Tau brushed off the dirt from his clothes, still feeling the adrenaline rush from his encounter with the bear. The hunter, a burly man in his late thirties, stood across from him, rifle still slung casually over his shoulder. He stared at Tau, his brows knitted together in confusion.
"Kid," the man began, breaking the silence. "How the hell are you still alive?"
Tau gave a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his head. "Uh… luck, I guess?"
The hunter shook his head, his gaze narrowing. "No, no, it wasn't just luck. I swear I saw that bear swipe at you three times. Each time, it was inches away from tearing you apart. But every time it got close, my eyes… twitched. Like something wasn't right."
Tau swallowed hard, his thoughts racing. Should he tell the truth? No, that'd be stupid. He barely understood what had happened himself. But before he could come up with a proper response, the hunter's eyes fell on his glowing ring.
The man's expression shifted, his eyes widening in realization. "Wait a minute," he said, pointing at the ring. "That's a Jewel, isn't it?"
Tau straightened his posture, a smug grin spreading across his face. "Of course it is," he said, lifting his hand to show off the glowing band. "Pretty impressive, huh?"
The hunter's brows shot up. "So that's what saved you. It's your Jewel's ability, isn't it?"
Tau puffed out his chest, feeling a surge of pride. "You got it. Honestly, I didn't even need your help. I could've easily taken that bear down by myself."
The hunter chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Well, excuse me for trying to save your life," he said, though his tone carried no malice.
Tau waved a hand dismissively, his grin widening. "Don't worry about it," he said, running a hand through his hair as if he were some kind of celebrity.
The hunter stepped closer, inspecting the ring with genuine interest. "I've seen a lot of Jewels in my time, but this is the first time I've seen one with an ability like that," he said. "It's incredible."
"Yeah, I know," Tau replied, his tone dripping with arrogance.
But then his gaze shifted, and he noticed something glinting around the hunter's neck. It was a necklace—a Jewel.
"Wait," Tau said, pointing at the necklace. "You've got a Jewel too? Why didn't you use it back there?"
The hunter glanced down at his necklace, his expression turning slightly sheepish. "Oh, this? My ability isn't exactly useful in a situation like that."
"What's your ability?" Tau asked, his curiosity piqued.
The hunter hesitated for a moment before replying. "Shield. I can create a barrier around myself, but it only works on me. I can't shield anyone else."
Tau frowned. "So you just stood there and let me deal with the bear while you had that up your sleeve?"
The hunter chuckled. "Hey, I didn't think you needed my help. You've got a pretty overpowered ability, kid."
Tau smirked. "Damn right I do."
Before the conversation could continue, the hunter's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and answered, his tone immediately shifting to something more serious. "Yeah? …Alright, I'm on my way."
He ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket.
"What was that about?" Tau asked.
The hunter glanced at him. "Work."
"Work?" Tau echoed. "What do you do, exactly?"
The man straightened his posture, a hint of pride in his voice. "I'm a Kai Worker. Name's Abel Certi."
Tau's eyes widened. He had heard of the Kai Workers. Everyone had. They were the front line of defense against the Karoriens, the monstrous alien races that threatened Earth. Jewel users were the most effective fighters among them, but even those without Jewels could join the fight as long as they were over eighteen.
"You're a Kai Worker?" Tau said, his voice filled with awe.
"That's right," Abel replied.
Tau fell silent for a moment, his thoughts swirling. At 21 years old, he was eligible to join the Kai Workers. He had always dreamed of doing something meaningful with his life, but until now, it had felt like an impossible goal. But now, with a Jewel of his own, the idea didn't seem so far-fetched.
"Hey," Tau said suddenly, his tone more serious. "Can you take me to the Kai Worker headquarters?"
Abel raised an eyebrow. "You want to join?"
"Yeah," Tau replied without hesitation.
Abel studied him for a moment before nodding. "Alright. I'll tell you where it is. But let me warn you—it's not going to be easy. Being a Kai Worker means risking your life every day. Are you ready for that?"
Tau nodded firmly. "I've never been more ready for anything in my life."
Abel smirked. "Alright, kid. Let's see what you've got."
As Abel began to explain how to reach the headquarters, Tau's mind raced with possibilities. For the first time in his life, he felt like he was on the verge of something great. He didn't know what the future held, but one thing was certain: he was ready to face it head-on.