Arin began walking without another word, his pace steady as his attention drifted away from the plaza. Kael followed just behind him, his eyes wandering as he took in everything with open curiosity. The town felt different the longer they stayed in it. Not safer—just… controlled. Outside, danger had been obvious. Here, it was buried beneath routine, hidden behind ordinary interactions.
A low growl broke the moment.
Kael placed a hand on his stomach and grimaced. "…Let's find something to eat."
Arin, feeling the same hunger creeping in, gave a small nod.
They turned toward a small wooden stall tucked along the side of the street. An elderly man stood behind it, quietly arranging a few simple dishes—none of which looked familiar. The food was basic, rough, and clearly made for survival rather than taste.
Kael leaned forward, scanning the options with interest. After a moment, he pointed at something that resembled a sandwich.
"…How much for this?"
The old man didn't answer immediately. His eyes moved over Kael—then to Arin. He took in their disheveled clothes, the dust, the faint signs of exhaustion. Newcomers.
"…You're new here," he said calmly.
"…Yeah," Kael replied.
The man nodded slightly. "…Two soul shards."
Arin's gaze sharpened. "…Soul shards?"
The old man raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised. "…Black crystals. You should've gotten some already."
Arin paused—then reached into his pocket. His fingers closed around something familiar. The crystal they had taken earlier.
Without another word, he pulled it out and handed it over.
The old man accepted it, then casually picked up the sandwich with his bare hands and passed it to Kael.
Kael hesitated for a split second, a flicker of discomfort crossing his face.
"…Yeah… not ideal," he muttered under his breath.
But hunger won.
He took it.
Arin watched silently, then spoke.
"…There's a place in this town," he said, his tone calm but precise. "Where people don't ask questions… and answers cost less than your life."
The old man's expression shifted—just slightly. Curiosity flickered in his eyes.
For a moment, he studied them again.
How do they know about that place? the thought crossed his mind.
But he didn't ask.
Instead, he lifted his hand and pointed down one of the side streets.
"…Walk straight for about ten minutes," he said. "You'll see a sign—'Miscellaneous Items.'"
A brief pause.
"…That's the place you're looking for."
Arin gave a small nod. "…Got it."
The old man said nothing more.
Kael took a bite of the sandwich, chewing as he glanced in the direction indicated.
The taste of the sandwich was… disappointing.
Bland. Dry. Almost lifeless.
Kael chewed slowly, his expression twisting slightly with every bite. "…This is bad."
Arin didn't argue. He took another bite, equally unimpressed. "…It's food," he said simply.
That was enough.
The deal was done. They had paid for it.
So they ate.
No complaints after that.
Just necessity.
A few moments later, Kael swallowed the last bite and wiped his hands on his already dusty clothes. Then, suddenly, his expression shifted.
"…Wait."
Arin glanced at him. "…What?"
A grin slowly spread across Kael's face.
"…I've got an idea."
Before Arin could react, Kael closed his eyes briefly, focusing. His mind formed the image—something round, soft, layered with melted cheese. Something familiar.
A pizza.
Energy flickered faintly in front of him.
And then—
It appeared.
Warm. Real. Smelling far better than anything they had just eaten.
Arin's eyes narrowed instantly.
"…You idiot."
Kael blinked. "…What?"
"…Don't use your power out in the open," Arin said sharply. "And why would you waste it on something like this? What if we need it later?"
Kael paused.
The excitement faded.
"…Yeah… okay, that was stupid," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
A brief silence passed.
Then he looked back at the pizza.
"…But it's already here," he said, shrugging slightly. "…So we might as well eat it."
Arin stared at him for a second.
Then sighed.
"…Unbelievable."
Still—
He reached out and took a slice.
They both took a bite.
And this time—
It was good.
Kael's eyes widened slightly. "…Okay… that's way better."
Arin nodded faintly. "…Yeah."
For a moment, things felt… normal.
Then Kael exhaled.
"…Well," he said, "…that means my power's on cooldown now."
Arin glanced at him. "…Already?"
"…Yeah," Kael replied. "One hour."
He stretched slightly, then added casually, "…Your turn then. You can use yours if needed."
Arin shook his head immediately.
"…No."
Kael frowned. "…Why not?"
Arin's gaze shifted briefly around them.
"…I don't know how my ability interacts with this place," he said calmly. "Using it blindly is risky."
Kael tilted his head, curiosity taking over again.
"…So what is your power exactly?"
A brief pause.
Then Arin answered.
"…Space."
Kael blinked. "…That's it?"
"…I can open one portal," Arin continued. "…Anywhere within the World of the Dead."
Silence.
Kael processed that.
Then frowned.
"…That doesn't sound like a fighting ability."
He was about to say more—
But Arin stopped walking.
His eyes fixed ahead.
"…There."
Kael followed his gaze.
A small shop stood at the end of the street.
Nothing special.
Plain.
Almost forgettable.
But above the door—
A worn sign hung quietly.
Miscellaneous Items.
Kael's grin returned.
"…Found it."
The crystal in Arin's hand stirred.
A faint hum.
Low.
Subtle.
But unmistakable.
Arin's fingers tightened slightly around it. His eyes narrowed as he brought it closer, observing the faint vibration running through its dark surface.
"…It's reacting," Kael said, noticing immediately.
Arin didn't respond right away.
The crystal pulsed once more.
Soft.
Almost… guiding.
His gaze shifted to the shop.
Miscellaneous Items.
For a brief moment, silence settled between them.
Then—
"…So this is the place," Kael muttered.
Arin closed his hand around the crystal.
"…Looks like it."
There was no hesitation after that.
Kael stepped forward and pushed the door open.
Ding.
The small bell above the door rang softly as it swung inward.
Kael entered first.
Arin followed.
The moment they crossed the threshold—
The humming stopped.
Abruptly.
Like it had served its purpose.
Behind them, the door creaked shut.
And the shop—
welcomed them in.
The air inside the shop felt different the moment they entered.
Quieter.
Sharper.
Like everything within those walls was watching them back.
A man stood behind the counter.
Tall. Slender. Sharp eyes that missed nothing.
He didn't greet them immediately.
Instead, his gaze moved over their worn clothes, the dust, the exhaustion still clinging to them.
Evaluating.
Measuring.
Then—
A faint smile appeared.
"…Welcome," he said calmly. "What can I get you?"
Arin didn't waste time.
He stepped forward and placed the crystal on the counter.
The moment the man saw it—
Something in his expression shifted.
Recognition.
"…So," he said slowly, picking it up between his fingers, "Chrome sent you."
Arin gave a small nod.
"…Yes."
The man studied them again.
Longer this time.
Then he placed the crystal back down.
"…What information do you want?"
Arin's voice remained steady.
"…The basics. And the ground rules."
A brief pause.
Then the man reached beneath the counter.
When his hand came back up—
He was holding a small white shard.
Unlike the black crystals.
This one was faintly glowing.
"…This," he said, placing it in front of Arin, "is a memory shard."
Kael leaned forward slightly.
"…And?"
"…Everything you need—for now—is inside it."
Kael frowned.
"…How do we use it?"
The man's eyes shifted to him.
"…Infuse your soul energy into it."
A pause.
"…Then you'll understand."
Silence settled for a moment as both Arin and Kael looked at the shard.
Information.
Compressed into something tangible.
Controlled.
Limited.
Just like everything else in this place.
The man spoke again—
"…That's all you're getting for now."
His tone didn't change.
But the meaning was clear.
"…If you want more information…"
A faint smile returned.
"…Come back when you have something worth trading."
Kael clicked his tongue softly.
"…Figures."
Arin picked up the shard.
No argument.
No hesitation.
Then—
"…Is there an inn nearby?" he asked.
The man tilted his head slightly.
"…No need."
He gestured upward.
"…Rooms above the shop."
A pause.
"…Available for rent."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"…Convenient."
"…Expensive," the man corrected calmly.
Then he held up a hand.
"…Ten soul shards."
Silence.
For a brief moment—
Neither of them moved.
Then Arin reached into his pocket.
The last of their crystals.
Everything they had left.
He placed them on the counter.
One by one.
A soft clink echoed with each piece.
The man counted them without looking.
"…Ten."
He swept them away casually.
"…Room's yours."
Just like that—
They had nothing left.
No currency.
Only information.
And whatever came next.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…We're broke already."
Arin didn't respond.
His grip tightened slightly around the memory shard.
"…Then we make it worth it."