The outer district was quieter than the main city. The streets were narrower here. Shadows stretched between the buildings. Nagi found the merchant shop easily. It was marked with a faded blue sign. The wood was old and cracked. He pushed the door open. A bell chimed softly above him. The interior smelled of dust and ink. An old man sat behind a counter. He wore thick glasses. He looked up at Nagi slowly.
Merchant said, "You are late."
Nagi said, "I am on time."
Merchant said, "Time is relative."
Nagi placed the envelope on the counter. The red wax seal glowed faintly. The merchant did not touch it immediately. He stared at the envelope. His hands hovered over the wood.
Merchant said, "Did anyone follow you?"
Nagi said, "No one visible."
Merchant said, "Visible is not enough."
He finally took the envelope. He slid a small bag across the counter. It clinked heavily. Nagi knew it was the gold. He did not count it. He trusted the weight.
Nagi said, "The job is done."
Merchant said, "Leave now."
Nagi turned toward the door.
Merchant said, "Wait."
Nagi stopped and looked back.
Merchant said, "Do not come back here."
Nagi said, "I had no plans to."
He walked out into the street. The air was cooler now. The sun was dipping below the roofs. Twilight was settling over the district. Nagi checked the bag at his waist. The gold was secure.
He began the walk back to the Grey Dome. The route took him through several alleys. They were shortcuts he knew from the map. He walked with a steady pace. He listened to the sounds around him. Footsteps echoed behind him. They were not matching his rhythm. Nagi did not turn around. He counted the steps. There were two people. They were closing the distance. He turned into a narrow alleyway. It was a dead end partially. There was a wall on one side. The other side was a warehouse. Nagi stopped in the center. He waited for them to appear.
Two men stepped into the alley. They wore dark leather armor. They carried short blades. Their faces were covered by scarves.
Thug One said, "Give us the satchel."
Nagi said, "This is not what you want."
Thug Two said, "Do not play smart."
They spread out to flank him. Nagi kept his hands visible. He did not reach for a weapon. He did not need one.
Thug One said, "Hand it over."
Nagi said, "Come and take it."
Thug One lunged forward. He swung the blade at Nagi's neck. Nagi stepped to the left slightly. He grabbed the thug's wrist. He applied pressure to the nerve point. The blade dropped to the ground. Nagi twisted the arm behind the back. He pushed the thug forward. Thug One fell onto the stones. He groaned in pain.
Thug Two rushed in next. He aimed for Nagi's stomach. Nagi sidestepped the thrust. He used the man's momentum against him. He grabbed the shoulder and hip. He redirected the force downward. Thug Two crashed into the wall. He slid down to the ground. Both men were breathing heavily. They looked up in fear. Nagi stood over them calmly. He did not draw his knife. He did not strike again.
Nagi said, "Who sent you?"
Thug One said, "We do not know."
Nagi said, "Do not lie."
Thug Two said, "A man in a cloak."
Nagi said, "What did he look like?"
Thug One said, "We never saw his face."
Nagi said, "Why the satchel?"
Thug Two said, "He said it had the key."
Nagi frowned slightly. The key to what? The seventh door? Or something else?
Nagi said, "Leave this place."
Thug One said, "You will let us go?"
Nagi said, "I have no quarrel with you."
Thug Two said, "Why?"
Nagi said, "Because you are not the enemy."
He stepped aside from the exit. The two men scrambled up quickly. They ran out of the alley. They did not look back. Nagi picked up the satchel. It was undamaged. He brushed the dust off his coat. He walked out of the alley. The street was empty now.
He continued toward the Grey Dome. The building was lit by torches. Flames flickered on the walls. Nagi entered the main hall. It was less crowded than before. Most hunters had left for the day. He walked toward the clerk's desk. The spot was empty. The chair was pushed in. No one was sitting there. Nagi looked around the room. He saw other clerks working. They were typing on registers. He approached a senior clerk. The man wore a gold badge. He looked up from his work.
Senior Clerk said, "Can I help you?"
Nagi said, "I am looking for Elara."
Senior Clerk said, "Who?"
Nagi said, "The junior clerk."
Senior Clerk said, "There is no Elara."
Nagi said, "She was here today."
Senior Clerk said, "You are mistaken."
Nagi said, "I spoke to her."
Senior Clerk said, "No one by that name works here."
He went back to his papers. He dismissed Nagi completely.
Nagi stood still for a moment. He looked at the empty desk. The nameplate was gone. There was no indentation on the wood. It was as if she never existed. Nagi said, "This is impossible." He touched the pocket with the gold. It was real. The delivery was real. The ambush was real. But the clerk was erased. He turned away from the desk. He walked toward the exit. His mind was racing fast. Who was Elara really? Was she a player like him? Or was she part of the system? If she was erased, who did it? The system itself? Or the eyes above?
He stepped outside into the night. The air was cold and damp. He looked up at the Grey Dome. The cameras were still rotating. The red lights blinked slowly. Nagi said, "You are watching me." He knew they were listening. He walked away from the building. He needed to return to the inn. He needed to think clearly. The gold in his pocket felt heavy. It was blood money now. He had stepped into a game. And the rules were hidden.
He reached the residential district. The streets were dark here. Only a few lamps were lit. He walked past the Rusty Nail. He did not enter yet. He stood across the street. He watched the windows. Nothing seemed out of place. But he felt watched. He touched the knife in his belt. He said, "Come out if you dare." No one answered. Only the wind replied.
Nagi entered the inn finally. He climbed the stairs quietly. He locked the door behind him. He sat on the edge of the bed. He took out the gold bag. He poured the coins onto the table. They shone in the candlelight. Five gold coins. It was enough to live for a month. But it was not enough for safety. He looked at the empty chair. Elara's face was in his mind. Her fear was real. Her disappearance was real. Nagi said, "I am getting closer." He blew out the candle. The room went dark. He lay down on the bed. He kept his clothes on. He slept with one eye open. The night was long and silent. But the danger was just waking up.
Author note: Thank you for reading Chapter 5. The mystery of Elara deepens. Who erased her? Please add this to your library and leave a review. Your support keeps the story alive!