0041. First Signs of Trouble

A faint golden glow seeped through the wooden window slats, painting long shadows across the modest room. Nile stirred, his body heavy with exhaustion. It wasn't just the fatigue of travel or trial—it was the weight of everything that had changed in just a few days.

He let out a deep sigh, staring at the ceiling. "This is real. I'm really here."

The events of yesterday replayed in his mind—the oath, the collapse of the old shop, securing a place at Jennifer's inn, and the looming responsibilities that came with it. It was almost overwhelming. How had things escalated so quickly?

Yet, amidst all the uncertainty, one thing felt clear: he wasn't alone. For the first time in a long while, he had people standing by his side—not just Veena and James, but Jessica, Arin, Lyra… even Jennifer, in her own way.

He closed his eyes, trying to center himself. Today would be another test.

A loud knock shattered the morning stillness.

"Wake up, lazy brat! Guards are at the door!"

Jessica's voice rang through the corridor, followed by Lyra's amused laugh. "He's probably still in bed, dreaming about being a great hero."

Nile groaned and dragged himself upright. "Why can't a guy get five minutes to contemplate life?"

Throwing on his outer robe, he stepped out into the hallway, greeted by the sight of Jessica tapping her foot impatiently. Lyra, standing beside her, grinned at his disheveled state.

"The day's just started, and you're already looking defeated," she teased.

Nile stretched, yawning. "You try handling yesterday and waking up refreshed."

Arin emerged from his room, already dressed sharply. "Enough talk. We need to handle the guards before they start asking the wrong questions."

Nile nodded, shaking off his grogginess. No time for hesitation. The first challenge of the day had already arrived.

The warm glow of the morning sun filtered through the windows of the first-floor dining hall, casting long golden streaks across the neatly arranged wooden tables. The reception desk stood near the entrance, and behind it, a small kitchen was partially visible, the faint aroma of fresh bread and simmering broth filling the air. The rest of the space was occupied by the dining area, where guests of the inn could enjoy their meals.

At one of the larger tables near the center of the room, Veena and James sat opposite a broad-shouldered man with a neatly trimmed mustache, who leaned back in his chair with an air of authority. Behind him, two uniformed guards stood at attention, their hands resting near their sheathed swords.

A tense silence hung in the air as they waited. The leader drummed his fingers against the wooden table, his sharp eyes flicking toward the staircase every few moments.

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the wooden stairs.

Nile, Arin, Lyra, and Jessica descended together, their movements casual but alert. The moment they stepped into the dining hall, they noticed the three uniformed men and the way Veena and James sat opposite them. The shift in atmosphere was impossible to miss.

The guards' leader looked up from the documents in his hands, his gaze settling on the four newcomers. He raised an eyebrow before glancing at Veena. "So, this is the child you mentioned?"

Nile, sensing the scrutiny, calmly pulled out a chair beside Veena and sat down. The others followed suit, filling the seats beside James.

The man placed a thick folder on the table and tapped the topmost document. "We received a report about a collapsed building last night. The structure was recently transferred to a new owner, and according to our records, the name on the land deed is—" He turned the document slightly, pointing at the section where the owner's name was written. "Nile."

His gaze flickered back to the boy. "Which one of you is Nile?"

Nile remained composed, though he could feel Arin and Lyra subtly shifting in their seats beside him. He met the leader's gaze evenly. "That would be me," he said, his voice steady.

The leader studied him for a moment before nodding. "Good. That makes things easier. The collapse of a structure in town, especially one owned by a new resident, raises questions. We need to know what happened."

He slid the document across the table toward Nile. "Care to explain?"

Jessica and Lyra exchanged glances, while Arin remained silent, observing the conversation closely. Nile, however, remained composed, already anticipating this conversation.

He glanced at the document before returning his gaze to the guard. "I see. What exactly do you need from me?"

The guard folded his arms, his voice measured. "A statement. Officially, the authorities need to confirm what happened. A building doesn't just collapse overnight without reason."

Veena leaned slightly forward, her voice calm but carrying authority. "You don't seem to be accusing us of anything. That means you already suspect the real reason behind it."

The man's lips curled slightly in amusement. "Of course, Madam Veena. We are not fools. In a town like ours, people don't demolish buildings so quietly without some external pressure. But we still have to follow protocol." He turned his gaze back to Nile. "So, let's hear it. What happened?"

Nile took a slow breath before answering. "We decided to change our business plans." He paused briefly, letting his words sink in. "The shop was originally set up for a merchant trade, but after considering our options, we decided to shift to alchemy. Since the building's foundation wasn't suitable for our needs, we had it taken down for reconstruction."

The guards exchanged glances, and one of them muttered, "Alchemy, huh?"

The leader's expression remained neutral, but Nile caught the brief flicker of understanding in his eyes. It was no secret that alchemy shops were highly profitable, and no local authority would question their presence. Even the guards themselves might be hoping for a future discount.

The leader exhaled through his nose. "Alchemy, you say? That means you'll need new permits and trade registration."

Nile nodded. "We're aware. We'll be handling all the paperwork today."

The man gave a slow nod before tapping the document again. "Very well. As long as the paperwork is filed properly, we won't have any further issues. But—" his sharp gaze met Nile's, "—do be careful. A building collapsing overnight always attracts attention. Some people might come asking questions you don't want to answer."

Nile's expression didn't waver. He knew exactly what the man meant.

Jessica, however, was less patient. She crossed her arms. "We understand, but unless there's an actual complaint, there's nothing illegal about what we did, right?"

The leader chuckled. "Smart girl. No, there's nothing illegal—so long as the right permits are in place. Just be sure to handle that soon." He then stood, motioning for his men to follow.

Before leaving, he paused and looked back at Nile. "For what it's worth, welcome to town, kid. Be careful who you make enemies with."

With that, he and his men exited the inn, leaving Nile and the others to process their conversation.

Jessica huffed. "Did they really need to show up just to tell us that?"

James chuckled. "Not really. We got a clear warning."

Arin nodded. "They weren't just here for protocol. Someone must have nudged them to check on us. The question is—who?"

Nile exhaled. "That's what we need to find out."

Nile exhaled, his brows furrowing slightly. 'There's no one else we've had a conflict with… except Sid.' His thoughts were calm, but the weight of suspicion was evident.' It wouldn't be surprising if he was behind this.'

Veena placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "We'll handle it one step at a time."

Nile nodded. He had a feeling that this was only the beginning.