The forest had gone still again.
Not out of peace, but out of fear — like even the birds were still deciding whether they'd just watched a predator… or something else entirely.
Rei lowered his hand after the handshake. Ailith, still a little shaky, rubbed her arm and looked around the ruined clearing.
Then she turned to him.
> "Where are you even going?"
Her tone wasn't accusing. Just… lost.
Rei looked ahead, toward the horizon where trees stretched endlessly into gray light.
> "A city," he said.
"Don't know which one. Doesn't matter much."
"As long as there's money. And people. And eyes."
Ailith blinked. "Eyes?"
Rei smirked faintly.
> "If I'm going to be strong, I might as well be known for it."
He stepped past her, scanning the distant skyline.
> "Money. Fame. Power. All easier to get once you show the world you're above it."
She stared at him, clearly unsure whether to be impressed… or unsettled.
> "You really don't know anything, do you?"
"About how it works out here?"
Rei stopped. Glanced back.
> "I asked earlier. You said 'Level 5.' Then guessed I was 7?"
"What does that even mean?"
Ailith sighed, brushing blood off her sleeve.
> "It's not official," she began. "Not written anywhere."
"But it's how people survive out here. It's how they talk about strength."
She looked at him carefully as she spoke, watching his reaction.
> "It goes from Level 1 to 9."
> "Level 1 is… normal. Just a human, a blade, a prayer."
"Level 2 means you've fought and won against something that can kill you."
"Level 3… is rare. Level 4 even rarer. Most village chiefs don't go past 3."
Rei listened, unmoving.
Ailith continued.
> "A Level 5 is considered monstrous. You don't fight them unless you're suicidal… or rich enough to hire help."
"Level 6 is where things start to turn unreal."
"And Level 7..."
She hesitated.
> "People call them World-Touched. Because it's like the world itself bends a little when they move."
Rei raised a brow.
> "Dramatic."
Ailith gave a dry smile. "It's not drama when your neighbor explodes from a punch."
He chuckled once.
Then nodded.
> "So… no one's ever seen 8 or 9?"
She paused again.
> "There are legends of 8s. Saviors, kings, monsters."
"But a 9? That's just a number people whisper about when they drink too much."
Rei looked down at his hand.
He hadn't even kicked with full force.
> "Interesting."
Ailith crossed her arms, studying him again.
> "You said you want money. Fame. Power."
"You're strong, sure. But this world doesn't hand things over just because you're dangerous."
Rei gave a half-smile.
> "Good. I wouldn't want it if it was easy."