That Job Is Mine

 "Damn… this is huge. Where am I gonna find that brat?"

Yenzo sighed. "Okay, let’s try this."

He placed his hand on the ground of the sunken ship and channeled his Lyth energy. He tried to focus, but dizziness hit him hard. Still, he ignored it and concentrated. He could trace faint traces of presence.

“That way.”

He moved deeper into the ship. As he did, the moonlight streaming through cracks in the roof started to dim… and then, darkness surrounded him.

He took out his Lyzen. When he infused it with Lyth, it began to glow faintly.

With its light, he searched for the kid.

A strange feeling crawled over his skin. It felt like he was being watched. But the light revealed nothing—no people, no movement.

He kept walking.

Footsteps.

Not one. Many.

His pace quickened. Then he ran toward the nearest patch of moonlight.

He reached a spot where sunlight pierced through the broken roof. Yenza looked up. “This must be the top.”

But just as he tried to move forward, his body tensed. Reflexively. It knew—he was surrounded. But still, he couldn’t see them.

Then, laughter echoed from all sides.

Yenzo thought, “Damn kid… I can’t blame him. I knew it was a trap. If someone’s to blame—it’s me.”

Still smiling, he said aloud, “Show your face.”

More laughter.

“What’s the fun in a hunt if it’s an easy kill?” someone sneered.

Their laughter was cut short by a blast…BOOM…as Yenzo shot the roof with Lyzen, collapsing a chunk of it.

With Lyzen resting on his shoulder, he grinned. “No wonder you guys stayed in the dark. You look nasty. I mean that in a good way….don’t get offended.”

Someone stepped forward, drawing a sword embedded with a death crystal.

Yenzo thought, "Ooh… they have that crystal. They’re better at controlling Lyth. I’m in trouble."

Now eight men surrounded him. All armed. All serious.

Yenzo didn’t speak. He just raised Lyzen—his red shotgun with silver striping glowing faintly as he used his Lyth in silence.

One guy chuckled. “Nice piece. Let’s see if that thing works.”

Yenzo tilted his head. Tightened his grip.

Then…

BOOM.

A loud boom shook the air, cutting through the silence.The first man dropped before he knew what hit him. The blast curved and launched him like a ragdoll.

The rest froze.

Then, all at once….they charged.

Yenzo slid low, dodging a burning red whip that scorched the air and melted the metal roof behind him. He rolled and fired again.

BOOM.

This time, the blast split mid-air and hit two more. They collapsed….hard.

“Don’t stop moving!” someone screamed. “It’s tracking us!”

Yenzo ducked behind a broken vent. Blood dripped from his side. One of their blades had grazed him.

He was hurt. Breathing heavy.

But not afraid.

His mind stayed sharp. Eyes scanning.

He tossed a metal shard into the air.

While they looked up, he slipped around and fired.

BOOM. BOOM.

Two more down. Smoke thickened the air. The ship groaned under the chaos.

One man came at him, swinging a curved blade. The air itself split….the pressure ripped metal apart.

Yenzo leapt aside, but not fast enough.

The edge cut him. Blood sprayed. He gritted his teeth.

Still didn't fall back.

He was weakening. His Lyth was fading. He could barely hold Lyzen.

But he had one shot left.

He looked at the floor… then at the sword guy’s feet.

Idea.

He dropped to one knee and fired into the steel beneath him.

BOOM.

The blast shook the deck. The man lost balance. Yenzo surged up and slammed Lyzen’s handle into his throat—knocking him out cold.

Silence.

It was over.

Yenzo stood there—bleeding, shaking, barely upright.

Or so he thought.

A voice: “Don’t move!”

Yenzo turned his head slightly.

The last man still stood—burned, trembling, holding a knife to the kid’s throat.

The one who stole the chain.

The man begged. “L-Look, I don’t wanna die, okay? You care about the kid, right? Let me go. I’ll let him go.”

Yenzo stared at him.

Then flatly said, “I don’t care about the kid.”

BOOM.

Half the man’s face vanished.

But before falling, he threw the kid off the edge of the ship.

Yenzo’s eyes widened. “Shit…..!!”

He jumped.

Mid-air, he flipped Lyzen in hand, fired downward—not to kill, but to slow their fall.

BOOM.

The blast kicked up sand and force, enough for Yenzo to grab the kid mid-air.

But when they hit the ground—

CRACK.

Yenzo’s arm broke.

He blacked out instantly.

Some time later…

Under moonlight, Yenzo lay in the sand. His arm twisted. Blood ran down his face. Lyzen hummed quietly beside him, faintly glowing with leftover Lyth energy.

The kid sat up, somehow still conscious.

He looked at the man who had saved him… who got hurt because of him.

Then he saw it.

The chain.

Yenzo’s chain—the one he’d stolen.

The kid hesitated. Then quietly reached for it.

“The guy looks dead,” he muttered. “This chain will be useful to me.”

He turned to walk away.

Then—

Smack.

He collapsed.

Yenzo’s hand had moved. Even half-dead.

“…Damn you,” Yenzo muttered, eyes still shut.

† Peaceful Morning in Resmnt Town…..

Sunlight spread slowly over Resmnt, touching the narrow streets with warmth

Cicadas hummed in the distance. Dust floated slowly through soft shafts of light. Lutwel swept around the old shop, brushing dust off whatever he passed.

“Is there really a reason to work here?” he muttered, half-heartedly.

Akura said nothing.

“We need Valz, right?” Lutwel added. “Not me. I’m already working for a family that pays me just fine.”

Akura looked up from the shelf. “You want to find her, right? You’re the one who said, ‘I’ll help you.’ I didn’t.”

Lutwel didn’t reply. Just murmured, “Fine,” with a smug scowl.

A lady walked in and bought an antique for 50 Valz. Akura took 40 and placed 10 in the store drawer.

Lutwel noticed—but said nothing.

Later, the owner walked in.

“Hey, boys—any customers?”

“Just one,” Akura said. “Sold something worth 10 Valz.”

The owner sighed. “Running a shop these days is a headache.”

Then he left.

As the heat rose and the sound of cicadas deepened, Lutwel lay back, cloth draped over his face, slipping into sleep. Akura quietly flipped through a book.

Peace.

Until…

The sound of footsteps.

Akura paused his reading. Four men walked in. They ignored him and approached Lutwel.

One sneered, “So, you quit Solzen? Or did they finally kick you out?”

Laughter.

Akura went back to his book.

Lutwel lifted part of the cloth and saw them. “Oh… you guys. What do you want now?”

“We’re here about your debt. You think you own everything? You didn’t pay up.”

“I already paid most of it,” Lutwel said. “I’ve got 60 Valz left to clear. I’ll pay it soon. Now get lost.”

“We’re not leaving till you pay.”

Akura closed his book. Calmly said, “If it’s 60 Valz you're here for, I’ll pay.”

The man turned. “What are you, his dad?”

“Get out. This is personal.”

He laughed. Everyone laughed.

Akura stood and walked toward the door, giving Lutwel a glance.

Then he stopped.

The man muttered, “About the Hanging Soul…you can take us there.”

Lutwel’s face turned dark. “Shut your damn mouth.”

“No one has authority to go there—not even nobles,” Lutwel spat.

“We’re not asking. It’s an order. And we’re not the only ones—you won’t survive if you refuse. You want us out of your way? Then tell Solzen we’re valuable. They don’t take thugs like us, but you… you’re one of them. If you speak for us, maybe they’ll let us in. That’s the only way we’ll get close to the Hanging Soul.”

Suddenly…..a splash.

Blood hit Lutwel’s face.

He turned.

A hand was buried in the man’s chest.

Everyone froze.

Akura pulled his hand free. The man’s lifeless body collapsed.

Akura’s voice was deep, cold:

“No one will see the Hanging Soul.”

“You’re not supposed to know about it.”

“That job… is mine.”

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