As the sun dipped below the horizon, the group stood near the outskirts of Fransk's manor. The air was heavy with tension, each of them going over their role in the plan.
Ren crouched behind a low wall with Skorn, while Talos was further back,
unpacking a series of vials and herbs from his satchel. Olivia watched the road leading to the manor, her sharp eyes scanning for patrols.
"Alright," Ren whispered. "Talos, you're up."
Talos nodded, taking a deep breath before mixing a glowing green liquid with a pinch of powdered root. The concoction began to smoke, and with a quick flick of his wrist,
he sent the vial rolling toward the barracks. Within moments, thick,
cloying smoke poured out, enveloping the area and triggering alarmed shouts from the guards.
"That's our cue," Ren muttered, motioning to Skorn. The two slipped into the shadows, moving toward the east wing of the manor.
---
Inside the manor, Ren and Skorn pressed themselves against the wall, avoiding a patrolling guard. The hallways were eerily silent, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows. Ren pointed to a staircase at the far end.
"That's our way up," he whispered.
Skorn nodded, his expression serious for once. They crept forward, their movements synchronized. Reaching the stairs, they ascended cautiously, pausing at every creak of the wood beneath their feet.
At the top, Ren gestured to a door at the end of the hall. "That's got to be it."
Skorn frowned. "How can you be so sure?"
Ren smirked. "Call it intuition."
As they reached the door, Ren knelt and examined the lock. "Looks like it's reinforced. Can you—"
Before he could finish, Skorn placed a hand on the door, his earth element flowing through it. The lock groaned before snapping open.
"Handy," Ren said, pushing the door open.
Inside was an opulent study, with walls lined with bookshelves and a massive oak desk at the center.
Skorn immediately started rifling through the papers on the desk, while Ren scanned the room for anything out of place.
"Check this out," Skorn said, holding up a ledger. "It's got Fransk's seal and details of bribes to the guards. This will clear my family."
"Nice," Ren said. "But let's keep looking. There might be more."
---
Back outside, Talos watched the chaos unfold as guards scrambled to contain the smoke. Olivia stood nearby, her staff in hand, ready for action.
"Everything's going smoothly so far," Talos said, though his tone suggested he didn't quite believe it.
Olivia glanced toward the manor. "They need to hurry. This distraction won't hold forever."
---
Back in the study, Ren's gaze landed on a hidden compartment in the desk. "Found something," he said,
prying it open with a dagger. Inside was a small box containing several letters.
He skimmed one quickly. "These are even worse. Evidence of Fransk stealing taxes and threatening farmers. This guy's worse than we thought."
"We'll deal with him later," Skorn growled. "For now, let's get out of here."
As they turned to leave, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. Ren and Skorn froze, exchanging a look.
"Time to improvise," Ren whispered, slipping behind a curtain as Skorn used his earth element to create a barrier at the door.
The footsteps stopped outside, followed by muffled voices. Skorn motioned for Ren to stay quiet as the guards tried to push through the barricade.
"Let's go," Ren mouthed, and they slipped out through a side window, landing in the garden below.
---
Minutes later, they regrouped with Talos and Olivia in the shadows near the town's edge. Ren handed over the papers and letters,
"Mission accomplished," he said.
"Excellent work," Talos said, tucking the documents into his satchel. "This should be more than enough to expose Fransk."
"Let's move," Olivia said, urging the group toward the inn. "We're not safe yet."
As they retreated into the night, Ren couldn't help but glance back at the manor.
"This isn't over, Fransk," he muttered under his breath.
The group hurried back to the inn under the cover of darkness, their stolen evidence carefully secured in Talos' satchel.
The streets of the town were quieter now, with only the occasional guard passing by. Olivia led the way, her sharp ears attuned to every sound.
As they slipped into the inn through the back entrance, Ren turned to Talos. "Alright, we've got the proof. What's the next step? Expose him at the town square with a dramatic speech?"
Talos adjusted his glasses, shaking his head. "That would only alert Fransk to destroy more evidence. We need to take this straight to the town's magistrate. With these documents, he'll have no choice but to act."
Skorn crossed his arms, his tail swishing with nervous energy. "Are you sure the magistrate isn't in Fransk's pocket too? What if this backfires?"
Olivia placed a comforting hand on Skorn's shoulder. "We'll be cautious, but we have to trust someone. Your family can't stay in jail much longer."
Ren leaned against the wall, considering. "We'll need to hit him on multiple fronts—make it so public he can't squirm out of it. Talos, is there a way to send word to a nearby guild or authority? Someone with more clout?"
Talos nodded. "I can write to the Adventurers' Guild headquarters. They don't take kindly to nobles abusing their power."
Ren snapped his fingers. "Perfect. You handle that.
Olivia and I will prepare a public statement for the magistrate. Skorn, you'll need to talk to your family—get their side of the story and find any witnesses."
Skorn's jaw tightened. "Got it. When do we move?"
Ren grinned. "At dawn. Fransk's been running this town unchecked for too long, but it's time we pull the rug out from under him."
---
The Next Morning
The group split up to execute their plan. Olivia and Ren made their way to the magistrate's office, The stolen documents in hand.
The town was beginning to stir,
and word of Fransk's misdeeds was already spreading through whispers among the townsfolk,
thanks to Talos' discreet efforts overnight.
The magistrate, a stern-looking man with graying hair, sat behind a polished desk as Olivia laid out the evidence. Ren explained the details with just enough flair to keep the man's interest.
"So, you're telling me," the magistrate said, scanning the letters, "that Damelion Fransk has been embezzling taxes, threatening farmers, and falsely accusing your friend's family of theft?"
Ren smirked. "If you don't believe us, feel free to have your scribes compare the handwriting on those bribes to his."
The magistrate frowned deeply. "This is...troubling. I'll need time to verify this."
"Time isn't something we have," Olivia said firmly. "Every moment Fransk remains in power, innocent people suffer. You're the only one with the authority to stop him now."
The magistrate hesitated, but finally nodded. "I'll dispatch a summons for him to appear in court today. If he's guilty,
we'll strip him of his title and holdings. But you must be ready to testify."
Ren saluted sarcastically. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."
----
By midday, the town square was packed with people, murmurs of Fransk's corruption spreading like wildfire.
Guards escorted the pompous noble to the square, his expression one of barely restrained fury.
Behind him, his personal guards stood ready, their hands resting on their weapons.
The magistrate stood on a raised platform, the evidence displayed before him. "Damelion Fransk, you stand accused of embezzlement, bribery, and the false imprisonment of innocent townsfolk.
How do you plead?"
Fransk sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "This is preposterous! These so-called 'adventurers' are lying to tarnish my good name."
Ren stepped forward, holding up one of the letters. "Oh yeah? Then maybe you'd like to explain why your seal and handwriting match the bribe notes found in your study?"
The crowd gasped, whispers turning to outrage. Fransk faltered, but quickly recovered. "Those could have been forged!"
Olivia stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "Your own guards can confirm where they were found. Are you saying they're liars too?"
The magistrate raised a hand, silencing the crowd. "Enough. Guards, take Fransk into custody while we investigate further."
Fransk's personal guards moved to intervene, but before they could act, Skorn stepped forward, his hands glowing with earthen power.
The ground beneath them trembled, creating a rift that knocked them off balance.
"Don't even try it," Skorn growled.
Ren grinned, summoning a crackle of electricity to his fingertips. "Yeah, we've got enough evidence—and enough muscle—to make sure justice is served."
The personal guards hesitated before backing down, realizing they were outmatched. Fransk, however, shouted in defiance.
"This isn't over! You'll regret crossing me!"
-----
With Fransk taken away and the evidence securely in the magistrate's hands, the crowd began to cheer. Farmers, shopkeepers, and townsfolk alike approached the group, thanking them for their bravery.
Skorn, his tail wagging with relief, turned to Ren. "I can't believe it's finally over. My family is safe because of you guys."
Ren shrugged, a small smile on his face. "We're a team, Skorn. That's what we do."
Talos adjusted his glasses, already taking notes.
"And we've certainly left a lasting impression on this town. I imagine word of our exploits will spread quickly."
Olivia nodded. "And more importantly, justice was served today."
As the group made their way back to the house, Ren glanced at the setting sun, his smirk fading into a more guarded expression.
"Another day, another corrupt noble taken down," he muttered under his breath.
"It's all so predictable... but I've got to tread carefully. I can't let them figure out that I know how this world works. Not yet."