My breaths came in ragged gasps, each exhale a desperate attempt to expel the turmoil within me. My heart pounded like a caged beast, clawing at my ribcage, struggling to break free. I stared at the lifeless body beneath me, disbelief and horror forming a noxious cocktail that poisoned my veins with dread. This was my first time taking someone's life. I had acted in self-defense, but the icy grip of reality tightened around my heart, leaving me breathless.

Eira's gaze pierced me, her eyes widening like the opening of a secret passage. She had clearly underestimated me, thinking I was nothing more than a weak beggar. The truth was, even I didn't fully understand the extent of my abilities. But now was not the time to dwell on such thoughts.

The other trespasser looked at me, a storm of confusion and fear brewing in his eyes. He hesitated for a moment, glancing back and forth between his fallen comrade and me. Instead of attacking, he questioned my identity, "Who the hell are you?"

But before I could respond, Eira intervened, her club cutting through the air like a guillotine. The man instantly blocked the attack, and their clash shook the already unstable hut. They coated themselves in aura as they continued to clash, breaking the hut apart. Amidst the debris and rubble, Eira gained the upper hand and landed a powerful blow on the neck of the perpetrator. The man crumpled to the floor, his neck twisted at a grotesque angle.

The room was silent, save for the ragged symphony of our breaths. My body trembled, as if it were a sapling in a tempest, my mind racing as I tried to process everything that had just happened. I felt a mixture of relief and revulsion, like I had just narrowly escaped the jaws of a ravenous beast.

Eira's voice sliced through the silence, a hint of amusement laced with her concern. "Well, look at you, Kael. I didn't expect you to have such a hidden weapon. That man was not simply holding you, his body was strengthened, what type of artifact do you have that can slice through him like butter? But I never would have guessed that you'd be so shaken up by using it."

I stared at the ground, my gaze tracing the lines in the floor like a lost wanderer, unable to meet her eyes. "I... I don't know. I just... I killed someone, Eira. I've never done that before."

She let out a soft laugh, like the rustle of leaves in a gentle breeze. "Well, welcome to the club. You did what you had to do. They would have killed us both if you hadn't acted. And you don't have to worry about it, that guy was just a puppet, his mind was already corrupted and enslaved to follow orders by that bastard Steve."

I let out a shuddering breath, trying to accept the reality of the situation like a bitter pill. "I guess you're right. But it doesn't make it any easier."

Eira smirked, her eyes flashing with a hint of mockery. "You need to toughen up, Kael. We're in a dangerous line of work. I'm honestly surprised, to think you've never killed anyone before, and here I thought you were some crazy bastard. Now get up, you've got to get over it and get used to it."

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat, my resolve hardening like cooling magma. Eira was right. We had a plan to carry out, a dangerous and potentially lucrative plan. We couldn't let this setback destroy our resolve.

"Alright," I said, my voice as steady as an anchor in a storm. "Let's clean up and get back to work. We have a mountain to climb if we're going to pull this off."

Eira gave me a small smile, her eyes shimmering with newfound respect. "Yeah. Let's do it."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"By the way, who are these lowlifes? They don't seem to be your average thugs."

Eira exhaled a pained sigh. "These guys worked for Steve. To think he'd send more men after me, after an incident, he's been hounding me relentlessly. These bastards hired me to research condensed energy, asking me to create it into a pathway. The audacity of these fiends, they have no clue how dangerous and tedious that is. They follow that bastard Steve like he's some divine figure. After some time, I decided it was too perilous even for someone like me and chose to leave with all my research. Now that I think about it, you know that bastard, don't you? You mentioned him earlier."

I feigned ignorance, as I already knew the story. I wrote it, after all, but I couldn't get myself involved with Steve. Steve is one of the antagonists that Mason will deal with in the future. There's no need to worry about him; he sent his men all over the nearby countries to get researchers. In the story, he sees no point in sending more people after Eira and focuses on his main goal.

"No, I don't know him. After you mentioned him earlier, I used his name as leverage to pressure you into working with me," I said, as I struggled to move the bodies out of the hut.

Eira gave me a frosty gaze. "I was planning on killing you earlier because of it. Next time you try to use leverage, think it through or you might end up dead."

"Yes, yes, I'll be careful. Now I have to ask," I gave Eira an icy stare and inquired in a chilly tone, "Do you have any food? I'm starving."

Eira rolled her eyes, looking exasperated. "You've got to be kidding me, Kael. Fine, I'll get you some food. But seriously, why do you have to sound so grave about it? Did you starve yourself?"

She rummaged through the debris and found a small chest that had miraculously survived the chaos. Opening it, she pulled out a few pieces of dried meat and reluctantly handed me half of her portion. "Here. It's not a feast, but it's better than nothing. Consider it a business expense."

I gratefully took the food, devouring it like a ravenous beast. It wasn't the most appetizing meal, but it was enough to stave off the gnawing hunger that had been plaguing me.

As I ate, Eira began to clean up the remnants of our brief but brutal encounter. She dragged the lifeless body outside, appearing quite fatigued. I couldn't help but admire her strength and resilience; although she's an engineer, being half-dwarf makes her physically more robust.

Once the hut was somewhat back in order, Eira turned to me, her weary eyes lifeless. "Alright, Kael. We've got a lot to do if we're going to pull off this plan of yours. What's the next step?"

I stood up, determination coursing through me. "I'll focus on the next step; I'll be heading uptown. You should find a new hideout and concentrate on creating more TSIs. Once you contact me, we'll assess our progress. Oh, and try to get some sleep; you're starting to look like you've aged a decade."

Eira sighed in relief, the weight of exhaustion evident in her voice. "You don't have to tell me twice. I'm going to pass out if I don't. I should be able to contact you in a day or so; I already have your TSIs MFA."

"Sounds good, but I have a serious question," I said with a cold voice. "Can I borrow some money? I need new clothes."

Eira raised an eyebrow, her eyes a swirling storm of amusement and annoyance. "You really are something, Kael. Fine, I'll give you some money. But don't make a habit out of it, okay? We're not running a charity here." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small pouch, tossing it to me.

I caught the pouch and peeked inside, finding enough coins to buy some decent clothes and perhaps a meal or two. "Thanks, Eira. I promise I'll make it up to you."

She waved her hand dismissively, her voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. "Just make sure this plan of yours works. That'll be more than enough to repay me."

I nodded, counting the coins like a goblin hoarding its treasure. "It will work, Eira. I'm a man of my word. I'll be going now; I need to find a place to sleep. Make sure to leave as soon as possible; I'm sure someone reported the commotion earlier."

Finally finding a bench on the other side of the market, I lay down and gazed at the night sky. This time, I saw three moons: a red-glowing orb that resembled a lunar eclipse, yet more dazzling and bright, overflowing with mana; and a white moon that looked like a giant glowing snowball, wrapped in a luminous white aura. The celestial sight was breathtaking, leaving me to wonder if I would ever have the chance to visit them or if I'll die beforehand, in this world only the strong survive.