Dex opened his eyes slowly, The morning sunlight entered through the cracks of the wooden window, illuminating the small room where he stayed.
He felt something different today,
There was a strange sensation in his chest, warm, but foreign.
Last night he obtained his first card.
Now that card had merged with him, and Somehow, he knew exactly what to do to use it, The knowledge came naturally, flowing into his mind without needing to learn or ask.
The Wind: allows the user to control wind.
Dex took a deep breath, trying to feel that power.
He imagined a gentle breeze surrounding his palm, and truly, a light gust appeared, ruffling his messy hair.
'Haa, But what's the use of this power, after all I have no one left'
Dex stared at the reflection in the cracked mirror at the corner of the room, his face still pale, dark eyes sunken.
Dex stood up, tied his sword to his waist, and went down to the lower floor.
The streets of Lumiran were already crowded, Merchants opened stalls, children ran while laughing, and the smell of toasted bread came from one of the shops, Lumiran that morning felt more alive than when he first arrived.
But as he walked, Dex saw so many beggars starving, from children, to the elderly.
"Even here there are still so many starving people" For Dex who had seen the greed of nobles, seeing the starving children only made him angrier.
Dex stopped in front of a small child sitting in the corner of the street, his hands trembling holding an empty bowl.
The child looked at him with almost lifeless eyes, a gaze too similar to his own reflection in the mirror that morning.
Maybe because people were used to this situation, they walked past without caring
Dex reached into the small pouch on his waist, taking out some copper coins that remained, the leftover money he took from the soldiers he killed.
He placed them in the child's bowl without saying anything.
The child looked at him in shock, then bowed deeply. "T-thank you, sir"
Dex didn't reply, He just walked, leaving the child behind.
But every step he took felt heavier than before.
Dex looked back, the place where the child had been sitting was now empty, even though it hadn't been long since he left, that made Dex curious
He looked left and right, trying to find where the child went, But the street was crowded, full of people passing by, There was no sign of the small child with the empty bowl. "Weird" Dex muttered softly.
Before he could think further, someone bumped his shoulder hard, almost making him lose balance.
Dex almost fell, but his reflexes were quick enough to stay steady. "Hey!" he snapped while turning.
The one who bumped him was a large man, with a long scar on his left cheek, His clothes were shabby, but there was a dagger tucked on his waist.
The man looked at Dex with a crooked grin. "Sorry, sorry, accident" His tone didn't sound apologetic at all.
Dex narrowed his eyes, Something was wrong, His hand reflexively touched the small pouch on his waist, and his heart stopped for a second.
Empty, His money was gone.
Dex immediately glared sharply at the man. "Return it"
The man raised an eyebrow, pretending to be confused. "Return what?"
"My money" Dex's voice was cold, his hand already touching the hilt of the sword on his waist.
The man chuckled, then stepped back while raising both his hands. "Hey, hey, you can't just accuse someone, kid, I don't know what you're talking about"
Some people around began to notice, But no one dared to approach.
Dex stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the man. "I won't repeat it, Return it"
The man stopped laughing, His grin faded, replaced by a cold glare. "What? You want to fight in the middle of the street?"
Dex took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, The money wasn't much, but it was all he had right now.
As Dex released his hand from the sword on his waist, the man turned away with an irritating smirk.
Dex could only watch him leave, taking all his money, he couldn't cause trouble just after arriving in this town.
Dex kept walking, passing through merchant stalls until he reached a small square.
In the center stood an old fountain still flowing, though its stones were covered in green moss.
He stopped there, washing his face with cold water.
As he lifted his head, his reflection appeared on the water's surface, sunken eyes, with an empty expression.
Dex stared at his reflection for a long time. "What am I really looking for here?" he whispered to himself.
His mother's hometown. That was the reason he came. But now? He didn't know what to do.
Find his mother's family who might no longer exist?
Or just search for hope to keep living?
A small cry was heard, from the narrow alley to his left.
Dex turned, The alley was dark, narrow, with piles of wooden boxes and trash on both sides.
He stepped closer, and when he reached the end of the alley, he saw it.
The same child, being pushed roughly against the wall by two city soldiers.
Their uniforms were shabby, the emblem on their chest faded, but the short swords on their waists looked sharp.
"How much did you get today, huh?" yelled one of the soldiers, his voice rough and full of threat.
The child trembled, clutching his small bowl tightly. "O-only a little, sir, please don't, my little brother is sick at home"
"Don't lie!" The soldier kicked the child hard, knocking him to the ground.
The bowl fell, copper coins scattering on the wet ground.
The other soldier laughed as he picked up the coins one by one. "Look, look, not bad for today, Enough for a bottle of drink"
"Give it back" the child cried, trying to reach the coins but his leg was kicked by the first soldier.
"Shut up! You think you can live on these streets without paying tax?" yelled the soldier while lifting his foot, ready to kick again.
"Enough" That cold voice made both soldiers turn.
Dex stood at the end of the alley, his hand on the sword at his waist. His eyes sharp, staring at the two soldiers without blinking.
The first soldier frowned. "Who are you? This isn't your business, kid. Leave before you get hurt too"
Dex stepped forward slowly. "Let the child go. And return his money"
The second soldier laughed mockingly. "Did you hear that? This kid thinks he's a hero"
He spat on the ground, then drew his short sword. "Listen, kid, This is our territory, All beggars here pay tax to us. If you don't like it, you can leave, or I'll cut your tongue so you can't talk again"
Dex stopped a few steps from them. "Last warning" he said quietly, but his tone was cold as ice. "Let him go, Or you'll be the ones hurt"
The first soldier clicked his tongue in annoyance, then also drew his sword. "Damn brat. Fine, if you're so eager to die"
He stepped forward, swinging his sword.
Dex reacted quickly, drawing his sword and blocking the attack.
But when their swords clashed, something strange happened, The soldier's sword suddenly glowed red, and a powerful force pushed Dex back several steps.
Dex nearly lost his balance, his eyes widened.
The soldier grinned. "Surprised? You think you can fight us with just a normal sword?"
In the soldier's hand, a card appeared, floating in the air with a dim red light.
[Blade Force]
Rank: E
Type: Attack
The second soldier also brought out his card, glowing with the same light.
[Iron Fist]
Rank: E
Type: Attack
Dex swallowed hard, It was his first time facing card users in a fight.
And even though their cards were only rank E, the power they released was clearly far beyond normal humans.
Unlike the three men Dex killed before, this time he faced opponents who could use their cards.
Dex tried to attack with a ball of wind.
But the first soldier swung his sword again, this time faster, stronger.
Dex blocked, but the force was so strong his arm went numb.
Before he could react, the second soldier already moved from the side, his fist coated with red light flying toward Dex's stomach.
BANG!
The punch hit Dex's body hard,
It felt like being struck by a thick log,
Dex was thrown, his back slammed against the alley wall hard, His sword almost slipped from his grip.
"Argh" Dex groaned, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
His chest felt crushed, His breath ragged.
The first soldier walked closer while laughing. "That's just one punch, kid. Still want to continue?"
Dex struggled to stand, his hands trembling as he held his sword.
But his body was weak, His knees almost touched the ground.
'Damn, I can't win'
He just got his card last night, He hadn't even tried using it in a fight.
While these two soldiers, though only with rank E cards, were already used to using them.
The second soldier stepped forward, raising his fist again. "Enough playing, Now you'll learn not to meddle in others' business" The punch flew.
Dex tried to dodge, but his body was too slow.
BANG!
The second punch hit his jaw.
Dex was thrown, his body crashing to the ground hard, His sword flew several meters away from him.
His vision blurred, His ears ringing.
He felt the wet ground on his cheek, blood flowing from his mouth.
"Hahaha, Stupid kid!" The first soldier kicked Dex's ribs hard.
Dex groaned, his body curling in pain,
"This is a lesson for you" said the soldier while crouching beside Dex.
The soldier Grabbed his hair roughly. "In this world, power is everything, Without a strong card, you're just trash"
He slammed Dex's head to the ground again, then stood up.
"Come on, let's go, Let the kid cry over his own stupidity"
The two soldiers laughed as they walked out of the alley, taking all the coins they took from the small child.
The child himself had already run away in fear since the fight began.
Dex lay alone on the wet ground, his body aching everywhere.
His breathing was heavy, His vision still blurry.
'Damn' he thought bitterly. 'Damn it'
He tried to move his hand, but the pain stabbing through his ribs made him groan again.
Several minutes passed in silence, No one passed by, not even the child returned.
Dex could only lie there all night on the ground.