CHAPTER 15

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The city had settled into an evening rhythm, the once-busy marketplace quieting as vendors closed their stalls and the warm glow of lanterns replaced the sunlight. Alric and I were making our way back through the streets after our visit to the park, the air cool as night began to fall. It had been a peaceful day—one that gave me more to think about than I had anticipated.

But peace never lasted long, especially for someone like me.

As we walked through a narrow street leading back toward the city's edge, I noticed something strange. A group of men stood huddled near an alley, their voices low and tense. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but as we drew closer, I could hear the edge in their voices. They weren’t just talking—they were planning something.

I glanced at Alric, but his expression didn’t change. He was calm, as always, his eyes fixed ahead as if he hadn’t noticed the men at all. But I knew better. He had noticed. He always noticed.

When we passed the alley, I caught a glimpse of the men’s faces—rough-looking, scarred, and armed with knives barely hidden under their cloaks. They didn’t look like ordinary townsfolk or travelers. Bandits, I realized. And not the kind that would leave you alone if you just minded your business.

I kept walking, staying close to Alric, but I felt the tension growing in the air. Something was about to happen. I could feel it in the pit of my stomach.

It wasn’t long before I heard the footsteps behind us.

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Alric didn’t say a word as the bandits moved in, circling us like vultures. They hadn’t drawn their weapons yet, but the way their hands hovered near their belts told me everything I needed to know. There were five of them, all watching us with hungry eyes.

“Evening, gents,” one of them said, stepping forward with a greasy smile. He was tall, his face marred by an ugly scar that cut across his nose. “Looks like you’ve had a nice day out, eh? How about you hand over whatever coin you’ve got, and we’ll let you walk away nice and easy?”

I felt the familiar surge of adrenaline, my mind already analyzing the situation. Five against two, but these men weren’t trained fighters. They were thugs—sloppy and overconfident. I could take them. I didn’t even need Alric’s help.

But then I heard Alric’s voice, quiet and steady beside me. “Niv.”

I glanced at him, seeing the calm look in his eyes. He wasn’t worried. He never was. “Don’t draw attention to yourself,” he said softly, almost too quiet for the bandits to hear. “Remember what you’ve learned.”

I knew exactly what he meant. Control. Restraint. This was my chance to apply everything he had been teaching me. The mask in my satchel suddenly felt heavier, as if it were calling to me.

Without a word, I slipped the mask from the bag and pulled it over my face, the familiar sensation settling over me. It wasn’t just about hiding my identity—it was about becoming something else. Something more than just Niv.

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The bandits didn’t notice at first, but when they did, confusion crossed their faces.

“What the hell is this?” the scarred leader growled, eyeing the mask. “You think you’re some kind of hero?”

I didn’t answer. I was already focused, my mind working through the possibilities, analyzing their positions, their weaknesses. Analyze.

The first bandit was stepping forward, his hand reaching for his knife. Sloppy. He left his side completely exposed.

I moved fast, faster than any of them expected. My foot slid across the cobblestone, using Slip to shift the ground just enough to throw him off balance. His knife never even left its sheath. He stumbled forward, confused, and in that moment, I struck—my fist connecting with his jaw in a sharp, controlled motion. He went down, crumpling to the ground without a sound.

The others were still reacting, shocked that one of their own had been taken down so easily. They didn’t know who they were dealing with.

I felt the Flow of the air around me, the energy pulsing through the streets. It was calm, like the still surface of a lake, waiting for me to disturb it. I could control it. I was controlling it.

The second bandit lunged at me, his knife flashing in the dim light. I didn’t even need to dodge. Auto-Dodge kicked in, my body shifting on instinct, the knife missing me by a hair’s breadth. Before he could recover, I twisted, grabbing his arm and using his own momentum against him. He hit the ground hard, his knife clattering uselessly beside him.

The others hesitated, realizing this wasn’t going to be as easy as they had thought.

I straightened, keeping my stance relaxed but ready. The mask concealed my face, but I could feel my heart beating steadily. There was no fear, no hesitation. Just calm.

The third and fourth bandits moved together, thinking they could overpower me if they attacked at the same time. I let them come, watching their movements, analyzing every step. One was slower than the other, his foot dragging slightly on the uneven cobblestone. That was all I needed.

I sidestepped the faster one, letting him stumble past me, and then used Slip to shift the ground beneath the second bandit. He lost his footing, falling forward right into my waiting fist. His body crumpled under the force of the blow, collapsing into a heap beside his fallen comrades.

The last bandit, the leader, stood frozen in place, his scarred face twisted in a mixture of shock and anger.

“Who… who the hell are you?” he snarled, taking a step back.

I didn’t answer. Instead, I took a step forward, my presence alone enough to make him retreat another step.

I could end this right now. One more move and it would be over.

But then I remembered Alric’s words. Control. Restraint. There was no need to finish this fight with brute force. The leader was already broken, and I could see the fear in his eyes.

I lowered my hands, my stance relaxing. “Leave,” I said quietly, my voice muffled by the mask.

The leader blinked, his face pale. “What?”

“You heard me,” I said, my tone calm. “You’re done here. Leave.”

For a moment, he looked like he might argue, but the sight of his fallen comrades and the way I stood before him, unbothered, changed his mind. Without another word, he turned and ran, his footsteps echoing through the empty street as he disappeared into the night.

I stood there for a moment, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins, but my mind was clear. I had done it. I had fought without losing control, without giving in to the urge to overpower them.

Alric stepped forward, his eyes unreadable. “You applied what you’ve learned well,” he said, his voice calm as always. “But remember—there will be fights where you’ll need more than control. When that time comes, you’ll have to decide how far you’re willing to go.”

I nodded, pulling the mask from my face and tucking it back into my satchel. His words lingered in my mind, and I knew he was right. Tonight, I had held back. I had used my power sparingly, controlled it. But what would happen when I faced an enemy I couldn’t afford to let live? When control wasn’t enough?

The thought stayed with me as we made our way back through the quiet streets, the city settling into the stillness of the night.