Two weeks had passed since the Rustler had met Kae and the others. Upon being asked what she wanted him to do, Kae voiced her desire for him to protect her and her people from the man going by the Alias of Rat King, along with his goons. By "her people," she meant Benji, her little sister Rae, and Sarah, the girl who had provided food for the baby.

After what the Rustler had done, it was clear that Rat King and his subordinates would come after them as soon as they regained consciousness. So, protection was what Kae expected—his protection.

Since Kae made no mention dealing definitively with Rat King which the Rustler thought would in one swift stroke prevent any further trouble, he immediately realized that the kind of protection they sought would require him to spend time with them—a prospect he couldn't see himself doing. However, the gentle cooing of the baby in his hand served as a reminder that once again he couldn’t proceed as he used to.

He needed to find a safe place for her.

The mansion, despite its somewhat dilapidated appearance, seemed like a decent location. Kae and Sarah appeared to be capable of caring for children, prompting the Rustler to make a decision. He would help, but he would do it in his own way.

The Rustler wasted no time in taking action. He forcefully expelled every member of the Rats gang from the mansion, including Rat King himself, making it clear that they were forbidden from ever setting foot near the premises again. Initially, some of them resisted, insisting that the place belonged to them, but their defiance crumbled in the face of swift and decisive force. With bone-crunching consequences, their resistance was extinguished, leaving no room for doubt.

By the end of the purging, the mansion stood clear of the Rats gang's presence, and only seven individuals remained within its walls.

Two weeks had passed since that eventful day, and the passing days seemed to harbor a sense of peace, albeit to a limited extent. Trusting that the baby girl was in capable hands, the Rustler, burdened by an exhaustion he had never experienced before, yearned for some rest. He sought out the perfect place to find solace, or at least it would have been perfect had it not been interrupted by the arrival of the sisters. The sister approached him with concern, convinced that he would die starving in the room he isolated himself in.

He understood that it came from a good and genuine intent, but he’d grown fed up in spite of clearly establishing that he didn’t need to eat anything the younger sister would come twice a day with food she would leave beside him, leaving him with no choice but to actually seal the room.

And yet, despite the clear warning, that didn't seem to deter the girl from knocking at his door.

“Talk about being persistent.”

Emerging from the cocoon of Odo, where he still had to find slumber, the Rustler made his way to the door and unsealed it. To his surprise, this time it was not the little sister, who often bothered him, but Kae standing at the doorstep. Just like her sister, she held a plate of food in her hands.

"I said I don't need—," he began.

"I know," she interjected swiftly. "I understand. It's just that I have something to discuss with you. Something important. I thought I could use it as an opportunity to bring you something, but perhaps that was a mistake," she added, retreating to a corner to set the plate down.

"Is this about the Rat King? Did he come back?" the Rustler asked, his voice tinged with concern.

"No, he didn't. And I honestly don't think he can, even if he wanted to."

"I see. Then, is it about the baby?"

Once again, Kae shook her head, a warm smile gracing her lips. "Don't worry, she's completely fine. And we've all agreed on a name for her since you didn't have one: Lei'lah."

“Lei’lah…”

“Yes, Lei’lah,” she repeated softly, as if testing the sound of the name. “What do you think about it?”

"It’s a nice name, it suits her."

“I thought so too.” Kae nodded, relieved by the Rustler's acceptance of the chosen name.

While not wanting to interrupt the girl's seemingly genuine joy over the name, the Rustler asked, “Is this what you wanted to talk about with me?”

“Actually, it’s not,” Kae's expression grew serious. "This morning when I went out to the upper district, I was approached by someone. I didn’t know him but I think he knows you, in fact he knew that you were here."

"Who?" The Rustler furrowed his brow

"He didn't introduce himself. He simply mentioned—actually, he paid me to convey these words to you. He said, 'I am just someone passing by, akin to a... um, what was it? Something about the breeze.'"

"Ethereal Breeze?"

"Yes, yes, Ethereal Breeze. That's precisely what he said. Someone whose presence fleetingly lingers in the wind. And that it was in light of this resemblance, he believed you would undeniably be interested in knowing him."

"What else did he say?"

"He also mentioned that you could seek him out at this address," she replied, handing him a letter. It wasn’t even a letter but a drawing that was supposed to represent a rough map of where to find him.

***

Following the map, the Rustler reached a serene corner of the city, situated opposite to the slums. It stood far removed from the affluent districts and retained a sense of seclusion even from the bustling mercantile district. The area appeared desolate and isolated—perfect for a potential ambush, one might assume.

However, as the Rustler stepped into the alleyway, it became apparent that appearances could be deceiving. While the surroundings bore the markings of an ideal ambush spot, it didn't quite live up to that expectation, at least not to a noticeable extent.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“No mages around, except in that building up ahead.”

“And this got to be the place right?”

“It seems.”

At the end of the hallway, an old-looking building emerged, standing seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Its presence, though oddly placed, exuded an air of intrigue.

The Rustler approached the peculiar structure, drawn in by its strange allure. For a moment, he contemplated the thought of knocking on the door with its worn-out surface, but ultimately decided against it. Curiosity mingled with caution as he reached out and pushed open the creaking door. As it swung open, a faint clicking noise reverberated through the air. Looking up, he noticed a bell hanging above, realizing that it had been activated by the door not even halfway open.

As a sinking feeling of potential mistake washed over him, the Rustler realized that his action had likely alerted someone to his presence. With this awareness, he hastily made his way inside the house.

Upon entering, the Rustler was promptly greeted by a voice that reassured him, "No need to be so alert. The bell was designed to alert me whenever customers visit this future shop of mine."

"You…" the Rustler began, his voice trailing off as he took in his surroundings.

The room mirrored the lumber room from behind the bathhouse, with wooden crates strewn about, capturing the same chaotic essence. However, in one particular corner, a counter stood, distinctly separating itself from the disarray. Behind the counter sat a man in his fifties, adorned with gray hair and a matching gray beard. His attire consisted of an extravagantly colored tunic, drawing attention to his presence. Each finger boasted a large, glistening gold ring, further adding to his flamboyant appearance.

"Who are you?" the Rustler inquired.

It was an unfamiliar face. Or at least it was a face he couldn't recall ever encountering before, but still, there was an undeniable certainty in his presence.

"He's a mage," her voice chimed in.

"Me?" the man responded, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I am no one, just someone who yearns for nothing more than fulfilling a childhood dream of becoming a mere shopkeeper. So you might as well just call me that."

"Please take a seat... Well, what am I saying? There's not even any furniture yet," the man continued, a tinge of embarrassment coloring his words. "Please, just sit wherever you wish. I haven't received the furniture yet, but I'll have a table brought in especially for you next time. After all, it's not every day one gets the chance to meet the infamous Ethereal Breeze," the man explained.

"You," the Rustler mumbled, finally realizing that this man was undoubtedly the same person Kae had encountered.

"I apologize, I forgot that you no longer go by that alias.”

Upon hearing these words that stirred memories of his last interaction with someone, the Rustler couldn't help but ask, "Did Dainvald send you here?"

“Your Uncle? No. Of course not. Why would he?”

“Then who? The travelers? The Citadels? The Rajs?”

“No, none of those. Just like I said all I’m just, as I said, someone who wishes to open a little shop for himself, a mere nobody.”

Staring into the man's eyes, his blue gaze intense, the Rustler spoke, "You're a mage. You can't simply be a nobody with no ulterior motives. What is it that you want?"

As the Rustler uttered these words, the man's expression shifted, displaying a mix of curiosity and surprise. "You could tell. Mind if I ask how? If it's not too indiscreet?" he inquired.

The Rustler remained silent, choosing not to answer the man's question.

"Fine, I understand. That's privacy. Nothing wrong with that," the man acknowledged, sensing the Rustler's reluctance. "Now, to answer your question, since I feel like I'm starting to get on your nerves, I'm going to tell you what I want: Credit."

"Credit?"

"Yes, credit. Nothing more than that. It may sound insignificant, but for someone of low birth like myself, it holds great importance. Now, I'm sure you must wonder what kind of credit I seek. Well, the credit I desire is for having helped to de-escalate an ongoing rampage that is spreading across the continent. I believe you're well aware of the rampage I'm referring to," the man explained.

There could only be one rampage he was referring to—the Rustler's own rampage.

"Now, before you come up with some sort of hostile conclusion of your own, let me clarify that I don't intend to hinder your path or obstruct your quest. What I seek is to be involved in its regulation, if I may allow myself," the man continued.

"What do you mean by that?" the Rustler asked, feeling himself to start being crept by the man.

"Please, don't take offense to my words, but whether you go by Alexei, Ethereal Breeze, or any other name you may choose, you are a literal living tornado, one of the most destructive forces this continent has ever witnessed. Your power and devastation are so immense that even the Citadel, the oldest and mightiest institution on this continent, has no idea how to deal with you anymore. Their current strategy has been to simply let you continue your rampages, much to the dissatisfaction of everyone. However, they are well aware that there is very little they can do to stop you. And so, here we are, with you roaming the continent, leaving destruction in your wake, with the citadel to cover your messes after you," the man explained candidly.

“So, what am I supposed to take from that information?”

“Nothing except that the credits that would come whoever manages to let’s say to a certain extent regulate those rampages of yours to let’s say have you at least spare the prana core left behind for the Citadel to collect would greatly benefit anyone, especially a mere nobody like me. I’m no one, I’m just an old man who got the opportunity to be granted the honor of having a prana core being handed over to him from a corpse you left behind.”

“Let me rephrase, why am I supposed to care? Why would I help you with that?”

“Well, I thought you'd be interested because, you see, I am not a courageous or bold man. Yet, here I am, standing before you, sharing all of this. I am aware that with a snap of your finger, I could become one of your unfortunate victims. The reason I'm here talking to you is because although I don't know your long-term intentions or the reason behind the rampages that earned you the moniker of Ethereal Breeze, I have noticed a pattern in this recent one. It all seems to be connected to a girl. Ninjara an Odoe who—”

“Shut up.”

"I understand, but I want you to know that I am aware that in your rampage, you are specifically targeting everyone involved in her disappearance, directly or indirectly. That's why so many people have already lost their lives," the man acknowledged. "For the past six months, you have relentlessly pursued them across the continent, and when you locate one of them, you execute your skills with utmost precision. Once the task is complete, you vanish, only to reemerge some time later to resume with the same relentless routine.”

"While observing your routine, I came to a realization. It has become increasingly difficult for you to locate the places where they hide in fear of you. If it weren't for that tip from your uncle, I doubt you would have managed to find that woman, Del'hia, so rapidly. Those who knew you were coming for them learned from the unfortunate ones who came before. They have severed all ties with the world, making it challenging for you to track them down. But that can change," the man emphasized.

"So, that's what you're proposing? You give me their location, and in return, I leave the prana core untouched for the Citadel to collect?" The Rustler sneered.

"That's about it. Easy, isn't it? All I demand is that it all goes through me. I determine when, how, and where. I know it may sound ridiculous, but I can't have people claiming that I didn't have a hand in restoring peace to this continent, can I?" the man explained. "Now, I'm sure you still have doubts. So, as a proof of good faith, I'll give you a name: In the city of Leafy Brook, there is a young female Odoe named Tsan'ta. She lives alone and rarely ventures outside her side. However, occasionally you might catch a glimpse of her leaving her small, greenly decorated one-floor house in the southeastern corner of the city for the market; she can’t allow herself to starve to death, can she? You may not know Tsan'ta, but I'm certain you'll recognize who I'm referring to when I mention this name: Anara."