The silvery trail from Riku’s ’Tracker’s Scent’ led them away from the bright, bustling market square.
The trio plunged into a maze of increasingly narrow and shadowy alleyways. The grand stone buildings of the main thoroughfare gave way to leaning timber structures, patched with mismatched planks and tarpaulins.
"Are you sure this is the right way, Riku?" Lila asked. Her voice was a little hushed as she navigated a particularly tight passage. "There doesn’t seem to be a single soul around here."
"The trail is clear," Riku replied, his eyes scanning their surroundings. "Our thief is definitely trying to lose us in these backstreets."
Elara clutched Lila’s arm, looking around with wide, nervous eyes. "Papa always told me these areas were where the forgotten people live."
"Forgotten, maybe," Riku said, "but not necessarily dangerous. Just... different. However, there seems to be no one here. Could this be an abandoned district?"
He himself had never encountered such a district in EverRealm Online; the game’s cities were always pristine. While it was hinted that there were less fortunate people somewhere in the city as well, it was not a part of the main game. This felt far more real, and far more complex.
The silvery trail finally led them to a low, arched opening. It was a crumbling section of an old city wall, half-hidden behind a pile of discarded crates. It looked less like an entrance and more like a burrow. A damp, earthy smell wafted out.
"In there?" Lila wrinkled her nose.
Riku nodded. "The trail goes straight down."
Taking a deep breath, Riku led the way. He pushed aside a tattered curtain that served as a door. They descended a short flight of rough stone steps into a surprisingly large, dimly lit cavern.
It wasn’t a natural cave. It was a vast, excavated space beneath the city, supported by thick, unadorned stone pillars.
On one side, several large, open pipes ran along one side of the cavern, gurgling ominously. The air was thick with the smell of a faint, acrid tang of poorly managed sewage.
On the other side, there was a network of makeshift dwellings, put together from scrap wood, canvas, and scavenged stone. It was not the most appealing district; however, the atmosphere was nowhere dull.
Lanterns and sputtering torches on that side revealed a surprisingly active community. Despite the grim surroundings, there was a sense of life: peddlers hawked wares, kids ran around each other, and there was a constant murmur in the air, signaling a bustling community.
It was clear that though not the most inviting, there were quite a few people who called this a home.
However, the silvery trail led them deeper. They moved towards a more densely packed cluster of shanties. A small fire had been lit up in a slightly open space and many individuals were huddled around it.
As the trio approached, a hush fell over the immediate area. Faces – mostly Dwarven, some Half-Orc, a few gaunt humans – turned towards them. Their expressions were wary, suspicious, and slightly inquisitive.
Riku spotted their culprit almost immediately. The small, hooded Dwarf from the market, now without the hood, was attempting to blend into the group of other Dwarves. The Dwarf was trying to look nonchalant but kept darting nervous glances in their direction.
"There he is," Riku said quietly, pointing. Lila’s eyes narrowed. "Let’s get our pouch back."
As soon as they stepped forward, a burly Half-Orc with a scarred face and one broken tusk moved to block their path. Though there was a two-handed axe lying near him, he made little effort to reach for it, his hands clearly hesitant.
Even his voice, though deep, was tinged with weariness. "Greetings, Master and Misses. This is a... quiet part of the city. Did you perhaps take a wrong turn?"
Several Dwarves, equally grim-faced, silently observed the spectacle, though it looked like they would immediately step in in case of a direct confrontation.
"We’re not looking for trouble," Riku said calmly, holding up his hands in a placating gesture. "That Dwarf there," he indicated the culprit, "took something that belongs to me. A coin pouch. We just want it back."
The Half-Orc grunted, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Little Korgin, Master?"
He glanced towards the group of Dwarves, and then back at the trio. "He’s just a lad. And with respect," he added, his voice softening, "many of our kin look alike to outsiders, especially in the market’s chaos. Are you absolutely certain it was him? Mistakes can happen."
One of the older Dwarves by the fire spoke, his voice raspy but respectful. "Young Korgin, sir? A thief? With all due respect, Master...?" he trailed off, looking at Riku. "He’s but a lad, and has been by our fire for a good while now, warming his hands. Perhaps there’s been a misunderstanding?"
Korgin tried to shrink further into the crowd, avoiding Riku’s gaze. However, Lila had lost her patience and stepped forward.
"We saw him clearly! He bumped into Riku in the market and snatched his coin pouch! It happened just a little while ago! We will file a report against you if you do not return it to us!"
The Half-Orc suddenly flinched. "Please, young miss," he said, his tone more pleading than challenging, "we understand your concern, but accusations are serious matters. Especially for our folk, if the city guard gets involved... they are not always... fair."
He didn’t move, but his posture conveyed a deep weariness. "We mean no disrespect, but we must look after our own if we believe there’s an error. Is it possible to first ascertain the real culprit before making a report?"
Riku met the Half-Orc’s gaze. He understood their protectiveness, their desperate desire to avoid conflict with the "surfacers" and the city guard. So he gestured for Lila to hold back as he stepped forward.
"Of course, Mister Orc. I believe that everyone is innocent until the very moment that he is proven guilty. I cannot live with myself if I troubled an innocent person," Riku said with a slight smile on his face.
"Then, can we..." The Half-Orc’s brows slightly relaxed, not sensing any hostility from Riku.
"However, what if I had evidence?"