By the time the caravan rolled into Brisden, dusk had painted the rooftops gold. The little town sat cradled between forest and river, stone walls half-worn from weather but sturdy enough to keep out most trouble.
The guards at the gate nodded them through after a quick inspection. Merchants began shouting greetings, laughing like men who hadn't known if they'd see the next sunrise.
Darien handed Kaito a small pouch of coins.
"Fifty copper, as promised. Good work out there."
Kaito weighed the bag, then gave a half-grin.
"Can't say I miss those bandits, but I sure do like gettin' paid for once."
Darien chuckled. "Stay sharp, Mercer. You fight like someone who's seen war."
"You could say that," Kaito said, voice even. "But I ain't lookin' to start another one."
They parted ways at the square. The air smelled faintly of iron and roasted meat. Kaito followed the scent to a tavern marked The Silver Hearth. Inside, light flickered from lanterns strung along oak beams, and the murmur of low conversation filled the air.
He found a seat near the wall, ordered stew and bread, and let his mind drift.
It still felt strange — this young body, this new world. Every movement was easier, faster. Every smell sharper. But he could feel something else too — like static, humming faintly under his skin since the ambush.
He flexed his fingers. The air shifted, just slightly.
"Alright, Kaito," he muttered under his breath. "Either I'm developin' superpowers, or the ale here's stronger than I thought."
His muttering caught the ear of someone nearby — a woman with braided red hair and a cloak trimmed with silver thread. She turned from her drink, studying him with cool green eyes.
"You feel it, don't you?" she said.
He blinked. "Feel what now?"
"The hum. The world's pulse." She smiled faintly. "Mana. You've been touched by it."
He set his cup down carefully. "Lady, I've been touched by a lotta things lately. None of 'em sounded that poetic."
She chuckled softly. "I'm Lysette, apprentice mage. And you, stranger, are leaking energy like a cracked stone. You've either trained badly… or stumbled into something you shouldn't have."
Kaito tilted his head. "More of a 'stumbled into things headfirst' kinda man, truth be told."
Her gaze flicked toward his hands. "If you want control, visit the Hall of Essence at dawn. They'll test your affinity. Assuming you survive the headache."
He raised an eyebrow. "Well, hell. Guess I got plans tomorrow, then."
When she left, he stared at the fire for a long time, the orange glow reflected in his eyes.
"Hall of Essence," he murmured. "Sounds fancy. Probably ain't got a coffee machine, though."
He finished his meal, paid in small copper, and made for the inn upstairs. As he lay down, the faint hum in his chest pulsed again — steady as a heartbeat, quiet as breath.
He slept with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
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