Zaber stepped outside and melted into the chaotic flow of people. The streets teemed with life—merchants haggling at the top of their lungs, travelers shoving past one another, children shrieking as they darted through the crowd. The air was thick with the mingled scents of dust, sweat, and hot iron.
His thoughts were a tangled storm. His steps remained steady, but his inner world churned with unrest.
When I accepted the Soul Chain, my false aura vanished. The fusion of rage, hatred, and the intent to kill left only the intent to kill. I was anxious before, but now my existence grows through souls—there is no longer any need for an aura, he reflected.
The thought brought no peace. Instead, a cold void opened inside him.
He allowed himself a faint smile.
