Chapter 22: No Clue

The team had set their minds on finding the thief, but the task was proving to be far more difficult than they had anticipated. The thefts had been going on for months, and yet, no one in the guild had been able to find a single clue. The fact that the thief had continued to operate without leaving a trace was both impressive and frustrating.

Lila had taken this mission very seriously, determined to solve the mystery. Alongside her was Adrian, equally passionate about the challenge. The two of them naturally took command, bouncing ideas off each other and coming up with strategies. Sera, as usual, was the quiet thinker of the group. She listened carefully to Lila and Adrian's discussions, making notes whenever necessary. Time and time again, Lila and Adrian would revisit and refine their plans, ensuring that every possible angle was considered.

Doran, knowing that his strengths didn't lie in strategy or thief-catching, took on a different role. He went around the town, speaking to shopkeepers and vendors, trying to gather any useful information. He was friendly and knew how to get people talking, but despite his efforts, he wasn't able to uncover anything significant.

Drakar, as expected, remained silent and distant. He didn't actively participate in the discussions, nor did he go around questioning people. Instead, he spent most of his time sitting quietly in the guild hall, seemingly doing nothing. Fizzle, naturally, did nothing as well—except order food and eat all day. "You're seriously going to keep eating like that?" Lila asked at one point, watching as Fizzle munched on a large plate of fruit. Fizzle didn't even bother to look up. "What else am I supposed to do? Chase after some ghost thief? No thanks." Lila sighed but decided not to waste energy arguing.

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After exhausting their options within the town, Lila, Adrian, Sera, and Doran decided to explore the more hidden and dangerous areas. They ventured into the shadier parts of town, sneaking around and keeping a close watch for anything suspicious. But despite all their efforts, they found nothing. Undeterred, they decided to expand their search beyond the town.

The team made their way to the outskirts, searching the nearby forest for any potential clues. The trees loomed overhead, their thick branches blocking out much of the sunlight. The ground was uneven, covered in fallen leaves and tangled roots, making every step cautious. They remained on high alert, scanning for any sign of the thief.

However, instead of finding their target, they stumbled upon a pair of wild bears. The massive creatures growled loudly, their heavy paws crushing the undergrowth as they moved closer. Their sharp claws gleamed, and their dark eyes were filled with hostility.

The fight began immediately. Lila reacted first, drawing her sword and stepping forward with determination. She slashed at one of the bears, her strike landing on its thick hide, but the beast barely flinched before swiping back with its massive paw. Lila ducked just in time, feeling the wind from the powerful swing rush past her.

Adrian moved swiftly, his sword flashing as he struck at the second bear's flank. He dodged its attacks with quick footwork, weaving between its swipes and countering with precise slashes. The bear roared in frustration, trying to land a hit, but Adrian was always a step ahead.

Sera stood back, raising her staff as she channeled her magic. Vines shot up from the ground, wrapping around one of the bears' legs and holding it in place. She summoned a gust of wind, pushing it off balance before launching a burst of sharp leaves that cut through its thick fur. The bear snarled, struggling against her magic, but Sera kept her focus, keeping it restrained long enough for the others to attack.

Meanwhile, Doran faced the other bear head-on, gripping his enchanted hammer, Moltenheart. The weapon pulsed with fiery energy as he swung it in a powerful arc, slamming it into the ground. The impact sent a shockwave through the earth, making the bear stumble. As it regained its footing and charged, Doran met it with another crushing blow, forcing it back with sheer strength.

The battle continued for several exhausting minutes. Through their combined efforts—Lila's quick strikes, Adrian's agility, Sera's magic, and Doran's overwhelming power—they finally managed to bring the bears down. The creatures collapsed, defeated, their heavy bodies still against the forest floor. The team stood catching their breath, their bodies aching from the fight. Though they had won, the encounter had drained them, adding to their exhaustion. And yet, their mission was still far from over. After catching their breath, they moved on to an abandoned building on the outskirts of town. It seemed like a possible hiding place for a thief, but after thoroughly searching the area, they came up empty-handed once again. Disappointment settled over the group as they made their way back to the guild. The sun was beginning to set, and they had nothing to show for their efforts.

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As they entered the guild hall, another group of adventurers was at the reception desk, submitting their goods. However, it quickly became apparent that they, too, had missing items. "The situation keeps getting worse," Adrian muttered. Fizzle, still perched on Drakar's wing, smirked and looked at Lila. "See? I was with Drakar all day long, so I couldn't have eaten any goods. Guess I'm innocent after all." Lila ignored Fizzle's teasing, her mind too occupied with the problem at hand. She fell deep into thought, trying to figure out what had gone wrong. She had done everything she could think of—questioned people, searched various locations, even fought wild animals in hopes of finding some kind of clue. Yet, they were still nowhere closer to solving the mystery.

What was she missing? Just as she was about to lose herself in frustration, Drakar suddenly stood up. His deep, serious voice cut through the room. "I have found the thief." A wave of shock washed over the group. Lila's eyes widened. "What?"

Adrian, Sera, and Doran turned to face him, equally stunned. Even Fizzle, for once, seemed momentarily speechless. The entire guild hall fell silent as everyone processed his words. Drakar had barely moved from his spot all day, yet he was now claiming that he knew the identity of the thief. Lila could feel her heart pounding.

If Drakar was right, then this chase was finally coming to an end.