The town was still tense after the fight.
Rather, it became even tighter.
People still walked through the streets, but now every step was cautious, measured. The voices in conversation didn't falter as Rael and the girls went by—but they dipped, as if all of them had learned the price of careless words.
Vivi noticed first.
"…They're staring," she whispered, moving a little bit closer to Robin.
"They're measuring," Robin said, her eyes calm but alert. "Trying to figure out what kind of danger we pose."
Kaya hugged the cane tighter. "I don't like the way they look at us."
Rael walked before them with his hands relaxed and his loose-limbed ease. He didn't appear to be noticing anything.
"But he was listening to everything."
"We won't stay long," he said. "Get what we need. Leave."
Nobody disputed.
They walked past taverns, their signs splintered, their windows blacked out. A few sailors lingered in the shadows, their eyes narrowed, their vigilance renewed. No laughter echoed here, no boasts. The previous pirates had ensured that.
Fear had the tendency of spreading quickly.
---
# *A Town That Already Lost*
They stopped in a small supply store on the way out of the port. There was a crooked sign over the door, held up by a rusty chain.
The interior had the scent of aged wood and dried fish.
An elderly man stood behind the counter. He had shaky hands when he noticed Rael enter.
Rael laid out a small pouch of coins. "Food. Water. Bandages."
"Yes. Yes, of course," he repeated, nodding a little too quickly.
As he stocked up his goods, Vivi moved closer to Robin and whispered, "This is worse than that fight earlier."
"Because this place already knows that it is weak." Robin looked about the shop.
Kaya frowned. "What do you mean?"
Robin's voice remained low. "They've been wounded far too often. At some stage, people stop believing that things will change."
Rael heard them.
He didn't comment.
The old man prepared the final bundle and hesitated, his fingers clenching around the cloth.
"You had better leave before night," he said softly.
Rael stared at him. "Why?"
The man swallowed. "Because when the sun goes down. the wrong people come out," he said.
Rael nodded. Rael said,
They left without another word.
---
## *A Test Without Warning*
The streets became narrower as they walked back toward the docks.
Rael slowed his pace.
The girls were immediately aware of it.
"Something's wrong," Vivi muttered.
"Tell me what you feel," she asked.
Rael didn't respond to her question
Vivi focused, clenched jaw. "Eyes. Everywhere. Some scared. Some angry."
Kaya closes her eyes and takes slow breaths. "Fear. but it's not only of us. Like they are scared of what might happen next."
"Someone is following us. They are not good at hiding," Robin said, his eyes rising to the rooftops.
Rael smiled slightly. "Good."
Three figures stepped out in front of them, blocking their way. These were no rowdy pirates from earlier. These pirates wore cleaner clothes. Their gear was better maintained. Their gazes were more piercing.
One of them spoke up. "You caused some people to lose face today."
Vivi tensed. Kaya froze for half a heartbeat.
Rael stopped walking. "Then they should learn to behave."
The man chuckled. "This town doesn't belong to you."
Rael locked eyes with him. "It doesn't belong to you either."
The tension released.
"Get ready, Robin!" he screamed before acting, his arms bursting simultaneously from the ground in an effort to envelop one attacker's legs. However, Vivi did not wait.
She moved her position as Rael had taught her—to be balanced in the front, relaxed fingers.
She flicked.
The pebble landed on the man's wrist. Not hard enough to kill. Hard enough to make him scream and drop his sword.
Kaya hesitated
Then.
She recalled the weight. The angle. The slight step to the side.
The man swung wildly. Kaya didn't block. She redirected.
The cane hit his knee.
He fell.
The final attacker turned and ran.
Rael didn't pursue him.
"Why let him go?" Vivi asked, gasping for breath.
"So he tells others," Rael continued. "Fear works better when it spreads."
Robin gazed upon the fallen soldiers. "They'll think twice next time," he said.
Rael nodded. "That's awareness. You're learning
---
## *Leaving Before the Dark*
Just as they got to the boat, the sun was dipping low into the horizon. Clouds were rolling in slowly, thick and black.
Kaya was helpful in loading the supplies, her hands moving more steadily.
'I was frightened,' she said softly.
"You should be," Rael said. "Fear keeps you alive."
Robin looked at Kaya. "But you didn't freeze."
Kaya smiled faintly. "I remembered what you taught me."
Vivi looked at the town again. "Do you think this town has any chance of rebuilding?"
Rael paused. "Perhaps. But only if someone stronger than fear remains."
Returning to the surface, the
He pushed the boat away.
The docks receded into the shade.
---
# *Something Watches*
Far above the clouds—and far above the sea—
"There was a
It was not in one form or the other. It was not contained by shape or form. However, it notified.
A ripple propagated through nothingness.
A sound followed.
Laughter.
Soft. Curious
"Ohh… interesting," it murm
"A shard from it…"
The presence drew nearer to the world with heightened interest.
"How amusing."
The ocean remained peaceful down below.
Rael is standing in front of the boat, looking out toward the horizon, oblivious to all eyes being upon him.
Not realizing that a force outside of this world was also watching. Its reasons— Unknown. At least for now
---
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