“Did anyone else get the feeling that guy wasn’t just some random thug?” Light asked, glancing at Riya and Mark.

Riya’s emerald eyes were sharp, scanning their surroundings as if expecting an ambush. “Definitely. He was way too skilled to be working for a bunch of dockyard smugglers.”

Mark shrugged, his baton resting on his shoulder. “He was tough, sure, but we handled him. That’s what matters.”

Light frowned, still unsettled. “We handled him because he ran. If he hadn’t…”

“Hey,” Mark interrupted, his tone lighter than the situation deserved. “We got what we came for. Let’s just focus on getting back to the rendezvous point.”

Riya didn’t say anything, but her tight grip on her pistols betrayed her unease.

The trio made their way through the city, sticking to the shadows and avoiding the main roads. The sound of distant voices and clinking glasses from late-night establishments filled the air, but otherwise, the streets were quiet.

As they turned down a narrow alley, Light suddenly froze, his teal eyes narrowing.

“Wait,” he whispered, holding up a hand.

Riya and Mark stopped instantly, their eyes darting around.

“What is it?” Riya asked, her voice barely audible.

Light didn’t answer right away. His heart was racing, and a strange sensation prickled at the back of his mind. It was subtle, like a faint whisper warning him of danger.

“Someone’s following us,” he said finally, his voice low.

Mark tightened his grip on his baton. “You sure? I don’t see anyone.”

“I can feel it,” Light insisted, his gaze sweeping the alleyway.

Riya’s expression darkened. “Then we don’t wait for them to make the first move.”

The group moved quickly, ducking into an abandoned building and positioning themselves near the windows. Light pressed his back against the wall, his dagger drawn, while Riya and Mark took up positions on either side of the entrance.

Minutes passed in tense silence. Then, faint footsteps echoed down the alley, growing louder with each passing second.

Light’s grip on his dagger tightened. Stay calm, Aria’s voice echoed in his mind. You’ve got this.

The footsteps stopped just outside the building, and a shadow appeared in the doorway. The figure stepped inside, and Light’s heart skipped a beat.

It was the same man from the warehouse.

“Well, isn’t this cozy,” the man said, his smirk returning as he scanned the room. “I thought you might lead me to something interesting.”

“Who are you?” Light demanded, stepping forward.

The man tilted his head, his expression amused. “Just someone who doesn’t like loose ends.”

Riya’s pistols were up in an instant, the laser sights trained on the man’s chest. “Then you should’ve stayed hidden.”

Mark grinned, twirling his baton. “This guy again? Let’s finish what we started.”

The man’s smirk widened. “Confident, aren’t you? Let’s see if you can back it up.”

He moved first, lunging toward Riya with surprising speed. She fired, her shots precise, but the man twisted his body, dodging the lasers with fluid grace.

Mark charged in, his baton swinging in a wide arc. The man blocked with his forearm, the impact echoing through the room. He retaliated with a sharp kick to Mark’s midsection, sending him stumbling back.

Light darted forward, his dagger aimed for the man’s side. The man twisted again, narrowly avoiding the strike, but Light pressed the attack, his movements faster and more deliberate than before.

Riya joined in, her pistols firing in tandem. The man dodged and weaved, his smirk never faltering.

“You’re not bad,” he said, his tone almost teasing. “But not good enough.”

The fight grew more intense as the trio coordinated their attacks. Riya’s shadow manipulation allowed her to disappear and reappear in unexpected places, forcing the man to stay on the defensive. Mark’s Kinetic Surge enhanced his strikes, each swing of his baton sending shockwaves through the air.

Light, meanwhile, felt something stirring within him. His movements became sharper, his reactions quicker. It was as if he could anticipate the man’s attacks before they happened.

This is it, Aria’s voice whispered. Trust yourself.

Light dodged a swift punch, his teal eyes blazing as he countered with a precise slash of his dagger. The blade grazed the man’s arm, drawing blood.

The man’s smirk faded, replaced by a look of genuine surprise. “Well, well. Looks like you’ve got some fight in you after all.”

Suddenly, the man leapt back, creating distance between himself and the trio. He touched the wound on his arm, his expression darkening.

“I’ll admit, you’re better than I expected,” he said, his tone cold. “But this isn’t over.”

Before they could react, he threw another smoke bomb, the room filling with thick, choking fog. By the time it cleared, he was gone.

“Damn it!” Mark growled, slamming his baton against the wall.

“Who is this guy?” Riya muttered, her pistols still raised.

Light didn’t answer. His mind was racing, his body still buzzing from the fight. The sensation he’d felt—the strange awareness of the man’s movements—was unlike anything he’d experienced before.

The trio made their way back to the meeting point, their steps heavy with exhaustion. The man’s escape had left them frustrated, but they had the key, and that was what mattered.

As they approached the agreed-upon location, the figure of their mysterious client came into view. He was standing under a dim streetlamp, his cloak pulled tightly around him.

“You have it?” he asked as they approached.

Light held up the key. “We’ve got it. But we ran into some trouble.”

The man’s eyes flicked to the key, and a faint smile crossed his lips. “Trouble is to be expected in this line of work.”

Riya crossed her arms, her expression guarded. “This key better be worth it.”

The man stepped forward, his hand outstretched. “Your job is finished. Hand it over.”

Light hesitated, a sense of unease washing over him. But the man’s gaze was unwavering, and the weight of the key in his hand felt heavier than ever.

Finally, Light handed it over, watching as the man examined it briefly before tucking it into his cloak.

“Well done,” he said, his tone calm. “You’ve earned your payment.”

The trio walked away with heavy pockets and heavier hearts. The job was done, but the lingering questions and the memory of the mysterious man at the warehouse weighed on them.

As they returned to Mark’s hideout, Light couldn’t help but glance at Aria. The bird met his gaze, her sharp eyes filled with understanding.

“This is only the beginning,” she said softly in his mind.

Light nodded, his resolve hardening. Whatever lay ahead, he knew they would face it together.

As the trio walked back to Mark’s hideout, the tension from the night began to ease. The moonlight illuminated the streets, casting long shadows that danced with their footsteps.

Light broke the silence, glancing at Riya. “You’re really good with your Etherea. When did you awaken it?”

Riya looked at him, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. “About a year ago. It wasn’t anything special at first, just shadows flickering around me. Took a lot of practice to get where I am now.”

Mark chimed in, grinning. “I got mine two years ago. Kinetic Surge, baby. But, of course, Riya over here makes me look bad with how effortlessly she uses hers.”

Riya raised an eyebrow. “Nobody asked, Mark.”

“Yeah,” Light added with a smirk. “Nobody asked.”

Mark feigned a dramatic sigh, throwing his hands up. “See? No respect.”

Riya rolled her eyes, but her gaze softened as she looked back at Light. “What about you? When did you awaken yours?”

Light hesitated, his hand brushing against Aria perched on his shoulder. “A few months ago. I don’t really... understand it yet. It feels like there’s something there, but I can’t use it properly. Not like you two.”

Riya’s expression grew gentle, her emerald eyes meeting his. “It’s not a race, Light. Everyone learns at their own pace. You’ll get there. You just have to trust yourself.”

Her words, so soft yet so steady, seemed to settle the unease in Light’s chest. He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Thanks, Riya.”

Mark, ever the disruptor, smirked and elbowed Light. “Careful, Riya. He might fall for you if you keep talking like that.”

Riya turned bright red, shooting Mark a glare. “Shut up, Mark!”

Mark laughed, his voice echoing down the empty street. Light tried to play it cool, but the faint warmth on his cheeks betrayed him.

As they walked on, the tension from the night fully melted away, replaced by a sense of camaraderie that seemed to grow stronger with every step.