Rael's figure remained hidden high above, cloaked in near invisibility, perched on a rooftop as the town sprawled below him. The bustling square was alive with movement—merchants shouting, children playing, and the occasional glance from curious townsfolk. Yet, to Rael, everything was silent, his mind scanning each and every movement with precision. His cloaking tech ensured he was but a shadow, unnoticed by all. His red visor flickered briefly, its cold light piercing through the darkness of his mind.
The group of adventurers he'd saved—the healer Elira, ranger Eldrin, rogue Kari, warrior Torin, and magician Lila—had finally reached the town. They moved with a sense of purpose, but their exhaustion was evident. Their bodies bore the marks of their recent struggles, each step slow, as if the weight of their last battle was catching up with them. Despite their fatigue, the town felt familiar. This was a place they all knew, one they had grown up in. They didn't know it yet, but their every move was being watched.
Rael crouched lower, careful not to make a sound. His plasma rifle was always at the ready, but right now, he wasn't hunting—they were.
"Nyra, status?" Rael whispered into his comms, his eyes tracking the group below.
"They're heading toward the center of the town," Nyra responded. "Looks like they're looking for supplies or shelter. The tavern in the square is their likely destination."
Rael stayed still, observing them as they moved like a well-coordinated unit through the crowd. Elira, the healer, led the group. Her robes flowed behind her with each step, but the sharpness of her gaze never wavered. She scanned the crowd constantly, her hands on her healing supplies, ready for anything. She may have been their healer, but she was always prepared for combat. Her instincts had already saved her life once. Now, they were on alert.
Elira was the first to enter the town square, and it didn't take long for her gaze to sweep upward—straight to Rael's position. She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly, almost as if she sensed something was off.
Rael tensed. Did she see me?
But Elira simply blinked, shook her head as if dismissing a fleeting thought, and continued walking, keeping her composure. Her group of adventurers and friends, noticing her brief hesitation, glanced at her with curiosity.
"What's wrong, Elira?" Kari asked with a playful tone, her feline ears twitching. She skipped up to Elira, grinning. "You look like you saw a ghost."
Elira hesitated for a moment before replying, "I don't know... I thought I saw something... but it's nothing. Let's keep moving." Her smile was faint, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
Kari raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued, but didn't push further. "Well, no need to scare me like that." She then turned her attention to the nearby tavern, her tone shifting to one of excitement. "I'm ready to drink my weight in ale. You coming, Elira?"
Torin, the warrior, grunted from behind. He was already marching ahead, not bothered by much other than the thought of a cold drink. "We need a break after the last battle," he muttered. "We almost died out there."
Eldrin, the serious ranger, sighed and rolled her eyes. She had been one of the few who managed to keep her cool during the battle, though her expression now betrayed a sense of exhaustion. "It's not like the tavern's going anywhere. Let's just go. We'll have time to rest soon."
Lila, the rabbit-eared magician, bounced happily ahead, her large ears perking up. "I'm starving! Let's see if we can find some good food while we're at it!" She spoke cheerfully, her wonder for the town almost masking the weariness from the journey.
The group, despite the toll of their recent trials, moved with a sense of comfort and familiarity, as though they had returned to a place they had once called home. The town square held no surprises for them—this was just another stop on their journey, another place where they could rest and recover.
Rael followed their every movement from the rooftops, blending into the shadows. But something in the way Elira had looked at him still bothered him. She hadn't reacted, but her gaze had lingered on his position for just a second too long. It wasn't normal.
His fingers twitched around his rifle. Could she sense me?
But then, as quickly as the thought entered his mind, Elira turned away, engaging her friends in lighthearted conversation. The rest of the group, oblivious to the tension in the air, continued their walk toward the tavern.
Rael allowed himself a breath, though the unease still lingered. He waited until they entered the tavern and the crowd dispersed, then activated his cloaking once more, blending into the shadows of the building. For now, the group was safe. But Rael wasn't done observing them. Not yet.
From high above, his red glowing eyes flickered once more, scanning the city as his mind raced. The game had changed, and he needed to stay one step ahead.
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