Lucia's head snapped up . "Up," she ordered.
The three of them launched toward the rafters just as the door at the far end creaked open. Another sect member stepped inside, pausing in shock at the sight of the room.
He didn't get the chance to shout.
THUD!
Olivia appeared behind him, swift and precise. She sliced his head off before he had the chance to fight back.
The impact of his body hitting the floor was eerily quiet. Within seconds, silence returned.
Kristen's stomach twisted, but she didn't panic this time.
"Alright," Lucia said. "Time to go."
They retraced their path to the vent, slipping back onto the roof.
The night air hit Kristen's feathers, cool and sharp. Below, the district remained largely unaware of what they had just happened, at least, for now that is.
They leapt from the red tiles, gliding low across the rooftops before gaining height near the tower which they had landed on.
Rising into the sky at a fast pace, the winds roaring helped calm her nerves.
Only when the city lights began to shrink behind them did Kristen realise how fast her heart was beating.
'We...we did it. FUCKKKKKKKK YES!!!! HELL TO THE YEAH. Heheheheee.'
A warm feeling spread throughout her body despite the freezing cold temperature, making Kristen almost smile, of course, birds couldn't smile with a beak but that didn't stop her from having a happy expression on her face.
They didn't slow until the city was completely gone from behind them.
Following Lucia's lead they flew towards a massive mountain and descended into the familiar hidden cave.
In here, although the air was thinner and the temperature colder, it felt more comfortable than back in that dreadful human city.
Landing on the entrance of the cave Kristen followed Olivia and made her way towards the sitting circle from before. Tension was thick in the cave as they sat down and discussed what had just transpired.
"Not bad for your first time. Good job newbie."
"Yeah, you actually managed to help us."
Lucia and Olivia broke the silence with a comforting voice to Kristen, as if they knew that she was a little unsure on if she assisted them properly.
"You'll get better as you go on, we find a new mission to do each week so it shouldn't take long before you're as good as us", Lucia added.
Olivia carefully set down her satchel near them, making sure not to break anything. A few spirit stones clinked together and some bundles of herbs released enticing fragrances into the cave.
Lucia put her share at her feet without the grace Olivia had shown. "Good haul," she said simply.
Kristen hesitated before placing her items in the middle of theirs. The vials rolled slightly before settling. She stared at them for a moment.
"You moved when it mattered," Lucia said, noticing. "We didn't need to protect you."
Kristen let out a slow breath she hadn't realised she had been holding. "It felt… a little different than I expected."
"It always does the first time," Olivia replied, nudging a spirit stone into a neat pile. "You think too much beforehand. Then your body just acts."
Olivia's words almost completely described what Kristen had gone through. She seemed to have knack for reading people, a little unsettling to be honest.
The dripping water continued its steady rhythm in the background.
Outside, the wind shifted over the mountain.
Inside, surrounded by stolen goods and new friends, Kristen finally felt like she belonged somewhere in this world.
[Level 11]
[Status: Healthy]
Exp:25/275
Name:Kristen
Race:Astral Raven
Beast cores: 1
Evolution: Criteria not met
Lineage: Ares Zodiac
Martial Arts:None
Divine Abilities: Astral Gaze
Star Energy: 25
[Stats]
HEALTH:70/70
STRENGTH: 55
STAMINA:50/75
TOUGHNESS:30
[Titles]
Kin killer - Extra 10% damage when attacking family
Star Eater - Gain the option to choose the star evolution path
Flock - Gain 30% boost on all stats when with allies of your own race
[Skills]
Stab:lvl 3
Scratch:lvl 3
Flight:lvl 4
Pain adaptation
Appraisal:lvl 2
[Skill Points:6]
[Stat Points:25]
Lucia began separating the herbs into smaller piles, examining their quality with an experienced eye.
"This food will last the three of us a week, maybe two if we're lucky," she said. "The spirit stones we won't use yet."
"What will we use them for?" Kristen asked.
She had never seen a spirit stone in her life, so she didn't know its uses yet.
Olivia joined in the conversation. "It grants us true essence when consumed, if you compile enough true essence you might be able to form another beast core. Humans can also use it to speed along their cultivation."
'Hmmmmm OH! I bet true essence is the exp in my status window.'
Kristen settled near her nest, watching the careful way they organised everything. Nothing was wasted. Even the torn silk wrappings were folded and kept. In the wild, she had survived day to day but in here, survival looked structured.
Lucia selected one of the wax-sealed vials Kristen had taken and rolled it between her claws. "Good pick," she said. "This one's refined. Worth more than it looks."
A spark of pride flickered in Kristen's chest.
They worked until everything had been tucked away and hidden safely. The small pile of resources that Kristen had snatched was currently next to her nest, it seemed like whatever you managed to find was what you would get.
'First in first serve I guess.'
With everything secured Olivia finally settled into her nest, relaxing after the long day.
"The Joy sect will probably notice in the morning if not already, meaning there will be movement in the city."
"They will be on alert," Lucia agreed. "But they won't think of us beasts because they are already so suspicious and distrustful of each other."
Kristen laid on her back, thinking of the human she killed and trying to shake away the guilt. Her body was tired but her mind was crystal clear. The fear that she had felt earlier before the mission had dulled as well.
'KRISTEN! Stop it. He was probably some scumbag who deserved to die. And even if he wasn't this is my life now, I can't doubt myself anymore.'
With a small, almost unnoticeable nod she removed the rest of the guilt in her consciousness and prepared to go to sleep as it was still night.
Lucia's voice drifted distantly from her nest. "You should get your sleep Kristen, training starts tomorrow.
'TRAINING!?!
I did NOT sign up to be homeschooled like I was back on earth!'
She whipped her head around and glared at the direction of Lucia's nest.
"Huh? What are we doing then?"
"Well if you wish to stay with us then you need to get stronger. I saw how you almost fell down from the rafter back there, don't think that you're slick ahahahaha."
At Lucia's words Kristens face heated up like a fire and was bright red with embarrassment.
HUMPH!
With a loud and exaggerated grunt she let sleep take her under, dreading what the next day would bring.