The sun had barely climbed above the jagged peaks when I was already moving. Raven, Lucas, Brock, Emma, and Emilia followed closely behind, each silent in their own rhythm, letting the town wake around us. The streets of Dravengard Pass appeared peaceful.
"Morning already?" Brock muttered. "Feels like we just started."
"Time doesn't matter, we need preparation," I replied, glancing over my shoulder. "And we're about to need it."
Raven raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. He didn't need to. I could see it in the way he observed the townsfolk — their routines, their guard rotations. Every glance, every small gesture, had a meaning.
The spy we captured last night was bound in the cellar of a shuttered warehouse. I had left Raven to interrogate him while I scoped the area for anomalies. My Sixth Sense told me clearly — subtle threads of intention stretching from the walls, from the alleys, from hidden corners. They weren't hostile… yet. But they were curious.
---
I crouched beside one of the crates we had moved yesterday. Tiny sigils, burned into the wood, glimmered faintly in the morning light. Not dangerous, but still potent. Whoever had left them had skill — but they hadn't anticipated what happened yesterday.
I muttered, "The question is, what are they after?"
Lucas appeared beside me. "Whoever did this had more skill than me."
"Depends on perspective," I said, tracing the patterns with my fingers. "You don't go around trying to escalate situations. This was left even after we did a little damage. They want people to see it. That's political theater, not desperation."
Emma leaned closer, blades strapped to her side. "So… someone inside Dravengard wants to play spy games?"
I nodded. "Yes. And they want someone outside to notice. That's where we come in — we try to solve it before we become suspects."
Raven appeared behind us, a faint smirk crossing his face. "The spy talks. You sure he's telling the truth?"
"Truth is just a part of a lie. He told what he considers truth. But what he knows as truth, really truth. Maybe he was fed a lie wrapped in truth," I replied.
Lucas laughed. "But the runes don't lie."
I touched the edge of the crate again. "Someone foreign, skilled, and cautious. They've been using the town as a relay point for weeks. If they succeed, information moves across the borders without anyone noticing."
Brock grunted. "Well, I have money, so I don't want problems. Let's try not to be in a difficult situation."
Like hell you have money Brock...money is what I have. Yours are just spare change.
---
We moved through the streets carefully, avoiding open areas. The spy we had captured had revealed the location of the central relay — a cellar beneath the alchemist's guild.
We arrived without incident. The air inside the guild smelled faintly of chemicals, herbs, and the of residual magic. I crouched near the cellar door, Lucas feeling the threads of hidden spells. My Sixth Sense told me clearly — someone was there, and they were aware of me. Or at least one of them was.
"Stay close," I whispered. "They're expecting us, they just don't know who 'us' is."
Raven nodded, and we descended. The cellar was dimly lit. A faint glow emanated from a circle on the floor — magical runes etched in gold. Three cloaked figures stood around it, murmuring in a language I didn't recognize. Their hands traced patterns above the sigils, sending waves of energy into a small crystal orb.
I swallowed. This was more sophisticated than last night.
"They're feeding information," Lucas said softly. "Probably to someone far away. If they finish, the border's secrecy is compromised."
Lucas stepped forward. "What's the plan?"
I studied the room. The three figures were synchronized, but their coordination had a rhythm I could predict. My Sixth Sense whispered of intent — hesitation, focus, fear — and I knew exactly when to strike.
"Divide," I said. "Two of you flank the left and right exits. Emma, Emilia — cover the center. Brock, watch the shadows above. Raven, with me. Let's end this without me using my power."
The first figure raised his head, eyes widening. I smiled faintly. Teleportation. I appeared beside him, a hand on his shoulder, twisting to disarm before he could react. The second tried to counter with a spell, but I anticipated his movement — a slight push, a soft grunt, and he was off-balance.
Raven's katana flashed, cutting bindings and neutralizing the threat before they could regain focus. Emma and Emilia moved like they had before — during the first assassination attempt on me — closing the circle without disturbing each other. Brock's spear flicked against the ceiling beams, stopping a fourth figure who had been hiding, waiting for a sneak attack.
"For now, everything is going according to plan," I muttered, almost to myself.
The last operative, desperate now, raised his wand for a massive spell. I felt the pressure — the spike of intent.
"Apocalypse."
The force was controlled — enough to disrupt, not destroy. I exhaled, letting the force flow outward in a steady pulse. The spell fizzled, broken before it left his hands.
He fell to the floor, stunned. I teleported beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Enough. You're finished. And let me tell you — I'm angry you forced me to use something I didn't want to."
Raven moved to secure the orb. "This belongs to the town now. No one else touches it."
I nodded, surveying the room. Sigils glimmered faintly, their glow fading as the magic dissipated. Whoever sent these operatives had underestimated Dravengard Pass — or perhaps they didn't expect anyone else to interfere.
Well, if not for our circumstances, we wouldn't have either.
---
By dawn, the cellar was empty but for us and the captured operative. Raven bound him securely, Lucas whispered spells to suppress lingering magic, and Emma and Emilia talked quietly. Brock leaned against the wall.
I studied the sigils again. Foreign magic. Highly organized. Someone wanted information flowing through Dravengard Pass.
I made a mental note to investigate the symbol further — it might be a clue to a larger conspiracy.
And there's always a chance I'll encounter the puppeteer in the future.
"Any idea who they work for?" Lucas asked, blue eyes sharp.
"Whoever it is, they're patient, meticulous, and dangerous. This is just the first attempt. They may have many like this in the town — and even outside."
I suddenly noticed a symbol — a snake coiled around a sphere. I memorized it and pushed it to the back of my mind.
Raven nodded. "Then we try to quell the problem. Quietly."
I smiled faintly. "Exactly. Quietly, and leaving no trace."
The town woke up, oblivious to the night's events. Children laughed in the streets, merchants shouted their wares, guards patrolled in slow, lazy circles. To them, life was ordinary.
Raven asked me, "If by chance we couldn't stop them and we were suspected by the authorities… would you kill them all? I'm an escort, sure, but I'm human. I don't like to hurt -You try to save yourself from a scar, even if others get killed."
I was shocked.
But he was right. Since only villains had come until now, maybe I had developed a habit of killing. Moreover, I had the power now.
---
We returned to the inn. The spy was handed over to Raven for interrogation — no harm done… maybe a little, hehe — but enough to extract critical information. The Crystal Orb remained in our possession, its glow faint but steady. The town would remain secure for now.
"Next step?" Brock asked, still leaning on the wall.
I glanced at the fading light outside. "Find out who's behind this — and what they intend. Borders are more than stone and guard posts. They're the first line of defense. They're connections to peace. Someone wants to disrupt those connections."
Lucas's staff tapped thoughtfully against the floor. "And if they do?"
"Then we'll be ready," I said. "But not by brute force."
Raven's black eyes met mine, a flicker of respect passing through. "You actually listened. I didn't think you would."
I shrugged. "I was originally peaceful."
This world had an effect on me, but thanks to Raven, I remembered where I came from. Killing wasn't so normal there, after all.
Emma smirked. "Peaceful."
"Heroics get you killed," I said. "But I can be neutral."
I smiled faintly. Chaos might be brewing elsewhere, but for now, I'm here. So I let this place be peaceful.
I'll think of what to do next.
We waited a day, but nothing happened. Maybe what they were doing was partially successful, or not that important. Either way, we were out of danger, so we left the inn and the town.
The guard recognized me — I could feel it.
I smirked and said, "Didn't increase your work. Are you happy now?"
The guard shook his head and said, "Thank you for your generosity."
I laughed, then took out some money and gave it to him.
He looked at me, confused.
I smirked again. "I gained something here."
I gained control over myself which I was losing since I came to this world.
He looked at me like I was a lunatic — but no one refuses money.
And so we left.
Towards the main goal.