Nox stepped out of the shop wearing his new boots. He was immediately struck by how comfortable they felt: soft yet sturdy, fitting his feet like they were made just for him. The look of them pleased him too; they were well-crafted, with neat stitching and a polished finish.

But as he glanced down, a small smile tugged at his lips. It was the color that caught his attention. A deep, unremarkable brown. Somehow, it seemed perfectly fitting. As usual in his life, he thought with quiet amusement, everything seemed to be brown. Plain and boring.

As they were walking back into the bustle of the square, Torven glanced around, then motioned toward a food stall a short distance away.

"Wait here a moment. I'll get us something to eat," he said, already moving before Nox could reply.

Nox leaned against the edge of a stone planter, watching the warrior navigate the crowd with calm ease. The smell of baked bread and roasting meat drifted on the breeze, but Nox barely noticed. His thoughts were elsewhere. Focused on Torven. He still didn't know everything about the man, not even close. Nox felt a quiet warmth settle in his chest. He was grateful.

After they finished eating their simple meal, both warriors slowly made their way toward the middle of the square, lined with small shops. On the way, they passed a little fountain. Nox noticed coins glimmering at the bottom.

"Want to make a wish?" He heard a sudden question asked.

"Yes," Nox answered shyly. "If that's all right."

Torven handed him two coins. Nox thanked him, took one, and held it tightly in his hand, ready to toss it into the water. The other he slipped into his pocket, for later.

He didn't hesitate. He knew exactly what to wish for. All he wanted was to see his father and brother again, and to make sure that Abram wouldn't be cursed like he and his brothers had been.

He didn't dare to say his wish out loud, afraid that it wouldn't come true.

When he finished, he turned to Torven and gave him a small nod.

"Let's go," he said.

Torven looked at him gently and followed, just a few steps behind.

Nox and Torven soon arrived at the marketplace. Dozens of stalls lined the open square, and crowds of townsfolk and villagers bustled between them. Nox was enchanted. Some stalls overflowed with shimmering jewelry and colorful textiles. Others were full of baskets of fruits and vegetables. A few displayed fine craftsmanship: woodwork, pottery, even blacksmithing.

They stopped for a longer moment at a stall filled with handmade weapon accessories. Nox stared at a brown leather sword sheath. His eyes gleamed faintly, as if imagining placing his most prized blade inside it.

Torven didn't rush him. He let Nox take his time, exploring whatever caught his eye.

Then, suddenly, shouting erupted from the far side of the square. A girl's voice, crying out in distress.

Without hesitation, Nox sprang toward the sound, Torven following immediately.

They found her under the edge of a stone wall. A young girl, looking like she was no older than ten, clearly a street beggar, was being grabbed roughly by a much larger man. If he were just a common thug, Nox figured he'd be manageable. But if the man bore a Red warrior's Mark, things could get ugly.

He was tall and bald, with a massive frame. It was hard to tell how much was muscle and how much was fat. His belly bulged under his tunic, and most of his front teeth were missing.

'He's probably lost more than a few fistfights,' Nox thought grimly.

The brute held no weapon, but his raw size alone was dangerous. Nox sized him up and judged his poor stamina, coming from heavy breathing. A flicker of confidence sparked in Nox's chest. Maybe he could take him. He forgot all about Torven standing just behind him.

Without overthinking, Nox stepped forward, planting his feet firmly on the cobblestones.

"Let her go!" he shouted, his voice sharp and unwavering.

The man turned, confusion flickering across his face before it twisted into a cruel sneer. "And what are you gonna do, little bird?"

Nox's eyes narrowed. He reached out and grabbed the man's free arm with surprising strength for his size.

"I said let go."

The thug struggled, but Nox twisted his arm sharply, forcing the brute down to his knees. The girl scrambled free, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and relief.

But the man was quick. With a sudden jerk, he wrenched himself free and lunged at Nox with heavy fists. One wild punch grazed Nox's shoulder, sending a sharp sting through his skin, but he ducked low, narrowly avoiding a crushing blow. Pivoting on one foot, Nox slammed his elbow hard into the man's ribs. A grunt escaped the thug's lips, but he swung again.

Nox then dropped lower, using the man's momentum against him. He swept his leg in a wide arc. The man's legs gave out beneath him, and he flailed wildly, crashing backward into a nearby fruit cart.  As the wooden cart shattered, apples and oranges rolled across the ground like spilled jewels.

The brute lay sprawled, his breath ragged and shallow. Nox stood over him, chest heaving but steady, eyes scanning for any sign of renewed threat.

'Was that all?' he wondered, adrenaline still surging.

Before Nox could move, the girl approached, whispering a shaky, "Thank you."

Then, without warning, she pulled a small, glinting dagger from her sleeve and, with calm precision, slit the man's throat.

Torven and Nox both froze, wide-eyed.

Torven finally spoke. "How old are you?"

"Fifteen," the girl replied. "He probably thought I'd be easy prey. I wouldn't have made it without you. Thank you again."

Nox, as if eager to help the girl even more, patted his pockets, wondering if he could give her something else. He slipped his hand into his trouser pocket and clenched the other coin he had received from Torven. Then the girl suddenly spoke to him and stopped him quickly:

"No, don't give me that, you'll need it soon."

She paused, then looked up at Nox with an intensity that made his skin prickle.

"Instead, I'll give you the only thing I have to offer," she said. "I'll tell you your destiny."

A second later, her eyes rolled back into her head. And she spoke slowly:

"He will seem reborn, but the cost lies hidden in death, for he is the parasite of this world. Yet where the twilight lingers, the one etched with the seal of sky awaits, a silent force that may sway the currents of fate."

Nox and Torven looked at each other in silence. Neither of them really understood what the prophecy was about. Who was that bad guy? Is he going to do something bad? Besides, what were the chances that the girl truly had powers?

Their thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a small voice.

"Excuse me," said the same little girl who had just spoken with her own voice, about the prophecies of this world. "Could you please move or take away that man's corpse lying there by the cart? I won't have any chance to earn anything otherwise."