Chapter 4: The House of Quiet Lies

  Ren woke to the smell of clean linen and something faintly floral—lavender, maybe. His eyelids felt heavy, glued shut with the residue of whatever had knocked him out in the Quartz Veil. The migraine was still there, a dull hammer tapping the inside of his skull, but it had dulled to something bearable.

  He opened his eyes.

  The ceiling above him was high and beamed with dark polished wood. Soft morning light filtered through gauzy white curtains. This wasn’t the damp cabin, nor the glittering wreckage of the crystal forest. This was… a bedroom. A real bedroom. Large enough that the furniture looked almost lonely.

  He sat up slowly. The sheets slid off him like water. He was wearing soft gray sleep clothes—loose tunic and pants—that felt far too clean and expensive against his skin. No armor. No blindfold. His hair felt different too: still that sharp, jagged cut with the single front twist braid, but it was neatly combed, no dirt or blood crusted in it.

  Ren swung his legs over the side of the bed. His bare feet met cool hardwood. He stood, wobbly, and crossed to the nearest window.

  Outside stretched a wide, manicured yard. Perfectly trimmed hedges framed a gravel path that wound toward a stone fountain. Beyond that, more lawn, then a low iron fence, and finally rolling green hills dotted with distant estates. No quartz pillars. No roaring Warden Beasts. Just… normal. Rich-person normal.

  He pressed his palm to the glass. The coolness grounded him for a second.

  A soft knock came at the door.

  Before he could answer, it opened. A young woman in a crisp black-and-white maid uniform stepped inside carrying a silver tray with a teapot and cup. She had her dark hair pinned up neatly and offered a small, practiced curtsy.

  “Good morning, Young Master Ren. I’m glad to see you awake.” Her voice was gentle, almost careful. “You were brought in quite late last night. Lady Aliza said you’d had… an episode.”

  Ren blinked at her. Young Master? Aliza?

  He realized he was staring and quickly looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. “Uh… yeah. I’m awake. Thanks.”

  She set the tray on a small side table. “Would you like tea? It’s chamomile—helps with headaches. Or I can bring something stronger if you prefer.”

  “No, chamomile’s… fine.” He forced a small nod, still feeling like an intruder in someone else’s body.

  The maid poured the tea with steady hands. As she handed him the cup, her eyes flicked briefly to his face—searching, maybe worried—before dropping again. “You look pale, sir. Shall I fetch the physician?”

  “I’m okay,” Ren said quickly. Too quickly. “Just… need a minute.”

  “Of course.” She curtsied again. “Your family is already at breakfast in the dining hall whenever you’re ready. Please ring if you need anything.” She gestured toward a small brass bell on the nightstand, then slipped out as quietly as she’d come.

  Ren stood there holding the warm cup, steam curling against his chin.

  He crossed to the full-length mirror beside the wardrobe.

  The person staring back wasn’t wearing traveling gear or glowing violet aura. Just the soft sleep clothes. No blindfold. His eyes—ordinary dark brown, no cosmic void swirling in them—looked tired. Haunted. The twist braid hung forward like always, but the rest of his hair was softer, cleaner.

  He reached up and touched the space where the blindfold usually sat.

  So they were right, he thought. It really was just for show. Or maybe… it really does suppress something when it’s on.

  He exhaled slowly. The reflection exhaled with him.

  After changing into a simple dark shirt and trousers he found laid out still too nice for his taste, he stepped into the hallway. Polished floors. Framed paintings of stern-faced people in robes of light. The house smelled faintly of wax and flowers.

  He followed the murmur of voices downstairs.

  The dining room opened through double doors. A long table gleamed under a chandelier. Three people sat at one end.

  A small girl—maybe eight—looked up first. Big eyes, same dark hair as him but in two neat braids tied with blue ribbons. She lit up.

  “Big brother!”

  She slid off her chair and ran over, hugging his waist before he could react.

  “Yui?” The name slipped out automatically. It felt right on his tongue, even though he had no memory of saying it before yesterday.

  “You’re finally awake! You slept forever.” She tilted her head back to look at him. “Your face looks funny. Did you have a nightmare again?”

  Ren managed a weak half-smile. “Something like that.”

  An older girl—maybe seventeen or eighteen—sat with perfect posture, fork paused halfway to her mouth. She had sharper features, long hair pinned half-up. Aliza, he guessed. She gave him a quick, assessing glance, then returned to her plate.

  At the head of the table sat a woman who could only be their mother. Elegant, composed, dressed in soft cream and gold. Her hair was swept into a low bun. She set her teacup down gently.

  “Ren. Good morning.” Her voice was warm, but there was a thread of concern underneath. “You worried us last night. Aliza said you collapsed near the garden gate.”

  Ren shifted his weight. “Sorry. I… didn’t mean to.”

  “Come sit,” she said, gesturing to the empty chair beside Yui. “You need to eat something.”

  He obeyed, feeling like he was moving through someone else’s script.

  Yui immediately pushed a small plate of sliced fruit toward him. “I saved you the best strawberry. It’s really sweet.”

  “Thanks, Yui.” He took it, popping it into his mouth mostly to have something to do.

  The conversation stayed light—Yui chattering about a butterfly she’d seen, Aliza making quiet replies. Their mother listened with a soft smile, occasionally brushing a strand of hair from Yui’s face.

  Then the front doorbell rang—distant but clear.

  A butler appeared in the doorway a moment later. Older man, immaculate suit. “Pardon the interruption, my lady. Miss Lyra and Miss Vex are at the door. They wish to see Young Master Ren.”

  The mother’s smile tightened just a fraction. She set her napkin down. “Again?”

  Ren felt his stomach drop.

  The mother glanced at him, then back at the butler. “Tell them he’ll be out shortly.”

  The butler bowed and withdrew.

  Yui tilted her head. “Are Lyra and Vex coming to play again? What do you guys even do when you go out with them? Is it secret big-kid stuff?”

  Aliza coughed lightly into her napkin. “They just… hang out at the old observatory in the east quarter, Yui. You know, looking at stars and things.”

  Ren stared at his plate.

  Their mother sighed—soft, almost fond, but edged with disapproval. “Ren, sweetheart… I know you like your friends, but those girls come from… very different circumstances. I’m not saying they’re bad people. I just worry they pull you into situations that aren’t safe. Or suitable.”

  She reached over and touched his wrist gently. “I want better for you. For all of you.”

  Ren nodded mutely. He didn’t know what to say.

  “I have to take Yui to her harp lesson in the Upper District,” the mother continued. “The teacher is very strict about punctuality, and Yui’s been improving so much.” She smiled down at the little girl. “Right, darling?”

  Yui pouted. “But I wanna stay with Ren today…”

  “You’ll see him tonight,” her mother promised. “Ren has plans with his friends anyway. Isn’t that right?”

  Ren swallowed. “…Yeah.”

  The mother stood, smoothing her dress. “We’ll be back before supper. And Ren—” She paused, looking at him with quiet firmness. “Please try not to come home so late again. The gates are locked after midnight for a reason.”

  She took Yui’s hand. Yui gave Ren one last hug around the waist before being led away.

  Silence settled over the dining room.

  Aliza waited until the front door closed.

  Then she leaned back in her chair and looked at him.

  Aliza raised an eyebrow. “You’re welcome. But you owe me.” She studied him for a beat. “Uhhh you’re welcome, for covering up for you.”

  Ren looked at Aliza confused.”Th…thanks?”

  “You’re quieter than usual. Even for you. And you look… lost.”

  Ren rubbed his temple. “Head’s still sore. That’s all.”

  She didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t push. “Just… be careful out there. Whatever you’re really doing.”

  Ren stood. “I will?”

  He walked out of the dining room on unsteady legs.

  In the foyer, Lyra was bouncing on her toes while Vex stood with arms crossed, speaking quietly to the butler. The butler spotted Ren and stepped aside with a small bow.

  Lyra’s face lit up. “There he is!”

  Vex gave him a quick once-over—sharp, assessing. “You look like death warmed over. Ready?”

  “Yeah…,” he said quietly. “Let’s go.”

  He stepped outside into the bright morning light, the heavy front door closing behind him with a soft, final click.

  The morning sun was already climbing, turning the gravel path outside the estate gates into a pale ribbon of light. Ren walked between Lyra and Vex, hands shoved deep in his pockets, still dressed in the plain dark shirt and trousers from breakfast. He felt exposed without the familiar weight of armor, but he wasn’t ready to reach for anything more yet.

  Lyra was practically vibrating with energy, skipping every third step. “Okay, so first things first—we need gold coins. That Warden kill yesterday for our quest should be handed in it is a platinum rank quest so it should give us the money we need.”

  Vex glanced sideways at Ren. “You’re still pale. Sure you’re up for walking all the way to the guild?”

  “I’m fine,” Ren muttered. “Just… trying to keep up.”

  They followed the winding cobblestone road down from the wealthy hillside estates toward the lower districts. Carriages clattered past, merchants shouted about fresh bread and charmed trinkets, and somewhere a street performer’s lute drifted over the noise. It felt almost normal—if normal included two girls who treated him like he was supposed to be terrifying.

  After a few minutes of comfortable quiet, Lyra suddenly stopped dead in the middle of the path.

  “Wait wait wait.” She spun toward Ren, eyes bright. “Why are we walking? You can just—” She made a dramatic swirling gesture with both hands. “Y’know. Do the thing.”

  Ren blinked. “The thing?”

  “Teleportation, dummy!” Lyra laughed, punching his shoulder lightly. “You’ve done it like a hundred times. We pop through a shadow rift, step out right in front of the guild hall, boom—done. No sore feet.”

  Ren stared at her, then at Vex, who was watching him with that same careful, measuring look she’d had since the forest.

  “…Teleport?” he repeated slowly.

  Vex raised an eyebrow. “You’re really not messing with us right now, are you.”

  Ren rubbed the back of his neck and thought to himself. “I mean… I don’t know how. Or if I even can. Last time I tried to make a light I almost blew up the forest.”

  Lyra’s mouth opened, then closed. Then she grinned wider. “Okay Ren just transform. Get suited up so we can get out of here.”

  “Transform,” Ren echoed, feeling like he was repeating words in a language he half-understood.

  “Yeah! You know—” Lyra struck a ridiculous pose, arms out. “Darkness envelops me, starlight forges my shell, blah blah blah. You always say something dramatic and then the armor just… appears.”

  Ren looked down at his plain clothes. “I don’t… remember any dramatic words.”

  Vex sighed. “ you must be having a serious case of amnesia, just try to think ‘armor’ really hard or something. Worst case, nothing happens and we keep walking.”

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Ren exhaled through his nose. *Okay. Armor. Darkness. Whatever.*

  He closed his eyes.

  Nothing.

  He opened them again. “Uh…”

  Lyra groaned dramatically. “Come onnnn. Say something cool! You used to yell stuff like ‘Eclipse devours the false dawn!’ and then boom—void suit.”

  Ren’s face heated. “I’m not yelling that.”

  “Then just… think it,” Vex said, softer. “You don’t have to perform. Just want it.”

  Ren stared at the ground. In his head, a single clear image formed—not words, just a feeling. Black tide rising from his ankles, cold starlight threading through his bones, plates clicking into place like they’d always belonged there.

  He didn’t speak out loud.

  But the darkness listened anyway.

  It started at his boots—inky shadow crawling upward like spilled ink reversing gravity. It wrapped his legs, hardened into matte-black greaves etched with faint violet constellations. The tide climbed his torso, chestplate forming in liquid pieces that snapped together with metallic whispers. Gauntlets swallowed his hands. A high collar rose around his neck, then a cloak of rippling void unfurled from his shoulders.

  The transformation settled with a final, quiet snap of energy. Violet motes drifted lazily from the edges of his armor, and the air around him felt thicker, heavier, like the prelude to a storm.

  Lyra clapped once, delighted. “There he is! See? You didn’t even need the cheesy lines.”

  Ren lifted a gauntleted hand, flexing the fingers.

  Vex nodded once. “Good weird. Now the portal.”

  Ren looked at his palm and extended his hand.

  Nothing happened. Ren then muttered the words. "Come on."

  Lyra saw the stress on his face then calmly said. "You know what, how about we just walk."

  Ren then put down his hand and looked at his palm.

  "It may be long but but we need the cardio anyway." Lyra said to Ren with a smile.

  Once they came close to the kingdom through the gate they walked through side street just off the main thoroughfare. A few paces ahead they walked through alley and it then opened into a wide plaza buzzing with people—adventurers in mismatched armor, merchants with pushcarts, kids chasing each other between legs. Dominating the far side of the square stood a three-story building of weathered gray stone and dark timber. A massive wooden sign hung above the double doors: a golden griffin clutching a sword and shield.

  The Adventurer’s Guild – Glintreach Branch.

  Vex adjusted the straps on her dagger belt. “Let’s go. Turn in the Warden proof first, then pick something new.”

  They crossed the plaza. Heads turned as they passed—some curious, some wary, a few openly staring at the figure in void-black armor trailing violet motes like dying embers.

  Inside, the guild hall smelled of old leather, ale, and wood smoke. Long notice boards covered one wall, parchment quests pinned in chaotic layers. Tables were scattered across the floor; groups of adventurers laughed, argued, nursed mugs. A wide reception counter ran along the back, manned by three clerks.

  Vex led them straight to the leftmost counter where one of the guilds clerks sat a young woman with auburn hair tied in a loose ponytail was sorting request forms. She looked up—and froze when she saw Ren.

  Her cheeks pinked instantly.

  “R-Ren?” she said, voice going higher than she probably meant. “You’re… here. I mean—of course you’re here, you’re an adventurer after all, ha ha…”

  Lyra stepped half in front of him, arms crossed, smile sweet but eyes narrowed. “Heyyyy Mira. We’re just dropping off the proof from yesterday’s Warden contract. Big bounty. You know the one.”

  Mira blinked, smile faltering for half a second before she recovered. “Right! Yes! Of course.” She reached for the ledger, fingers fumbling the edge. “Um… you look… well. I mean, tired. Were you hurt? Do you need the medic on duty? I can call—”

  “We’re fine,” Lyra cut in, tone just a shade too bright. “Ren’s great. Super great. Never better. Just here for the money and maybe a new board quest.”

  Mira’s gaze flicked to Ren again, soft and hopeful. “If you ever… need anything. Potions, maps, or… just someone to talk to—”

  “Money first, please,” Lyra said, sliding the small crystal core from the Warden across the counter. It pulsed faintly cyan.

  Mira swallowed, nodded quickly, and started counting coins into a heavy pouch. Her eyes kept darting back to Ren every few seconds.

  When the transaction finished, Vex took the pouch and jerked her head toward an empty table near the back. “Go sit. I’ll check the board for something worth our time.”

  Ren and Lyra claimed the table. Ren sat with his back to the wall—old habit from too many years of watching doors. Lyra dropped into the chair opposite him and leaned forward on her elbows.

  “So,” she said, voice low and teasing. “Mira’s still got it bad for you.”

  Ren stared at the table grain. “Didn’t notice.”

  Lyra snorted. “Sure you didn’t. She practically melts every time you walk in. You gonna do anything about it?”

  “No.”

  Lyra poked his gauntlet. “You’re no fun when you’re brooding.”

  “I’m not brooding. I’m… processing.”

  Vex returned a, dropping a rolled parchment onto the table.

  “Got something,” she said. “celestial rank. Missing caravan out near the Ashen Canyons. Last seen three days ago. Pay’s decent, and the client’s desperate. No one else is touching it because of the wyrm sightings.”

  Lyra perked up. “Wyrms? Like, actual fire-breathing wyrms?”

  “Juvenile ones, probably. Still nasty.”

  Ren looked at the parchment, then at the two of them.

  He didn’t feel ready.

  But he also didn’t feel like going back to that too-quiet house.

  “…Let’s take it,” he said quietly.

  Lyra grinned like she’d won a bet.

  Vex nodded once. “Then we gear up and leave.

  Ren leaned back in the chair, violet motes still drifting faintly from the edges of his armor, the weight of the void cloak settling around his shoulders like it had always been there.

  Across the hall, a burly man with a scarred face and a warhammer strapped across his back peeled himself away from his table. He lumbered over with the easy confidence of someone who’d broken more noses than most people had shaken hands. Trailing a step behind was his teammate—a wiry archer with green-dyed hair pulled into a messy topknot, quiver rattling softly with every stride.

  The big man stopped at the edge of their table, planted both meaty hands on the wood, and leaned in just enough to make the table creak.

  “That’s him, right?” he boomed, voice carrying like he was still yelling over a battlefield. “The monster among monsters. Ren! How you doing’, you depressing bastard?”

  Ren glanced up, then back down at the parchment Vex had dropped. “Uhh… fine.”

  The scarred man barked a laugh that rattled nearby mugs. “Come on, Ren. We know you’re the strongest one here, but you don’t have to act like this—sittin’ there all quiet and broody like the rest of us are beneath ya.”

  The green-haired archer elbowed his partner in the ribs. “Ease up, Garrick. Kid looks like he just crawled out of a grave.”

  “Kid?” Garrick snorted. “This ‘kid’ turned a dozen giant Cinder-Gnats into glitter last month. I saw the crater myself. Looked like someone dropped a falling star on ‘em.”

  Ren shifted in his seat. The attention felt like sandpaper on skin. “It… wasn’t that dramatic.”

  Garrick grinned, showing a gold-capped tooth. “Humble now, too? Gods preserve us.” He straightened up and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Oi! You lot—come say hello to the man who makes gods sweat!”

  Heads turned from nearby tables.

  A woman in battered plate armor with a longsword propped against her chair raised her tankard in a lazy salute. “Ren. Still alive, I see. Disappointing.”

  Her tablemate—a lanky mage with smoke-stained fingers and a perpetual squint—chuckled. “See you completes tha quest bet you punched that Warden into next week huh?”

  Ren opened his mouth, closed it. “Something like that.”

  The mage whistled low. “Respect. Most of us would’ve run screaming. Name’s Elias, by the way. If you ever need someone to set the ashes on fire after you’re done, I’m your man.”

  From another corner, a pair of twins—both with silver-streaked hair and matching curved blades—stood up in unison. The one on the left spoke first.

  “We’re betting on how long it takes before the Sun Gods put a real bounty on your head,” she said, voice cool and even.

  Her brother smirked. “We’re taking the under on six months."

  Lyra leaned forward, eyes sparkling with mischief. “You two want in on the pool? I’ve got three silver on ‘never.’ Ren’s too slippery.”

  Vex shot Lyra a look that could’ve cut glass. “We’re not running a gambling ring here.”

  Garrick laughed again, louder this time. “See? That’s what I like about you three. Always entertaining.” He clapped a hand on Ren’s armored shoulder—hard enough that most people would’ve staggered. Ren didn’t budge.

  “Seriously though,” Garrick said, lowering his voice a notch, “you ever need backup on something ugly, you say the word. Me and Tobin here—” he jerked his head toward the archer “—owe you one after that mess in the Black Mire last spring. You pulled our asses out when the ghouls swarmed.”

  Tobin gave a small, almost shy nod. “Yeah. Thanks for that.”

  Ren stared at the table for a second longer than necessary. “…No problem.”

  The scarred man straightened up, satisfied. “That’s all we wanted to hear. Don’t be a stranger, alright? World’s big enough for more than one monster.”

  He thumped the table once—gently, for him—and lumbered back toward his seat. Tobin gave Ren a quick two-fingered salute before following.

  The hall’s noise gradually returned to its normal rumble, though eyes still flicked their way more often than before.

  Lyra waited until the big man was out of earshot before leaning in with a grin. “See? You’ve got fans. Scary fans, but still fans.”

  Ren exhaled slowly. “I didn’t ask for fans.”

  Vex tapped the parchment between them. “You’ve got a job, though. Let’s focus on those. Wyrms don’t care about your reputation.”

  Ren looked down at the quest scroll again. The words blurred for a second—missing caravan, Ashen Canyons, juvenile wyrms—then sharpened.

  He nodded once.

  “Yeah,” he said quietly. “Let’s go and do it.”

  “Ren!”

  A boy practically slammed his palms onto the edge of their table, screaming the name with a grin so wide it looked painful. He stood with his hands on his hips, chest puffed out like he was posing for a heroic statue. Behind him, a young girl with a messy ponytail hovered nervously, shifting her weight from side to side and refusing to meet anyone's eyes. She kept glancing at Ren’s void-armor and then back at the floor, her face bright red.

  “We are coming with!” the boy announced, his voice echoing off the rafters.

  Vex’s hand instinctively dropped to the hilt of her dagger. Her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits, her annoyance radiating off her like heat. “Hey, kid. I don’t know who you are or why you’re screaming in my ear, but you don’t just march up to a sitting at a table and start making demands. You haven't even introduced yourselves.”

  The boy didn't flinch. “I’m Kael! The future’s greatest Vanguard! And this is my sister, Mia. She’s a mage—well, a trainee—but she’s fast! We see that use are going to take Ashen Canyon job. You’re going to need more bodies for a Celestial rank, and we’re the best you're gonna find!”

  Mia let out a small, horrified squeak and grabbed the back of Kael’s shirt, trying to pull him away. “K-Kael, stop it... they’re busy. Mr. Ren is... he’s busy...”

  Lyra leaned back, clearly enjoying the drama. “A Vanguard and a Mage? You guys look like you haven't even finished your first copper-rank rat hunt.”

  Before Vex could kick them out, a flustered Mira came sprinting from behind the reception counter, her auburn ponytail bobbing frantically. She skidded to a halt at the table, breathless.

  “I’m so sorry!” Mira gasped, “I... I forgot to ask you. These two, they've been pestering the desk all morning for a chance to shadow a high-rank team. They’re... they’re actually quite talented for their age, but they're a bit... enthusiastic.”

  Mira turned to the kids, her voice turning into a stern whisper. “Kael, I told you I would ask quietly! You can’t just scream at a Saint-tier adventurers!”

  “But he’s Ren!” Kael argued, pointing a finger at the black-armored boy. “If we’re gonna learn how to kill Wyrms, we have to learn from the guy who makes the rest of these people look like a bunch of nobods! Come on, Ren! Let us help! We’ll carry the bags, we’ll set up camp, we’ll do whatever!”

  Ren felt the familiar prickle of social anxiety crawling up his neck. He looked at Kael’s hopeful face, then at Mia, who looked like she wanted the floor to swallow her whole. They reminded him of... something. Something about being young and wanting to be part of a world that didn't want you back.

  Vex crossed her arms, her boot tapping impatiently on the floor. “The answer is no. We’re going into a Wyrm nest, not a daycare.”

  “Wait,” Ren said quietly.

  Vex and Lyra both turned to him, surprised. Ren looked at the kids, his voice steady. “You’re Mia?”

  The girl looked up, startled by her name. “Y-yes, sir.”

  “Can you handle the smell of blood?” Ren asked.

  Mia blinked, her expression hardening just a fraction. “I... I grew up on a farm. I’ve patched up livestock my whole life. I won't faint.”

  Ren turned his gaze to Kael. “And you. If a Wyrm charges, will you stand your ground, or will you get my friends killed because you wanted to look like a hero?”

  Kael’s smile dropped, replaced by a look of dead-serious determination. “I’ll be your shield, even if it breaks me. I promise.”

  Ren looked at Vex. She looked like she wanted to scream, but she saw the look in Ren’s eyes—the look of someone who was tired of being the only "monster" in the room.

  Vex sighed, rubbing her temples. “Fine. But if they get eaten, I’m telling their mother it was your fault.”

  The group exited the Guild, the heavy doors thudding shut behind them. Kael was practically vibrating, his shadow dancing wildly on the cobblestones.

  “Alright, Ren! Do the thing!” Kael shouted, throwing his arms out. “Tear a hole in reality! Let’s get to the Canyons in three seconds!”

  Ren stood in the center of the plaza, looking at his gauntleted palm. He closed his eyes and tried to summon that “pulling” sensation he’d felt earlier. He pictured the jagged red rocks of the Ashen Canyons from the quest parchment.

  Nothing. He stood there for ten seconds in awkward silence while the market crowd stared.

  “Uh… it’s not working,” Ren muttered, his face heating up under his helmet.

  Vex sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. “It’s not going to work, Ren. Use your head. You haven’t anchored the destination. You can’t shadow-step to a place you’ve never stood in. We’re walking.”

  “Wait, seriously?” Ren looked at her. “I have to have been there before?”

  “Obviously,” Vex said, already starting down the street. “You’re a traveler, not a god. Well… not a teleporting one, anyway. Move it.”

  “Aww, man,” Kael slumped, his shoulders dropping. “Does that mean we have to use our *legs*? Like commoners? My heroic entrance is ruined.”

  “Shut up, Kael,” Mia whispered, grabbing the back of his shirt and hauling him forward. “Sorry, Mr. Ren. He… he doesn’t know when to stop talking.”

  Ren followed them, feeling a weird mix of relief and frustration. *Good. I don’t have to worry about accidentally dropping us into a volcano. But now I have to walk for four hours with a kid who thinks I’m a superhero.*

  The walk out of the city was slow. As the cobblestones turned to dirt, the noise of the market faded, replaced by the dry whistling of the wind.

  “So,” Vex said after an hour of walking. She was watching Kael and Mia carefully. “Usually, kids your age are busy failing math or chasing butterflies. Why are you two trying to get eaten by Wyrms? This isn’t exactly a playground.”

  Kael’s bravado faltered for the first time. He stopped posing and kicked a loose stone. “Our parents… they took out a loan. A big one. From a merchant guild in the Upper District to save the farm during the blighted harvest last year. The interest is… it’s bad. If we don’t bring back a heavy purse by the end of the month, they lose the land.”

  Mia nodded quietly, her knuckles white as she gripped her wooden staff. “Kael’s strong for his age. And I’m good at mending. We figured… if we could just shadow a team like yours, we could make enough to clear the debt in one go.”

  Ren stayed silent, but his chest felt tight. *Debt. Losing your home because of money.* *I died for a few thousand yen in an alleyway,* Ren thought. *These kids are willing to die for a farm. It’s the same everywhere, isn’t it? Different world, same nightmare. My dad would’ve sold our apartment for a bottle of whiskey if he owned it. These kids are fighting for their family… while I’m just lucky I’m not in a gutter.*

  “Well,” Lyra chirped, trying to break the heavy mood. “You picked the right person to follow. Ren eats monsters for breakfast. Right, Ren?”

  Ren looked at the two kids. They were looking at him with so much hope it made him want to throw up. “I… I’ll try not to let you get eaten.”

  By late afternoon, the air grew hot and dusty. They reached a small, crumbling cluster of homes at the edge of the canyons. The client, an old man named Horgus, met them at the gate. He looked like he was made of the same dust as the road.

  “The caravan was carrying our season’s ore,” Horgus rasped. “If we don’t get it back, the village won’t survive the winter. Stay in my guest house tonight. The Wyrms hunt by the lingering warmth of the rocks at dusk—it’s too dangerous to go now. You’ll head out at first light.”

  “I’m starving,” Vex announced once they dropped their bags in the small stone guest house. “Ren, take the kids and find something to eat. There’s a forest patch half a mile west. Bring back something with four legs and a lot of fat.”

  Ren nodded. It was an excuse to get away from Vex’s sharp eyes for a bit.

  Within ten minutes of entering the brush, they spotted a **Bristle-Back Boar**. It was huge, covered in thick, matted fur and tusks that looked like rusted daggers.

  “Stay back, sir!” Kael whispered, drawing a blunt training sword. “I’ve got this! Watch my footwork!”

  Ren leaned against a tree, his gauntleted arms crossed. He wanted to tell Kael to be careful, but he didn’t want to sound like he was doubting him.

  Kael charged. He was fast, but he moved like he was in a movie, not a fight. The boar roared and lunged. Kael planted his feet, his shield catching the tusk. *CRACK.* The impact sent the boy skidding back, his heels digging into the dirt.

  “Kael!” Mia cried out, her hands glowing with a soft, pale green light.

  “I’m fine!” Kael grunted. He dodged a second swipe, his blade clanging uselessly against the boar’s thick hide. He realized he couldn’t just hack at it. He waited for the boar to charge again, then twisted his body in mid-air, slamming his sword down onto the back of the boar’s neck with all his weight.

  With a final, desperate shove, he drove the metal home. The boar crashed down, shaking the ground.

  Kael stood over it, gasping, his face covered in dirt and a small cut bleeding over his eye. He looked back at Ren, his chest heaving. “Did… did you see that?”

  Mia ran over, already healing his bruised ribs. “You’re an idiot, Kael! You could have died!”

  Ren walked over slowly. He looked at the massive boar, then at the trembling boy who was trying so hard to be “brave.”

  “Good job,” Ren said. His voice was quiet, but it was honest. Kael’s face lit up like a Christmas tree.

  Back at the village, the smell of roasting boar filled the small stone house. They ate in relative silence by the dying fire.

  “We head out at dawn,” Vex said, cleaning her daggers. “Ren, you’re on first watch.”

  As the night deepened, they laid out bedrolls on the floor. Ren sat by the window, staring at the dark silhouettes of the canyons. He felt out of place—the armor, the power, the kids counting on him.

  “Hey,” a voice whispered.

  Ren jumped. Lyra had dragged her bedroll right next to his. Before he could say anything, she flopped down and rolled onto her side, her head resting near his knee.

  “It’s cold,” she murmured, her eyes half-closed. “The Calamity armor is basically a space-heater, right?” She scooted closer, her shoulder pressing against his leg.

  Ren froze. Oh god. My heart is beating so loud. Is this normal? Do people do this here? I can’t move. If I move, I’ll look weird. If I don’t move, am I a creep?

  “Lyra,” Vex’s voice sliced through the dark from the other side of the room. “Get back on your own mat before I pin your hair to the floor with a dagger. We have a long day tomorrow.”

  “You’re no fun, Vex!” Lyra pouted, but she rolled back to her spot.

  Ren let out a long, shaky breath. He looked back out the window at the silent rocks.