'Jingle... jingle... rattle... clink.' Metallic noises rang through its surroundings. A figure traversed the top of the arid plateau, carrying chimes and scavenged metal on their back.

The figure walked toward Cain, whose mind blared alarms of concern about the approaching threat. Cain brushed back his dark messy hair from his red eyes as he scanned the horizon. The brown cloak over his frame provided protection from the desert winds that buffeted his white skin.

The moons shone brightly on the flat surface leading to the silhouette; it didn't take long for their features to become clear to Cain.

The silhouette seemed to be a man covered in a large hat draping over his face. With a hunched back, he carried a backpack seemingly overflowing with metal and wore an oversized coat of some foreign design.

Cain waited silently for the mysterious figure to walk forward. Step by step, they neared him before sitting down on a rock near him. What came from the stranger was a dry and raspy voice that seemed to not have had water for centuries.

"What are you doing in this place? Traveling like me?"

Cain responded with a question, "Who are you?"

"Back in my youth, I was a man of great renown, roaming the territories to gain power wherever I went," he murmured, a tinge of wistfulness in his raspy voice.

"You make it awfully obvious you're a Gatherer."

"My arduous pilgrimage from the distant East consumed many moons. Alas, the customs here remain a mystery to me"

Cain smiled at the man's ignorance. "So you don't know that Gatherers are killed on sight in most places."

The old man let out a laugh. "No, I know. It's just that not many people travel in forbidden zones. Most are gatherers as well."

"I'm not a gatherer yet, but I hope to be one."

The metal rattled and clanged as the man inched closer to Cain, sitting on the edge of the rock.

"Oh? You will take the path of freedom?"

"Freedom? Isn't being a Gatherer the path to power, same as the rulers?"

Laughter and jingling came from the man as he lifted his head toward the sky. Cain could see a long nose and old white eyebrows beneath the hat.

"Ho ho! How ignorant you are, my boy," the old man chuckled, shaking his head ruefully. "You misunderstand a Gatherer's true purpose."

The old man chuckled, a raspy, bone-dry sound. "You misunderstood, my friend. Gatherers do not seek power. They seek the freedom in said power, power to break their chains."

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Cain's eyes narrowed, unsure of the man's meaning. "I don't follow. Explain."

The old man paused, taking a long, whistling breath. "How much do you know of Gatherers, boy Nevermind, I'll just explain it.

By gathering different powers to build a base, Gatherers then steal a core and in the process break their chains. Of course, they are not free yet, but that's when the real fight for true freedom starts!"

"A territory core, you say?" Cain questioned, rubbing his chin. "It seems those are integral to a Gatherer's as well."

"Of course, after a Gatherer has a strong foundation with however many power systems they gather, they can take the next step!"

Cain sat up as he played with some stones below him, keeping his eyes on the old man.

"And what would this Freedom you speak of be?"

The old man lifted his hat, revealing that Cain had realized he was blind.

"I have not been privy to that information. I tried before I was ready, and this was the result. That question can only be answered by another or yourself."

"And what reason have you to reveal all this to a stranger?" Cain said bluntly, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

The man stood up from the rock, making pained grunts as he moved closer to Cain with his hands as far as they could go behind his back. The man looked like a wise teacher instructing his student.

"It was to pique your interest, boy, to set you on the righteous path," he pronounced, a tutoring finger raised in the air.

The man sighed "In my long years of life, people gain wisdom. Wisdom begets know-how that can't be explained normally, and with my wisdom, I know you are confused. Your eyes are hazy yet clear. You have a strong will but don't know where to put it.

So...put it towards this path. Learn the truth I couldn't and remember my advice. I have only told you what was needed, to grow your curiosity. Nothing more and nothing less."

Cain's face turned downward. "Spare me the tedious sermon, old man. Do you at least know anything interesting about this place? I'm trying to make it to the territory north of here"

The metal rattled as the old man shook in delight.

"Now that I can tell you without a lecture. I've only passed along the fringes here. But I did hear of a tribe at this land's heart. As for the northern territory, it's an ocean territory bridging two inhabited lands. It's a popular traveling route."

'So I won't have to trek through another degraded zone. Nice.'

Cain got up. "Thanks, old man. I can't pay you as I don't know what currency is commonly used, but if you need a favor, ask away."

"Please, boy, be merciful and end my wretched existence," the traveler pleaded, his bony hands trembling beneath his cloak.

Cain's eyes brightened as they twitched toward the man. "May I know why?" a gruesome fascination glinting in his ruby eyes.

"Why else? I'm old, I failed to become a real Gatherer, and I lost my vision. The only reason I haven't died is because of fear. I have lived decades running like a coward. Honestly, I came here to die, but I was so terrified of the creatures here I ran.

I ask this of you so I don't dirty myself any longer. Even now, I'm shaking under my robes. I'm pathetic."

Cain kept a still face "That's quite the life story. In my opinion, you should have found someone to kill you sooner."

The man scoffed and wept. "Hehe, the only reason I'm asking you is that I know I'll die here. I got an infection on my foot, and it spread to my whole leg already. I'll be dead in a few days. Just... end my sad life and take my advice, rulers only strengthen their chains, break free."

Stretching, Cain spoke, his voice was calm yet solemn.

"Don't worry, I will take your advice, and I thank you for it. I should be thanking you; my thirst for blood has been rising recently. I'm itching to kill someone."

The man scoffed "Seems I met a psychopath."

"I was made by my environment."

Cain unclipped his maul from his belt and raised it high. He swung downward but stopped halfway; it wasn't that he wanted to, but he couldn't move it.

"Ah, It seems my fear of death has grown to this point. I apologize; I can't even let you kill me. I truly am pitiful."