Joel had promised to meet at the Town Square before they parted ways.
Alex wasn't good with people—and he knew it. Joel was the perfect contact. He was local, friendly, and resourceful.
Alex spotted the square easily. At its center stood a large, ornate fountain.
"Why are you so grumpy?"
Alex blinked and looked down.
A little girl, no older than six, stood in front of him. Her round eyes stared up at him with innocent curiosity.
She had messy brown hair tied into uneven braids, and wore a simple cloth dress that was a little too big for her.
Alex frowned. "I'm not grumpy."
"Yes, you are," she said confidently, placing her tiny hands on her hips. "You're sitting there all alone, looking scary. Scary people are usually grumpy."
Alex stared. Most people trembled in his presence. But this little girl—
She was scolding him.
She tilted her head. "Are you hungry?"
Before he could answer, she ran off.
Moments later, she returned, holding a small piece of bread in her tiny hands.
"Here! Mama says when people look sad, they need food!"
Alex stared at the slightly stale bread.
He'd tasted the finest cuisine in royal palaces, eaten meat cooked over campfires, and survived on raw roots in wild forests.
But this—this simple gesture—tightened something in his chest.
He looked at her again. She was poor. Maybe that bread meant a lot to her. But she was eager, waiting for a smile… or just a thank-you.
Alex accepted the bread and offered a small smile. "Thank you."
"See? Not so grumpy anymore!" she declared, then darted off like she'd accomplished something monumental.
Alex chuckled softly.
Maybe this world isn't so bad after all.
But she was still watching him while running—
"Watch out!" Alex shouted.
She collided with a patrol officer.
A flask dropped, shattering. Green liquid spilled across the ground.
Alex ran over and caught her before she fell. She was already crying. Her tiny hands were bruised.
"You little brat! You spilled my healing potion! That's 10 silver—pay up!" the soldier bellowed.
"I'm sorry, uncle! I don't have any money!" she sobbed, trembling.
"Then take me to your parents," he growled, bending down to grab her by the arm.
But Alex stepped between them.
"She's a child. Leave her alone," he said coldly. "It was your mistake too. You could've looked ahead."
"And you are?" the soldier sneered. "Another vagrant with no respect for the rules?"
"Stay put," another barked, blocking Alex's path. "Or we'll drag you in for interfering."
First one had already grabbed the girl's arm—making her cry out in pain.
Alex's hand moved faster than their eyes could follow.
A Dash forward—blurred—
Then silence.
The first sentry dropped to the ground, jaw shattered.
The second reached for his weapon—
Too late. Alex spun behind him and struck the base of his neck.
He crumpled wordlessly.
Gasps echoed from the square.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!?!"
Alex turned to the sound of hurried footsteps.
Joel was running toward him, face pale with fear.
He knelt by the fallen sentries, checking pulses with shaking hands.
The first one—alive.
But as he reached the second, the color drained from his face.
"He's… he's dead," Joel whispered. The words barely left his mouth.
Alex tilted his head, calm and unreadable.
"I didn't hit him that hard. Maybe I need to practice more to control my strength."
He sounded completely unbothered.
Joel, on the other hand, wanted to run. Right then and there.
Why did I even follow him?
But people had already seen them together—moving through different parts of town. He couldn't back out now.
"We need to hide," Joel muttered, looking around in panic. A crowd had begun to gather, curious to see what the commotion was.