"A mutual interest?" Anya's brow arched, a gesture she hadn't realized Anya Volkov's face could even make. "And what, pray tell, would that be?"
Kaelen Thorne's faint smile deepened, a flicker of amusement in his amethyst eyes. "Survival, for one. And perhaps… understanding." He gestured vaguely towards the mansion. "Your sudden departure from the Volkov residence, while dramatic, was not entirely discreet. And your current… predicament." His gaze dropped to her injured ankle, then back to her face, a knowing glint in his eyes. "It suggests a certain urgency."
Anya bristled. She hated being seen as weak, especially by someone so effortlessly powerful. "My predicament is my own. And my departure was a necessity, not a spectacle."
"Indeed," Kaelen conceded, his voice smooth as silk. "A necessity born of… an awakening, perhaps?"
Her eyes narrowed. He knew. Or at least, he suspected. The System. Her past life. How much did he know? And how could he possibly know?
"You speak in riddles, Kaelen Thorne," she said, her voice a low challenge. "If you have something to say, say it plainly."
He chuckled, a soft, pleasant sound that sent a strange shiver down her spine. "Directness. I appreciate that. Very well. I am aware of… certain anomalies. Shifts in energy. Echoes of power that should not exist in this realm. And you, Anya Volkov, are at the center of them."
He took another step closer, and Anya instinctively tensed, ready to defend herself despite her injury. But he merely extended a hand, a small, intricately carved wooden bird resting in his palm. It glowed with a faint, almost imperceptible light.
"This," he said, his voice dropping to a near whisper, "is a communication device. Should you find yourself in need of… assistance, activate it. It will lead me to you."
Anya stared at the bird, then at him. A communication device? In this world of advanced technology, a wooden bird seemed archaic. Yet, the faint energy emanating from it was undeniably potent, unlike anything she had encountered in this realm. It felt… ancient. Like her.
"Why?" she asked, her suspicion warring with a growing sense of intrigue. "Why offer me aid?"
"As I said, mutual interest," Kaelen replied, his gaze unwavering. "The balance of power in this world is… delicate. And a new player, especially one with your… potential, can either disrupt it or stabilize it. I prefer stability." He paused, his eyes searching hers. "For now."
He placed the wooden bird gently on the ground beside her, then turned, his silhouette once again merging with the shadows. "The Volkovs will be searching for you. They are not known for their patience. I suggest you find a more secure hiding place."
And then, he was gone, as silently as he had appeared, leaving Anya alone in the rose garden, the throbbing pain in her ankle a dull ache compared to the whirlwind of thoughts in her mind. Kaelen Thorne. A man of mystery, power, and unsettling knowledge. And a potential ally. Or a dangerous enemy.
She looked at the wooden bird. It pulsed faintly, a silent promise. She picked it up, its smooth surface warm against her skin. A calculated risk, indeed. But sometimes, the greatest risks yielded the greatest rewards.
"Quest: Survive the Night. Objective: Avoid fatal harm until dawn. Current time: 23:00. Dawn: 06:00. New Sub-objective: Find secure hiding place. Reward: Basic Healing Potion, 20 System Points."
The System's voice chimed in, almost as if it were amused. Anya smirked. It seemed even the System approved of her new, albeit temporary, alliance. She would survive the night. And then, she would begin to test the waters of this new, dangerous world.
[End of Chapter 6]