False Accusation

As Arden was running towards the guards, he glanced back at the three figures but saw only two of them.

"Huh? Where did the other one go?" he muttered, continuing to run. His senses heightened instantly. One of those figures was missing, which meant they could be plotting something.

Arden quickly glanced to his left and right, searching for any sign of the third figure, but he saw nothing. The absence only fueled his growing unease. His mind raced, trying to figure out where the third figure might be, while he remained vigilant, ready for anything.

The gap between him and the approaching guards was closing fast. The adrenaline pumping through him pushed his speed further, his feet pounding against the ground.

But then…

A sound pierced the air, making his blood run cold.

"THIEF!"

"Huh?!" An expression of confusion instantly etched itself onto Arden's face as he heard the accusation.

"Wait… what?" Before he could fully grasp what was happening, the voice rang out again, louder this time.

"THIEF! Catch that boy! He's a thief!"

Arden's heart sank as the realization dawned on him. The voice was talking about him. In a swift motion, he turned back to look at the other two figures, but they were no longer there. And then, it hit him.

"That voice… it was a lady's voice… Or did they…?" Arden's mind raced as he pieced it all together.

He looked around. The guards had already surrounded him, cutting off any escape routes. Panic surged within him, but he forced himself to stay calm. It was clear now that the three figures had orchestrated this. They waited for him to get close to the guards before setting their plan into motion.

'Because they knew they couldn't catch me themselves, they decided to do this,' Arden thought bitterly, gritting his teeth as the realization sunk in.

A muscular man with a huge sword strapped to his waist stepped forward, his gaze locked onto Arden. "Boy, you're the one making everyone run, huh?" His voice was deep and authoritative.

Arden quickly assessed the situation. There were about nine guards, all of them staring at him with suspicion. It was clear they believed he was the thief. After all, he was the only person in the street.

"And you also decided to throw daggers around? You intend to harm people?" the guard added, his figure towering above Arden.

Despite the mounting pressure, Arden remained strangely calm. He met the guard's gaze before speaking, his voice steady. "I didn't steal anything. If I had, you would've seen me with the stolen goods."

The guard squinted his eyes, scrutinizing Arden, as if weighing his words. "Who knows? There's a possibility you threw them away," the guard replied, his tone measured.

The other guards remained silent, indicating that this man was likely their leader. His authority was evident in the way he spoke.

"I—"

Before Arden could finish his sentence, the guard interrupted him. "The people over there said you threw daggers. They're witnesses. You can't lie about this." He pointed towards a building not too far away where a small crowd had gathered.

Arden didn't know what to feel. His mind was spinning with confusion and frustration. He hadn't thrown any daggers, yet here he was, being accused of something he didn't do.

"Come with me. We can discuss this somewhere else," the guard said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

With no other choice, Arden reluctantly agreed and followed the guard. As they walked, people started emerging from their homes and stores, watching the scene unfold.

"I'll take him with me. The rest of you can return to your posts," the guard instructed.

"Understood," the other guards replied in unison before dispersing to resume their duties.

Meanwhile, Arden continued to follow the guard as they took a right turn, walking past an alley and arriving at a compound. His mind raced with thoughts of how to get out of this situation.

'I have to find my way out of this mess,' Arden thought, a frown forming on his face. He knew the guard wouldn't just let him go, especially after the crowd's accusations.

The compound had a wide open space that seemed to be used for some kind of training. Further in, there was a one-story building made of sturdy brown bricks that looked even more robust than those of the Adventurer's Guild.

As they entered the compound, Arden could hear voices from within the building. They walked across the open space, and soon arrived in front of the building, stepping inside.

Arden was greeted by a spacious room with only a counter at the far end where a lady stood. She had long brown hair and brown eyes, and she looked professional and composed.

"Oh, you're back," she said with a smile as the guard entered.

The guard nodded. "Yes, but I won't be here for long. I need to get back soon."

"Okay, I understand," she replied, her smile never fading.

Arden followed the guard through another door at the end of the room, which led into a dimly lit hallway. Their footsteps echoed on the cold floor as they walked. The guard was calm, but Arden's mind was racing.

'Wait… is this…?' His thoughts were abruptly confirmed as they made a sharp turn to the right, revealing rows of iron bars on either side of the hallway.

Arden stopped abruptly, his heart pounding in his chest. The guard noticed his hesitation and turned to look at him.

Before Arden could react, he felt a sharp pain in his neck. The last thing he saw was the guard's cold eyes before everything went black.

*******

*WHOOSH*

Arden's eyes snapped open, his breath heavy and rapid.

'What's going on?' he thought, disoriented. His mind was foggy, but one thing was clear.

'I'm in a prison…'