Darian blinked, startled by the familiar voice. He looked up to see Elias leaning against the alley wall, arms folded and one eyebrow cocked.

The young adventurer looked a bit worse for wear, with a nasty bruise purpling his jaw and a bandage peeking out from under his sleeve. But his eyes were as sharp as ever, gleaming with a wry sort of amusement.

"Elias? What are you doing here?" Darian scrubbed at his face, trying to erase the evidence of his tears.

"Oh, you know. Just out for a pleasant stroll." Elias pushed off the wall with a wince, coming to stand in front of Darian. "Though I could ask you the same question. This is a bit of a dodgy part of town for a lad like you to be wandering alone."

Darian flushed, suddenly realizing how foolish he must look, sobbing in some grimy back alley. "I wasn't - I mean, I didn't mean to come here, I just..." He trailed off, fresh tears threatening. Gods, would he ever stop crying?

Elias' smirk softened into something almost sympathetic. "Ah. You heard about the attack, then."

Darian nodded miserably. "The church, they promised they'd help, but...but they didn't. They just let it happen." The betrayal still stung; he clenched his fists. "They lied to me."

"Can't say I'm surprised." Elias sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "See, with the Adventurer's Guild, you know what you're getting. We're mercenaries, plain and simple. Coin or fame is what moves us."

He waved a hand at the cathedral spire, just visible over the rooftops. "But the church, they like to paint themselves as these righteous warriors of justice. Really though, it's just an image. An excuse for them to hoard wealth and power while the rest of us bleed."

Elias' face darkened, an old bitterness creeping into his voice. "The gods abandoned us long ago, kid. If they even exist at all. The only time they remember us down here is when they want to use us like pawns in their games."

Darian swallowed hard. He wanted to argue, to defend his mother’s faith...but the words wouldn't come. Not after today. Not after seeing how easily the church had turned its back when it mattered most.

"How did you do it?" he asked instead, voice small. "How did you beat so many bandits with your little group? You're strong, but..."

Elias barked a laugh. "Well now, that's where you're wrong. There may only be a few of us, but we’ve each got the strength of ten." He flexed an arm, grinning. "All thanks to this little thing called rin."

"Rin?" Darian frowned. "What's that?"

"It's an energy that some people can cultivate, if they train hard enough." Elias tapped his chest. "Lets me boost my physical abilities - speed, strength, toughness, the works. Might not be as flashy as what those mages can do, but it gets the job done."

Darian's eyes widened. An energy that could make a man stronger than normal? It sounded almost too good to be true. If he had power like that, maybe he wouldn't have to rely on others to protect the people he cared about. Maybe he could keep his loved ones safe with his own two hands.

"Can you show me?" The words tumbled out before he could stop them. "I mean, if it's not too much trouble..."

Elias raised his eyebrows, smirking. "What, you don't care if I aggravate my injuries putting on a show for you?"

Darian felt his face heat. He ducked his head, scuffing a toe on the cobblestones. "Sorry, I didn't think...of course, you don't have to -"

"Ah, I'm just messing with you, kid." Elias punched his shoulder lightly. "I've had worse than a few scrapes. Alright, step back and watch closely."

Darian scrambled back a few paces, vibrating with anticipation. Elias rolled his shoulders, shaking out his arms. Then he turned to face the alley wall.

For a moment, nothing happened. Elias just stood there, eyes closed and breathing slow and deep. Darian was about to ask what he was doing, when suddenly -

A flicker of light, dancing under Elias' skin. Blink and you'd miss it, there and gone in an instant. But Darian was watching closely, and he saw the way the adventurer's muscles seemed to ripple and surge, like waves on the ocean.

Elias' eyes snapped open. Quick as a snake, he lashed out with a fist - and punched a hole clean through the solid brick wall.

Darian yelped, jumping back. Elias straightened, pulling his hand free and flexing his fingers. Bits of mortar crumbled from his knuckles, but the skin underneath was unmarked. He turned to Darian with a wolfish grin.

"And that's just a taste of what rin can do. Handy little trick, wouldn't you say?"

Darian gaped at him, then at the fist-sized crater in the wall, then back again. "So...this rin stuff. Is it common? Do a lot of people have it?"

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Elias shrugged. "Common enough, I suppose. Most folks never bother to awaken it though, even if they have the potential. Takes a lot of training and dedication."

He smirked. "Actually, rin is pretty much a requirement if you want to join the king's army. They won't even look at you twice if you don't have at least a spark of it."

Darian blinked in surprise. "Really? I didn't know that."

Breck was in the army for a while, years ago, he thought. Is that how he was able to fight off so many bandits by himself? Because he has rin too?

The thought made him even more determined to learn this power, if he could. To be as strong as the blacksmith, able to protect the people he cared about.

"Not that I was ever interested in joining up myself," Elias continued, oblivious to Darian's racing thoughts. "I like being my own boss too much. The adventuring life suits me just f—."

"Can you teach me?" he blurted. "I don't have any experience, but...but I'm a quick learner, I swear! I'll train harder than anyone, I'll do whatever it takes -"

"Whoa, slow down there!" Elias held up his hands, chuckling. "I like your enthusiasm, kid. But I'm afraid it doesn't work like that."

At Darian's crestfallen look, he sighed. "See, rin isn't something just anyone can learn. You've either got the spark or you don't, it is quite common but as far as I can tell..." He looked Darian up and down, face scrunching in concentration. Then he shook his head. "You don't have it. Not a scrap."

Darian felt like he'd been punched in the gut. All the air left his lungs in a whoosh, leaving him feeling small and deflated.

"How can you be sure?" he asked. "Maybe you just didn't look hard enough. Maybe if I tried -"

"Ain't no maybe about it." Elias' tone was firm. "I can sense rin in others. Been able to ever since I awakened my own. And kid, I'm telling you, you're not a ringer."

Darian's shoulders slumped. He stared at the ground, blinking hard against the sting of fresh tears. It wasn't fair. All he wanted was to be strong enough to protect the people he loved. Was that so much to ask?

A heavy hand landed on his shoulder, startling him. He glanced up to see Elias looking at him with an understanding smile.

"Chin up, Squirt. Just 'cause you can't toss boulders don't mean you're useless." He squeezed Darian's shoulder. "Way I hear it, those without the spark for rin often have the talent for magic instead. Something about the two not mixing well in one body."

Darian perked up slightly at that. Magic? Me? Could it really be possible?

But reality set in a moment later, and he slumped again. "Even if that's true, I'll probably never find out. No one in my village has magic, and even if I did..." He swallowed hard. "I'd have to hide it. Mages aren't exactly welcome in these parts."

The king's laws on magic were harsh and unbending. Any caught practicing the arcane arts faced the hangman's noose at best…and a burning pike at worst.

Mages lived in fear, always looking over their shoulders, terrified of being discovered. It was no kind of life. Even if Darian did have the gift, he would probably spend his whole life suppressing it.

Elias whistled low, shaking his head. "Flaming sack of pig shit, those laws. Bunch of scared old men trying to hoard power, if you ask me." He spat to the side. "But that's a problem for another day. We gotta figure out what to do with you."

Darian looked at him quizzically. Elias jerked his chin toward Darian's hands, still shaking and streaked with blood that wasn't his.

"Way I hear it, you're stuck in the city for a few more days, right?" His grin flashed, sharp and challenging. "Well, I figure that's just enough time for me to show you a thing or two about fighting. As I’m sure you’ve learned, being a good hunter don't mean shit when it comes to tangling with brigands."

Darian bristled instinctively at the slight to his skills...but he couldn't deny the truth of it. Facing down that bandit, knife to knife, fists and feet and desperation, had been nothing like taking down a deer from a distance.

It had been brutal, ugly, horrifying. The memory of blood spurting hot over his hands, the meaty thud of steel hitting flesh, the choked screams and gurgles...it all rushed back, and he had to swallow down a surge of nausea.

Elias was right. If he never wanted to feel that helpless, that terrified, ever again...he needed to learn how to fight. How to really fight, not just scrabble like a wildcats in a alleyway.

"You're going to train me?" Darian asked, trying not to sound too eager. "For free? I thought you adventurers were all about the coin."

"Call it a special friends and family discount." Elias smirked at Darian's scowl. "But yeah, I'll show you some basics. Gotta keep myself busy while I heal up anyway. Might as well make sure the next generation of hotheads can throw a punch without breaking their fool thumbs."

Darian rolled his eyes, but he couldn't quite stop the small, grateful smile from tugging at his mouth. "I...thanks, Elias. That means a lot."

"Yeah, well. Don't go spreading it around." Elias gave him a light shove. "Can't have people thinking I'm going soft. Got a reputation to uphold."

Darian snorted. "Wouldn't dream of it."

He took a deep breath, looking up at the sky. The sun was sinking below the rooftops, painting the clouds in streaks of orange and pink. It would be dark soon.

"I should head back," he said reluctantly. "Before Breck starts to worry."

"Probably wise." Elias straightened from his slouch against the wall. "Get some rest, lick your wounds. I'll come find you tomorrow, and we can start your training."

Darian nodded, already turning to go. But something made him pause, glancing back over his shoulder. "Elias?"

"Yeah, kid?"

"Thank you. For today. For...for trying, at least. To save them." The words felt thick and clumsy on his tongue, wholly inadequate. But they needed saying. "I know you didn't have to. So...thanks."

Elias was silent for a long moment, his expression unreadable in the shadows. Then he sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"I'm just sorry I couldn't do more," he said quietly. "If we had more men..." He shook his head. "Well. No use dwelling on might-have-beens. What's done is done."

"Still. You tried. That's more than most would do." Darian met his eyes, trying to convey his sincerity. "So thank you."

Elias held his gaze for a heartbeat, then looked away, shifting uncomfortably. "Right. Well. Get out of here, would you? Before I throw up from all this sappiness."

Darian cracked a smile. "Aye aye, boss. See you tomorrow."

With a final wave, he jogged off, picking his way out of the alley and back to the main street. He had a lot to think about...and even more to prepare for, if he was going to survive Elias' idea of training.

But for the first time since he'd heard about the attack, Darian felt a small spark of hope kindling in his chest. He might have failed this time...but he would damn well make sure he was ready for whatever came next.