By the time Nyxander and his subordinates arrived at Gravity Astro Station, the brilliance of the galaxy had long succumbed to the embrace of darkness. The cold breeze whistled through the narrow streets, threading between buildings like an unseen specter, carrying with it the murmurs of merchants closing their stalls and the idle chatter of passerby. The once-vivid night galaxy was now a canvas of deep indigo, its stars veiled behind shifting astroids, their distant glow struggling to pierce through the abyss.

Their late arrival left little room for wandering. Seeking shelter for the night, they scoured the district for a place to rest, their search leading them to a modest inn nestled within the bustling heart of the station. Unlike the streets outside, which still carried the lively echoes of a city refusing to sleep, the inn was calmer, a quiet hum of conversation filling the air, accompanied by the rhythmic clinking of cups against wooden tables.

Inside, the warm, dim glow of lanterns cast flickering shadows across the wooden walls, their light reflecting off the half-empty mugs of travelers seeking solace in drink. Though not overly crowded, the atmosphere carried an air of quiet camaraderie, a stark contrast to the chaotic energy of the streets outside.

Nyxander strode forward, his footsteps firm but unhurried, leading his subordinates to an empty table. Four seats awaited them, worn but sturdy, their presence promising a brief reprieve from the day's travels.

As expected, meals and wine were ordered, the scent of roasted meat and spiced ale quickly filling the space between them. Yet, as always, Nyxander himself refrained from eating, content to let Kal, Bako, and Bili indulge in their dinners.

For a while, the night unfolded without incident, the crackling of the hearth, the occasional laughter from another table, the scrape of wooden chairs against the floor. It was a moment of quiet normalcy in a life so often dictated by conflict.

Until the rhythm of the evening was suddenly disrupted. A burst of familiar laughter cut through the low murmur of conversation, drawing attention toward the entrance.

A man in a well-worn grey apron, clearly the innkeeper, was about to disappear through a door when his eyes caught sight of a familiar face stepping inside. His breath hitched for a moment before a grin spread across his lips. "Oh, oh! Who am I seeing this night?"

His voice carried the warmth of old friendship, his steps quick as he abandoned his original task and strode toward the newcomer. "If it isn't Baruh!" The two men embraced, their greeting carrying the weight of years spent apart. Their bond was evident, the way their arms clasped each other, not in mere politeness, but in genuine brotherhood.

After a brief moment, the innkeeper, Caelric, pulled back, his gaze scanning his friend with curiosity and concern. "What brings you here at this hour? And what of your restaurant?" Baruh opened his mouth to respond, but before he could fully form his words, Caelric's eyes narrowed, a flicker of realization crossing his face. His voice lowered, though it still carried the weight of disbelief.

"Wait… Don't tell me, the rumors about the restaurant at Mountain Astro Station… That was yours?" Baruh exhaled through his nose, rubbing the back of his neck before nodding. "So, word of that already reached here?"

The confirmation made Caelric's jaw tighten, his concern deepening. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice further. "Who were those people to cause such devastation? Who would dare bring that kind of trouble to your doorstep?"

But before his thoughts could spiral further, Baruh's firm grip landed on his shoulders, a steadying force against the rising tension. "You don't have to worry, old friend," he assured, his voice carrying a steadiness that settled the unease in Caelric's chest. "They already paid for the damages, and repairs are well underway. I just thought I'd take the opportunity to visit you and spend a few days here before returning to work."

Caelric studied him for a moment, then sighed, shaking his head with a small chuckle. "Still the same Baruh, always taking things in stride." With a light pat on his friend's shoulder, Caelric gestured toward an empty table. "Come, sit. Let me get you something to eat."

At his own table, Nyxander had been silent, his gaze seemingly lost in thought. But as the conversation unfolded, he finally stirred. Taking a slow breath, he stood, his presence immediately drawing the attention of his subordinates.

"I will be going to my room," he stated, his voice calm but firm. His gaze swept across Kal, Bako, and Bili, his next words leaving little room for discussion. "You all should do the same once you've finished your meal." With that, he turned on his heel and departed, leaving them to the warmth of the inn as he ascended toward the solitude of his quarters.

At the height of their conversation, Baruh's attention drifted, his eyes unconsciously drawn to a figure at a distant table. There was something unsettlingly familiar about the man, Kal. His brow furrowed as he tried to piece together the fragments of recognition clouding his mind. Then, as Kal casually turned his head to the left, the dim lighting of the inn illuminated his face, exposing the unmistakable features that sent a cold chill crawling down Baruh's spine.A tremor ran through him. His muscles tensed, his breath hitched, and before he even realized it, he had risen to his feet in reflex.

Caelric, who had just approached with a tray of drinks, caught sight of his friend's strange reaction. Alarmed, he hurried forward, setting the tray down with a dull clatter before gripping Baruh's shoulders. "Hey, what's wrong?" His voice carried urgency, but Baruh did not respond. His widened eyes remained locked on Kal, his breath uneven, as though his body refused to believe what his mind already knew.

"Baruh!" Caelric's sharp voice cut through the air, shaking him from his daze. The sudden outburst turned heads, drawing the attention of every patron in the inn. Conversations halted. A heavy silence settled over the room like an ominous fog.

Slowly, Baruh raised his right hand, his index finger trembling as it extended toward Kal. "That's him," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. Then, with more clarity, "That's one of the two who fought in my restaurant."

All eyes shifted toward Kal, who remained seated, his face unreadable."Sorry, do you know me?" Kal's voice was calm, his tone carrying no recognition. Baruh could only shake his head slightly, his outstretched finger still quivering as if pointing at a specter from a nightmare.

Then, in the next heartbeat, something shifted. Kal's instincts sharpened as his peripheral vision caught a glint of metal slicing through the narrow gap between the wooden planks of the inn's wall. The knife spun through the air, its path direct, its intent lethal.

There was no time to evade. With lightning reflexes, Kal swung his arm beneath the table, hooking its underside. In a single motion, he flipped it up, angling it as a makeshift shield.

"THUNK!" The knife sank deep into the wood, its blade quivering from the force of impact. The table's edge slammed against the ground, the impact reverberating through the floorboards.

"What the hell...?" Bili started, but before he could finish, Kal's sharp gaze caught three more knives cutting through the air toward them.

No hesitation. He pressed down on Bili and Bako's shoulders, forcing them low as he crouched behind the overturned table, using it as cover.

And then, chaos. A wave of panic swept through the inn as screams erupted, the once-quiet atmosphere shattering like glass. Chairs toppled, plates clattered, and people scrambled toward the exit in a frenzied torrent of bodies. Baruh and Caelric were among them, their forms vanishing into the fleeing crowd.

In the midst of the commotion, Kal remained focused, his mind piecing together the situation in an instant. "Boys, we need to get out of here." His voice was steady, decisive. "We can't bring another fight into someone else's business, and we sure as hell won't disturb Boss's rest." His eyes flickered toward the entrance, calculating their safest route. Then, with a sharp breath, he surged forward, his senses finely tuned, ready to react to any incoming threat.

Outside the inn, the district had changed. The once lively district had been swallowed by a ghostly stillness.

Where merchants had once haggled and laughter had filled the air, now there was only an eerie silence, unnatural, oppressive. The streets lay empty, deserted, save for a few abandoned stalls whose half-drawn curtains fluttered in the cold wind. Wooden signs creaked, their hinges moaning as the breeze whispered through the alleys.

Yet, despite the emptiness, there was a presence. A lingering weight in the air. An unseen force lurking within the void. Kal, Bili, and Bako stood with their backs close, their heads shifting in three different directions, scanning the rooftops, the windows, the darkened alleyways, awaiting for something hidden within n the shadows.

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