Rez crouched low, his boots splashing softly in the shallow water as he ventured deeper into the aqueduct tunnels of Cloud Pass. The walls were damp and slick with moss, the air thick with a metallic tang. The faint echoes of dripping water created an unsettling rhythm, but Rez focused on the crude signs left behind—marks etched into stone, scraps of cloth tied to rusted pipes.

The entrance to the resistance’s hideout came into view: a heavy iron door set into the stone, partially obscured by a tangle of vines. Rez approached cautiously, his hand brushing against the hilt of his dagger, and rapped on the door three times.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then a narrow slit opened, revealing a pair of piercing green eyes.

“What do you want?” a gruff voice demanded.

Rez held up the map he had taken from the tavern brawl. “I’ve got information. Something you’ll want to see.”

The eyes studied him, unblinking, before the slit slammed shut. Rez heard muffled voices behind the door, followed by the groan of metal as it creaked open.

Inside, the resistance hideout was a mix of ingenuity and desperation. Makeshift tables were strewn with maps, blueprints, and weapons in various states of repair. Lanterns hung from the ceiling, casting flickering shadows across the room. A handful of resistance fighters stood ready, their hands on weapons, watching him with suspicion.

At the center of it all stood Mira. She was younger than Rez had expected, but her commanding presence left no room for doubt about her leadership. Her fiery red hair was pulled back in a braid, and her green eyes burned with intensity. Beside her was a tall man with a rifle slung over his shoulder—Eren, his face hard and unreadable.

“You’ve got guts walking in here,” Mira said, her voice sharp. “Most outsiders don’t even know we exist.”

Rez met her gaze evenly. “Most outsiders aren’t carrying this.” He unrolled the map and laid it on the nearest table. “The pirates are planning something big. These marked locations—they’re not random. They’re key to the city’s infrastructure.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Mira and Eren leaned over the map, their expressions darkening as they took it in.

“And why should we trust you?” Eren asked, his voice cold. “For all we know, you’re one of Foundry’s spies.”

Rez held up his hands. “If I were working for the pirates, I wouldn’t have walked into your den unarmed. I’d be lying in wait for the perfect moment to betray you. But here I am, offering help.”

Mira straightened, crossing her arms. “Help, huh? And what exactly can you do that we can’t?”

Rez’s lips quirked into a faint smile. “I’m an alchemist. You’ve got brains and brawn, but I can offer something you’re missing—tools to fight back.”

The room was silent for a moment, tension hanging thick in the air. Mira glanced at Eren, who shrugged but kept his hand on his rifle. Finally, she nodded.

“Fine. You’ve got five minutes to prove you’re not wasting our time. What’s your plan?”

Rez reached into his satchel, pulling out a small collection of vials and tools. “The pirates aren’t just after supplies. They’re after Etherium.”

Mira frowned. “Etherium? That’s just a myth.”

“It’s real,” Rez countered, holding up a vial filled with a faintly glowing liquid. “And it’s powerful. The pirates plan to use Etherium-powered weapons to enslave the city. But Etherium isn’t easy to find—it leaves behind a distinct disturbance in the environment. I can craft a device to detect it.”

Eren scoffed. “Sounds like a lot of fancy talk. Let’s see it.”

Rez didn’t respond to the jab. Instead, he focused on his work. He arranged a small crystal, a coil of copper wire, and a pinch of powdered Etherium on the table. Mixing the components with practiced precision, he muttered an incantation under his breath.

The device began to hum softly, its crystal glowing faintly. Rez held it up, and the glow pulsed, pointing toward a stack of crates in the corner of the room.

“That crate,” Rez said, nodding toward it.

One of the fighters opened the crate, revealing a cache of Etherium shards hidden among the supplies. A murmur of surprise rippled through the room.

Mira stared at the shards, then at Rez. “Alright, alchemist. You’ve made your point.”

Eren’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

“So,” Mira said, stepping closer. “You’re in. But let me be clear—you step out of line, and you’ll regret it. Got it?”

Rez nodded. “Crystal clear.”

Mira gestured to the rest of the resistance. “Everyone, gear up. If the pirates are planning to use Etherium against us, we need to act fast. Rez, you’re with me and Eren. Let’s see how useful you really are.”

As the resistance prepared to move out, Rez felt the weight of their expectations. He had taken the first step, but the real challenge was just beginning.