CRASH.
The lantern shattered onto a spice vendor's stall, flames licking the air as startled shouts filled the black market.
Panic rippled outward. Vendors scrambled. Patrons pushed away. Suspicion scattered.
The merchant, wide-eyed, bolted for the alley — clutching the satchel like his life depended on it.
The hidden figures reacted — but slightly off-rhythm, their formation loosened by the unexpected chaos.
Sion's Phantom Counterstep activated. In a blink, he was gone from the elevated arch, sliding silently along the alley's edge, blending with shadows.
---
Within seconds, he intercepted the merchant mid-sprint.
A gloved hand shot out, snagging the satchel with expert precision — his movement invisible to the panicked merchant.
"Huh?!"
The man stumbled, reaching down — only to find his satchel missing.
Sion was already gone, dissolving into an adjacent shadowed alcove, the item secured.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Item Acquired: Sealed Relic Satchel
Contents: Unknown — Runic seals detected, origin unregistered
Warning: Breaking seal may trigger magical backlash or reveal location
Behind him, the hidden figures scanned the crowd, frowning beneath their hoods. Their target — both merchant and item — lost.
---
Options now:
1. Retreat quietly, examine the item later in private.
2. Break the seal now, risking magical detection for immediate knowledge.