"How do you know my name?" Jess asked, her voice tinged with suspicion. She felt indebted to her saviour, sure, but his knowledge of things he shouldn't know unsettled her. It made her wonder what else he might be keeping under wraps.
Caleb smiled faintly, already prepared for the question. He had an answer ready, though he wasn't sure she'd believe it. 'But I don't need to explain much. She'll connect the dots herself,' he mused.
"I have a knack for figuring out people's names, no matter how well they try to hide them," he said, gesturing toward his striking blue eyes.
"Like some kind of appraisal ability?" Jess tilted her head, intrigued. She'd heard of appraisal spells, though they were mostly used on artefacts to identify their properties.
'Still, I shouldn't limit my thinking. Just like my kind and other races, unique abilities are common. It's not that far-fetched,' she reasoned, her brows furrowing. And besides… he's not ordinary.
"Exactly," Caleb confirmed with a nod, relieved she understood. She was spot on—though there was more to it, like the system he used.
"Now that I've answered your question, it's my turn," Caleb said, stepping closer.
"What do you want to know?" Jess asked, uncertain whether to step back or hold her ground.
She wasn't blind to his interest in her, and unlike the others who had pursued her, Caleb wasn't someone she could easily dismiss.
He was strong—almost absurdly so—and, she had to admit, incredibly charming. The thought brought a faint blush to her cheeks as she watched him close the distance between them.
His captivating smile and those piercing blue eyes gave him an air of danger and mystery she couldn't ignore.
'No. This isn't the time to be thinking about such things.' Jess scolded herself, forcing her thoughts back to the grim reality she and her companions were facing.
She steeled her resolve, determined not to let herself be swayed so easily. Anything less would feel like a disservice to the memory of her fallen comrades.
Caleb noticed the shift in her mood and quickly realized he might have overstepped. 'It's hard to empathize with strangers,' he thought with a quiet sigh.
Stopping a meter away, he adopted a more serious expression. There was a time for charm and playfulness but now wasn't it.
"Just tell me a little about yourself... whatever you're comfortable with," he said with a casual shrug. "No pressure."
Though Caleb already knew her name, her city, and her occupation, thanks to his system, he was more interested in the personal details—the things his abilities couldn't uncover. Still, he was careful not to push her, especially under the circumstances.
Jess met his gaze, her mind racing for something to say that would satisfy his curiosity without being too revealing. She knew vague answers wouldn't do, but she wasn't ready to lay herself bare either.
After several long moments of thought, she sighed and finally replied. "I come from a small village in the south. It's a quiet place, or at least it was before a dungeon appeared in the vicinity and the raids started.
"My family is long gone… but I've been on my own for a while, so I've learned to manage." She paused, her tone steady but distant. It sounded like she was recounting facts rather than memories.
"I'm not sure what else to tell. I was trained as a scout, mostly to survive rather than for any grand purpose. The group I was with… they were the closest thing I had to a family." Her voice faltered for a moment before she shook her head.
Jess met Caleb's gaze, her expression firm. "And I intend to honour their memory. That's what keeping me on my feet."
Caleb stayed silent, his expression unreadable as Jess spoke. Her story wasn't unfamiliar—countless others in this world shared similar fates—but that didn't make it any less tragic.
He knew that pain too well; the former Caleb had been an orphan, left to navigate a harsh reality on his own.
'This world is far more messed up than it looks. It's not all sunshine and rainbows,' he thought grimly. Unlike the tales he'd once read, filled with neat endings and grand adventures, this was raw, unfiltered reality.
These weren't fictional characters with scripted fates—they were real people, each carrying burdens heavier than anyone should bear.
The realization struck him harder than he expected, a sobering reminder of just how naïve he'd been. 'At least I'm seeing it for what it is now, he reflected, grateful for the clarity.'
Looking at Jess, standing resolute despite her pain, Caleb felt an unexpected wave of respect. She wasn't just a survivor; she was a testament to the resilience this world demanded.
"I apologize for my earlier behaviour. It was uncalled for," Caleb said, his tone sincere as he bowed slightly to the cat woman. Afterwards, he took a few steps back, giving her space.
"Don't be. This is just how things are…" Jess replied, her voice softer now. She stepped away from the tree and made her way back to her companions. She didn't feel like saying anything more, and Caleb respected her silence.
As Jess settled beside her sleeping comrades, Caleb remained where he was, lost in his thoughts.
'A world not of adventure, but one of survival,' he mused grimly, his fists clenching at the weight of the realization.
His cheat ability gave him an edge no one else had. The power to manipulate genes was a force beyond comprehension.
With a simple wave of his hand, he could rewrite someone's destiny—whether to save or ruin it, as he had done to the Baron.
The sheer magnitude of his power hit him like a cold wave. It wasn't just an advantage; it was a responsibility.
He held the threads of people's lives in his grasp, a frightening reminder of how easily it could corrupt him.
'If I'm not careful, I could lose myself to this... turn into someone who sees themselves as a god,' Caleb thought, his expression darkening.
The temptation to wield such power recklessly was there, lurking at the edges of his mind. But he knew better than to give in.
'I need to stay grounded. For their sake... and mine.'