After traveling for 4 full days, Aric and Su Jing approached a small settlement named Havenbrook, a chaotic hodgepodge of tents, stalls, and makeshift structures. It was a place where traders, scavengers, and survivors gathered to barter their wares and exchange whispered tales of the lawless wasteland beyond. The air was thick with the acrid scent of sweat and desperation, while the cacophony of haggling filled their ears.
Even though this was not the settlement they aimed for, they still had to refill on their supplies. The main settlement was still far and the journey would only get tougher
"Watch your back," Su Jing warned Aric as they stepped into the heart of the market. "And keep an eye on your pockets."
Their journey through Havenbrook took them past a multitude of shops and vendors—a blacksmith hammering out weapons from salvaged metal, his face contorted in concentration; a pharmacist shrouded in mystery, peddling elixirs and remedies brewed from the world's remaining scraps of magic; a general supplies store, piled high with rations and tools essential for survival; and a weapons dealer, displaying an array of plasma pistols and blades that gleamed with deadly intent.
But beneath the veneer of commerce, an untold sense of dread hung over the people of Havenbrook. Their eyes were clouded with mistrust and their smiles often a facade. It felt as if each one present there was hardened by their constant interactions with swindlers and bandits in this lawless land.
As Aric followed Su Jing deeper into the settlement, a sudden commotion caught his attention. A man, gaunt and disheveled, was engaged in a heated argument with a shopkeeper. Amidst the raised voices and flailing arms, Aric caught snippets of their dispute—accusations of theft and deceit thrown like daggers at one another.
The shopkeeper, a burly figure with a patchwork beard, had clearly had enough. His hand darted beneath the counter, emerging with a sleek plasma pistol that drew gasps from the watching crowd. In an instant, he fired a single shot, and the protesting man's head erupted in a gruesome display of blood and brain matter. His lifeless body crumpled to the ground, a chilling reminder of the brutality that governed this unforgiving world.
"Keep moving," Su Jing urged, her voice steely as she guided Aric away from the growing pool of crimson. "It's not our concern."
Aric swallowed hard, trying to erase the ghastly image from his mind. But even as they left the scene behind, he couldn't help but feel the weight of Havenbrook's darkness pressing down upon him.
"Su Jing," Aric began hesitantly, "what just happened? Why did the shopkeeper...?"
"Shopkeepers here are the law," she replied bluntly, her piercing blue eyes never leaving the road. "Unless an extremely powerful person or a gang comes in, their word is absolute. It's just how things work in Havenbrook."
Navigating through the narrow streets with practiced ease, Su Jing led Aric to a small, unassuming stall, its shelves lined with cans of food and bottles of fresh water. The merchant, a wiry old man with a crooked smile, greeted Su Jing with a nod of recognition.
"Ah, Su Jing," he rasped, his voice like sandpaper against stone. "It's been a while since I last saw you here."
"Times change, but needs remain the same," she replied coolly, eyeing the goods on display before turning her attention to haggling.
"Six cans of food and three bottles of water," she stated firmly with a tone that left no room for argument. "And I'll pay you half of the prices written on the shelves."
The old merchant scoffed, feigning offense. "Half? You insult me, girl! I have a business to run!"
"Then you should know better than to put up these outrageous prices," Su Jing countered, crossing her arms over her chest. "We both know how much these supplies are really worth."
"What do you mean by that? It is getting more and more difficult to process food and purify the water. Even though we have had some transactions in the past, I cannot go below Ninety percent"
Aric watched the exchange with fascination, admiring Su Jing's resourcefulness and determination. As they debated back and forth, his emerald eyes were drawn to a row of vials filled with various colored liquids—poisons, he assumed—and a gleaming plasma gun not unlike the one wielded by the shopkeeper earlier.
"Fine, fine," the old merchant grumbled at last, throwing up his hands in surrender. "Seventy percent it is. But only because you're a loyal customer."
"Deal," Su Jing agreed, her lips curling into a triumphant smile as she handed over the payment, which was in plasma energy. She took out a small handheld device, and the shopkeeper took out a similar device. Aric tried to understand what was going on, but decided to save his questions for later.
With their supplies secured, Su Jing guided Aric away from the stall and back towards the labyrinthine streets of Havenbrook.
"Su Jing, how does the currency work here?" Aric asked as they walked through the bustling settlement. "I noticed you used some sort of a machine."
"Ah, yes," she responded, nodding. "In this world, we use Plasma Energy as currency. This is highly concentrated energy that can be used for a variety of purposes. It can also be transferred from one device to another easily, thus making it a versatile and efficient system."
As they continued down the street, Aric noticed a burly man leaning against a nearby wall, eyeing them with suspicion and disdain. The man's gaze was particularly fixated on Su Jing, and Aric could sense an undertone of jealousy emanating from him.
"Isn't that Su Jing?" the burly man muttered just loud enough for them to hear. "Who's the scrawny guy she's with now?"
"Hey, Su Jing, who is this little boy? What is a boy without pubic hair doing with you? Is this your new boy toy?"
"Shut up, Surname Zhou. This doesn't concern you" Su Jing retorted
"Eh? You seem to be strangely protective of this brat. Could it be that he really is your boy toy? Haah, I am sure that this brat couldn't even compare to one-fourth of my size. How about you ditch that pathetic boy for something more manly..."
Aric felt his cheeks grow hot, and his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He was all too familiar with this feeling—the sting of judgment and dismissal, the weight of expectations bearing down on him. Memories of past bullying flooded his mind, making him feel small and powerless once more.
"Enough," Su Jing snapped. Her eyes bore into the burly man with a ferocity that made him visibly uncomfortable. "If you value your life, I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself."
The burly man hesitated, clearly caught off guard by her sudden threat. But after a tense moment, he grumbled under his breath and pushed himself off the wall. He walked away without another word, but not before throwing a nasty glare at Aric.
"Thank you, Su Jing," Aric murmured, his eyes cast downward. He hated that he still allowed the words of others to affect him so deeply.
"Never mind him, Aric," she reassured him, realizing that the man's words had clearly affected Aric's mentality. "I am sure that you are much better than that walking piece of garbage"
"Ehhh?" Aric stuttered, unable to fully process Su Jing's words. But before he could say anything else, Su Jing tugged at his hand.
"Come on, we don't have much time to waste. Our work here is still not done
With a final glance at the spot where the burly man had stood, Aric nodded and followed Su Jing.
Soon, Su Jing led Aric into a nearby pharmacy. The scent of various medicinal herbs and chemicals greeted them as they entered, mingling with the faint hum of machinery. In the dimly lit shop, shelves were stocked with vials and syringes, and an assortment of medical equipment lay strewn across the counters.
"Hello," Su Jing called out, her voice cutting through the quiet atmosphere. "We're here for some perception-strengthening injections."
A middle-aged man emerged from behind a curtain, wiping his hands on a stained apron. His eyes darted between the two visitors, sizing them up before he responded. "Ah, yes. I have those in stock. But they don't come cheap, you know."
"Perhaps we can negotiate a better price?" Su Jing suggested, her tone firm yet respectful.
"Unfortunately, no," the pharmacist replied, shaking his head. "These shots are manufactured in the main settlement, which drives up their prices. There's no room for haggling."
"Alright then" Su Jing sighed, biting her lip in frustration. She quickly calculated the available Plasma Energy and realized that she could not afford two injections. "Give one to him," she said, nodding towards Aric.
"Are you sure? I feel that using it on yourself would give you two a much better shot at surviving." The pharmacist asked, clearly dismissing Aric
"Why so many questions? Just do as you are told" Su Jing scowled
"Very well." The pharmacist prepared the injection, swabbing Aric's arm with alcohol before administering the shot. The needle pierced his skin, and Aric winced at the slight sting.
"Thank you," Aric said, gritting his teeth against the slight discomfort. He knew that he was unable to repay Su Jing's kindness at that point, so he made a pledge in his mind to help her whenever he got a chance.
But suddenly, moments after receiving the injection, he felt something strange happening within him. It was as if his senses were heightened in a way he had never experienced before. He closed his eyes and focused, realizing with surprise that his ability to sense mana had been strengthened several times.
Curious to test his powers, he secretly tried to move the discarded needle in the dustbin, and it felt surprisingly clear and easy. It was as if his ability to manipulate mana around him had strengthened a lot
"Su Jing" Aric whispered urgently, grabbing her arm. "I am really hungry, can we grab something to eat?"
"Really?" Su Jing's eyes furrowed at the sudden change of atmosphere, but still she nodded "Let me pay first and then go out to have some food"
Su Jing quickly settled the payment with the pharmacist, transferring Plasma Energy from her device to his.
With their transaction complete, Aric and Su Jing exited the pharmacy, this time Aric in the lead as he was the one who excited about this new discovery