Lucid watched him go. He did not call out. He did not follow.
'He will be fine. He always is. Cowards have a way of surviving.' He himself knew that really well after all.
Valen approached. His hands were in his pockets. His cap was still pulled low.
"You are not prepared for what comes next," Valen said. "But compared to what you have already done, what you have succeeded in getting with very little, it is a miracle you are still standing."
Lucid said nothing.
"The plan had strayed away from its original purpose," Valen continued. "The plan was to have enough accumulated faith and wealth prior to entering the Domain. But Fenwick... he was different that day."
"I lost control over that guys body..." He announced silly.
"You mean—"
Lucid voice died down realising the reason for the change of behavior, someone had perfectly played his role and that person was now standing in front of him.
Lucid remembered. The aristocrat with the leach attached to a human pet. The sight still shook his bones. It had been an uncomfortable encounter, one that had sent Fenwick to his knees. If it had been the original plan, they would have had enough wealth and currency to potentially handle things with ease. But Fenwick had crumbled.
'It does not matter now. What matters is getting ready.'
Valen seemed to read his thoughts. "Before you go back in, you should know something about me."
Lucid raised an eyebrow.
"My trait. Foresight. Thirty seconds. It allows me to see through time, to see branches, to watch futures unfold and choose the best path." Valen's voice was low, almost confidential. "With your endless fate essence and my foresight, we could take on Mercyros and see through ever transaction. We could win."
Lucid nodded slowly. 'He would be a valuable asset. But where did he get fifty thousand gold? That much wealth does not appear from nowhere.'
"Where did you get the fifty thousand gold?" Lucid asked.
Valen smiled. It was a strange smile, crooked and knowing. "It is a debt, I guess."
Lucid scoffed. "Oh, you expect me to believe a humble merchant selling knives in the town square has that much debt? Sure."
Valen extended his hand toward Lucid. His golden eyes caught the light.
"I have cards up my sleeve, Lucid. But all I ask of you is to deal with me. Conspire with me. Be my partner in crime and business. Let us share every transaction."
He continued, Lucid caught a small glint of a mischievous smile under his cap.
"I will be your parchment, and you will be the ink, and the gold in between will be our pen. So sign this parchment. Become my partner. Jump when I jump. Follow me and I will follow you too. Go all in when I go all in."
Lucid looked at him now. The yellow-haired boy was serious. There was no trace of the nonchalant merchant. Only cunning and dark hunger.
'This person is crazy.'
"Very well," Lucid said. "But I will have to talk with my party first. I plan to bring them with me."
He turned to leave.
Valen grabbed his shoulder. His grip was firm, almost painful. He pulled Lucid close, inches from his face. His golden eyes burned.
"I am your partner now," Valen said. His voice was low, intense. "Are you excluding me from the group? Let us go together." He said in a dangerous tone.
Lucid stared into those eyes. He saw something there. Not greed not just cunning but he recognized a kindred spirit.
'He is right. I cannot do this alone. And he... he is useful. Dangerous. But useful.'
"Fine," Lucid said. "But if you betray me, I will not kill you. I will shatter you. And pulverise your bones while I strangle you with my chains."
Lucid leaned forward close to Valen's carrying the same dangerous tone he had. Valen smiled. It was the smile of a predator who had just found its pack.
"Charming... Would not have it any other way." He smiled.
"Lead the way... Fogged Associate."
He looked back at him.
"Weird name..."
Valen chuckled.
They walked together toward the town. The sun dipped below the horizon. The sky turned orange and purple and gold.
The door to the tavern creaked open. Lucid stepped inside, letting the warmth of the common room wash over him. The smell of old ale and cooking oil filled his nostrils, familiar and almost comforting after the golden terror of the Domain. He walked a few steps, his boots thudding against the worn floorboards.
"Im home," he announced in a casual tone, as if he had just returned from a long day of selling trinkets.
He took another step. Then he noticed something was wrong.
The air shifted. Two figures rushed at him from opposite sides of the room. One moved with the precision of a knight, steel singing as it left its sheath. The other was a blur of red light, silent and deadly. Before he could react, a blade pressed against his throat from behind. The edge was cold. The hand holding it was steady.
"Announce yourself," Arthur said. His voice was low, controlled, the voice of someone who had held a sword to many throats.
Ayame hung from the second floor railing, her legs wrapped around the wooden beam, a dagger aimed at the side of Valen's head. Her dark eyes were fixed on the yellow-haired boy who had followed Lucid inside.
Lucid looked back at the slight commotion. His neck was still pressed against Arthur's blade. He could feel the steel's edge, sharp enough to draw blood with a single twitch.
'These two are killing machines,' he thought. 'I left them alone for a few hours and they turned the tavern into a fortress.'
"He is with me," Lucid said.
Arthur was the first to withdraw his sword. The blade slid back into its sheath with a soft click. Ayame lingered for a moment, her dagger still aimed at Valen's temple. A drop of blood formed at the tip of the blade and fell onto the boy's cap, pooling in the fabric.
"My apologies," Arthur said. His voice was warm now, almost friendly. "Are you acquainted with my partner Lucid?"
Ayame dropped from the railing. She landed silently, her bare feet touching the floor without a sound. She approached Valen slowly, her eyes never leaving his face.
"Yes," Valen said. His voice was calm, almost bored. "He and I have a very lucrative relationship. He pays me for my services, and I in return offer part of my body."
Arthur looked at Lucid. His eyebrow rose.
"Huh," Lucid said. He looked back at Arthur, his face blank with disbelief.
Arthur searched for the words. "Oh, I see. Please forgive our earlier behavior."
"This worthless piece of scum is lying!" Lucid yelled.
Valen turned back to look at Lucid. His golden eyes glinted in the low light. "Oh now, Lucid. Do not go back on our agreement and pact we made on that beach. Especially the way you stood up for me."
He pouted, crossing his arms and looking away as if he were hurt. The act was convincing enough that Arthur shifted his weight, unsure who to believe.
Lucid pointed weakly at Valen. "Arthur. Kill him."
Valen calmly made his way toward something that resembled a kitchen. He opened cabinets, peered inside, and made himself at home. "How much is the rent for this place you said? The cupboard has clear signs of rot." He pointed at the wood near the hinges, where dark stains had spread.
Ayame jumped down swiftly. She approached Lucid and leaned in close. Her nostrils flared. She sniffed at his neck, his chest, his shoulder.
Lucid jumped slightly. The sensation was strange, intimate, invasive.
"You fought," she said. Her voice was flat, but something flickered behind her dark eyes. "I can smell blood on you. Your own. A lot."
She held his throat, her fingers pressing against his pulse. She looked him in the eye, searching for something.
"Who did this to you?"
Lucid struggled for words. "Uh, myself."
"Do not lie to me."
"Well, I happened to heal a lot from dumb mistakes. Please, it is nothing to worry about."
She tightened her grip. Blood dripped from his neck where her nails had broken the skin. Her thumb traced the wound.
After a long moment, she let go. She brought her thumb to her lips and licked the blood off. Her eyes never left his.
"I wish to feed on you."
Arthur, who had been busy trying to drag Valen out of the pantry, now looked at Ayame and Lucid. His face was a mixture of confusion and concern.