Glimmering rays of morning sunlight creeped their way through the folded blindfolds on the window, slowly waking Vaan from a restless sleep. A soft scent of warm bread entered the room, as well as the chatters of the crowded streets below.
Vaan, although partially dazed, had begun to scan his surroundings through a droopy morning glare. A throbbing headache woke him further, along with stomach pains that couldn't be distinguished from hunger or wounds. He found his arms strapped to a hard, wooden chair placed adjacent to a weathered wall. Across from him sat a small window, with a door on the far right side of the tiny room, and piles of worn clothes to the far left.
Was it a dream? He thought to himself as the events from the previous night became more clear. No, it couldn't be. The swelling around his ankle had clearly proved that.
The onset of panic had started rushing through his blood, but before it could escalate any further, the door swung open, putting a pause to the tension building in his heart. The hooded man from the previous night walked in with a relaxed, calm manner, carrying a small plate with two pieces of toasted peasant bread.
Vaan's throat clogged in fear, nervousness, and dryness all at once. He couldn't muster the strength to speak, nor the strength to know what to say. All he could do was watch, waiting with cautious patience.
The hooded man dragged in a similar chair, sitting across from Vaan and placing the tray of bread on his lap. "I am going to make this simple," he said, his voice cold and stern. "If you cooperate, I will make sure nothing problematic will happen to you. Understand?"
Vaan gulped, "Yes s-sir," His voice shaking.
"No need to call me sir." The hooded man replied fast, his tone sincere. "Now that we have an understanding, you should eat," He pointed towards the bread on Vaan's lap, cutting free one of the ropes with a small dagger.
Vaan looked up once more in silence, confirming from the hooded man that he had permission to eat. A firm nod from the stranger gave him the afirmation, and as Vaan took the first bite, his stomach grumbled so loud it nearly echoed through the room.
"Now then," The hooded man started. "I am sure you are well aware that these cores are very rare to come by," He pulled out a small, orange sphere the size of an eyeball. "So how does someone like you, get a hold of a core such as this in the Dustlands?"
Vaan swallowed the last piece of bread down his empty stomach, replying in a shallow, monotonous voice. "Those men that were chasing me. The ones you killed. They run operations selling food, at discounted prices of course, for outlaws and orphans. I was able to keep living day by day due to such cheap costs, and I didn't think much of it at the time. But as the years passed, so did their prices, and they had started to demand more out of me, knowing I wouldn't be able to provide." Vaan stopped for a moment, recollecting his thoughts.
"It got to the point where instead of payment, they beat us senseless. I was lucky enough to only receive a few scars and bruises here and there, but the others. Some of the other kids weren't as fortunate as me. They avoided killing so as not to catch the eye of the guard. "
The hooded man stared into Vaan's tearing eyes. "I've heard of some businesses within the Dustlands, they hide themselves well. Why did you stay? I'm sure you had plenty of opportunities to escape."
"And go where?" Vaan let out a deep sigh. "There's walls all around us. Over time, they'd find me one way or another."
"So you planned to steal something of value instead? I find that behavior reckless and rather chaotic."
"It doesn't matter now… They know I took the core, and because you killed those men, they'll think I had something to do with it." Vaan paused again, shutting his eyes. "I don't care what you do to me, just please don't sell me back to them. I'd rather die than live another day in their grasp."
"Why haven't you told the guard about this yourself?"
Vaan sighed, wiping his eyes against the back of his palm, "I can't. They said if anyone ever ratted, they'd kill us all without warning."
The hooded man grabbed the empty tray from Vaan's lap, setting it aside. Slowly, he pulled back his hood, revealing a pair of glimmering emerald eyes. His medium-length matte black hair fell out of his hood, along with a smooth, brazen face. "You have a courageous heart inside you. It's warm, which is very rare in this world. What's your name?" He cut the remaining ropes that tied Vaan to the chair.
"V-Vaan." he answered, unaware of whether to be surprised or relieved.
"So you say there are more of these men running the business?" the man asked, his voice stern.
"Not just more," Vaan gulped, an odd bitterness swiveling in his throat. "They own a whole building in Southside. It's about 15 stories tall, and the outside usually has a few undercover guards that patrol the block. They keep the exterior discreet, blended with the surrounding structures."
"The others, those that you mentioned were beaten. Are you close with them?"
"I was, but over time we grew distant," Vaan sighed, lowering his head into a reconciliation of thought. "Then the beatings started. Haven't spoken to 'em since. No idea where they are."
"Interesting."
"Sir, you really dont have to—"
"My name is Kage," The man said, relaxing back in his chair. "Aside from the men hunting you, tell me what you know about those cores, Vaan. I don't believe you understand the severity of the situation you have put yourself in."
Vaan thought for a moment, trying not to sound stupid. "Well, although I've only seen it once in action, they possess an unnatural amount of strength? And they power the electricity that keeps the Dustlands running, that I'm sure of."
"Almost. They can amplify a heat-conducting source—mainly iron and steel—hence why people would kill for them. Only a select few know this, but the guards from the empire that patrol the Dustlands all have weapons—whether it be blade or dagger—with cores."
"Impossible" Vaan jerked his head up, heart pounding through his throat. "There are dozens, no, hundreds of guards across the Dustlands. Are you telling me—"
"Correct," Kage interrupted. "Why do you think that no one fights back."
"I always thought that it was against the law to fight back…"
"No. It's because no one stands a chance against them. A regular sword wouldn't land a scratch against another with a core. And due to the guard patrolling every corner of every street, it's hard to even come across a weapon in the hands of a civilian in the first place. Most people that possess any sort of blade are good at hiding it, especially those who are lucky enough to have one with a core imbued inside."
Vaan clenched his jaw, taking a moment to process what he had just heard. Living a life on the run from street to street, he had never known about this, and he is certain that the men who chased after him have an arsenal of weapons inside their headquarters.
"Here," Kage tossed him the core. "Keep it close. I shall hold you accountable for its safety."
Vaan barely caught it as it bounced out of his palm, "Wait, why are you giving it to me? You saved my life—"
"I don't need it. You, on the other hand, will. So, if you keep it safe long enough, we can make an arrangement. Last night, I could spot that orange glow from a mile out. Relentlessly, I followed to see what the commotion was at such a late hour. And from our previous conversation, I became aware of your lack of knowledge."
Vaan gulped again, placing the core inside an open pocket in his pants. "How are you so sure I'm not lying to you…"
Kage ducked his chin low, giving him a terrifying glare. "The key to figuring out a lie are the eyes. It's always in the eyes. If you lied to me, you would already be dead."
Vaan felt a sliver of goosebumps trickle down his spine, "Thank you…" A sudden nervousness took the confidence out of his voice. "But I don't really have anywhere to go. Now that I've run away, I don't have a place to sleep and they'll be looking for me all over…"
"Vaan, the core you managed to steal seems to be a very high-grade one. It's pure, forged by a near-perfect craftsman, and I'd hate to see you waste it on money. As a matter of fact, I am quite interested in what properties it can possess. Call it a professional curiosity." Kage stood up, buttoning up the loose holes on his torso. "However, dealing with this organization is a matter I can't hold off on. Therefore, let's pay a visit to this building you speak of. I would like to have a normal conversation with their leader. Afterwards, I would like you to pay a visit to my father. He will help you put the core to a much greater use than money."
"Sir K—"
"No need for sir. Please, Kage is fine."
"Right, sorry. And I don't want to sound rude for saying this, but this organization isn't something to take so lightly. There's a reason they hold so much power across the Dustlands. They have a lot of unlisted criminals, maybe around sixty or seventy mercenaries. I am well aware you were able to kill four of them, but if your conversation doesn't go as planned, taking on a full building is suicide… I mean no offense si-" Vaan corrected himself before continuing. "Kage."
"I only plan to have a conversation. However," Kage's voice twisted with a grim darkness. "Operations and actions such as these aren't going to be taken care of by the empire, nor anyone else who cares enough to revolt. You don't have to follow me if you wish not to." Kage pulled up his hood, looking out the window through the blinds. "But you must stay here until I return."
"What! I can—"
Kage turned around, interrupting him. "I wasn't asking." His voice chilled the air, seeming as if the floor had turned to ice with his breath alone.
Vaan, starting to get nervous, gripped the core tightly inside his pocket. "Okay. I'll go with you."
"We'll camp outside until darkness falls. Grab some water before we depart, and put this on." Kage tossed him a worn out cloak that was hanging on the other side of the door. "We can't be seen."
Vaan tied the front of the cloak around his neck, inhaling puffs of dust and dryness. "You're not planning on going empty handed are you?"
Kage tied his boot lace into a firm knot, fixing his posture, "I don't recall mentioning anything of the sort."