Jax followed Gelkrin towards the wagon, trying not to let the weight of the situation overwhelm him. With each step, he could feel the subtle exchange of messages between the dwarf and Nia, though he couldn’t understand their words. He could sense their focus was on him, and something in the air told him that Nia was revealing details about him to Gelkrin. It was strange, this sixth sense that had manifested within him, as though his mind was stretching in ways it hadn’t before. But the cold, bitter truth kept gnawing at him: he was bound to these people, and there was nothing he could do about it.

As they reached the wagon, Gelkrin turned to face him, his eyes locking onto Jax's as he spoke sharply, "So, Jax, I’m sure you have questions. This is your chance. I’m a busy man, and I don’t like wasting time. Do you have any questions about the contract or your duties?"

Jax's heart skipped, and for a moment, he felt like he might crumble under the pressure. He had expected to be dismissed, to be ignored or belittled, but Gelkrin was openly inviting him to speak. It was a kindness, or at least it seemed like one, but it didn’t make the situation any easier. He forced himself to speak, his voice tight. "I’m a bit disoriented, actually. I didn’t even know how to absorb the crystal."

Gelkrin's gruff voice rumbled with a nod. "Yeah, new spirits can be a bit slow on the uptake, but this is the first time I’ve met one who couldn’t do something that should come naturally. I was worried you were broken, but we all saw you enter our realm. The blast flipped our cart and nearly killed the boys."

Jax smiled stiffly, the corners of his mouth twitching as he tried not to betray how raw everything felt inside. It was hard to swallow the feeling of utter helplessness. He knew what this was. He was nothing more than a tool to them, just another spirit bound to a contract they controlled. He shifted on his feet, his voice barely above a whisper as he asked, "Actually, if you don’t mind, there’s the contract. There were some parts I didn’t understand."

Gelkrin motioned for him to continue, and Jax pressed on, each word heavy in his mouth. "Well, it said you get 49% of my experience, and I get food, lodging, and 10% of all looted goods."

Gelkrin nodded, urging him on. Jax’s thoughts spun as he finally got to the heart of the matter.

"The issue is," Jax’s words faltered, but he forced them out, "I don’t know what some of those terms mean. What is Exp? What’s loot, and how do we get it? Are those percentages a lot? Is this type of contract normal?"

Gelkrin's expression shifted slightly, a sigh escaping him before he gave his answer. "Well, first off, I’m no teacher, but I don’t need a useless newborn either, so I’ll give you the rundown. Listen well, because I won’t repeat myself."

The dwarf walked toward the wagon and, with a flicker of light, heaved it effortlessly with his glowing hands, flipping it over. "You’re a Spirit, Jax. Not sure what type, but the collar didn’t work on you. Means you’re like those fairies." He gestured to Nia, who fluttered nearby. "Nia’s a wind spirit, bound to me like you are. She entered her pact willingly and negotiated terms that worked in her favor. But you and her, and the two Gongs, are my contracted subordinates. As long as my orders don’t break the terms of our contract, you’ll follow them. Your contract? Very weighted in my favor." Gelkrin paused, seeming uncomfortable for a moment before pushing forward. "Experience is how you level up. You get it from killing creatures, constructs, or spirits—anything with a level. There are other ways to get it, but for now, that’s your best bet."

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Jax felt his stomach tighten, the idea of taking life to grow stronger weighing heavily on him, but he didn’t let it show. Not yet. "Okay," he said, forcing his voice to remain steady, "but how do I level? If I get experience, how do I actually level up?"

Gelkrin’s smile was tight. "As long as you meet the requirements, stay healthy, and avoid negative status effects, you level up. It just happens. You don’t have to do anything special."

Jax’s heart sank. So there was no choice in it. He was a thing to be used, to be pushed to grow, without any say in the matter. His mind raced, but he tried to keep his face neutral as Gelkrin continued.

"As for how we’re going to get loot and experience, we’re going to war."

Jax’s chest tightened, and for a moment, he couldn’t breathe. He didn’t want to hear it. The thought of battle, of violence—he could already feel the dread clawing at him. But he couldn’t afford to break down. Not here. Not now. He kept his expression flat, though his mind screamed at him to run, to escape. Gelkrin’s voice broke through his thoughts.

"Not a large war, mind you. But the six of us will raid a nearby camp and acquire a few Gongs."

The words hit like a punch to the gut. A raid. An ambush. He swallowed the bile that rose in his throat and forced himself to keep his posture steady, even as his hands shook slightly.

"The camp we’re raiding is underground. They’ve taken over one of the mineshafts here, and they’re causing trouble for the local company. We’ll travel a day out, meet some associates and enter through a passage I know, then push back and raid them."

Jax nodded, the motion slow, as if each muscle in his body was fighting the instinct to run, to scream. He tried to focus on the present, on what he had to do, but the suffocating weight of his helplessness loomed large in his chest.

Gelkrin motioned for Jax to get on the wagon, and he obeyed, his legs feeling like lead. The back of the wagon was sparsely packed—just a dwarf-sized pack with a bedroll strapped to the outside. They were traveling light. It was clear they didn’t expect this to be a long journey, but for Jax, every step felt like an eternity.

Gelkrin walked around the wagon, while Jerg, the other Gong, joined him in the back. Jerg didn’t even acknowledge him, his face unreadable. Nia flitted around Gelkrin, and Jax sat on the back of the wagon, staring at the distant city. He saw Durg burying the woman, Samantha, in the distance. Even from here, Jax could see the collar around Durg’s neck, a dark black ring glowing ominously around his aura as he walked away into the city.

Jax’s mind raced. He couldn’t break now. He couldn’t let himself fall apart. But as he glanced at his status, the reality of his situation set in. He was trapped. And unless he found a way to escape this chain, he was at the mercy of these men. The weight of it all pressed down on him, and he had to force himself to focus on the only thing that kept him going: survival. But even that felt like a betrayal of everything he stood for. One thing was certain, he would keep fighting. He didn't have it in him to quit, but for now he had to plan.