The man's smile gave Nyric chills. It wasn't friendly—it was the grin of a hunter who'd already heard the trap snap shut.
"What's this?" Nyric asked again, voice harder now, eyes narrowing.
"A chance to grow stronger," the man replied smoothly. "And to leave this place in one piece."
Nyric's frown deepened. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what I said." The man turned away and strolled to the lone chair tucked beneath the table. He sat, crossed one leg over the other, and regarded Nyric with a cool gaze.
"You completed the mission I gave you. And I believe in fairness… even if it's rare."
He paused, inhaling as if savoring the thought. "The mark won't harm you. It's just a way to stay in contact."
Nyric's eyes narrowed. "Why would you want to contact me?"
"I'll need you for something," the man said with a casual shrug. "There'll be a reward, of course."
"For what?"
"I don't feel like disclosing that yet," the man replied, smile sharpening.
Nyric's eye twitched. What the hell does that even mean?
"You can't just do something like that without asking," he snapped. "If it were anyone else, they'd—"
He stopped. The man tilted his head, expression unreadable, silently daring him to finish.
Nyric forced a grin. "What if I say no?"
The man drew a slow breath and, without a word, produced a compass from his left hand.
Nyric blinked. His gaze flicked from the man's palm to his own body.
Where did he get that? There hadn't been any sleight of hand. He took it from me... when?
"Well," the man said, twiddling the compass, "I'll simply take this... and you can leave."
Nyric didn't move. He studied the man's face, trying to see past the charm and civility.
Something's off. Is he threatening me?
Too bad for him—I've memorized the path through the mist. With my veinfire, I can make it out. Might get bruised, maybe worse, but I'll survive.
Still... something gnawed at him.
"Alright," Nyric muttered. "What's in it for me this time?"
"Another essence crystal," the man replied, still toying with the compass.
Tempting, Nyric admitted silently. Another crystal would bring me closer to Form-walker. But it won't be enough. And this guy—he's too much of a trickster. I can't trust him. Not when I don't even know what he wants from me. It can't be another simple retrieval. That much I know.
The man watched him quietly, a faint smile curling on his lips as Nyric sank deeper into thought.
And honestly... I don't like his face.
Even if he seems to care about Kael, I can't stick around. Sorry, Kael. But I'm leaving you with him. You'll be fine.
Nyric looked up, his gaze resolute. The man's eyes were elsewhere—gazing absently at Kael.
Nyric cleared his throat. "Sorry, but I'll have to decline."
"Alright," the man said without missing a beat, waving a hand like brushing away a fly. "You can leave."
Rude, Nyric thought. Trying to manipulate me? Too bad. I've seen that kind of game before. Not biting.
He glanced at his wrists. No sign of a tattoo. Good.
Then he looked at Kael one last time.
Good luck, kid.
Nyric turned and jogged toward the exit. He paused in the doorway.
"Can I take another cloak?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder to gauge the man's reaction.
The man gestured lazily. "Go ahead."
Nyric grinned. He grabbed a purple cloak with black embroidered edges, slung it over his shoulders, and darted out, the fabric flapping behind him like wings.
Behind him, the man watched with a smile—dark, patient, knowing.
---
Nyric stood at the base of the gorge, staring up at the circular hole he'd crawled out of hours ago.
He brushed his hair back, letting the new cloak flap in the wind behind him like a banner.
A cocky grin tugged at his lips.
Cheeky bastard.
Thought I'd hang around just for a compass? Please. I'm not some fate-dragged idiot—I'm in control of my life.
He dropped into a crouch, muscles coiling.
Quiet now. Can't alert that snake.
With a smooth exhale, he leapt. Wind tore past him as he shot upward. As his arc peaked, he twisted midair, kicked off the rocky wall, and launched higher.
He soared through the opening.
Landing in a crouch a few meters from the edge, Nyric rose, cloak fluttering dramatically behind him. He stretched his arms and rolled his shoulders.
"That," he muttered, grinning, "was good exercise."
The ground answered with a low, ominous rumble.
His smile vanished. Instincts screamed. He froze.
The mist was shifting. Slithering.
It coalesced to his left, curling unnaturally like it was fleeing something.
The trembling grew stronger. A screech echoed through the fog—high, metallic, grating.
Nyric's breath caught. Veinfire flared down his legs, lighting the ground beneath him. He turned to leap—
Too late.
From the edge of his vision, something massive lunged from the mist.
Colossal. Serpentine. Stretching endlessly into the fog. Its head was a gaping void—no eyes, no nose, just a circular maw rimmed with spiraling rows of jagged teeth.
The creature's arrival scattered the mist like a bomb blast. Nyric vaulted into the air—
But not fast enough.
Teeth snagged the edge of his cloak. His momentum stopped with a violent jolt. He cursed as he felt himself dragged backward.
Veinfire surged around his feet. Explode.
Twin jets ignited beneath his boots, slamming against the beast's pull like twin rockets.
But the cloak held.
It tore—except for the edge with the embroidered pattern. That part clung on, acting like a cursed leash.
Nyric grit his teeth. His body hung in the air, caught between thrust and pull. Sweat beaded on his brow.
Damn it.
If I use a big technique now, I'll lose control midair.
Think. THINK.
His eyes darted to the hole behind the creature. A plan sparked.
Fine then, bastard.
Veinfire roared down his right arm, spiraling into his fist—shaping into a massive, glowing gauntlet. It pulsed with power like a living engine.
The jetburst beneath him strained, faltered.
He took a breath—and cut the veinfire on his leg.
The pull yanked him forward—straight toward the beast.
He didn't resist.
He spun with the momentum, body turning like a comet—and slammed the veinfire gauntlet down onto the creature's spiraled head.
A shriek. The monster hit the ground with a seismic crash, dragging Nyric down with it. Dust exploded skyward. The mist recoiled like waves from a stone.
Nyric hit the earth hard, rolled, and groaned—but was up in a heartbeat.
He tore the ruined cloak off and sprinted toward the gorge hole.
Behind him, the beast was already writhing like a nightmare reborn.
Nyric didn't look back.
He dove into the hole just as the creature lunged again.
The tunnel's narrow mouth stopped it cold. The beast slammed into the rock, sending violent tremors through the walls.
He hit the floor below with a thud, chest heaving, staring up at the entrance.
The creature snarled, crashing into the mouth repeatedly—but the tunnel held.
Damn snake. At least it can't fit through.
Though... it sure as hell can shake the whole place to pieces.
Time passed.
How long, Nyric wasn't sure.
Eventually, the thuds stopped. Silence settled in, broken only by the faint drip of water in the distance.
The bastard had given up.
Nyric sat up, leaning on his hands, head tilted back to stare at the ceiling. His body ached. His heart still pounded.
"I can't try that again," he muttered.
He turned his head slowly toward the shadowed corridor ahead.
No choice huh?