As soon as he stepped outside—Three shady adventurers rose from their seats in the far corner, exchanged silent glances…and slipped out after him.
Aki wandered through the dimly lit streets, following Amy's directions, until a soft warm glow caught the corner of his eye. A small wooden sign swung gently above a doorway:"The Midnight Café." His stomach growled in agreement.
Aki stepped inside. The café was cozy, lit with amber lanterns and filled with the smell of roasted beans and warm pastries. A waitress approached with a practiced smile and took his order. Soon enough, a steaming cup of coffee and freshly baked scones sat before him.
He ate quickly—he hadn't realized how hungry he was until that moment. When he finished, he went to pay. The waitress kindly converted his gold coin into silver for him, and he even left her a small tip before heading out. But the moment he stepped back into the cool night air—He felt it again. That prickle on the back of his neck.
[Cynth]:" There are three shady individuals following you. What should we do?" [Aki confidently]:" Yeah I noticed them. Don't worry I'll lure them out."
He turned down a narrow alleyway—half-lit, empty, quiet.
The perfect trap. As soon as his footsteps faded, the three men rushed in. Aki wasn't there.
A voice spoke behind them. [Aki]:" So... Why you following me?" They spun around. Aki stood casually with his hands in his pockets, eyebrows raised like he'd caught toddlers stealing cookies. [Aki]:" Why would 3 level 6 adventurers chase a level 2."
The one in front—broad shoulders, crooked grin—stepped forward. Clearly the leader.He cracked his neck. [Leader]:" Listen kid and listen well cause this might the last thing you ever hear. My name is Isarc and we're members of the black scorpion party.( They raised their sleeves to reveal a tattoo of a black scorpion.) We overheard your conversation with the receptionist and we don't like elites since you think you're high and mighty than the rest of us. So we are gonna discipline you."
The alley felt smaller as they circled him, blocking every escape. [Aki thinking]:" Can I beat them Cynth?" [Cynth]:" If you isolate them, one by one, yes. Just don't let all three hit you at once." Aki grinned and drew his blade with a smooth metallic whisper. [Aki mockingly]:" Wow! All of yo are gonna jump lil ol' me, well prepare for an ass whooping."
Isarc snapped his fingers.The two men beside him cracked their knuckles and grinned, stepping forward like hungry wolves. [Isarc]:" Break him." Aki rolled his shoulders and shifted his stance, holding his sword backwards so the dull edge faced outward.[Aki]:" Just letting you know—I'm not really in the mood, so let's keep this quick."
The first thug lunged, swinging a heavy punch aimed straight at Aki's jaw.Aki vanished—Not fully, just a blur of motion.Flash Step.He reappeared behind the man, calm as a breeze. [Aki]:" Too slow."
Aki struck the back of the man's ribs with the blunt edge. The man gasped, knees buckling as he collapsed forward.
Before the thug even hit the ground, the second one charged in, swinging a short dagger.[Cynth]:" Careful—small blade, poison-coated." The man slashed in rapid motions, but Aki sidestepped each strike with lazy, almost bored movements. The air whistled each time the blade missed his face by centimeters. The thug thrust forward—Aki Flash-Stepped again, appearing just inside the man's guard. He flipped his sword and slammed the dull side into the man's stomach.The thug wheezed violently as the blow lifted him off his feet before he hit the ground, rolling in pain.
Only Isarc remained. He stared at Aki like the boy had just rewritten the laws of physics. [Isarc]:" Tch… cocky brat." He pulled out a curved saber and rushed in, faster and more coordinated than his men. Aki parried the saber with the flat of his blade—clang! Sparks flew. Isarc pressed in aggressively, swinging heavy strikes that made Aki slide back in the dirt.
[Isarc]:" What happened to not being in the mood, huh?!" [Aki]:" Still not. You're just annoying." Isarc snarled and went for a sweeping strike aimed at Aki's knees. Aki jumped lightly, landed on the wall beside him, pushed off using Flash Step—and blurred behind Isarc.
Aki: "Lights out." He swung the dull side of his sword cleanly into the back of Isarc's neck. Isarc collapsed face-first into the ground, completely knocked out cold.
Silence filled the alley. Aki spun his sword once, sheathed it in one smooth motion, and lifted his hands behind his head casually.
Aki: "Well… that was boring." [Cynth in a surprised manner]:" Since when can you talk like that?" [Aki grinning]:" Oh please! I've played so many online games where people bully Noobs and I picked up a line or two for this kinda situations."
He stepped over the unconscious bodies and Aki hadn't even taken three steps out of the alley before armored footsteps echoed from the street.
Two city guards sprinted over, spears drawn.
[Guard 1]:" Hey! You—stop right there!"Aki sighed, raising his hands halfway.Behind him, the three unconscious Black Scorpion members lay sprawled across the alley like broken mannequins.The guards glanced past him, eyes widening.
[Guard 2]:" What in the—Did you do this?" Aki nodded once, with a mix of calm and terrified. [Aki]: "They followed me...Tried to attack me... I defended myself."The guards exchanged a knowing look. [Guard 1]:" Black Scorpion tattoos… tch. Criminals. That explains it." [Guard 2]:" Alright, kid. Thanks for the report—we'll take it from here." They dragged the men away while muttering complaints about "troublemakers" and "another paperwork night."
Aki dusted his hands off and walked out of the alley like it was just another Tuesday.
He followed Amy's directions until he reached a small, worn-out, slightly crooked building with the sign:"Dustwind Rest Inn"
The wood was chipped, one lantern flickered weakly, and the place definitely had "cheap but barely holding together" energy. Aki walked inside. The manager—a tired old man with deep eyebags—simply looked at him.Aki looked back.A brief exchange of silent understanding. Aki placed his coin on the counter. The man slid him a key without a word. Aki nodded. The man nodded back.
Aki opened the door to a tiny space with a single bed, a wooden chair, and a window that didn't quite close all the way.[Aki]:" Yeah… I am definitely not staying here long."
He dropped onto the bed, staring at the cracked ceiling.
[Aki thinking]:" Give it a week or two. Once I earn some money, I'm getting a better place.
But… at least it's close to the guild. Makes things easier." He turned on his side and let out a long exhale. Aki: "…First quest tomorrow. Hope it's something simple… like picking herbs, not fighting giant worms again." Cynth snorted softly in his mind. [Cynth]: "You attract trouble. Expect the worst." [Aki yawning]:" Yeah… I know…"
His eyes grew heavy. The exhaustion from the desert, the fighting, the running—all of it finally washed over him. Within seconds, Aki drifted into sleep.