweep over the drama studio one last time, the weight of the mystery pressing heavily on his thoughts.

Linus and Mara had never encountered a cleansing killing before, and the mystery surrounding Jared's death only heightened their unease. The investigation left them both unsettled, but the clues were still too fragmented to form a clear picture. As they returned to the manor, their steps were heavy with unspoken tension. The gravity of the situation seemed to weigh on each of them, but neither spoke as they walked.

Outside, the atmosphere in Thornfield was growing increasingly tense. Rumors were spreading rapidly, fueled by whispers of a potential serial killer linked to the so-called' cleansing.' Fear and suspicion gripped the town as people speculated on the reasons behind these murders. Some believed that certain individuals were being targeted for hidden sins or connections to dark forces, while others thought it was the work of a deranged individual with a twisted sense of justice.

Once inside, Linus led Mara to a secluded study, shutting the door firmly behind them. He turned to face her, his expression serious.

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"Mara, there's something you need to know," Linus began, his voice low and deliberate. "I saw Jared yesterday at the inn, leaving in a hurry. That's why I'm particularly interested in his murder."

Mara's eyes narrowed, her gaze sharpening with concern. "We've barely been in this town for a few days, Linus. First, the attack on me, and now a cleansing murder. What's going on here?"

Linus nodded grimly, his unease mirrored in her words. "I'm starting to wonder the same thing." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "It felt like Jared was running from something—or someone. Those two men I was tracking at the inn definitely noticed him. And now, he's dead."

Mara crossed her arms, her brow furrowed in thought. "Do you think those men are behind this?"

Linus hesitated. He couldn't reveal everything, especially about his shadow magic. "I don't know for sure. It's possible, but there could be more to it. We can't jump to conclusions just yet."

He stepped closer, lowering his voice even further. "Mara, did you have anyone keep an eye on those two men at the inn? Have you heard anything about them leaving?"

Mara shook her head. "No, I haven't heard anything about them leaving. My men were watching the place all night. They didn't see anyone fitting their description leave yesterday."

Linus met her gaze, weighing how much to say. "The scene was off," he said quietly. "No blood spatter, no signs of a real struggle, and Jared's wounds—they felt staged. Poisoning, most likely. The bruises looked too precise like they were put there after he was already dead."

Mara's face darkened, her suspicion deepening. "So, someone poisoned him and then tried to make it look like a fight. This was planned."

Linus nodded. "That's what I'm thinking. Someone close to Jared, maybe. But the real question is why. What did he get caught up in?"

Mara was silent for a moment, then shot him a sharp glance. "Why didn't you tell the city guard about your theory? This town is unraveling."

Linus stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Exactly. And that's why we need to watch how the mayor and his guards handle this. If they ignore the poisoning, we'll know where their loyalties lie. I want to see who they're protecting."

Mara's eyes flickered with understanding, but she didn't look entirely convinced. Before she could respond, there was a knock at the door. A city guard stood in the doorway, holding a sealed message.

"Message for Princess Mara and Master Linus," the guard announced, handing over the scroll.

Mara broke the seal swiftly, her eyes scanning the contents. "It's from the captain of the city guard," she muttered. "They've ruled out the idea that Jared was part of the cleansing killings. Priestess Athena confirmed it—no ritual markings. But they're pointing fingers at the Guild Master or Aria, though both supposedly have alibis."

Linus frowned, stepping closer to peer at the letter. "No mention of poisoning?" he asked, a sharp edge to his voice.

Mara scanned the letter again, then looked up, her eyes narrowing. "Nothing about poison. Just blunt force trauma and staged bruises."

Linus's expression hardened, his suspicions deepening. "Interesting," he murmured, more to himself than to Mara. "Either they missed it, or they're deliberately covering it up. We need to speak with Priestess Athena ourselves. There's more fear in this town than we realized, and the guards seem more interested in closing the case than finding the truth."

Mara nodded firmly, her expression matching his urgency. "Agreed. We can't trust anyone right now. We have to get answers—before this whole town tears itself apart."

As they left the room, the weight of everything that had happened in just a few short days pressed heavily on them. They had barely scratched the surface of the mystery in Thornfield, and already, the town was on the verge of breaking. Time was running out, and the stakes grew higher every passing hour.