The alley fell silent.
Five bodies lay broken across the wet ground, ultraviolet sigils on their jackets still faintly glowing—marks of organizations powerful enough to own districts, erase names, and bend law itself.
Ashen stood among them, sword dripping rain and blood.
He didn't look at the bodies for long.
The girl's breathing was uneven behind him.
"…They were going to kill me," she said quietly.
Ashen slid the blade clean against his sleeve and returned it to its sheath. The motion was practiced. Emotionless.
"I know," he said.
She hesitated. "I stole something from them."
He didn't turn around.
It didn't matter.
Reasons were for people who planned to stay.
He stepped past her, boots splashing through shallow water.
"Wait," she said, not desperate—just startled. "You're just… leaving?"
Ashen paused for half a second.
"I didn't help you for answers," he said. His voice was flat. Cold. "And I didn't help you to stay."
She swallowed. "They'll keep coming."
"So will worse things," he replied.
He walked toward the mouth of the alley, neon light cutting across his silhouette.
Behind him, she spoke once more, softer this time.
"…Thank you."
He didn't respond.
Ashen disappeared into the city, carrying a sword that didn't belong in the year 3054.
High above, hidden systems updated silently.
INCIDENT RECORDED
CASUALTIES: BLACK VEIL / OBSIDIAN NETWORK
SUBJECT: UNKNOWN WARRIOR — STATUS: PRIORITY ANOMALY
The city had noticed him.
And Ashen didn't care.