The quest looked simple on paper: clear out a stretch of farmland plagued by oversized horned rabbits. Easy coin, easy meat, good PR with the villagers.
But nothing with JP was ever "easy."
The first rabbit they encountered was nearly waist-high, its horn curved like a blade. It bolted straight at JP before Garron could shout a warning.
Instinct kicked in. JP braced, raising his reinforced wristband. The horn struck with a crack of sparks — and the band flared, sending a jolt of blue light surging back through the rabbit. The beast convulsed, tumbling over in a smoking heap.
JP blinked. Then grinned. "Ha! Who's laughing now, Bugs?"
Lyra loosed two arrows in quick succession, dropping others before they could scatter. Garron cut one down with precise efficiency, his blade flashing in the morning light.
But it was JP's messy victory that drew the most stares. Every time a rabbit charged, his wristband sparked, discharging force like a shock baton. His cloak's hidden latticework even crackled when one tried to bite through the fabric, zapping it into retreat.
"Ugly but effective," JP wheezed as the last beast fell twitching.
They harvested horns and meat while the scent of ozone lingered in the air. Garron gave him a long look but said nothing, strapping his kills neatly into his pack.
Lyra, however, lingered.
As JP bent to collect another chunk of quartz-veined stone, she murmured, "You could have shown the Guild this. You should have. Why didn't you?"
JP froze, fingers brushing the glowing shard. "Because the second they know, I stop being me. I stop being free. I'm not an adventurer anymore — I'm a tool."
Lyra's voice softened. "You already are a tool. A useful one. And people are already watching you, JP. Hiding doesn't change that."
JP smirked faintly, though his eyes didn't meet hers. "Maybe. But at least if I hide, I get to choose what I'm used for."
For a moment, silence stretched between them, broken only by the crackle of his cloak still shedding faint static. Lyra studied him with unreadable eyes — part amusement, part concern.
Then she simply said, "Fine. But if you zap me by accident, I'll shoot you."
JP laughed. "Deal."
But inside, he knew this was only the start. The more he built, the harder it would be to stay in the shadows.