Back in the dimly lit room of the inn— Reid and Elena was having a staring contest.
The flickering candlelight cast shadows on the walls, dancing in time with the unspoken words between them. Reid stood by the door. His posture was relaxed but his senses were on high alert as if ready for any sudden move Elena might make. Elena on the other hand lingered by the window. Her gaze fixed on the street outside, though her mind was clearly elsewhere.
"So how do you prove you're not from the Order?" Elena's voice cut through the silence, her tone edged with suspicion. "The Empire's law enforcement, especially the Black, was a very secretive organization… No one knows what they look like, or what their powers are. But it's common belief that they excel in superpowered combat. I've been in skirmishes, participated in six major battles, and slain a few generals—your skill spoke of mastery and knowledge of powers like mine. You reeked of the Order of Black no matter how I looked at it."
Reid smirked, leaning casually against the wall beside the door. "Such an astute observation," he remarked. His tone was almost mocking, though there was a hint of admiration in his voice. He wasn't one to dismiss someone's abilities, especially not someone like Elena, who had proven herself capable and dangerous.
Elena turned to face him, her eyes narrowing as she studied him. "You think this is a joke? I've seen what the Order does to people. I've seen their handiwork up close. And you… you move like one of them. You fight like one of them."
Reid shrugged with an unreadable expression. "I won't deny that I'm skilled," he replied, his voice calm. "But that doesn't mean I'm one of them. It just means I've had my share of battles and learned a few things along the way."
If you got experimented, sent to missions, and forced to survive on your own as Reid did, of course, he'd pick lots of things along the way. The 21st century was no joke.
Elena's gaze remained sharp, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, though she made no move to draw it. "You could be lying," she said. "You could be playing some long game, trying to earn my trust only to betray me later."
Reid chuckled softly, shaking his head. "If I wanted to betray you, I wouldn't need to earn your trust first," he pointed out. "I could have killed you in that alley or poisoned your drink or any number of other things. But I didn't. I've been here for almost a month, barmaid. The question is why didn't you try the same to me? You could have poisoned my drink any time of the day."
The sarcasm bled strongly from Reid's mouth.
Elena's eyes flickered with uncertainty for a moment before she steeled herself. "That's none of your business if I wanted to poison your drink or not. So what's your game, then?" she demanded. "Why should I believe anything you say?"
Reid pushed off the wall and took a step closer, his demeanor still relaxed but his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her flinch. "You shouldn't," he said bluntly. "Trust is earned, not given. And right now, we're both in a position where trust is in short supply."
Elena's jaw tightened, but she didn't back down. "Then why are we even talking?"
"Because," Reid replied, his voice softening just a fraction, "whether you believe me or not, we're better off working together. The Order of Black, the Empire, whatever you're running from—it's not going to go away just because you're hiding in a backwater town. You need allies, and so do I."
Truth was… Reid was indeed playing a long game here.
One thing Reid learned in his drifting days was there was strength in numbers. The reason he had been caught back in his old world was because he decided to stray away from his old group—
For a long moment, they stood there in silence, the weight of Reid's words hanging in the air between them. Elena's mind raced, torn between her instincts and the cold logic of the situation. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What do you want from me?"
Reid's expression softened slightly, though his eyes remained guarded. "I want the same thing you do," he said. "To survive. Hear me out… What do you think of building a mercenary band with me? Let's go adventuring, be part-time bandits, and live the life."
Honestly, the first time he learned mutants were revered in this world, he was stoked… like super stoked. Reid didn't fancy himself an isekai protagonist halfway building his harem… It was the fact that he was not hated anymore that made him super stoked.
Elena's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly masked it with a scowl. "You're insane if you think I will do as you say. Part-time banditry, do you hear yourself? I was once a proud Knight, a servant of the Holy Empire, and its devout follower—"
"Maybe," Reid countered plainly. "But where did that leave you?"
"Shut up," Elena snapped, crossing her arms in annoyance. Her posture was rigid, every muscle tensed as if bracing for a fight.
Reid raised an eyebrow, a bit of mischief worming at the back of his mind. "Hey, just asking… the flirting with me for the past month, what's that about?"
Elena's eyes narrowed, her expression darkening. "It was an attempt to seduce you, obviously."
"And?" Reid's tone was teasing, but there was a sharpness in his gaze as if he were trying to piece together the puzzle that was Elena.
Mental profiling had been one of Reid's hobbies while the in-house mad scientists, guards, and fellow inmates prodded, probed, and generally interacted with him. Reid's reading of Elena was of a righteous woman. She had her own perceived morals typical of a knight. She valued honor and wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty considering how she laced her sword with poison. Moreover, she was vicious and liked being aggressive.
"Torture, interrogate, then kill—" Elena replied coldly, her voice like ice. There was no hint of humor in her words, just a blunt admission of her intentions.
Reid's smirk widened, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Well, I'll steer clear of you, then." He took a step back, giving her space. "So what do you say? Let's build a mercenary band. You get to pick the name. How's that for a compromise?"
Elena's scowl deepened with her jaw clenched in frustration. "No. I still don't trust you," she said firmly. There was a finality in her voice, as if she had made up her mind and would not be swayed.
Reid didn't seem surprised, but he also didn't seem discouraged. "Fair enough," he said, his tone light, almost casual. "But think about it. We're stronger together than apart, and you know it."
Elena's gaze flickered with uncertainty for a brief moment, but she quickly buried it beneath a mask of determination. "You're not getting my trust that easily," she warned, her voice low and dangerous.
Reid nodded, his expression serious. "I wouldn't expect anything less," he replied. "But just remember, the offer stands. Whenever you're ready to stop running and start fighting, you know where to find me."
"When I came to your room, you seemed to be in a hurry… I thought you were trying to escape from me, but the Order of Black doesn't run away from their prey, so I thought… you were suspicious." Elena inquired, commenting on her observations. "Judging by your carry-on, the knapsack, and everything… I would say you were planning on running away. Since you plan to go away anyway, why don't you just move along and leave me be? If you aren't of the Order as you say, then good… but I'd like to move on with my life."
Reid leaned back, running a hand through his hair. He didn't like where this conversation was headed. He could tell that Elena was still deeply suspicious, and he needed her on his side, not pushing him away. He could see the calculation in her eyes, the way she was weighing her options, trying to figure out if she could take him out before he became a threat.
"I was being mugged by the town's guards and wanted to run… since I don't want to kill them and be scrutinized any longer," Reid explained, his voice calm, though inside he was annoyed.
Elena's brow furrowed. "Still, leave," she insisted firmly.
Reid chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "Nope, you've got my interest, sweetie." His tone was light, almost teasing, but there was an underlying seriousness in his words. He knew if he was going to have a guide and an ally in this strange world, it had to be her. "If I leave now, you'd most likely be lost in the wind… run away for fear of the possibility I might be from the Order and might bring in more backup. I am not."
Elena's eyes narrowed, her suspicion not entirely dissipated. "And why should I believe that?"
Reid met her gaze steadily, his expression unreadable. "Because if I was from the Order, you wouldn't have survived our first encounter. You know that as well as I do. You're a skilled fighter, but you've seen what the Order is capable of." Bluffing through his way wasn't Reid's usual style, but he got to do what he had to do.
Elena's jaw clenched, and she looked away, her eyes hardening as she stared at the floor. Reid could tell she was considering his words, but she wasn't ready to trust him just yet. And he couldn't blame her—trust was a luxury neither of them could afford easily.
"Look," Reid said, softening his tone, "I have decided. I am going to leave the first light in the morning. I'd be waiting by the gates maybe around the time it would take for tea to get warm."
Reid's grin faded as Elena vanished through the window, leaving him alone in the room. He knew better than to chase after her; she'd made her choice for the night. Still, he wasn't entirely discouraged. Trust was something that would take time, and Reid had a feeling he had planted the seed of doubt in her mind.
He settled onto the creaky bed, keeping one eye open, his danger sense on high alert. Years of being hunted, experimented on, and surviving in the harshest conditions had honed his instincts to a razor's edge. Even in sleep, his mind was ready to snap awake at the slightest hint of danger.
The night passed quietly, and when Reid woke, the inn was still dark. The silence of the early morning hours pressed against him, broken only by the occasional creak of the wooden floorboards or the distant rustle of leaves outside. He stretched, feeling the familiar tension in his muscles as he prepared for the day ahead.
Moving with practiced stealth, Reid left the room and began making his preparations. He visited the local smithy, slipping inside unnoticed, and selected a short sword—light, sharp, and perfectly balanced. He knew it would serve him well in close combat. There was no need to hold back on weaponry now since he had quite a grasp of the local tongue. Next, he made his way to the herbalist's shop, where he pocketed a few tonics that could prove useful in a pinch. Lastly, he gathered a small stash of jerky, knowing it would sustain him during his travels.
As he stood by the inn's back door, the thought of stealing a horse crossed his mind, but he dismissed it just as quickly. Getting past the gates with a stolen horse would draw too much attention. No, he'd have to rely on his own two feet for now.
The sky outside was still dark, with just a hint of dawn on the horizon. Reid slipped out into the cool morning air. His senses remained sharp and his mind was focused. He'd made his decision. Now, all that was left was to see if Elena would follow through with her own.
Reid made his way to the town gates, moving with the ease of someone who had lived in the shadows for years. As he approached, he found a spot where he could watch the gate discreetly, waiting for Elena's arrival—or her absence.
"Come on, missy, I know you have it in you."