The ascendant of

Two men rushed at Kiyen at the same time.

The first tried to attack him with a worn wooden club, though he didn't seem to understand how to wield it because he waved it in all directions.

Kiyen ducked and dodged his onslaught with surprising ease. Compared to the previous opponent, that man was clumsy and predictable.

Kiyen lunged forward and plunged his dagger into his opponent's liver.

The subject buckled to his knees with a choked groan, unable to stand.

The second proved even easier. Kiyen dodged his clumsy blow with agility and managed to trip him against the body of the first attacker and consequently he fell face first to the ground, and before he could get up, Kiyen reached him and plunged his dagger into his neck opening his skin with a slash.

The guy fell dead covered in blood over the body of his dying companion.

A smirk curved Kiyen's face at how easy he found it. It almost reminded him of scavengers...

He looked around, waiting for his next adversary, but a sudden sound cut through the air.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

The fighting stopped immediately.

Kiyen blinked, confused, what was that sound?

Then he noticed that the bracelet on his wrist began to emit a faint orange glow.

Even the man groaning on the ground from the wound in his side went still, gritting his teeth in silence.

It was as if everyone knew what the sound meant. As if they had been waiting for it.

"Could it be the alarm the woman mentioned?"

Faced with the possibility of another surprise attack, he held the daggers steady in his hands, ready to keep fighting if necessary.

But no one else went against him. As if ignoring him and the fighting around them, everyone began to gather with their teams.

Apparently it was time to work in the mines. And oddly enough they were all very punctual and responsible about it.

Kiyen turned as he noticed the white-haired girl walking towards him.

"So do I have equipment yet?" asked Kiyen with bated breath.

That fucking bitch better keep her word.

She nodded, amused, and waved her hand at him.

"Come, follow me."

Kiyen, not yet daring to put away his daggers, went after her.

The two walked together amidst the murmur of people and the dark path of blue lights, until the girl decided to cut through the silence,

"Lyssara."

"What?"

the girl rolled her eyes and pushed him aside using her hips. Kiyen staggered and looked at her with narrowed eyes.

"It's my name," she continued. "And you, kid, what's your name?"

"Kid? You're not even that old...!"

She shrugged, though she couldn't help but smile, as if she found this all very funny.

"Kiyen." he said at last, resigned.

Lyssara blinked a couple of times, as if that name sounded familiar.

"Kiyen, Kiyen, it rings a bell, I think I heard it mentioned before... Could it be that you are Druska's son?"

Kiyen frowned and instantly tensed.

"How do you know her?" he asked, becoming defensive.

"Druska is... quite well known."

Kiyen pursed her lips, forming a grimace. He didn't say anything else. He knew she was right. His mother, after years as a prostitute, was known to more than she would like to admit...even among women.

"Whatever you're thinking, that's not it," Lyssara corrected him, nudging him again with her body as they continued walking.

"That's enough, stop that, it's annoying" Kiyen complained, pulling away. "Now tell me why you know my mother?"

"I know her because your mother is a very valuable source of information" concluded Lyssara with a lopsided smile.

Information? What information can a prostitute give?" thought Kiyen. Besides, she's been out of commission for years because of her illness.

Lyssara spoke no more on the subject, instead she paused, raised her arm and waved it in the direction of a group gathered in front of an entrance to the caves.

Kiyen's eyes shot open at her bad luck.

Among them was the first guy he tried to negotiate with... the same guy who had slammed him against a rock, ridiculing him in front of everyone. As if that wasn't enough, there was also the guy with the mustache with whom he tried to negotiate at the entrance of the cave and who had ignored him as soon as he saw him.

The third was a robust woman with red hair and a tired look. Had she arrived recently? He didn't remember her.

"What are you doing with that little thief?" the brunet roared, rolling up his sleeves and revealing his muscular arms. "Did you bring him to me to finish what I started?"

"Uhm? Of course not. He's our new mining partner" Lyssara replied, still smiling.

"What, you're crazy, what good is that skinny little guy going to do us? He doesn't even have kurps on him..."

Kiyen understood instantly. That guy had never wanted to negotiate; he was just looking to take her money. Rage rose in his throat. He felt like pulling out his daggers and proving to her that he was no good-for-nothing, that he could defend himself...get revenge for the humiliation.

But Lyssara, as if reading the atmosphere, raised both hands in a sign of peace.

"Hey, hey! Save that energy for work!" she said, fixing her gaze on the brunet. "If you get like that, Roy, I'll find someone else to replace you. I need this guy. He's just what we lacked last time..."

"We lacked for what?" asked Kiyen, but Lyssara didn't answer. She just winked at him.

Given the girl's attitude, it was clear that it was no good.

"Do you have any objections, Ryan? Mariana?"

Ryan, the man with the mustache, merely made a gesture of disinterest, while Mariana let out a tired sigh.

"Perfect, I take it we're all in agreement" Lyssara affirmed and, without further ado, walked until she was in front of the cave entrance.

The mouth of the cave was an arc of jagged rock that seemed to devour the light, engulfing it in a darkness so dense that it was impossible to make out what lay within.

"Kiyen, did they explain to you what you have to do?" asked Lyssara looking back over her shoulder at Kiyen.

The boy nodded.

"Yes. I have to use the pickaxe they give me with the bracelet, take out minerals and..."

"Forget about that," she interrupted him. "I'm going to need you for another function. Come on!"

Without giving Kiyen time to ask, Lyssara stepped into the cave, disappearing into the shadows as if she had been swallowed by a portal. The others followed her without further questioning.

Kiyen hesitated for a moment, that woman did not give her confidence at all but.... Did she have any other choice?

Thinking of the kurps she took courage and finally entered the cave.