Waza stepped closer, his boots silent against the worn cobblestones. The plaza's dim light flickered across the Broker's sharp features. He didn't move, didn't gesture yet Waza felt the weight of his attention pressing on him.
Selene stayed close, her presence a warm, dangerous reminder of the world outside his careful observations. "First impressions matter," she whispered. "And you only get one here."
The Broker's gaze flicked to her briefly, a hint of amusement, before returning to Waza. "You're the one they call Waza… Azen now, I hear."
Waza kept his voice calm, controlled. "Names are only labels. I'm more than that."
A faint smirk appeared on the Broker's lips. "Bold. I like bold. But Glora doesn't reward bold without leverage."
Waza's eyes scanned him subtly. The man was a hub every movement in the plaza, every minor deal, every whisper of debt and favor seemed to orbit him. Money, power, information. A living map of influence.
Selene's hand brushed his arm. "You feel that?" she asked, her voice low. "He's testing your Vein. He knows you can hear it."
The pulse in Waza's chest shifted. The Vein thrummed faintly, a reminder that he was alive and connected. "I hear it," he said. "And I'm listening."
The Broker nodded slowly. "Good. Listening is the first step. Acting is the next. I have a proposition. A small task, low risk… for someone with potential."
Waza's brow furrowed. "And the catch?"
The smirk widened. "There's always a catch. Information is currency here. And I don't give credit freely."
Selene leaned closer, her breath brushing his ear. "Don't be reckless. But… don't be afraid either."
Waza felt a flicker of tension, but also curiosity. He had lived most of his life in shadows, observing patterns, calculating outcomes. Now the city itself was offering him a move and he could feel the Vein guiding him toward it, whispering possibilities, warning of consequences.
"Tell me the task," Waza said, his voice calm but firm. "I'll decide if it's worth my attention."
The Broker's eyes gleamed. "Meet me tomorrow. Midnight. A warehouse near the docks. Come alone… or not at all."
Selene smirked, tugging him slightly back. "A test. And you're in it."
Waza didn't answer. He only nodded. Inside, a quiet thrill surged through him. Glora had layers he hadn't fully seen before and the shadows were starting to talk.
And for the first time, Waza understood that observation alone would no longer be enough. He would have to choose, move, and survive.