The Crystal Warrior's gaze was like a physical weight, pinning Lucas in place. Her Crystal Blade, still faintly glowing, seemed to hum with silent power. Lucas's mind raced. He knew he couldn't reveal the truth about the Obsidian Shard and its ability to absorb memories. It was too bizarre, too unbelievable, and potentially too dangerous. Other Scavengers would kill for such a power, and Crystal Warriors, with their strict codes and immense might, might view it as an abomination or a threat.
"Who are you?" the girl repeated, her voice cutting through the silence. Her eyes, the color of raw sapphire, narrowed slightly. "And answer my questions. Now."
Lucas swallowed hard, forcing himself to appear as calm as possible. He knew he had to offer a plausible, if vague, explanation. "My name is Lucas," he began, his voice a little hoarse. "I'm just a Scavenger, like them." He gestured subtly to the two trembling Scavengers who were still recovering on the ground, clearly in awe and fear of the Crystal Warrior.
"That doesn't explain how you knew where the Stalker would appear, or how you moved so fast," she pressed, taking a slow step closer. Her blade didn't waver. "Normal Scavengers don't have reflexes like that, nor do they possess such acute senses."
Lucas feigned a nervous laugh, trying to play up the image of a lucky, terrified survivor. "Luck, I guess? And a bit of… street smarts. Living out here, you pick up things. You learn to listen, to feel the vibrations in the rubble. And that Shadow Stalker… it was making just enough noise if you knew what to listen for." He paused, then added, trying to sound a little awestruck and deflecting attention, "But you, miss… that was incredible. I've never seen a Crystal Warrior up close before. Your blade… the way you moved!"
The girl's expression remained unreadable. She clearly wasn't entirely convinced, but Lucas's flattery and the sudden shift of focus seemed to give her pause. She lowered her sword slightly, though her stance remained ready.
"My name is Elara," she stated, her gaze still piercing. "And while your 'luck' is certainly... unusual, it doesn't account for everything. Your speed when you ran from Jeb earlier, for instance, or how you created that diversion. That wasn't just luck."
Lucas internally cursed. She had been observing him even before this fight. His fleeting moment of triumph over Jeb had put him on her radar. He had to double down on the deception.
"Jeb? Oh, him," Lucas chuckled, a forced, shaky sound. "He's always after my scraps. I just got lucky with a loose piece of metal I tossed. As for running… well, when a brute like Jeb comes at you, fear makes you move fast, doesn't it?" He shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "And I've always been good at squeezing through tight spots, even as a kid. It's how I survive out here, avoiding the real threats."
He looked around, trying to appear eager to escape the dangerous area. "Look, miss Elara, thank you for saving us. That Shadow Stalker... it was truly terrifying. But this isn't a safe place to linger. We should leave before more of them show up."
Elara's eyes flickered to the dead Shadow Stalker, then back to him. She considered his words, her silence stretching for what felt like an eternity. She was a seasoned hunter, trained to spot deception, but Lucas's story, while thin, relied on truths – his weak appearance, the general knowledge of Scavengers needing to be resourceful. His explanation, however flimsy, was just plausible enough for someone who didn't know about the Obsidian Shard.
Finally, she nodded, a curt, almost imperceptible movement. "Perhaps." She turned to the two surviving Scavengers. "Can you two move?"
They nodded vigorously, scrambling to their feet, clearly desperate to leave.
"Good. Follow me," Elara commanded, her voice regaining its cold authority. She spared Lucas one last, lingering look, a look that promised future scrutiny, before turning and leading the way out of the industrial zone.
Lucas breathed a silent sigh of relief. He had survived the interrogation, for now. He quickly gathered his scattered scraps, his hands still trembling slightly, though not just from fear. He joined the small group, keeping a respectful distance from Elara. The Obsidian Shard's scar on his palm tingled, a silent reminder of the secret he had almost betrayed.
He had managed to hide his unique ability, but he now carried a new kind of burden: the watchful eye of a powerful Crystal Warrior. His journey had just become a high-stakes game of survival and deception.