My breaths come in ragged gasps, each exhale a desperate attempt to expel the turmoil within me. My heart pounds like a caged beast, clawing at my ribcage, struggling to break free.
I stare at the lifeless body beneath me, disbelief and horror forming a noxious cocktail that poisons my veins with dread. This is my first time taking someone's life. I acted in self-defense, but the icy grip of reality tightens around my heart, leaving me breathless.
Eira's gaze pierces me, her eyes widening like the opening of a secret passage. She clearly underestimated me; probably thought I was a goner. Truth is, even I don't fully understand the extent of Umbra. But now is not the time to dwell on such thoughts.
The other trespasser looks at me, a storm of confusion and fear brewing in his eyes. He hesitates for a moment, glancing back and forth between his fallen comrade and me. Instead of attacking, he questions my identity, "Who the hell are you?"
But before I can respond, Eira intervenes, her club cutting through the air like a guillotine. The man instantly blocks the attack, and their clash shakes the already unstable hut. They coat themselves in aura as they continue to clash, breaking the hut apart. Amidst the debris and rubble, Eira gains the upper hand and lands a powerful blow on the neck of the perpetrator. The man crumples to the floor, his neck twisted at a grotesque angle.
The room is silent, save for the ragged symphony of our breaths. My body trembles, as if it were a sapling in a tempest, my mind racing as I try to process everything that has just happened. I feel a mixture of relief and revulsion, like I've narrowly escaped the jaws of a ravenous beast.
Eira's voice slices through the silence, a hint of amusement laced with her concern. "Well, look at you, Kael. I didn't expect you to have such a hidden weapon. That man was not simply holding you, his body was strengthened, what type of artifact do you have? I never would have guessed that you'd be so shaken up by using it."
I stare at the ground, my gaze tracing the lines in the floor like a lost wanderer, unable to meet her eyes. "I... I don't know. I just... I killed someone, Eira. I've never done that before."
She lets out a soft laugh, like the rustle of leaves in a gentle breeze. "Well, welcome to the club. You did what you had to do. He would've killed you if you hadn't acted. And you don't have to worry about it, that guy was just a puppet, his mind already corrupted and enslaved to follow orders by that bastard Steve."
I let out a shuddering breath, trying to accept the reality of the situation like a bitter pill. "I guess you're right. But it doesn't make it any easier."
Eira smirks, her eyes flashing with a hint of mockery. "You need to toughen up, Kael. We're in a dangerous line of work. I'm honestly surprised, to think you've never killed anyone before, and here I thought you were some crazy bastard. Now get up, you've got to get over it and get used to it."
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat, my resolve hardening like cooling magma. Eira is right. We have a plan to carry out, a dangerous and potentially lucrative plan. We can't let this setback destroy our resolve.
"Alright," I say, my voice as steady as an anchor in a storm. "Let's clean up and get back to work. We have a mountain to climb if we're going to pull this off."
Eira gives me a small smile, her eyes shimmering with newfound respect. "Yeah. Let's do it."
"By the way, who are these lowlifes? They don't seem to be your average thugs."
Eira exhales a pained sigh. "These guys worked for Steve. After an incident, he's been hounding me relentlessly, sending more men after me. These bastards hired me to research condensed energy, asking me to convert it into a pathway.
The audacity of these fuckers; they have no clue how dangerous and tedious that is. They followed that bastard Steve like he's some divine figure. After some time, I decided it was too dangerous, even for someone like me, and chose to leave with all my research. Now that I think about it, you know that bastard, don't you? You mentioned him earlier."
I feign ignorance, as I already know the story. I wrote it, after all, but I can't get myself involved with Steve. Steve is one of the antagonists that Mason will deal with in the future. There's no need to worry about him; he sends his men all over the nearby countries to get researchers. In the story, he sees no point in sending more people after Eira and focuses on his main goal.
"No, I don't know him. After you mentioned him earlier, I used his name as leverage to pressure you into working with me," I say, as I struggle to move the bodies out of the hut.
Eira gives me a frosty gaze. "I was planning on killing you earlier because of it. Next time you try to use leverage, think it through, or you might end up dead."
"Yes, yes, I'll be careful. Now I gotta ask," I give Eira an icy stare and inquire in a chilly tone, "Do you have any food? I'm starving."
Eira rolls her eyes, looking exasperated. "You've gotta be fucking with me. Fine, I'll get you some food. But seriously, why do sound so grave about it? Did you starve yourself?"
She rummages through the debris and finds a small chest that has miraculously survived the chaos. Opening it, she pulls out a few pieces of dried meat and reluctantly hands me half of her portion. "Here. It's not a feast, but it's better than nothing. Consider it a business expense."
I gratefully take the food, devouring it like a ravenous beast. It isn't the most appetizing meal, but it's enough to stave off the gnawing hunger that has been plaguing me.
As I eat, Eira begins cleaning up the remnants of our brief but brutal encounter. She drags the lifeless body outside, appearing quite fatigued. I can't help but admire her strength and resilience; although she's an engineer, being half-dwarf makes her physically more robust.
Once the hut is somewhat back in order, Eira turns to me, her weary eyes lifeless. "Alright, Kael. We've got a lot to do if we're going to pull off this plan of yours. What's the next step?"
I stand up, determination coursing through me. "I'll focus on the next step; I'll be heading uptown. You should find a new hideout and concentrate on creating more TSIs. Once you contact me, we'll assess our progress. Oh, and try to get some sleep; you're starting to look like you've aged a decade."
Eira sighs in relief, the weight of exhaustion evident in her voice. "You don't have to tell me twice. I'm going to pass out if I don't. I should be able to contact you in a day or so; I already have your TSIs contact info."
"Sounds good, but I have another serious question," I say with a cold voice. "Can I borrow some money? I need new clothes."
Eira raises an eyebrow, her eyes a swirling storm of amusement and annoyance. "You really are something, Kael. Fine, I'll give you some money. But don't make a habit out of it, okay? We're not running a charity here." She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small pouch, tossing it to me.
I catch the pouch and peek inside, finding enough coins to buy some decent clothes and perhaps a meal or two. "Thanks, Eira. I promise I'll make it up to you."
She waves her hand dismissively, her voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. "Just make sure this plan of yours works. That'll be more than enough to repay me."
I nod, counting the coins like a goblin hoarding its treasure. "It'll work Eira. I'm a man of my word. I'll be going now; I need to find a place to sleep. Make sure to leave as soon as possible; I'm sure someone reported the commotion earlier."
Finally finding a bench on the other side of the market, I lie down and gaze at the night sky. This time, I see three moons: a red-glowing orb that resembles a lunar eclipse, yet more dazzling and bright, overflowing with mana; and a white moon that looks like a giant glowing snowball, wrapped in a luminous white mana. The celestial sight is breathtaking, leaving me to wonder if I'll ever have the chance to visit them or if I'll die beforehand, in this chaotic world.