The night air hung heavy over Prithvi Mandala, the usual hum of market life now replaced by the distant echoes of city guards making their rounds. The streets, illuminated only by flickering lanterns, cast long, distorted shadows against the crumbling stone walls. Merchants had long since closed their shops, and the scent of stale spices and burnt oil lingered in the air. Tonight, the three shadows slipping between alleys weren't just looking for food—they were after something far more valuable.
Arya, Raghav, and Rudra crouched behind an abandoned cart, their eyes fixed on a towering estate near the heart of the market. The estate belonged to Kaushan, one of the wealthiest merchants in Prithvi Mandala. It was said that his greed knew no bounds, and rumors whispered that his wealth was not just in mudras, but in Ratnas—a currency so rare that few had ever seen one in their lifetime. If the rumors were true, this heist could change their lives.
"Are you sure about this?" Arya whispered, gripping a sturdy wooden staff he had found earlier. Unlike the twins, he lacked their natural finesse for stealth, but he was strong, fast, and determined.
"We don't get opportunities like this often," Raghav muttered, his sharp eyes scanning the walls for weaknesses. "If he really has Ratnas, we won't have to steal again for weeks."
Rudra smirked. "Weeks? Try months."
The estate was surrounded by high stone walls lined with iron spikes. Two guards stood at the main entrance, their halberds gleaming under the lantern light. More guards likely patrolled inside. This would require precision, speed, and luck.
Raghav took a deep breath and nodded. "We stick to the plan. Arya and Rudra create a distraction. I get inside."
Arya tightened his grip on the staff. "Let's do it."
The Heist Begins
Rudra picked up a small pebble and flicked it toward a pile of stacked crates near the entrance. The sudden clatter made the guards turn their heads. Arya took his cue, stepping into the open with an air of drunken clumsiness.
"Oi! You there!" one of the guards called, stepping forward.
Arya slurred his words. "Wha-what? Can't a man take a walk?"
The second guard frowned. "Curfew's in effect. Move along."
Arya staggered forward deliberately, causing the first guard to grab his arm roughly. "You deaf? I said move!"
That was when Rudra struck from the shadows. A blur of motion—his small knife sliced cleanly across the strap of the guard's weapon belt. The man's halberd clattered to the ground.
"What the—?"
Arya took the chance to swing his staff upward, catching the disoriented guard beneath the chin. The man collapsed instantly. The second guard barely had time to react before Rudra was behind him, pressing a knife to his throat.
"Quiet," Rudra whispered, his voice calm. "Or I'll make sure you never speak again."
The guard froze, his breath shallow. Arya quickly pulled him into the shadows, knocking him unconscious with a swift strike to the back of the head.
Raghav had already moved. Using the commotion as cover, he scaled the wall, his fingers finding the smallest cracks in the stone. In mere moments, he was inside the estate.
Inside Kaushan's Vault
Raghav landed silently on the other side, crouching in the darkness. The estate was lavish, its courtyard adorned with intricate stonework and golden lanterns. He stayed low, weaving through the shadows, past rows of stacked crates and expensive fabrics.
His target was the vault, a small chamber hidden in the merchant's private chambers. The lock was complex, but Raghav had spent years perfecting his craft.
He worked fast, hands steady. The lock clicked open. He exhaled.
But as he stepped inside, he froze.
The Ratnas.
He had heard of them, whispered tales of their deep crimson glow, of their worth exceeding anything in mudras. But to actually see them—the small gem-like coins sat on a silk cushion, their surfaces shimmering in the dim light.
His breath caught. His fingers trembled as he reached forward.
He had expected piles of wealth, but instead, there were only five—six at most. So few, yet their value was immense.
For the first time in his life, Raghav felt hesitation. Could this truly belong to just one man? When so many in Prithvi Mandala starved?
A distant clang snapped him out of his thoughts. Footsteps.
No time.
He grabbed the Ratnas, shoving them into his pouch and darted out of the vault just as a door slammed open.
"Thief!"
A guard charged toward him.
Raghav ducked as the sword whistled past his ear. He pivoted, rolling beneath the man's legs, and dashed toward the outer courtyard. He barely made it to the wall when a second guard cut him off.
From the shadows, a staff flew through the air—
CRACK!
Arya's strike landed cleanly against the guard's temple. The man crumpled before he could even cry out.
Rudra appeared behind him, panting. "Took you long enough!"
Raghav shot him a grin. "I got them."
"No time to celebrate. More guards incoming." Arya pointed toward the distant torchlight moving fast.
The three sprinted through the dark alleyways of Prithvi Mandala, hearts pounding. Behind them, shouts erupted as Kaushan's men spilled into the streets.
The Bounty on Their Heads
By morning, the heist had already become the talk of the city. The impossible had happened—someone had stolen from Kaushan.
The merchant was livid, his face red with fury as he met with the city guards. "Find them," he growled. "I don't care what it takes."
When asked what the bounty would be, Kaushan did not hesitate.
"Five hundred mudras for their heads," he said. "Alive or dead."
Whispers spread like wildfire. The streets buzzed with opportunists, bounty hunters, and city guards now on high alert.
The three fugitives, now hiding in the back alleys of Prithvi Mandala, knew one thing for certain—
Their quiet life of stealing scraps was over. They weren't just thieves anymore.
They were wanted men.