The town outside Zheno Academy carried its usual hum of activity—merchants called out their wares, children darted between stalls, and students in navy blue pants and black cardigans moved in small groups, laughing and chatting. Wads walked quietly along the edge of the crowd, his sharp eyes scanning every corner, every alley, his rectangle-shaped glasses reflecting slivers of sunlight. Something had caught his attention: a carriage moving unusually slowly, its wheels swishing through the dust, and a group of men around it whose movements were too deliberate, too careful for ordinary traders.
The men's eyes darted constantly, and one of them kept glancing behind as if they feared being followed. Wads' mind worked instantly, piecing together patterns—nervous glances, heavy crates, whispers sharp enough to cut through the ambient noise. He ducked behind a stall, letting the throng of people mask his movements. If he got closer unnoticed, he could trace the carriage without alarming the men.
From a distance, Liora's presence registered before he even saw her fully. Her dark heterochromatic eyes—one red, one green—narrowed as she leaned against a post, lightweight sword in hand. "You really think you can tail them alone?" she called softly, her voice cutting through the din just enough to reach him. Wads froze for a fraction of a second, then exhaled. "I didn't plan to. Just… observing for now." He gestured subtly, motioning her to follow while remaining unseen.
Together, they merged with the crowds, their movements synchronized. Wads whispered instructions, pointing at shadows and alleyways. Liora moved lightly, a blade strapped to her side, ready to intervene if things went south. "They're heading toward the northern docks," he murmured, eyes narrowing as he tracked the men's patterns. "Something's off about those crates."
The carriage slowed near a narrow street, and Wads crouched behind a pile of empty barrels to get a better look. The men exchanged the crates quickly, their hands trembling slightly—too careful, too meticulous. He realized then that whatever was inside was far from ordinary goods. Liora's gaze met his briefly, a silent understanding passing between them: they were dealing with something illegal, something dangerous.
"Be ready," Wads whispered, the warmth of his locket pressing against his chest, almost like a heartbeat syncing with his own. The sensation made him slightly uneasy, but he ignored it, focusing instead on the carriage. Liora, sensing his distraction, grinned faintly. "Stop staring at your necklace like it's going to give you answers. Focus on the men."
Wads nodded, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Right. They're moving again. Follow the crates closely, and don't let anyone slip through." Liora melted into the shadows, her movements almost invisible, sword glinting faintly in the sunlight. Wads, crouched and calculating, adjusted his position, planning their next steps. Each movement, each pause, each glance of the men was a puzzle he could piece together—and soon, he realized, they would find out just how much of a problem he and Liora could be.
The chapter ended with the carriage disappearing into a narrow alley near the docks, the men's whispers fading but leaving an uneasy tension in the air. Wads straightened slightly, eyes sharp and calculating. "This isn't just petty smuggling," he muttered, a trace of worry in his voice. Liora's shadow fell beside him, her grin playful but her eyes serious. "Good. That means it'll be fun."
And somewhere deep down, Wads knew this was just the beginning.