The dim light of early morning crept through the cracks in the wall as Alex stirred beneath the thin blanket covering him. The chill in the air was ever-present, a constant reminder of the cold, harsh world outside. His body ached from the previous day's scavenging in the ruins, but it was the thoughts racing through his mind that kept him awake.
Energy manipulation. The man in the market had made it look effortless—summoning a glowing orb of light like it was nothing. But Elara had been quick to dismiss it, calling it "basic." Her words lingered in Alex's mind as he stared at the cracked ceiling above him.
Could I really learn to do something like that? he wondered.
Elara had mentioned it wasn't for everyone, but that didn't stop the burning curiosity inside him. There was power in this world—power people could use. And if he could learn to wield it, maybe he wouldn't have to feel so helpless anymore.
Alex lay there for a few moments longer, contemplating. The AI inside his head had remained mostly quiet since their return, its analysis limited by the lack of data. But if the AI could learn... if it could help him understand energy manipulation... then maybe he had a chance.
He sat up, the cold immediately gripping his skin. He hadn't told Elara about the AI, and he wasn't sure he ever would. It was too much to explain. Too strange. But maybe he didn't need her to understand. He could learn on his own—if he had the right guidance.
Can you help me with this? Alex asked the AI again, more determined than before.
"Insufficient data," the AI responded, its voice flat. "Additional observations required. Recommendation: observe more instances of energy manipulation for further analysis."
Alex sighed. He should have expected that. The AI was limited by what it had seen and analyzed, and without more examples of this strange power, it couldn't help him make sense of it. But Alex wasn't discouraged—he knew there were people in the Rust Quarter who could manipulate energy, even if they were only performing basic tricks.
If he could find someone, watch them closely enough, maybe the AI could learn.
He pulled on his ragged coat, shivering as the fabric did little to fight the cold. The boots on his feet were still damp from yesterday's trek through the snow, but there wasn't much he could do about that. The Rust Quarter was a place where people made do with what they had, and Alex was no exception.
Elara was already awake, standing by the table where their meager supplies were laid out. She glanced up when Alex shuffled toward her, her sharp green eyes narrowed in thought.
"You look like you barely slept," she said, handing him a small piece of stale bread.
Alex took it, chewing slowly as he debated how to approach the topic. He needed to get back to the market, see more of these energy manipulators, but he didn't want to seem too eager. Elara had made it clear that she didn't think much of the basic tricks they used. Still, he had to try.
"Elara," he began, "do you know anyone in the Quarter who's... better at energy manipulation? Like, more than just making lights?"
She raised an eyebrow at him, her expression skeptical. "Why are you so interested all of a sudden?"
Alex shrugged, trying to play it off as casual. "I just think it's interesting, that's all. Seems like it could be useful."
Elara stared at him for a moment before sighing and shaking her head. "It's dangerous, like I told you. But if you're really that curious, there's a guy who sometimes performs in the main square. His name's Darius. He's better than most of the low-tier manipulators you see around here. But don't get your hopes up. He's not the kind of guy you want to get involved with."
Alex's heart skipped a beat at the mention of someone who might be more skilled. "Why not?"
"Because people like him use their power to control others," she said, her voice hard. "Darius doesn't just perform tricks—he uses his power to intimidate people, to get what he wants. You don't want to owe him anything."
Alex's stomach twisted. He wasn't looking to get involved in anything shady, but if Darius had the kind of power he was looking for, then maybe he could learn something just by watching him.
"Where can I find him?" Alex asked, trying to keep his tone neutral.
Elara frowned but seemed to sense his determination. "He's usually in the main square around midday. But don't do anything stupid, Alex. You don't want to get on his bad side."
"I won't," Alex promised, though he wasn't entirely sure what he was getting himself into.
The hours passed slowly as they made their way through the morning. The usual tasks in the Rust Quarter were monotonous—checking over their supplies, finding small jobs that would keep them fed for the day—but Alex's mind kept drifting back to the idea of energy manipulation. He couldn't shake the feeling that it was important, that learning to control this power could change everything for him.
By midday, Alex found himself standing in the main square, the same place where they had passed through just days before. The market was bustling, vendors shouting out prices for scraps of food, tools, and firewood. People moved quickly, haggling over goods, trying to make deals that would get them through the next cold night.
And in the center of it all, standing tall and confident, was Darius.
He was a figure that stood out even in the chaos of the Rust Quarter. Dressed in a heavy black coat, his face half-obscured by a thick scarf, Darius moved with a kind of authority that made people step out of his way. His dark eyes scanned the crowd, and there was an almost palpable aura around him, as if the air itself bent to his will.
Alex watched from a distance, his heart pounding. This was what he had been waiting for. He needed to see this power in action, to feel the energy that Darius could manipulate.
Can you analyze him? Alex thought, focusing intently on the AI.
"Scanning," the AI responded.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, Darius raised a hand, and the air around him seemed to hum with energy. With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a glowing sphere of light, similar to the one Alex had seen before, but this one was different—more intense, more controlled. The light pulsed with a quiet power, casting long shadows across the square.
The crowd murmured in awe, though there was a tension in the air. Unlike the other performers, Darius didn't seem to be doing this for entertainment. It felt more like a demonstration, a reminder of what he could do.
"Energy manipulation detected," the AI said, its tone more alert than before. "Subject is controlling energy flow with precision. Potential combat application."
Alex's breath caught. Combat application? He hadn't thought about that. But as he watched Darius, he realized there was something more dangerous about him. This wasn't just a show—it was a warning.
Darius closed his fist, and the glowing orb vanished, leaving the square in stunned silence.
"Remember," Elara had said. "You don't want to owe him anything."
Alex's pulse quickened. He had seen what he needed to see, but now he had a choice to make. If he wanted to learn, he would have to get closer to people like Darius. And that, he knew, was a risk.