The following morning, Raziel awoke with a sense of determination. He had made up his mind: today would be the day he proved to the players that he was just another NPC. If Elara's idea worked, maybe he could finally return to his peaceful, uneventful life.
Raziel went through his morning routine with extra care, making sure everything was in place. He dusted the shelves meticulously, arranged the books so that their spines were perfectly aligned, and swept the floor until it was spotless. If the players were going to observe him, they would see the most boring NPC routine imaginable.
As he worked, Raziel kept an eye on the street outside through the shop's front window. It was still early, and the town was just starting to wake up. He could see a few players milling about, but none of them seemed particularly interested in his bookstore. Maybe the rumors were already beginning to die down.
But just as he was starting to feel hopeful, he spotted a familiar figure standing across the street. Archer, leaning casually against a lamppost, was watching the bookstore with a smirk on his face. Raziel's heart sank. Of course, he would be here. The player was like a cat who had found a new toy—annoying, persistent, and impossible to get rid of.
Raziel took a deep breath, steeling himself. He couldn't let Archer get under his skin today. If he showed even a hint of irritation, it would only encourage the player. He had to remain calm, collected, and completely unremarkable.
Determined to follow through with Elara's plan, Raziel decided to leave the shop and go about his day as if he were any other NPC. He grabbed a basket, filled it with a few books that needed delivering to another shop, and stepped outside.
The moment he exited the bookstore, Archer straightened up and began to follow at a distance. Raziel ignored him, focusing instead on his task. He kept his pace steady, his expression neutral, and his mind clear of any thoughts that might give him away.
As he walked through the town, he noticed other players watching him. Some whispered to each other, their eyes filled with curiosity and speculation. Raziel pretended not to notice. He kept his gaze forward, his steps deliberate, and made his way to the first stop on his delivery route: a small apothecary shop run by another NPC.
Inside, the shop was filled with the earthy scent of herbs and potions. Raziel greeted the apothecary, a kindly old woman with gray hair tied back in a neat bun, and handed her the books she had requested. They exchanged a few pleasantries—standard NPC dialogue—and then Raziel left, heading to his next destination.
The players continued to follow him, their numbers growing as more of them heard about the "mysterious" bookstore owner out on an errand. Raziel could feel their eyes on him, but he didn't let it bother him. He just had to keep this up for a little while longer. Eventually, they would see that there was nothing special about him.
As he made his way to the bakery on the next street, Raziel caught snippets of the players' conversations.
"Is this all he does?" one player asked, sounding disappointed. "He just delivers books?"
"Maybe there's a hidden trigger," another player suggested. "Like, if we follow him long enough, he'll reveal some secret quest."
Raziel rolled his eyes inwardly but kept his expression blank. There was no secret quest. No hidden trigger. Just a man trying to do his job and be left alone.
He entered the bakery, where the warm scent of freshly baked bread greeted him. The baker, a middle-aged man with flour-dusted hands, smiled and waved as Raziel approached. They exchanged a few words about the weather—another piece of generic NPC dialogue—before Raziel handed over the books he had brought.
As he left the bakery, Raziel noticed that Archer was still following him, a knowing smile on his face. It was as if he were waiting for Raziel to slip up, to do something that would confirm his suspicions. But Raziel had no intention of giving him the satisfaction.
He continued his deliveries, moving from shop to shop, each time sticking to his script and performing his duties with the utmost normalcy. The players, meanwhile, were growing restless. Some had already given up, bored by the mundane nature of Raziel's routine. Others still held out hope that something would happen, but their numbers were dwindling.
By the time Raziel returned to the bookstore, he was feeling cautiously optimistic. Maybe Elara's plan was working after all. The players had seen nothing out of the ordinary, and they were starting to lose interest. Even Archer seemed less smug than usual, though he was still lingering outside.
Raziel entered the shop, placing the now-empty basket on the counter. He allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. For the first time in days, he felt like he might actually regain some control over his life.
But just as he was beginning to relax, the bell above the door chimed, signaling a new arrival. Raziel looked up, expecting another player, but was surprised to see Elara standing there, her expression serious.
"Raziel," she said, her voice low. "We need to talk. Now."
Raziel's heart sank. "What is it?" he asked, trying to keep his tone even.
Elara glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one was listening before stepping closer. "I just heard some of the players talking," she said quietly. "They're planning to ambush you tomorrow. They think if they push you hard enough, you'll reveal whatever secret they think you're hiding."
Raziel's blood ran cold. An ambush? This was getting out of hand. "I've shown them there's nothing to find," he said, frustration creeping into his voice. "What more do they want?"
"They don't believe you," Elara replied. "They think you're playing some kind of long game, waiting for the right moment to reveal yourself."
Raziel clenched his fists, his mind racing. This was exactly what he had feared. The players' curiosity had turned into obsession, and now they were going to force him into a corner. He had to find a way to stop them before things escalated further.
"Thank you for telling me, Elara," Raziel said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'll figure something out."
Elara nodded, concern etched on her face. "Be careful, Raziel. If things go wrong… I don't know what they might do."
Raziel watched as she left the shop, the bell chiming softly behind her. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. He needed to think, to come up with a plan to deal with this new threat.
As he stood there, staring at the door, Raziel knew one thing for certain: he couldn't keep hiding forever. If the players were going to push him, he would have to push back. And this time, he wouldn't be holding anything back.
Whatever it took, he was going to protect his quiet life. Even if it meant that he has to show something unNPC like.
'Ugh I can already imagine his shit eating grin. I should've really cut his tongue from the start."