"What the hell, watch where you're going!" Ace hissed, bitterness in his voice.
Ace's expression softened as soon as he heard a nimble and soft voice.
"S-sorry.."
The hooded person said, pale skin showed beneath the sleeves of the oversized sweater, and their slender legs were exposed by shorts that barely reached their knees.
Ace's thoughts wandered for a split second until a voice cut through the air.
"Get them both! Don't let those little ruffians run away!"
Ace panicked.
'both?! What the hell are they talking about?'
As he saw them closing on the distance and the person who bumped into him had already started to run, Ace swiftly got on both of his feet and ran after the slender figure.
"Damn it! Wait for me!"
Ace ran with all his might, the people that were running after them were muscular and tall. Not something or someone you would see in the third level of this damned Region.
Ace ran through the market, as he slowly caught up to the actual thief, causing ruckus in the street of the market he walked into, as Ace ran he knocked over some fruits and people. They were pale just like he was, so they fell and hurt themselves.
'sorry! Sorry!! I can't do anything to help when I'm being framed as a thief!'
Ace told himself as he ran with all his might.
Suddenly, he grabbed the hooded figure and changed direction. After all, Ace might be the person who knew about the whole third level of the region. Since he explored everything since he was a kid, without fear of being consumed by a fearsome beast. He would've preferred that over staying in that place he would call *Home*.
"Talk! Why the hell are they following you!? And why am I involved in this!?"
Ace snapped, anger boiling in his voice.
As soon as they heard the question, they dodged the first question and yelled at Ace.
"How am I supposed to know why you're running away!?"
"Because they want both of us! They said both!"
Ace grabbed their arm and pulled hard, forcing them off balance. Without slowing down, he dragged them toward a broken section of wall and slipped inside the abandoned house. A place he used to hide when he would be beaten by other kids for his small build.
"Shh. Don't make any sounds" Ace whispered.
The abandoned house was dark as always, but there was a small glow under their sweater. Then they took it out, two small crystals that had a radiance that could attract anyone. Ace looked at the crystals before looking up at the face of the unknown guest that he took into one of his hiding spots.
When the hooded person slowly removed the hood, Ace saw the long silky hair drape all over her beautiful face. It was his first time seeing someone as beautiful as her. Since everyone in the third level of the region were all pale and scrawny.
Ace stared at her long hair as the radiant crystals casted a glow effect onto her hair making it even more beautiful. Suddenly, she snapped her fingers in Ace's face.
"Earth to the stranger? What are you staring at?"
Ace quickly looked away coming back to the real world.
"Nothing. Who are you?"
"Morwen Thornvale."
Ace's face went pale, he was already very pale but his face went paler.
"What the?! A clan name!? You're from the second level?!"
Morwen shrugged with an indifferent expression.
"What the hell are you doing here?! And why were you being chased!?"
Ace couldn't control his emotions at the mention of her name, all he could do was bombard her with questions.
"Can you calm down for a second? Yeah I'm from a clan. So what? That doesn't make me a god. I came here to have some fun when I heard of a expedition happening to kill a first rank beast on a high level, so I joined. When I did most of the work and killed it, it had spirit crystals, something really rare even in the higher floors. And they wanted to take it for themselves, I would've given one to them but they wanted both, so I took it and ran away. I wasn't scared but I didn't want to get into trouble with my grandpa or dad since they don't know I came down here."
Ace listened intently then gave an approving nod.
Those scumbags got what they deserved. And his eyes drifted to the spirit crystals on her hands.
As she saw Ace's face she asked.
"Want one?"
Ace flinched, confused about the question. From his knowledge, most of those who were on the higher levels hated the ones living here, so he decided to keep quiet when he got his emotions under control. Not wanting to end up in any trouble.
He shook his head slowly, it was a dumb move, he was letting go of a huge opportunity. But he knew it was better not to risk it, since he couldn't really trust her so easily, who would even give away such a precious item?
"Are you sure? You got into trouble because of me bumping into you, so I don't mind sharing, since I was actually going to share it with those buffoons too if they weren't so greedy"
At her words Ace's heart calmed down a bit.
"Well, didn't you just say this was a rare thing even on the higher floors? Why would you not keep it to yourself?"
Ace asked cautiously.
"It's not that I can't keep them, if I absorb both of these my grandpa will surely notice that I did something, and I would be in trouble, with one, I could say I trained the whole week without rest. I won't have an excuse if I absorb both of them. And don't ask me why I'm not taking the other one back with me and keep it to absorb later. They will easily notice it."
As her words clarified everything, Ace calmed down, but still didn't want to take it so easily.
"I still don't want to take something so valuable for free... Is there something I can do?"
Morwen nodded.
"Yeah, there is actually!"