The soft creak of wood echoed in the small shelter as Ardyn shifted on the cold, damp floor. His barricade still held, though the gaps between planks allowed faint slivers of light from the outside. It wasn't much, but it was the safest place he had been in weeks.
Yet safety wasn't the same as peace.
New Quest Available:
Recruit an Ally. Reward: Leadership Skill – Tactical Awareness.
The glowing notification still lingered in his vision, as unyielding as his own stubbornness. He couldn't ignore it, even if he wanted to.
"An ally," he muttered, his voice low. "Because trusting someone worked so well last time."
His mind drifted to the arena, to the blood and screams. To the man he had betrayed to escape. Survival always demanded sacrifice, and Ardyn had learned to pay the price, no matter how steep. But the thought of doing it again—it left a taste like bile in his mouth.
Pushing the memories aside, he focused on the task. The System didn't give him quests for no reason. It wanted something, and that something probably involved keeping him alive.
Still, where in the hell was he supposed to find someone willing—or desperate enough—to follow him?
Drakmoor was a city of predators. Even the weak had sharp claws, honed by years of scraping for survival. If Ardyn was going to find an ally, he needed to find someone with no better options. Someone on the edge of breaking.
He moved through the alleys cautiously, sticking to the shadows. His shoulder still ached from the gash Garrin had left, but the bandages he'd stolen had stopped the bleeding. The ashfall was lighter now, though the air remained thick with the smell of decay.
The abandoned district where he had made his temporary shelter was a lawless place. Once a hub for merchants and travelers, it had become a no-man's-land after the rebellion. Now, it was home to scavengers, deserters, and people too broken to survive anywhere else.
If he was going to find someone, it would be here.
Ardyn's first lead came when he spotted a group of scavengers clustered near a collapsed building. They were arguing over a bundle of scrap metal, their voices carrying through the still air.
"Back off, Calden!" one of them snarled, a wiry man with a crude axe in hand. "You think you can take what's ours?"
A younger man—taller but thinner, with a hollow look in his eyes—stood his ground. His hands were empty, but his stance spoke of desperation.
"I'm not leaving without it," Calden said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "You've taken enough already."
The wiry man grinned, stepping closer. "And I'll take more if I feel like it. You don't have the balls to stop me, kid."
Ardyn watched from the shadows, his fingers twitching toward the dagger at his belt. This wasn't his fight, but it was an opportunity. The System wanted an ally, and Calden fit the profile: desperate, cornered, and just stubborn enough to stand his ground against someone stronger.
But stepping in meant risking a fight he didn't need.
System Notification:
Decision Point: Intervene or Observe. Efficiency will be judged.
Ardyn frowned. "Of course you're watching," he muttered.
The scavenger with the axe raised his weapon, his grin turning cruel. Calden didn't move, though his fists clenched at his sides.
Ardyn sighed. "Guess I don't have a choice."
The dagger flew through the air, embedding itself in the dirt between the two men. Both froze, their eyes snapping toward the shadows where Ardyn stepped out, his cloak shifting around him like the wings of some vengeful specter.
"That's enough," Ardyn said, his voice cold. "Walk away."
The wiry man laughed, though there was a flicker of unease in his eyes. "And who the hell are you supposed to be?"
"Someone who doesn't have time for your games," Ardyn replied. He pulled another dagger from his belt, letting it glint in the faint light. "But I'll make time if you'd like."
The man hesitated, his gaze darting between Ardyn and Calden. The tension hung thick in the air for a moment before he scoffed, lowering his axe.
"Fine. Keep your damn scrap." He spat at Calden's feet before turning to leave, his companions following close behind.
Ardyn waited until they were gone before retrieving his dagger. He turned to Calden, who stared at him with a mix of gratitude and suspicion.
"Why?" Calden asked, his voice hoarse.
"Because I need something from you," Ardyn said bluntly. "And because I'd rather not waste the effort killing you if I don't have to."
Calden blinked, caught off guard by the honesty. "What... what do you need?"
"An ally," Ardyn replied, his gaze sharp. "I'm building something. A place where the guilds can't reach. But I can't do it alone."
Calden's eyes narrowed. "And why would I trust you?"
"You don't have to," Ardyn said, slipping the dagger back into his belt. "But your other options are starving, getting beaten to death, or joining a scavenger gang that'll slit your throat the moment you stop being useful."
Calden didn't respond immediately, his jaw tightening. He glanced down at the bundle of scrap metal, then back at Ardyn.
"Fine," he said finally, though his tone was cautious. "But I'm not calling you 'boss' or anything."
Ardyn smirked. "Wouldn't expect you to."
The walk back to the shelter was tense. Calden kept his distance, his eyes darting around as if expecting an ambush. Ardyn didn't blame him. Trust was a luxury neither of them could afford.
By the time they reached the shelter, the sun was beginning to set, casting the city in shades of red and gold. The barricade still held, and the small fire Ardyn had built earlier crackled faintly in the corner.
"Not much," Calden muttered as he stepped inside, his eyes scanning the space.
"It's better than nothing," Ardyn said, sitting down near the fire. "And it'll get better. If you pull your weight."
Calden didn't respond, instead dropping the bundle of scrap metal in the corner. He sat down on the opposite side of the fire, his expression guarded.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was heavy, broken only by the crackle of flames.
Quest Complete:
Recruit an Ally. Reward Allocated.
Reward: Leadership Skill – Tactical Awareness Unlocked._
Ardyn's vision blurred briefly as knowledge flooded his mind—new ways to plan, predict, and act in combat. He clenched his fists, letting the warmth fade before glancing at Calden.
"This will work," Ardyn said finally. "But only if we make it work."
Calden nodded slowly, though the wariness in his eyes remained. "Guess we'll see."