Back in Valewind, the Adventurer's Guild hall roared with noise—mercenaries boasting of their kills, bards strumming lutes, and drunk mages floating candles for fun.
Kaelira handed in their quest report at the front desk, earning a tidy pouch of silver and an extra Guild seal for "hazard bonus."
She gave half of it to Myrelion without a word.
He blinked at the coins. "…I didn't do that much."
"You fought, you bled, and you didn't die. You earned it," she said. "And this isn't a charity. You pull your weight, you get paid."
Later that night, back at their room, Kaelira lit a small fire in the hearth and sat opposite him.
"Alright, kid. Time to stop dancing around it. I've watched your movements, your posture, the way you react. You're no ordinary brat."
Myrelion stayed quiet.
"You fight like someone with decades of muscle memory. I don't care if you're a cursed relic, a demon spawn, or some god's illegitimate child. I just want one thing from you now."
She held up a training dagger.
"Fight me. No holding back. Show me the truth."
Myrelion met her gaze.
"…Alright."
He stood, unwrapped the cloth binding his real weapons, and drew Nyxfang and Solbite.
Kaelira's eyes widened at the daggers' strange aura.
"Those are… Soul Gear?"
He didn't answer.
In a flash, Myrelion moved—blades crossing in a silent whirl. Kaelira countered with a fluid parry, but even she could feel it: he was not human in the way he moved.
It wasn't magic.
It was skill.
Years—no, lifetimes—of killing compressed into the body of a child.
They clashed for thirty full seconds.
Then Kaelira dropped her sword and stepped back, breathing hard.
"Gods," she whispered. "You're a monster."
Myrelion lowered his blades.
"I didn't want this life again," he said quietly. "But fate doesn't care."
She looked at him.
Then laughed.
"Perfect. The world's full of monsters. Better to have one on my side."
She clapped him on the shoulder.
"You're staying with me, Myrelion. And we're going to reshape your fate one blade at a time."
For the first time since awakening in this world… he smiled.
Just a little.