The smog of Renfo's escape still clung to Jordan's lungs as the three boys darted through twisting streets, their footfalls muffled by the hum of the bazaar above. The sounds of guards shouting orders echoed in the distance — search parties spreading through the plaza like hounds on a trail.
"Where are we going?" Jordan hissed, struggling to keep pace. The buster sword weighed heavy in his grip, but it was the tower shield that dragged worst of all, slowing his steps.
Renfo glanced back, his grin flashing even in the gloom.
"Not where they'll think to look. Trust me."
Jayden snarled, scythe flickering faintly in his hands.
"This better not be another one of your games, Kuzenagi."
But Renfo didn't answer. He pushed forward, weaving through the darkened streets until they came upon a weathered storehouse. Its wooden frame sagged under the weight of age, its door sealed with rusted iron.
Jordan stumbled, the shield digging grooves in the cobblestone. With a frustrated groan, he planted it upright and let it go. The radiant lines dimmed, the crest fading as it sank back into nothingness.
Jayden smirked.
"Too heavy for you, Walker?"
Jordan shot him a glare, gripping the buster sword tighter. "I can resummon it when I need it."
Renfo chuckled. "He's learning already."
With a swift gesture, Renfo pushed open the storehouse door and led them inside. Dust-coated crates and broken barrels filled the room, but his stride was confident. He moved to the back wall, pulling aside a tarp to reveal a cellar door buried beneath.
He pried it open, revealing a yawning stairwell that descended into blackness.
Jordan frowned. "What is this place?"
Renfo's grin widened.
"A safe place. A secret place. And the only way we're not getting caught tonight."
Jayden's eyes narrowed, suspicion sharp.
"You've done this before."
Renfo only chuckled as he descended into the darkness. "You could say that."
With the sounds of guards pounding on doors nearby, Jordan hesitated only a moment before following. Jayden's scythe cast faint crimson light down the stone steps as he brought up the rear.
The stairwell opened into a sprawling tunnel system, walls lined with torches that had been burned recently. The air smelled of smoke and secrets.
Jordan's voice was hushed. "This isn't just a hiding spot…"
Renfo looked over his shoulder, his eyes glinting.
"No. This is a network. An underground maze. Belongs to people who know how to move where no one else can."
He paused, his grin curling sharper.
"Welcome to the edges of the Thieves' Guild."
Above, guards shouted, their search growing more frantic. But down here, in the twisting dark, the three boys vanished into the maze.