She blinked.
"…Gadgets?" she repeated, but this time it wasn't just excitement.
There was hesitation.
Like she wasn't sure if I was making fun of her.
I nodded. "Yeah. You know—tools,bombs, anything mechanical."
Her fingers fidgeted slightly at her side.
"I… I can make stuff," she said, a bit quieter now. "Not—like—big stuff yet, but… they work."
She glanced up at me quickly, as if trying to read my reaction.
Waiting.
'Ah,So that's how it is.'
I smiled—not mocking, not exaggerated. Just enough."That's perfect."
She froze
"…Huh?"
"I don't need 'big' stuff," I continued. "I just need something that works."
A pause.
Then—
Her shoulders relaxed a little.
"…Oh." She looked away, scratching her cheek. "Yeah. Then… I guess I can help."
There it is.
I didn't push further
No need.
"Name's Lloyd," I said.
"…Powder," she replied after a second.
I nodded. "Nice to meet you, Powder."
She gave a small smile.
It didn't last long.
A loud crash came from inside the building.
She flinched.
Then her expression tightened.
"…They're at it again," she muttered.
Before I could ask—
She took a step forward…
Then stopped.
Just for a second.
Like she wanted to go in—
…but wasn't sure she should.
That hesitation told me everything.
I walked past her.
"Hey—wait," she said, startled. "You shouldn't just—"
Too late.
I pushed the door open, the noise hit instantly.
Shouting. Laughter. Tension.
In the middle of the room, a kid was being held up by his collar while a man yelled in his face.
I didn't react, not immediately.Instead, I glanced back.
Powder had followed me in—
but she stayed near the entrance.
Not getting too close.
Watching.
Always watching.
"…So that's how it is," I murmured.
My attention returned to the scene.
The man raised his fist.
The kid flinched.
And then that feeling.
Cold.
Empty.
Hungry.
My hand twitched slightly.
For a split second, the world felt… thinner.
Like I could tear through it if I wanted to.
I exhaled slowly.
"…Not yet."
I stepped forward.
"Hey."
One of the men turned. "What?"
I met his gaze calmly. "You're making too much noise."
Silence fell for just a moment.
Then—
Laughter.
"Did this brat just—"
I didn't let him finish. I moved.
Not fast—
Just one step.
But the distance between us… collapsed.
(Void Step).
Even I didn't fully understand how I did it.
One moment I was across the room—
The next—
I was right in front of him.
The laughter died instantly.
"…What the—?"
Good.
Confusion is better than hostility.
For now.
I tilted my head slightly. "Let him go."
My voice was quiet.
but something in it—
That wasn't normal.
Behind me, I could feel Powder staring.
Not excited.
Not smiling.
Just… confused.
And a little uneasy.
The room stayed frozen.
The man I was facing still hadn't moved—like his brain was trying to catch up with what just happened.
I didn't push further.
Not yet.
From the side, heavy footsteps echoed through the room.
Not rushed.
Not aggressive.
Controlled.
"Alright."
The single word cut through the tension like a blade wrapped in calm.
Everyone turned.
A tall man stepped into view.
Broad shoulders. Tired eyes. A face that had seen too much but still stood firm.
The energy in the room shifted instantly.
Even the thugs loosened their grip slightly.
"…Vander," someone muttered.
So that's him.
He didn't look at them first.
His eyes went straight to the kid being held. Then to the man holding him.
"Put him down," Vander said simply.
No threat.
No anger.
Just certainty.
The man hesitated.
"…He—he stole from us."
Vander sighed softly.
"Then we talk about it. You don't hang him in the air like a warning sign."
The man clicked his tongue but slowly lowered the kid.
The child stumbled back, coughing.
Then Vander's eyes shifted and landed on me.
I didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
Just watched him.
"…You're just a kid," he said.
That caught me off guard.
Not fear.
Not suspicion.
Just concern. I glanced down at myself.
Right.
Still look like a twelve-year-old.
"…Yeah," I said flatly.
Behind me, I could feel Powder tense slightly.
Vander stepped forward, slower now.
"You lost?" he asked.
I paused.
"…Something like that," I replied.
He nodded once.
Then his gaze flicked briefly to my hand—like he felt something he couldn't explain.
But he didn't press it.
"You've got nowhere to go?"
I didn't answer immediately.
Vander let out a small sigh.
"Alright."
"You're not getting tossed out. Not tonight."
A beat.
I tilted my head slightly
"…What if I pay then can I stay"
I asked but I already knew the answer to that after all he can just let a homeless kid keep shuffling around Zaun without a place to go
Vander shrugged.
Behind him, Powder shifted closer—just a little.
Still watching me.
Still unsure.
But no longer afraid.
Just curious.