Linus sat in the dimly lit study, the soft crackle of the fireplace the only sound cutting through the heavy silence. Mara had just offered herself as a piece on his chessboard, but he would have to be wary.

Deep in thought, his attention was suddenly drawn to a faint flicker—a shadow bird dissolving, its essence projecting a vision into his mind. The image was sharp and unmistakable: late at night, two figures slipped out of the drama studio, their faces concealed by the same masks he had seen the night before. His pulse quickened as he recognized the familiar designs.

Wrapping himself in shadows, Linus moved to the corner of the study, letting the darkness seep into every crevice of his form. The shadows swirled around him, thickening like a shroud, until he was a blur against the dim light. He glanced through the window, eyes narrowing as he scanned the courtyard below for any signs of movement. With a subtle flick of his wrist, he sent shadow snakes to stretch outwards, probing the nearby hallways and grounds, ensuring no prying eyes would catch his departure. Satisfied that he was alone, he slipped out, his form dissolving into the darkness, blending seamlessly with the night.

After learning that Mara knew about his covert network, the Ratrians, Linus became even more vigilant. The thought gnawed at him, pushing him to be more cautious and precise.

Another shadow bird dissolved as he approached the drama studio, sending him a new vision. The spies were heading towards the outskirts of town, moving with purpose. Linus clenched his jaw; he only had two more birds tracking them, and if they went too far, he risked losing their trail before gathering enough information. The urgency gnawed at him, but he forced himself to remain calm, to focus.

The cool night air brushed against his skin as he slipped through the alleys, his heightened senses attuned to every whisper of the wind, every flicker of movement in the shadows. He knew a third spy could lurk nearby, ready to strike if he made even the slightest misstep. He had learned from his previous encounter, and he would be ready this time.

The path to the outskirts was winding, the town's familiar landmarks gradually giving way to the wild, untamed darkness beyond. Linus stayed on their trail, his mind sharp, his heart steady. The pressure was mounting, but with each silent step, he was closing the distance, edging ever closer to unraveling the mystery of the spies and their intentions.

When the third shadow bird dissolved, the vision it projected showed the spies had stopped at an old, dilapidated warehouse. Its windows were boarded up, and the exterior was weathered and worn, a forgotten structure that had long been neglected.

Linus pressed his back against the cold stone wall, his breathing controlled and slow. The night stretched out before him, thick with silence, the kind that carried weight—an omen of unseen eyes watching. His fingers curled, shadows gathering between them, shaping into the delicate form of shadow birds. With a flick of his wrist, they dispersed, whispering through the air as if the darkness itself had exhaled.

His pulse thrummed beneath his skin as he waited, his gaze locked on the abandoned warehouse ahead. The third spy had to be somewhere close. And if they were as skilled as he suspected, they would be waiting for someone like him to make a mistake.

The fourth bird dissolved as he remained hidden in the cloak of darkness, revealing a new figure arriving at the warehouse. This one moved differently—dressed in a sleek, tight-fitting dark outfit that melded seamlessly with the night. The attire was designed for agility and stealth, and a hood obscured the figure’s face. Linus watched as the figure approached the warehouse with predatory grace, their steps silent and deliberate, glancing around to ensure they weren't being followed.

Linus's breath slowed as he prepared to move closer, every muscle poised and ready. Still shrouded in shadows, he edged towards the warehouse, his eyes darting across the building's exterior, searching for any signs of traps or alarms.

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Just as he was about to approach the entrance, he caught sight of the three figures emerging from the shadows inside. They moved together, slipping out of the warehouse with the same smooth, coordinated precision that marked them as trained operatives.

Linus watched them intently, his senses on high alert. His eyes followed every step, every subtle shift of their bodies, noting how they blended into the darkness and moved without a sound.

Carefully, he positioned himself to track their movements, waiting for the right moment to slip into their trail without being detected. When Linus felt it was safe, he slipped from the shadows and began trailing the three figures. They moved silently through the streets, their coordination evident in their communication, using subtle hand signals to relay messages. As they approached an intersection, the group halted. Linus watched as the two masked figures gestured to the third, who responded with a series of quick, precise movements.

Then, the two figures split off, disappearing down separate paths, while the third remained behind, positioning themselves strategically as a lookout. Linus's eyes narrowed. It was clear this person’s job was to ensure no one was following the others. He knew he had to be careful; any misstep could expose him, and the entire trail would be lost.

Linus followed the pair, keeping to the darkest parts of the street and using his shadow magic to mask his presence. The two figures moved swiftly, their path direct as they navigated the darkened alleys of Thornfield.

A slow unease coiled in his gut. They were leaving the outskirts, heading deeper into the heart of the city. But then—his stomach tensed. Their destination emerged from the shadows, unmistakable even in the dim light.

The guild master’s home.

They were heading straight for the guild master’s home. This connection was unexpected and significant; if the guild master was involved, it meant the conspiracy was more intricate than he had anticipated.

As the two figures approached the guild master's home, Linus found a vantage point nearby, positioning himself in the shadows so he could observe without being seen. He watched intently as the figures moved swiftly and precisely, avoiding the guards stationed around the property. They crept along the perimeter, using the darkness and cover of trees to stay hidden, slipping past the guards’ patrol routes with practiced ease.

Linus’s eyes flicked back to the third figure, who had stationed themselves as a lookout, still alert and scanning the area. The figure’s stance was tense, their gaze sweeping across the street, ensuring no one approached unnoticed. Linus knew he had to remain patient; any sudden move could give him away and ruin his chance to uncover what the spies were up to.

As the two operatives reached a side entrance of the house, one of them produced a small, dark object from their cloak. Within moments, the door silently swung open, and they slipped inside, disappearing into the shadows of the building.

Linus kept his eyes trained on the lookout, watching for any sign that they suspected someone was observing. He knew he was on borrowed time—whatever was happening inside, it would be over quickly, and he needed to act fast.

Using his shadow magic, Linus conjured a shadow snake. Its form was dark and sleek, barely distinguishable from the surrounding night.

Its eyes glowed faintly, twin pinpricks of violet gleaming like distant stars. "Go." With a whisper of intent, Linus commanded it to infiltrate the guild master’s home and uncover any information it could find. The snake, silent and agile, coiled up the wall, slipping through a crack in the window. Its presence was nothing more than a whisper of cold air against the glass. Linus closed his eyes for a fraction of a second, feeling its presence through the tether of his magic.

After what felt like an eternity, the door of the guild master’s home creaked open, and the two masked figures re-emerged. Linus watched as they moved with renewed urgency, their steps quick and deliberate. Whatever had transpired inside had been important, and now they were heading back. Whatever had transpired inside had left its mark on them, and that meant one thing—whatever information they had taken, it was worth running for.

His eyes flicked to them, the way they adjusted their weight before setting off. Not panicked. But fast. It's too fast for this to be just another delivery.

Something had gone very, very wrong in that house.

Linus clenched his jaw. He had a choice to make—and no time to hesitate.

The guild master’s house stood before him, its windows dark, its secrets locked behind iron gates. He could slip inside now, sift through the remnants of whatever had just transpired, piece together the evidence left in the wake of those spies…

Or he could follow the trail while it was still warm.

He exhaled slowly, cataloging the layout, the guards’ rotation, and the paths least watched. The house wasn’t going anywhere. But the spies—they were already moving, their figures melting back into the night. Whatever they had taken, it was too important to lose.