Chương 15: The Man in the Newspaper

The city became quieter after midnight. Most of the streets surrounding the eastern district had emptied hours ago. Shops had closed their doors, lamps had been extinguished, and even the guards stationed around the important buildings had settled into the slow rhythm of a late-night watch. The Mana Storage Facility was different. Three layers of iron fencing surrounded the building.

Magic lamps illuminated the courtyard, and several crystal devices had been installed along the walls to detect unauthorized movement. Inside, hundreds of Mana Stones were stored in reinforced chambers. Some were no larger than a fingernail. Others were the size of a man's fist. The larger stones were reserved for nobles, military units, high-ranking mages, and the academy. The smaller ones were used throughout the city. Tonight, someone had come looking for them. A shadow crossed the roof.

It moved without making a sound. The figure wore black clothing that concealed the body from neck to ankle. A dark fox mask covered the upper half of the face, its narrow eyes marked by thin crimson lines that descended toward the cheeks. The figure stopped above one of the storage chambers. Below, two guards walked past. The masked intruder waited. Five seconds. Ten. The guards disappeared around the corner. Only then did the figure move. A thin wire slipped between two sections of the outer mechanism.

A small click followed. The magical lock flickered. The figure's hand moved again. Another click. The light disappeared. The door opened. Inside, rows of Mana Stones rested within wooden and metal containers. The intruder looked across them. There were hundreds. But there was no time to take many. A distant bell rang. The figure immediately reached for the nearest container. One stone. Then another. Both were small. The figure placed them inside a hidden pouch. Footsteps sounded outside. Closer this time.

The intruder turned toward the window. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. The door opened.

"Who's there?" A guard stepped inside. He froze. The masked figure stood several meters away. For a moment, neither moved. Then the guard drew his sword.

"Stop!" The masked stranger stepped backward. The guard lunged. Steel flashed beneath the magical lamps. The masked figure tilted his head. The blade passed beside the mask. He twisted his body and caught the guard's wrist. A sharp movement. The sword dropped. The guard stumbled forward. By the time he recovered, the stranger had already reached the window.

"After him!" More voices erupted throughout the building. Boots thundered through the corridors. The intruder jumped. The window shattered. By the time the guards reached it, there was nothing below. Only an empty alley. One guard leaned out.

"Where did he go?" No answer came. The streets were empty. The thief had disappeared. Morning arrived with pale sunlight. Leo yawned. He walked through the academy courtyard with one hand resting behind his neck. He looked tired. Not dangerously tired. Just tired. The previous evening had been spent studying magical theory longer than usual, and the book had turned out to be far more difficult than he had expected. He had eventually gone to bed much later than planned. Alice noticed immediately.

"Leo." He turned. Alice stood beside Amon and Masha. Her long white hair moved gently in the morning breeze, and her red eyes remained fixed on him.

"You look exhausted." Leo rubbed his eyes.

"I am." Amon laughed.

"You finally discovered that studying until midnight isn't a good idea?"

"I discovered it yesterday."

"Then why did you do it?"

"Because I was stupid yesterday." Masha covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. Amon stared at Leo for a second.

"At least you're honest." Alice continued watching him.

"Did you sleep at all?"

"A few hours."

"You should rest more."

"I will." Alice looked unconvinced. Leo simply continued walking. The four of them crossed the courtyard together. Students passed around them, talking about classes, upcoming practical examinations, and the latest academy rankings. Then Amon suddenly said,"Did you hear about the theft?" Leo glanced at him.

"The theft?" Masha looked at him in disbelief.

"You didn't read the newspaper this morning?"

"No."

"Seriously?"

"I was busy." Alice reached into her bag.

"Here." She handed him the newspaper. Leo unfolded it. The headline occupied almost half of the front page. UNKNOWN MASKED INTRUDER BREAKS INTO MANA STORAGE FACILITY Leo's eyes moved across the article. According to the report, an unidentified person had infiltrated one of the city's Mana Storage Facilities during the night. The intruder had bypassed several magical security measures and escaped after stealing two low-grade Mana Stones. No guard had been seriously injured. No identity had been established.

No organization had claimed responsibility. The authorities had released a sketch based on the witnesses' descriptions. Leo looked at the image. A black fox mask. Narrow eyes. Crimson markings running downward from them. A dark outfit. The artist had captured the silhouette remarkably well. Amon leaned over his shoulder.

"That mask is creepy." Masha nodded.

"Especially the eyes." Alice remained silent. Leo looked at the drawing for another moment. Then he turned the page.

"Only two small Mana Stones?"

"That's what it says," Masha replied. Amon folded his arms.

"Whoever did it went through all that trouble for two cheap stones."

"Maybe they weren't cheap to him," Leo said. Amon shrugged.

"True." Alice glanced at Leo.

"What do you think?"

"About what?"

"The thief." Leo returned the newspaper to her.

"Probably someone who needed Mana." Amon frowned.

"That's your entire theory?"

"What else should I say?"

"You could at least guess who he is." Leo looked toward the academy tower.

"I don't know." And he genuinely had no reason to. The four continued walking. Behind them, two students were already arguing about the newspaper.

"I heard he was a noble."

"No. Someone said he was a mercenary."

"My brother said the guards saw him use some kind of strange martial art."

"Your brother wasn't there."

"Neither were you." Their voices gradually faded. Alice glanced back at the newspaper. The drawing stared up from the page. She folded it carefully and placed it back inside her bag. Then she caught up with the others.

"What class do we have first?"

"Elemental Theory," Masha answered. Amon groaned.

"That professor is going to kill me."

"You said that yesterday," Leo said.

"And I survived."

"Unfortunately." Amon laughed. For the first time that morning, Leo smiled. The conversation moved on. The theft became another piece of city gossip. A strange incident. Two stolen stones. One unidentified masked man. Nothing more. At least, that was how it looked from the outside. Far from the academy, behind several rows of old buildings, a black fox mask rested inside a small wooden box. The owner of the box was nowhere nearby. The city continued with its morning. People went to work. Students went to class.

Merchants opened their shops. And somewhere among them, the thief from the newspaper had already become nothing more than a rumor. A rumor with a face. A rumor without a name. And a rumor that, for now, belonged to no one. End of Chapter 15.