1. The Wizard Guild's Escalation – Hardline Tactics
The Wizard Guild had shifted from passive surveillance to aggressive pursuit.
At first, they merely watched.
But soon, they deployed search parties across the city.
Officially, their claim was:
"Léan must cooperate with magical research."
Unofficially, they intended to seize him by force.
Their leadership had already reached a conclusion:
"Uncontrolled sorcerers are a danger.""Especially the naturally gifted ones—like Léan."
They dispatched trackers to trace Léan's last known whereabouts:
Investigating the Thieves' Guild's territory.
Probing every location he'd ever been spotted in.
Confident in their methods, the Wizards said:
"We are the most intelligent force in this city.""No mere thieves can outmaneuver us."
2. The Thieves' Response – A Different Logic
But the Wizards had made a crucial mistake:
They pursued Léan with logic and precision.But the Thieves? They lived by instinct, street sense, and illusion.
Their world was not one of academic inquiry—but survival.
They left misleading traces on purpose.
Some thieves pretended to escort Léan to decoy locations.
Others leaked false intel to send the Wizards in circles.
"He went east.""No, he's hiding in an inn out west."
In truth, Léan had been hidden deep underground within the Guild.
Only a few even knew where.
The rest acted as bait, luring the Wizards into missteps.
The Wizards had underestimated them:
They had seen thieves as petty criminals.But these were the rulers of the city's shadows.
3. The Wizards "Find" the Hideout… or Do They?
Several days later, the Wizards believed they had found Léan's location.
Their detection spells locked onto traces deliberately planted by the Thieves.
"Found it. He's there."
The Guildmaster grinned.
"We always win. Let's retrieve him."
They stormed the site.
But inside?
Nothing.
It was a decaying building—abandoned, wrecked, and eerily staged.
Still-smoldering embers.
Shattered glasses and furniture.
Torn documents on broken shelves.
But no Léan.No Damian.No Ian.
They were already long gone.
4. The Wizards Realize the Truth
"This can't be… the traces were real!"
And yet—this was the Thieves' way.
Leave a trail.
Disappear before the strike lands.
The Wizards were furious.And finally, they were forced to admit:
"The Thieves' Guild is far more organized than we thought.""A trace isn't proof of presence."
They could almost feel the mocking laughter echoing from the shadows.
5. Damian, Ian, and Léan – A New Refuge
Long before the Wizards launched their raid,the Thieves had already moved their targets.
They now hid in the Guild's most secret domain—a place untouched even by magical detection.
That night, Léan spoke softly:
"Their methods were predictable."
Damian gave him a sideways glance.
"So you just… let it happen?"
Léan smiled.
"Yes. And… I knew you'd help me."
Ian scoffed.
"Bit shameless for someone we just saved."
But Léan shook his head.
"No. Because of you… fate changed."
Damian raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Léan stared out the window, eyes on the city lights.
"In the original path, I would've been caught today.I knew what came after. Every step."
He closed his eyes.
"But you interfered. And now, it's all different."
Ian leaned in with curiosity.
"So… we can change fate again?"
Léan smiled gently.
"Perhaps."
Damian listened in silence, something stirring inside him.
This world had rules—strict ones.But now… he was watching those rules bend.
From far away, hidden beyond the lamplight—
someone was watching them.
***
Part 2: The Unpredictable Path
A Safe Haven—But Not Quite
Damian, Ian, and Léan were now hiding in the most secure area the Thieves' Guild could offer.They had shaken off the Wizards' pursuit, and the place was well concealed—untouched by their influence.
The Thieves reigned over the city's underworld.As long as the trio remained here, they were virtually untraceable.
Ian spoke with confidence:
"See? Told you—we're completely safe here."
But Léan quietly shook his head.
"No. We're not."
Ian frowned.
"What? Even the Wizards can't find this place. The Guild's got our backs."
Léan looked around slowly, then murmured:
"You're right… if this were a normal situation.""But it's not."
Damian watched him carefully.
"What are you saying?"
Léan stared out into the shadowy alleys beyond the window.
"I can see fate.""And right now… I can't see the future where we're safe here."
Ian blinked.
"You mean we might not be safe?"
Léan nodded slowly.
"My ability shows me the most likely outcome.""But this time—there's nothing. Just silence."
"Which means... we're facing an unpredictable event."
Damian's Decision – Move Now
Damian paused.
Staying made sense—if safety were guaranteed.But when the man who could see fate saw nothing, that changed everything.
Ian was still skeptical.
"Leaving might be even riskier."
Léan said quietly:
"But staying doesn't guarantee anything either.""In fact… the risk is growing."
That was enough.
Damian stood and spoke with calm resolve:
"We move. Now."
Ian stared at him, stunned.
"Now? Just like that?"
Damian replied firmly:
"The Wizards must never see this coming.""The Thieves shouldn't either."
"That's how we raise our odds."
Breaking the Pattern – Bending Fate
Léan watched him and smiled.
"So this is it… the moment you start shaping fate."
"From here on, we don't follow my visions.We carve out our own."
They left—unannounced, unexpected.Even the Thieves had no clue where they were headed.Neither Guild could predict their course.
It was a step outside the script—A break from destiny.
Léan whispered:
"From now on… the road ahead can't be predicted."
And the Watcher in the Dark
Their departure left confusion in their wake.
"Ian's missing?""Léan too?""No one knows where they went?"
The Thieves scoured the city—found nothing.The Wizards, too, noticed something was off.
"They should've been hiding. But now… no trace at all."
"Something's deviating."
And in the distance,hidden in the dark,
a presence smiled.
"Interesting.""Fate is changing.""But no matter where you run—I will find you."
Their choice had stirred something else into motion.
**
Part 2: An Irregular Victory
Guided by an Unclear Vision
Damian, Ian, and Léan arrived at a new location—led by what little Léan had seen of the future.
"We'll face something here," he said.
But he looked uncertain.
Damian noticed it immediately. A seer uncertain of the future? That was unusual.
"You sure there's an enemy?""That much, yes," Léan replied."But how things play out? No idea."
Ian quirked an eyebrow.
"Then what's the point of seeing the future?"
"It gives us a chance to prepare. That's enough."
They proceeded cautiously.
And then—they saw them.
The Waiting Foes
Emerging from the shadows came beasts—not wild animals, but trained, enchanted hunters.
Their eyes glowed red. Their movements were precise.
"They've been trained," Léan muttered."For one purpose—us."
Ian flexed her fingers.Damian tensed.
"They were expecting us.But whose trap is this?"
Léan raised her hand, mana gathering at her fingertips.
"No time to speculate—fight."
The Clash – Magic Meets Blade
The fight was brutal.These weren't mere beasts—they were magically enhanced.
Fast.
Unpredictable.
Relentless.
Léan cast first:
"Fireball."
A ball of flame shot forward.
But the beast dodged—fast—and veered toward Damian.
A normal fighter would've dodged.
Damian didn't.
Instead, he raised his sword.
The fireball struck the blade—and with a twist of his wrist, it ricocheted.
The flame rebounded, redirecting mid-air—straight back toward the enemy.
One of them went up in flames.
Ian whistled, impressed.
"Didn't know swords could do that."
"Don't expect me to block your spells on command," Damian muttered.
But the others understood what had just happened.
A new style—combining magic and swordplay.A method unseen in this world until now.
After the Battle – A New Realization
The skirmish ended swiftly.
With Ian's support and Léan's magic,Damian cut through the last of the beasts.
As they caught their breath, Léan spoke again:
"This kind of battle… wasn't in my vision."
Damian tilted his head.
"So your foresight was wrong?"
She paused—then shook her head.
"Not wrong. Just… altered."
She looked straight at him.
"You're a variable now, Damian. You're twisting fate."
Ian crossed her arms.
"Let's hope it's for the better."
"That, we still don't know," Léan said, her voice somber.
"Fate isn't a straight line.And you—you keep bending it."
Damian exhaled and sheathed his blade.
"Then I'll keep bending it."
He had made his choice.
No matter what rules this world obeyed—he would make his own path.
What that meant for the future?
No one could say.