Ashen Light

Chapter 22: Absoluteness

The midday sun bore down over Luggate, but the sprawling desert city hummed with life. The streets bustled with merchants calling out deals, travelers bartering, and townsfolk weaving through the maze of sandstone buildings. Cyrus sat on a low wall near the market square, letting the noise of the city wash over him. His companions were scattered around—Skylar was haggling over supplies, Astro observed a street performer with wide-eyed fascination, and Zack had disappeared into the crowd, mumbling something about finding the best food stalls.

Cyrus absentmindedly traced a finger along the hilt of his blade. It rested against his side, concealed enough not to draw attention but still accessible. He hadn't let go of it since the battle with the colossus. The weight of the weapon and its divine energy were the only things keeping Ryu-Kishyn's presence in check.

You carry yourself like a hero now, the demon's voice slithered into his thoughts, low and mocking. You don't want the fame, the glory, but yet the people cheer for you... how does it feel? 

Cyrus stiffened, his hand tightening on the blade. He glanced around, ensuring no one noticed his unease.

Before he could reply to the demon in his mind, Zack returned, a stick of grilled meat in hand. "You've got that brooding look again," he said, shoving the snack toward Cyrus. "Take this. You'll scare fewer people if your mouth's full."

Cyrus smirked faintly, taking the food. "Thanks. Where's everyone else?"

"Skylar's still being stubborn over prices, and Astro's... well, being Astro." Zack jabbed a thumb over his shoulder, where Astro was now attempting to mimic the street performer's juggling act with mixed results.

Cyrus chuckled lightly, but a strange tension still lingered in the air. He wasn't sure if it was Ryu-Kishyn's influence or something else entirely.

Moments later, Skylar returned with a satchel full of goods, her expression triumphant. "Got us enough supplies to last through the next stretch of desert," she announced, her eyes flicking to Cyrus. "You're quiet again. Like I can hear you being more quiet. What's on your mind?"

He hesitated. "Nothing important. Just trying to take it all in."

But even as he said it, something nagged at the back of his thoughts—a sense that they were being watched. The city was lively, bustling, and welcoming, but beneath it all, there was an undercurrent of unease he couldn't shake.

Cyrus adjusted the strap of his pack and scanned the crowded streets. Merchants shouted their deals to passersby, while children weaved through the throngs with laughter, but his unease lingered. The energy of Luggate seemed... off, like a discordant note in a song.

Skylar narrowed her eyes, her triumph fading into concern. "You're not fooling me. Something's eating at you."

"Skylar's right." Zack appeared beside them, juggling a fresh loaf of bread in one hand and a shiny trinket in the other. "You've been twitchier than a sand rat. Spill."

Astro joined them silently, his wolfish ears tilted slightly back under his hooded disguise. He seemed less enthusiastic than Zack, his attention focused on the shifting crowd. "You feel it too, don't you?" he asked softly.

Cyrus exhaled slowly, unsure how to explain the gnawing sensation in his chest. "It's like... we're being watched. The city feels alive, but not in the good way."

Astro nodded. "I've felt it since we arrived. The air's... heavier here."

Zack shrugged. "Probably just nerves after everything we've been through. I mean, a giant sand colossus isn't exactly a minor detour." He chuckled, biting into the bread. "Maybe you're just traumatized by my good looks."