Echo Shadows

He feared no kings and despised no beggars. He treated nobles and vagabonds the same. He took only the jobs that stirred his interest, no matter who offered them.

Like the wind that passes over all without discrimination, he touched everything yet belonged to nothing.

Still, he was not without flaw. Like every being—human, beast, or something in between—he had his own burdens. Emotion, reason, even selfishness swayed him at times. But he was kind to the kind, and unyielding to the cruel.

And so, when the merchant turned his back and spoke with quiet arrogance, the Echo Shadow made a decision:

"Pride against pride," he thought. "That's balance."

"Was the task beneath you? Or the pay?" the merchant asked as he stroked his beard and turned to meet those void-black eyes.

"A simple mission like this one should give you a break from monster hunting."

He broke the tension with a subtle smile, then took a seat opposite his guest.

The Echo Shadow responded in kind, a slight smirk tugging at the edge of his mouth.

"I was told I'd hear the details from you directly."

"That's right," the merchant replied casually.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he raised three fingers and rotated them in the air—

an innocuous gesture, unless one knew what it meant.

The Echo Shadow's eyes lit with a cold glint, like a spark in the heart of an abyss.

That motion—curling three fingers inward—was not something a commoner would dare use.

It was a coded signal, known only among the elite of Stone's ruling class—those who pulled the strings from the shadows.

Anyone else using it was either a fool or someone too powerful to care about consequences.

The old man responded instantly, even before the motion was complete.

He approached a glass shelf on the wall, opened it carefully, and retrieved a black, ornate wine bottle shaped like a gem.

A sharp, intoxicating aroma poured into the room—rich and overwhelming.

It wasn't just a drink. It was a presence.

"My name is Li Dao Perion," the man said calmly, "and your task—if we put it simply—is incredibly easy."

The Echo Shadow raised an eyebrow, his voice flat and unreadable:

"A pleasure to meet you, Lord Li. But if the task is so simple, why place it on the red board? Surely, a job like that could've been handled by any local."

A soft chuckle escaped the merchant's lips as he lifted the wineglass and took a slow sip. He did not, however, offer any to his guest.

To an outsider, it might seem like arrogance. But in truth, it was consideration.

The servant had already mentioned his knowledge of the Echo Shadow who accepted the task. It was likely that Li Dao had known from the start. Either way, he was aware that his guest didn't drink alcohol—and so, chose not to offer any. Instead, the servant promptly prepared a new pot of tea and poured it with silent precision.

"It's an easy job—for someone of your caliber," the merchant said. "We use the red board only to summon specialists. People beyond the reach of ordinary men."

The Echo Shadow's lips curved into a faint smile as he savored the floral aroma rising from the teacup. He closed his eyes briefly, letting the warmth seep in.

Then, without haste, he asked:

"So, tell me. What exactly is this easy job you speak of?"

Li Dao's voice took on a measured rhythm, both proud and restrained.

"I'm a merchant. My appearance may suggest noble ties, but I am no more than an opportunist. I saw gaps where others saw walls—and I filled them with profit."

He paused, then added with sharper intent:

"Winter is coming. In Stone, winter isn't just cold. It's suffocating. The streets vanish under snow, and the city turns white with silence. After such days, the people will crave only two things."

He raised two fingers.

"Food... and wine. Both scarce. Both valuable. Their prices will surge—perhaps fivefold."

"So my job," the Echo Shadow said, eyes narrowing, "is to protect your incoming supplies?"

"Yes," the merchant replied with a mild nod.

"Almost."

"Almost?"

"The misunderstanding," Li Dao said with a smirk, "is in assuming you're just the guard. In truth... you're the one retrieving the goods. You'll fetch the cart yourself—from the village of Marozel."

No flicker of surprise showed on the Echo Shadow's face. He simply offered a gentle smile, though his mind raced behind that calm.

"Marozel," he said thoughtfully, "is a full day's ride."

"For a horse moving at a regular pace—yes," Li Dao replied smoothly. "Faster, if one knows how to ride."

"A full day," the Echo Shadow said dryly, "for a loaded cart full of food and wine."

Li Dao nodded, lips curled. "As you say, then. A full day."

The Echo Shadow drained the last of his tea, the lingering scent of blossoms clinging to the rim. He looked up with quiet intensity.

"Still not enough to justify hiring someone like me."

Li Dao answered confidently:

"You'll be defending the cart. From monsters."

The Echo Shadow raised an eyebrow.

"Monsters? Only monsters?"

"Yes."

"What kind?"

"The Kheis Beasts," Li Dao said with a shadow crossing his features.

"They've been hunting anyone traveling those roads. Two lovers went missing just days ago."

The Echo Shadow's voice grew quieter, but his tone was sharp, like steel in velvet:

"Are you certain? Did you see them yourself—or is this rumor and hearsay?"

Inside, his mind stirred.

"Kheis Beasts this close to the village? Unlikely. They never linger near settlements unless they're desperate... or commanded."

He paused, then dismissed the idea of hunger.

"It's early winter. The lakes are full of fish. No reason to risk human territory."

Before he could dig deeper, Li Dao cut in—

"I'm absolutely certain. They were Kheis Beasts."

Then, with uncanny precision, the merchant began to describe them—

"Their bodies resemble those of humans, but their skin is like a chameleon's—mottled, slick, and constantly shifting in hue. They walk on two legs, but when they run, they drop to all fours. Each hand and foot has three fingers, and they have a mid-length tail. Their faces… grotesque, like ghouls. A wide jaw filled with razor teeth, a bloated nose, and glowing red eyes. There's no mistake. That's what I saw."

The Echo Shadow nodded slowly, locking eyes with the merchant.

"Your description is remarkably accurate. It seems you're certain of what you witnessed."

"Is there anything else I should know?" he asked, his voice calm, but his pitch-black eyes seemed to cut through the very walls of the man's mind.

The merchant hesitated before replying, a flicker of tension in his voice.

"That's all. I just want the goods delivered unharmed. That's all I ask."

"Very well, then. Let's be clear on one thing."

The Echo Shadow set down his empty teacup with a silent precision, like a blade being sheathed.

"Are you hiring me to transport your cargo—or to eliminate the monsters?"

The merchant blinked in confusion.

"What's the difference?"

The Echo Shadow offered a faint smile.

"The difference is everything. If your priority is eliminating monsters, I'll do just that—even if it means sacrificing the cargo. But if the cargo comes first, then I'll prioritize its safety, even if that means letting a villager die."

The merchant hesitated. Then finally said:

"The cargo. Yes, the cargo is the top priority."

A wicked little smile curled on the Echo Shadow's lips. It wasn't amusement—it was understanding. A glimpse into the heart of the man before him.

He tilted his head slightly, voice calm yet edged like a whetted blade:

"Then there's something else you need to understand, and it's not up for negotiation."

"What is it?" the merchant asked, a flicker of unease returning.

The Echo Shadow's tone turned steely.

"If I find a villager in danger, I'll save them. No matter what you've paid me. That is non-negotiable."