The sun was already high when Dex finally managed to stand.
His body felt shattered, every movement bringing sharp pain.
His ribs were surely cracked, his jaw swollen, and dried blood stuck at the corner of his lips.
He leaned against the alley wall, breathing slowly so it wouldn't hurt too much.
The street outside was busy again. People passed by as usual, no one caring about what had happened.
Dex stared at the ground where he had lain all night, stained with blood and wet dirt.
"Weak" he muttered softly with a hoarse voice.
He closed his eyes, remembering the faces of the two guards, the way they laughed, the way they kicked him like trash.
And the most painful thing wasn't the wounds on his body.
But the fact that he couldn't do anything.
He only threw a wind ball without aim, without enough power.
Like a child learning to walk.
"Haha, maybe I finally found the reason" Dex muttered half-crazed.
With staggering steps, Dex walked out of the alley, The sunlight stung his swollen eyes. Some people glanced at him briefly, but no one stopped.
In this city, sights like this were probably normal.
Dex walked slowly, every step stabbing his ribs, He didn't know where to go, his money was stolen, his sword taken, and his body could barely move.
He reached the old fountain in the small plaza.
With difficulty, he sat on its edge, washing his face with cold water.
The dried blood dissolved in the water, leaving a red stain on the surface.
Dex stared at his reflection in the water, swollen face, dark eyes, cracked lips.
"Damn" he muttered while holding his growling stomach.
He looked at the busy streets, merchants selling bread, roasted meat, fruits, The smell made his stomach growl even more.
But he had no money.
Not even for a piece of bread.
Dex lowered his head, his fists clenched on his knees.
"What should I do now?"
He was just a wounded stranger, without money, without a place to stay, without a goal.
Dex looked at the sky that was beginning to cloud, Maybe it would rain again later.
He took a deep breath, then tried to stand, groaning as the pain stabbed his ribs again.
***
Dex walked aimlessly, passing through the busy streets, His eyes observing everything, searching for a chance, searching for anything that could help him survive.
At the end of the road, he saw a wooden board on a wall, a kind of bulletin board.
Some people gathered there, reading the papers posted on it.
Dex approached, his eyes scanning the words on the papers.
"Wanted: Warehouse Worker, Pay 10 copper coins per day"
"Wanted: Hunter to drive away wolves in the northern forest, Pay 50 copper coins"
"Wanted: Escort, Must have at least Rank E card"
Dex read one by one, Most jobs required special skills or a card of a certain rank,
His eyes stopped at a slightly worn paper in the corner.
"Wanted: Laborer to Clean Warehouse, No experience needed, Pay 8 copper coins per day, Come in the morning to Merchant Galen's Warehouse at East Road"
Dex stared at the paper for a long time,
8 copper coins, Not much, but enough to eat.
He pulled the paper from the board, folded it, and slipped it into his pocket.
***
That night, Dex slept under an old wooden bridge at the edge of the city.
The cold pierced his bones, but at least he was sheltered from the rain that had begun to fall.
He curled up in a corner, clutching his sword tightly, staring at the small river flowing beneath the bridge.
In his head, the same question kept spinning.
"Why am I so weak?"
He had a Rank B card, The Wind, It should be strong, But he couldn't even beat two guards with Rank E cards.
The problem wasn't the card.
But himself.
Dex didn't know how to use it properly, Didn't know how to fight properly, Didn't know how to control the power inside him.
Dex closed his eyes, trying to feel the connection with his power.
The power was there, beating softly like a second heart.
But every time he tried to call it, it felt like trying to hold water with bare hands, Nothing stayed.
Dex knew how to use it. but he didn't know how to control it.
"I have to learn" he whispered softly.
But how?
Who would teach him?
He had no money to pay a teacher, No connections, Nothing left.
Dex opened his eyes, staring at the dark sky through the cracks of the bridge.
"Well, If no one teaches me, I'll teach myself"
His decision was resolute.
Tomorrow, he would work to earn money.
And after that, he would train.
Train until he could control The Wind perfectly.
Train until no one could bother him again.
---
Morning came with Light that blanketed the city.
Dex woke with his body still aching, but a little better than yesterday, He washed his face in the river, then walked to East Road.
Merchant Galen's Warehouse wasn't hard to find, a large building with stacks of wooden crates in front, Some workers were already busy carrying goods.
At the entrance, a middle-aged man with a large belly stood checking notes in his hand.
Dex approached. "I'm here for the warehouse cleaning job"
The man turned, looking Dex up and down, swollen face, thin body, worn clothes.
"You sure you can work in that condition?" he asked skeptically.
"I can" Dex replied firmly.
The man paused for a moment, then sighed. "Alright, My name is Galen, You'll clean the back warehouse, sweeping, taking out the trash, and moving damaged crates, Work from morning till evening, 8 copper coins. Agreed?"
"Agreed"
"Good, Start now"
The job was harder than Dex expected.
The back warehouse was full of dust, cobwebs, and decaying wooden crates, He had to lift, sweep, and throw everything out.
Every movement sent pain through his cracked ribs, Sweat soaked his body, His hands trembled from exhaustion.
But he didn't stop.
He kept working, sweep by sweep, crate by crate, until the sun began to set.
When he was done, Galen came to check.
"Not bad" he said while tossing a small pouch of coins to Dex. "Come again tomorrow if you want"
Dex caught the pouch, feeling its weight in his hand.
8 copper coins.
Enough for dinner and breakfast tomorrow.
"Thank you" he said softly.
Galen nodded, then walked away, leaving him alone in the now clean warehouse.
Dex sat on the wooden floor, staring at the pouch of coins in his hand.
Even though it wasn't much.
At least he could still survive.
---
That night, after eating bread and cheap soup at a small shop, Dex returned to the underside of the bridge.
But this time, he didn't sleep right away.
He stood by the river, staring at the water flowing slowly under the moonlight, Then he raised his right hand. "Come on, once more"
He closed his eyes, feeling the connection with the power in his chest.
The card appeared, floating above his hand with a soft blue glow.
A gentle breeze began to form around him, This time, he didn't force it, He let the wind flow, soft, free.
The wind swirled around his hand, forming a small stable vortex.
Dex opened his eyes.
The vortex was still there, stronger than before, more controlled.
And under the moonlight, by the quiet riverside, Dex began to train.