Kael stood in the shadows of the industrial yard, the metallic tang of blood still lingering in the air from Cassian's swift execution of the Chimera. The man—Cassian—sheathed his sword with a fluid, practiced motion.
"You have the Hart eyes," Cassian said, his voice a low rumble. "But you smell like a grave. A dead man walking."
Kael didn't flinch. He was too tired for posturing. "Who are you?"
Cassian smiled, a flash of white teeth in the moonlight. "A tourist. I was just passing through, smelled the stench of that beast, and decided to stretch my legs." He looked at the bisected monster. "Nasty things, Chimeras. Someone clearly wanted this area cleared. Or..." He looked back at Kael, his gaze sharp. "...they were waiting for something specific to crawl out a ground."
Kael's mind raced. A trap. For him? Or for whatever else might have escaped the Dragon Bones?
"What do you want?" Kael asked, keeping his voice flat.
"Information," Cassian said, stepping over a piece of smoldering Chimera flesh."
Kael said nothing.
"Relax, kid," Cassian chuckled, raising his hands. "I'm not a bounty hunter. I'm a freelancer. I don't care about the price on your head. I care about potential. The world is changing. The System is... evolving. People like you are the wrenches in the gears."
"What kind of wrench are you asked Kael.
"The kind that breaks the lock," Cassian smirked. He looked up at the sky. "The sun's coming up. You look like hell. Go home, get some sleep. We'll meet again, Kael Hayes. When you're ready to play with the big leagues."
Before Kael could respond, Cassian stepped back, dissolved into the shadows as if he were one with them.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
NEW CONTACT LOGGED: CASSIAN (NEUTRAL)
THREAT LEVEL: A (HIGH)
"Interesting," Sylara's voice whispered in his mind. "A Shadow Walker. And an old one. Be careful, boy. He sees more than you show."
Kael ignored her and turned toward the city. He had a return to make.
Lockwood Estate.
Kael moved through the garden like a ghost. The estate was quiet, the dawn just breaking over the horizon. He was exhausted, his mana low, his body aching, but he was home.
He climbed the trellis to Lyra's window, slipping inside. The room was dark.
"Lyra," he whispered.
A figure stirred in the bed. "Kael?" Lyra's voice was sleep-heavy, panicked. She sat up, "When did you come back? You waited... I was so worried."
"Shh," Kael said, moving to the bed. He was filthy, covered in dirt and blood, but he didn't care. He needed her. Not for comfort, but for utility. He needed to cement the bond.
He collapsed onto the bed next to her, burying his face in her neck. He let his weariness show, the trauma of the dungeon.
"It was bad," he murmured. "Sarae... he was there."
Lyra froze. "Your brother?"
"He tried to kill me," Kael lied—or rather, twisted the truth. "He saw me as a threat. A stain. I barely escaped. I need to get stronger, Lyra. I need to get strong enough to protect us."
Lyra's arms wrapped around him, her eyes tearing up. "I'll do anything, Kael. Anything."
Kael smiled into her hair.
"I know."
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
MANIPULATION SUCCESSFUL
BOND REINFORCED
He held her until she fell asleep. Then, he slipped out of bed.
He walked to the window, staring out the rising sun.
"System," Kael thought. "Status."
HOST: KAEL
LEVEL: 59 (C-RANK)
MANA: 2500/5000
XP TO NEXT LEVEL: 500
He was close. So close to B-Rank.
"Sylara," Kael thought. "Are you still there?"
"Always, boy," the vampire's voice echoed. "I see you returned to your cage."
"I need a training ground," Kael thought. "Somewhere I can level up without interruption. And I need a sacrifice."
"The dungeon collapse opened a sinkhole in the industrial district," Sylara said "Deep beneath the city, the sewers connect to the old subway tunnels. Forgotten places. Good for hunting rats... and other things."
Kael nodded.
He looked at the sleeping Lyra one last time. She was his shield. His key.
He turned and slipped out the window, heading for the shadows. He had work to do.