The rooms filled quickly as everyone settled in for the night. A few refugees counted their remaining credits and used the last of them to buy a drink in the saloon downstairs.

  Jason and Tahuuk were also getting ready for bed. Compared to the arena cells, the mattresses felt like luxury. Tahuuk claimed a corner big enough for him to curl into. Jason, however, ended up wedged between several people, one arm trapped, one leg pinned — the kind of night that felt longer than it was.

  Morning light seeped through the metallic shutters, a bright stripe sliding across the room until it reached Jason’s face. His eyes were already open. Sleep had been… questionable, thanks to the occasional arm or foot smacking him at random.

  He gently lifted a girl’s arm from his chest, stepped over legs and bodies, and slipped out the door as quietly as he could.

  The hall on the first floor led him to a public washroom. He splashed water on his face and rubbed away the exhaustion.

  Tahuuk appeared behind him. “The streets are busy here. Just as I remember.”

  “That’s good,” Jason replied, drying his face. “Means we’re not the cause of the chaos.”

  He stretched his neck. “Also means we can start working. Ready to check out the mercenary guild today?”

  Tahuuk let out a half-suppressed eagerness. “To be fair, I’ve been wanting to fight since we left the arena…”

  “We’re going to a guild,” Jason reminded him. “We might not have to fight immediately.”

  Tahuuk deflated a bit. “...We’ll see.” He turned toward the stairs.

  Jason followed him down. The innkeeper was already hauling crates toward the back rooms, glasses inside clinking with each step.

  Stepping outside, Jason finally took in the city properly for the first time. Market stalls were being set up. Children splashed around the fountain. Neighbours exchanged gossip. Travelers browsed nearby side streets for supplies.

  Near the fountain stood a priest in gold-trimmed robes, spreading gospel to whoever would listen.

  “Behold his light! Behold the seed of life! Behold the beauty of our creator—”

  He paused as Jason and Tahuuk passed. “Ah! A donation to the Church of the First Sun, my friends? Even a small offering brings us closer to the world our creator envisioned.”

  Jason forced a polite smile. “Sorry, we can’t afford anything right now.”

  “I see. Then may the sun shine brightly upon you,” the priest answered with a radiant smile.

  Once they were out of earshot, Tahuuk muttered, “Does he want us to dehydrate? Why would he want more sun on us?”

  Jason blinked. “No… I think it’s a blessing. Why would he wish us bad luck? He’s a priest.”

  “Right…” Tahuuk let it drop.

  Jason couldn’t help thinking how Tahuuk possessed deadly survival instincts — but almost zero common sense in everyday life. Captivity — and whatever life he had before — didn’t teach much about the normal world.

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  They continued toward a building farther down the main street. It stood out immediately: sturdier walls, heavy atmosphere, more scars in the stone.

  A man leaned against the wall beside the door, smoking. He looked intense at first glance — until Jason noticed the grocery bag from the shop next door.

  Tahuuk walked straight up to him, casting a giant shadow.

  “We want to fight,” he declared.

  The man froze, cigarette trembling between his fingers. Sweat formed at his temple. Jason took in the details — simple clothes, unarmed, groceries.

  Yep,...Just a civilian.

  Jason grabbed Tahuuk’s arm. “Wrong guy. Sorry, sir. Enjoy your day.”

  The man nodded shakily. “N-no problem…” He exhaled in relief as they walked past.

  Inside, the guild felt like a different world — low light, watchful eyes, the smell of metal oil and leather. Men sat hunched over tables, weapons within reach, some marked with scars, others with custom gear that made Jason tense immediately.

  Across the hall stood a large counter. Behind it, a broad-backed man with an eyepatch scrolled through a holo-screen.

  Tahuuk marched up confidently. Jason followed at a slower, more cautious pace.

  But someone suddenly stepped out from the crowd. Jason bumped into him.

  “Sorry,” Jason said quickly. “It’s crowded.”

  “No problem. Come on, Frank — we’re late. The client’s at the dock already.”

  As they passed, Jason noticed the emblem on their shoulder: a single grey eye.

  The Grey Sight Guild…

  He turned his face slightly, hiding his features until they disappeared through the door.

  Only then did he approach the counter — and found the eyepatched man staring at him.

  “Curious how I got it?” the man asked.

  Jason nodded.

  “I got too close to the guardian of this system. A black beetle the size of a building. Didn’t even attack me — it just opened its wings to fly. The shockwave ripped trees out of the ground. Threw me like a ragdoll. Took my eye clean.”

  Jason frowned. “Not exactly the kind of brag that builds fame…”

  The man chuckled. “Most people don’t believe you even saw a Guardian, let alone survived being near one.”

  His gaze shifted to Tahuuk, scanning him top to bottom. “You here to fight?”

  Jason caught it — the glint in Tahuuk’s eyes, like recognition.

  “Yes,” Tahuuk said, grin forming. “We want to fight.”

  Jason thought, It’s like he’s looking in a mirror.

  The man nodded. “You look capable. But you’ll need to prove yourselves. Every Sunday we hold classification exams. Five days from now, you can get proper requests. Until then… we have item searches. Lost goods. Herb gathering. Not glamorous, but it pays.”

  Jason considered it. We need credits. Anything helps.

  “We’ll take a few,” he said, glancing at Tahuuk for confirmation.

  “My body will keep aching either way…” Tahuuk grumbled.

  The man tapped through his holo-screen and pointed at a glowing signature strip.

  “Sign here. If you don’t have an autograph, initials are fine.”

  Jason and Tahuuk signed the form, registering for a job recovering a missing cart in the western forest.

  “You’ll take this datapad,” the man said, handing it over. “On loan. Break it, you buy it. After your exam, you can even form your own mercenary group. Makes getting jobs easier.”

  “Thanks. We’ll think about it,” Jason replied.

  As they walked out, Jason overheard the man behind them begin his next pitch:

  “Curious how I got this scar—”

  Outside, Jason checked the datapad again. The request came from a farmer outside the city.

  “Guess we talk to him first?” Jason asked.

  “You’re better at dealing with people,” Tahuuk shrugged. “You’re the boss.”

  Jason sighed. “Great… pressure. Just what I needed.”

  They approached the fountain — then immediately circled the long way around to avoid the priest.