The air in the ruined city was thick with ash and silence, broken only by the soft crunch of our boots. My soldier's blades shimmered faintly, the edges of black steel humming as if hungry for blood. I kept stealing glances at it, still half in disbelief.
Dual wielding. A shadow soldier that could adapt mid-battle. It didn't feel like something I should even have.
Beside me, Nalos walked casually, dagger twirling in his fingers. Too casual. Like he wasn't afraid of the monsters we just fought—he was watching me.
"So…" I finally muttered, breaking the silence, "why help me back there if I'm so dangerous?"
Nalos smirked. "Because dangerous doesn't mean useless. And you, Shade-boy, are about as useful as they come."
"Shade-boy?" I scowled. "I have a name."
"I'll remember it when you earn it," he shot back without hesitation. "Until then, you're just a walking secret. And secrets don't last long in this city."
I bit my tongue. Part of me wanted to snap at him, but the other part knew he was right. If what he said was true—that kingdoms would kill for this power—then even opening my mouth in the wrong place could get me executed.
We turned a corner. Collapsed stone towers leaned against each other like drunks. Burned banners of some forgotten empire lay shredded in the dirt.
"This place…" I murmured. "What happened here?"
"War," Nalos said simply. His smirk faded, for once. "When the gods decide a city shouldn't exist anymore… it doesn't."
A chill ran down my spine.
"And you?" I asked carefully. "What do you want out of all this? If you're not planning to sell me out, then—"
He stopped walking. His dagger stabbed into the wall beside me, inches from my ear.
"Don't finish that question," he whispered. His eyes weren't playful anymore—they were sharp, dangerous, unreadable. "If you're smart, you'll learn that not all answers are free. Some you pay for in blood."
My shadow soldier stepped forward instinctively, blades raised. For a moment, I thought we'd fight then and there.
But Nalos just chuckled, pulling his dagger free and stepping back. "Relax. If I wanted you dead, you'd already be bleeding."
"Not if my soldier got to you first," I shot back, my voice steadier than I expected.
For the first time, his grin faltered. He looked at the soldier, at those black twin blades gleaming in the dim light. Then he exhaled slowly, shaking his head.
"…Maybe you're right. Maybe not." His eyes flicked back to me. "Either way, we're stuck together now. You want answers? Fine. Follow me. But don't forget—power like yours? It paints a target on your back."
He started walking again, boots echoing against the ruins.
I stared at his back, at the dagger still dripping faint light from the wolf's blood.
"Don't trust anyone," he'd said.
Maybe he was right. But as my soldier's shadow blades gleamed behind me, I made a silent promise:
If this world wanted to steal everything from me… then I'd steal it back, piece by piece.
[End OF CHAPTER 3]