Gauis wiped the black blood from his knife on the monster’s hide and looked at Gray.

  “Take Karg and Vesh with you,” he said quietly.

  “Go to the caravan site. Deliver the parts. While you’re there, check the surroundings."

  "Get a feel for the situation before you decide anything. We’ll break down the carcass here — some of these parts will sell well back in Camp Tile. Good coin for medicine.”

  Gray nodded once.

  His injured arm still ached faintly, but it was usable. He glanced at Tamemoto, who stood a little straighter now, small practice blade at his belt.

  “Stay with Gauis,” Gray told his brother. “Help with the carcass.”

  Tamemoto looked like he wanted to argue, but he nodded.

  Gauis gave Gray a meaningful look. “Eyes open. Ears open. Mouth closed unless you have to speak.”

  Gray turned and walked toward the two mercenaries.

  Karg and Vesh were already waiting by the cart loaded with spare axle parts. They didn’t speak. Their posture said everything — they were here for the pay and nothing else.

  The three of them moved in silence toward the broken caravan.

  The site came into view a few hundred meters later — two wagons tilted sideways, one axle snapped clean. Several guards stood around it, weapons ready, eyes scanning the badlands.

  They tensed the moment they saw Gray and the two mercenaries approaching.

  One guard stepped forward, hand on his sword hilt. His voice was sharp. “Who are you?”

  Gray kept his hands visible. “We were sent by Rorik. We have the replacement parts.”

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  The guard’s eyes narrowed, flicking over the cart.

  He looked slightly intimidated by the two silent mercenaries behind Gray, but he didn’t back down.

  “Show us.”

  Gray motioned to Karg. T

  he big man lifted one of the heavy axle beams without a word.

  The guard inspected it, then nodded once.

  “Pass.”

  The guards stepped aside.

  Gray and the two mercenaries pushed the cart through.

  The smiths — two sweaty men working near the broken wagon — looked up with relief. They took the parts immediately and started working.

  One of the merchants, a thin man with sharp eyes and a ledger in his hand, approached Gray.

  He counted out the payment — a small pouch of silver coins and a few small ley shards.

  “Here,” the merchant said, pressing the pouch into Gray’s hand. “As agreed. Tell Rorik we’ll be ready to move by nightfall.”

  Gray took the pouch.

  The moment the coins touched his palm, he felt it.

  A sharp, prickling sensation crawled up his spine — like invisible eyes locking onto him from the badlands. Not just watching. Hunting. The feeling was cold, patient, and hungry.

  His channels twitched instinctively. The world narrowed for a heartbeat.

  “Hngh…” Gray grunted softly under his breath, the pain from his arm flaring again as he clenched his fist around the pouch.

  He kept his face blank.

  Gray turned and pushed the now-empty cart back toward the monster carcass.

  The feeling followed him the entire way.

  Gauis was already carving into the largest monster when Gray returned. Tamemoto helped, pulling out valuable tendons and hide pieces that could be sold.

  Gray walked straight to Gauis.

  “I felt something,” he said quietly. “When the merchant gave the payment. Eyes on me. Like prey.”

  Gauis didn’t stop working. He only smiled — small, knowing, the kind of smile that said he had expected this.

  “Did you memorize the path we took?” he asked. “Every rock. Every dip in the ground. Every clump of tall grass.”

  Gray nodded.

  Gauis straightened. He wiped his knife and looked at both boys.

  “Good. Next lesson. The environment is a weapon. Always. The road, the rocks, the dust, the wind — everything can be used. When we go back, something might happen. Stay sharp. Use what’s around you. Don’t rely only on your blade.”

  Gray tightened his fist around the pouch.

  Tamemoto stood beside him, small chest rising and falling faster than normal. He was trying to steady his heart — Gray could see it in the way his brother’s jaw clenched and his fingers flexed around his practice blade.

  Gauis looked at both of them.

  “You’re not children anymore,” he said quietly. “The world is watching. Learn to watch back.”

  Gray felt the weight of the coins in his hand.

  The badlands stretched out around them — silent, waiting.

  And somewhere out there, eyes were still watching.