Every A and B-Class adventurer in town was searching — combing through every corner for Silia. They'd been at it for a while. Some wore armor, boots hitting the ground as they ran, waking up sleeping households with every step.
The person whose card was stolen sat inside. Everyone else did the work.
Jhed watched from his window — Maruls and his team moving below. Uni's eyes drifted up toward Jhed's window. He pulled back instantly.
Fear had become a habit.
"No one here either," Maruls said. They'd been searching a long time.
"Does anyone know where she might be?" Asfer asked.
Everyone shook their heads.
"Keep moving." They pressed on.
Jhed watched them go, then looked out again.
"I'm not a thief. So why am I so afraid?"
Another party came through — the same young man who'd caused the scene at the guild. Quick to anger, but good at his job.
"Can't see anything in this dark. Get us some light," he told his party's magician.
"O goddess, grant me your power — light this town. Fireball." She raised her staff and sent a cluster of small fireballs into the sky, forming a small artificial sun that spread light across the entire town.
Adventurers all over looked up at the sudden brightness — a natural reaction.
"Now we can see. Move." They pushed forward.
Jhed had looked up too. Disappointment in his eyes. He knew what he should be doing. He should be out there searching for Silia himself. But his mind kept circling back — why didn't you read that paper — over and over. He didn't want to think about it. But his thoughts weren't his to control. The loop made him angry.
"This is all Shine's fault. If he were here, this wouldn't have happened. I'm never choosing him again." Same words, every time. About seventeen or eighteen days left now — then Shine would return to Animal.
Far away in the forest, Shine had reached the small hut they'd built. He went inside. And somehow — Nain was there. Sitting in the dark.
"Nain—" Shine called out.
Nain turned toward his voice. Shine moved toward her quickly.
Back in town, Jhed tried to sleep. Couldn't. The artificial light from outside was spilling through the window onto his face — some people had woken up thinking morning had come.
"Which fool did this?" Daichi muttered somewhere below, still searching alone. "At least it'll make the thief easier to spot now."
When Shine reached Nain, she'd attacked him. He didn't dodge. He didn't need to — nothing touched him. The strike landed and did nothing.
"Shine," Nain said. She stopped. She had tried to bite him.
Nain had lit a small fire with her fire magic.
What Shine saw made him go completely still. Not a single word came out. He was frozen where he stood.
Because his fear had been right.
Half of Nain's body had already turned — just like the zombie monsters.