The dim light of a single magical lamp cast long shadows across the room as the team gathered to interrogate the mysterious man they had captured the night before. He sat in the center of the room, bound by fiery chains reinforced with magic-infused steel. His face was pale, but his eyes glinted with defiance.
Bjorn stood in front of him, arms crossed, his fire magic flickering faintly in his palms. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way," he said, his voice calm but menacing.
The man smirked, leaning back as much as the restraints would allow. "I've faced worse than you," he said, his voice low and mocking.
---
Bjorn's patience wore thin quickly. He snapped his fingers, and a small flame erupted near the man's arm, close enough to sear the air but not his skin. "Talk," Bjorn demanded.
The man flinched but didn't break. "You'll get nothing from me," he spat.
Bjorn intensified the flame, his expression hardening. "We know you're part of something bigger. Tell us who sent you, and maybe you'll get to keep your limbs intact."
Despite the threat, the man remained silent. His resistance only fueled Bjorn's frustration. After several more minutes of futile questioning, Bjorn extinguished the flames with a sigh.
"This is a waste of time," Bjorn muttered, turning to the old man. "He's trained to resist interrogation. Torture won't break him."
The old man nodded thoughtfully. "Then we'll need another approach," he said.
---
As the team deliberated, Eva, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, suddenly spoke up. "My father has been acting strange lately," she said, drawing everyone's attention.
The old man turned to her, his eyes narrowing. "Strange how?"
Eva hesitated before continuing. "He's been tense for weeks. Always in his study, receiving letters and visitors at odd hours. I asked him about it, but he brushed me off. And then he insisted I come to Rillow Point for the summer, as if he wanted me out of the way."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with implication. Samson's mind raced, connecting the dots.
"You think this has something to do with him?" he asked.
Eva shrugged, looking troubled. "I don't know. But it's not like him to send me away so abruptly. He's hiding something."
---
The old man stroked his beard, considering Eva's words. "Your father is a major stakeholder in Hexagon City, isn't he?" he asked.
Eva nodded. "Yes, one of the biggest."
The old man's eyes gleamed with an idea. "Perhaps he anticipated trouble and wanted to keep you safe. If that's the case, we can offer our services."
Eva frowned. "Services?"
"Protection," the old man clarified. "Our team can ensure your safety while we uncover what's really going on. Of course, such services come at a price. A reasonable fee, given the circumstances."
Eva's face hardened. "You want me to ask my father for money?"
"It's a fair trade," the old man said evenly. "We risk our lives for you. Compensation ensures our continued operation."
Eva didn't reply immediately, clearly conflicted. Finally, she said, "I'll think about it. But I'm not making any promises."
The old man nodded, satisfied for now. "Take your time. Let us know your decision by tomorrow."
---
The next morning, Samson decided to clear his head with a walk through Rillow Point's bustling market. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm glow over the quaint streets. Stalls lined the cobblestone roads, selling everything from fresh produce to magical trinkets.
Samson found the energy of the market refreshing. People greeted each other warmly, children ran around laughing, and vendors called out their wares with enthusiasm. For a moment, it was easy to forget the tension of the past few days.
As he wandered, Samson overheard snippets of conversation from the townsfolk.
"Did you hear about the robbery last night?" one man said to another.
"Another one? That's the third this month!" his companion replied.
Samson froze, his attention fully captured. He approached the men casually, pretending to examine a nearby stall.
"What happened?" he asked, feigning curiosity.
The first man, a burly baker, turned to him. "Someone broke into the mayor's office last night. Took some important documents, they say."
"Any idea who did it?" Samson pressed.
The baker shook his head. "No one saw a thing. It's like they vanished into thin air."
Samson frowned. Another shadow user, perhaps? Or the same one working with others? Either way, it was clear that Willow Point was far from the peaceful town it seemed to be.
---
Back at temporary base
Returning to the team's temporary base, Samson relayed what he had learned. The old man listened intently, his expression thoughtful.
"This isn't a coincidence," the old man said. "The pattern of thefts and attacks suggests an organized effort. But we're missing a key piece of the puzzle."
"What about the locations of the thefts?" Samson suggested. "Is there a pattern there?"
Avik pulled up a map on his laptop, marking each location. "If we take the first letter of each place—Redvale, Ironhill, Lindenhurst, Rillow Point—it spells R-I-L-R."
"That doesn't mean anything," Sasha said, frowning.
"Not yet," Avik agreed. "But if we add the next location, it might give us a clearer picture. We'll need to keep an eye out."
The old man nodded. "For now, we focus on keeping Eva safe and uncovering more about these thefts. Samson, keep your ears open in the market. Someone there might know more."
Samson agreed, already formulating a plan to gather intel. He couldn't shake the feeling that the answer was closer than they realized.
---
As the sun rose higher, the team prepared for another day of investigation. The shadow of danger loomed over Willow Point, but Samson was determined to uncover the truth—no matter what it took.