Aldrich tipped the bucket over his head, the cold water cascading down his back in a sharp rush, cutting through the heat that clung to his skin. He reached for a rag hanging from the line nearby and scrubbed himself dry, his muscles aching from the long session.
Alan's specter had outmatched him time and time again. But he hadn't stepped into this fight expecting victory. That wasn't the goal. He was here to study. To learn.
And when it came to learning, Aldrich had always been… different.
Master Veltroch once called him a monster. At sixteen, Aldrich had already internalized more combat styles than most would in a lifetime. He could memorize punches, kicks, footwork, weapon techniques, and file them away after seeing them just once.
That was the brilliance of his specter. A perfect, tireless opponent that repeated a technique over and over.
But what set him apart wasn't just the ability to mimic, it was how fast he learned. Most people couldn't grasp a new style in a month, several months even. Aldrich could do it in a night. And not just learn it, he would excel at it.
That's what made him dangerous.
That's what made him a monster.
Still, Aldrich had to admit, Alan was a monster in his own right. The way he wielded his family's art with such precision, such effortless control, was nothing short of masterful.
Watching him fight, even as a specter, stirred something rare in Aldrich.
It made him wonder what would happen if they ever faced off for real, no holding back. Who would come out on top?
Aldrich smirked at the thought.
He had a pretty good idea.
If he used that technique, there'd be no question.
When Aldrich ducked back into the tent, the others were already up. A few sat hunched over their bowls, quietly spooning food into their mouths, others were tugging on their gears.
"Here," Haku said, pressing a warm bowl of potato soup into his hands.
Aldrich took it without thinking, eyes scanning the room.
"What's going on?" he asked, his voice low.
"Stank came by," Haku said, pulling on his tattered shirt and fastening his twin daggers at the waist. "We've got a scouting mission in Latip Forest."
"Oh." Aldrich blinked, the words landing heavier than expected. A mission already? So much for searching for the others.
"Eat up," Haku added, tying his hair back into a tight ponytail. "These runs can sometimes stretch out into days."
Aldrich stared into the steam rising from his bowl, his appetite dulled.
He hadn't eaten in days yet he felt no hunger. Since absorbing the white cores, his body seemed subtly stronger, though his physical strength and speed hadn't spiked by any significant amount just yet. But he could guess that absorbing more cores might change that.
A troubling thought crept into his head, At this rate, would he not become humanity's enemy?
Harvesting cores meant killing Highlanders, especially here on Mako, where he could not just find or buy them. It was a prospect that sent a shiver down his spine. The idea of hunting his own kind for power, it sounded wrong.
Shaking it off, he sipped the soup, burying the unease. He wouldn't slaughter for ambition. He was not that person. Finishing, he strapped his sword to his waist, clad only in leather pants and boots. He noticed only Kartika and Fat Bondo, who was quite lean despite the nickname, were similarly shirtless.
"Alright, looks like we're set," Stank said as he stepped back into the tent, a heavy sack slung over one shoulder. He dropped it onto the grass with a dull thud. "Pretty boy," he added, nodding at Aldrich, "you're carrying this."
Aldrich glanced around. The others were already grinning.
"You're the newbie," Hokon said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Rookie hauls the food. It has been that way since forever."
"Let Aldrich keep his hands free," Haku cut in, adjusting the strap across his chest. "He's more useful as a fighter than a pack mule."
"Oh, get off his dick already," Dune quipped, sparking laughter from the group. With small eyes and a nose like an eagle's beak, he carried a quiver and bow.
"Then you haul it, Haku," Kartika suggested with a smirk.
"What about Sinor? He's the weakest," Haku teased, flashing a wink.
Sinor flipped him off without looking up, still lacing his boots. The tent broke into easy laughter, even Aldrich let a grin slip.
"Alright, enough!" Stank barked, though the corner of his mouth twitched. "Pretty boy, you're carrying the sack."
"The name's Aldrich. Try remembering it, Captain," he said, voice calm but clipped, smile already gone.
Stank opened his mouth to fire back, but instead coughed, swallowing whatever insult had formed. "Let's move. I want us back before nightfall. I've got a meeting."
Aldrich hoisted the sack, and the squad filed out.
The fifteen-man squad moved on foot, boots crunching over the earth as they made their way toward Latip Forest. Stank had claimed it was just a four-hour hike from camp, said it like they were out for a stroll.
Aldrich had assumed a scouting mission meant tracking enemies or mapping terrains. But the truth was different. This was a search for stragglers, people still out there, unaware of the camp's existence. Survivors. Konor was increasing his army, and he was luring stragglers with the promise of protection. Everyone in the camp spoke about him like some sort of saint.
But Aldrich wasn't buying it. Not entirely.
To him, Konor's righteousness smelled too clean. Like something meant to hide the rot underneath
That box in the tower for example, his instincts screaming at him to uncover its secret.
"Aldrich!" Hokon's voice yanked him from his reverie. He'd fallen behind, the sack weighing on his shoulders. "Too heavy for you?" Hokon grinned.
"I'm good," Aldrich replied, forcing a smile as he rejoined the group. Nearby, Kartika, Haku, and others bickered animatedly.
"I swear I saw it. 2400 points!" Kartika spoke.
"No way Stank's got that!" Fat Bondo cackled.
"Why not?" Haku challenged, raising an eyebrow. "I've got more."
"Bullshit!" the others chorused. Haku flashed his wrist: "2550 points!!" The group gasped, exchanging stunned looks.
"Crazy, Haku. I might just kneel and worship you," Kartika laughed. "I've barely hit 1000, feeling like a flop now."
"Fat Bondo, how many you got?" Dune prodded.
"Piss off!" Bondo rolled his eyes, sparking laughter.
"What about you, Aldrich?" Kartika called back, noticing his quiet attention.
Aldrich scratched his head, grinning awkwardly. "Just 800," he lied. Haku's eyes narrowed, his skepticism clear, though the others erupted in laughter, teasing him.
"Well, the point market hasn't been uploaded," Hokon said with a sincere smile. "Maybe the red core value is going to be low this year?"
"Hopefully," Aldrich echoed, returning the smile.
"As long as you're still breathing, that's what counts, my friend," Kartika said with a nod, his tone warm.
"That reminds me of my first days here," Sloan chimed in, breaking his silence. Tall and lanky, he moved with a subtle feminine sway, his arms a map of scars from before the trial. "I stumbled upon a direwolf. I was lucky it was alone. It nearly ended me." He laughed, revealing a deep claw mark across his chest.
"Did you take it down?" Hokon asked, eyes wide.
"Of course not, I was without a weapon, you fool," Sloan rolled his eyes.
"How'd you survive, then?" Fat Bondo pressed, curiosity piqued.
"You won't believe this, but a Highlander saved me. Sliced that beast's head off in one swing," Sloan recounted, awe lacing his voice.
"Bloody hell! What strength!" Kartika exclaimed.
"He was a giant, his sword wider than my thighs and longer than I am tall," Sloan marveled. "Barely spoke, but I pried a name out of him. What was it again?" He tapped his cheek, pondering.
"Anytime now, old man," Hokon teased, rolling his eyes.
"Ah, yes! Bozoan B Mattar," Sloan clapped, triumphant.
"B Mattar… where have I heard that?" Kartika rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
"Fools," Stank's voice cut from the front. "That's one of the ten great families. You crossed paths with a member of the greats, and he saved your sorry hide. You're onelucky bastard." He chuckled.
"Woah! Sloan met a celebrity," Fat Bondo grinned.
"So where's this Bozoan now, Captain?" Haku asked. "He'd be a boon to the camp."
"How should I know? Didn't even realize he was in the trial. In the Highlands, he was a recluse, some of the news outlets called him dim-witted," Stank replied, not glancing back. "Besides, Konor wouldn't want another member of the ten greats here. It'd threaten his position as leader."
That piqued Aldrich's interest. "Konor's from the ten great families?"
"I implied as much," Stank grunted.
"Which of the families?" Aldrich pressed.
"Enough questions. He's tied to the Church of the Night, H Darkorus," Stank snapped.
Aldrich's eyes narrowed. The Church of the Night was up to something, and it smelled rotten.