accident

Esther murmured in her heart, contemplating the strangeness of the recent incident. What puzzled her most was her own reaction. Normally, people would panic upon seeing blood, and even those who don't faint at the sight would likely feel fear initially.

Esther recalled how her heart rate had accelerated, more due to the loud noise of the knife being thrown than the sight of the man's severed hand. Her demeanor was strangely calm, as if she had witnessed such events indifferently before. This wasn't characteristic of a normal person.

Alright, maybe I'm a bit abnormal, but that's all.

With that, Esther pushed the incident aside.

But just because she didn't want to get involved didn't mean trouble wouldn't find her.

Esther was carrying a bag of snake fruits and oranges, purchased with her own money from the familiar fruit stall owner. She had developed a fondness for snake fruits, perhaps because they were the first exotic fruit she had tasted. Oranges, on the other hand, were ingredients she planned to use for experimenting with new baked goods. Feeling embarrassed to ask Wendy to foot the bill, Esther bought them on her way.

She found herself blocked in an alley by several individuals. Esther had chosen this path as a shortcut, but it seemed she wasn't the only one with that idea.

The lead man sported an unshaven beard and a short knife on his right wrist, adding to his ferocious demeanor.

"We meet again," he said with a ferocious smile, clearly having planned out his approach toward Esther.

Esther's gaze swept over the group, pausing momentarily on the handsome, round-faced man at the rear before settling back on the leader. "You'll meet your end through a betrayal you never saw coming."

The man's expression soured instantly. Clearly, he remembered the peculiar circumstances surrounding his injured hand from their last encounter. He immediately signaled for his cohorts, hoping to overwhelm Esther and exact vengeance.

This time, Esther didn't disregard the instructions of the small insect. Recognizing this wasn't a situation she could handle alone, she followed its guidance, raising her hand and extending her fingers toward those opposite and behind her.

Snake fruits and oranges spilled onto the ground.

But once again, Esther altered the insect's words: "You're going to steal their lives."

"I seek to steal the shared fate between us."

The words weren't in Loen language. Esther didn't recognize the language, instead speaking on intuition alone. Her instincts seemed to provide feedback before her thoughts formed.

Then, Esther clasped her hands together.

In that moment, Esther's hair turned silver, tiny star-like lights emanating from her head, creating haloes that blurred vision. Her black pupils expanded until they filled her pale gray eyes, emitting a chaotic and twisted light. A violent burst of energy erupted from her body, filling the alley.

Esther fled the alley in a panic. The group stood frozen, their eyes reflecting a strange blankness that gradually dissipated. The round-faced man at the rear was the first to snap out of it. He glanced around, picking up a snake fruit from the ground, a sense of forgetfulness nagging at him. His vigilance heightened, suspicion creeping in. Had a higher-sequence Beyonder passed by?

The leader, with a broken arm, kicked an orange away angrily. It splattered against the dirty brick wall, juice dripping onto the floor.

"**, why am I so annoyed... let's find somewhere to drink!"

They left disheartened, each in a disturbed state of mind. Yet, the round-faced man cast one last glance at the alley before departing, a subtle unease lingering, though it failed to evoke any memories.

Esther's heart raced, her head pounding. Running on instinct, she collided with someone without even realizing it.

As the pain tore through her, memories collapsed, consumed by the abyss of her mind. Esther couldn't hear the insect's instructions, only the persistent ringing in her ears and the overwhelming chaos within.

[Esther.]

A voice called out, but in a language unfamiliar to Loen.

Esther's eyes regained focus as she collapsed near a stack of crates, gasping for breath. The cool air provided some relief from the burning pain in her chest.

"How are you?"

A soft voice reached Esther's ears, belonging to a beautiful woman with a youthful appearance but an old-fashioned demeanor. Her blue eyeshadow and blush seemed out of place, as did her black hair tied in an old-fashioned bun and the sinister aura of her well-tailored black robe.

Extending a hand, the woman helped Esther to her feet. Only then did Esther realize she had instinctively returned to the door of the bar where she had awoken, the "Vulture Bar," cordoned off and inaccessible to nearby residents.

But how did this woman emerge from it?

"Thank you, I think... I'll be fine if I take it easy," Esther replied, her palms trembling. The voice that had intruded her mind felt equally strange.

Observing Esther's gaze fixed on the bar, the woman inquired, "Do you have any peculiar memories of this place?"

Esther refrained from mentioning her awakening there. Unsure of the woman's identity, especially given her peculiar attire, Esther remained guarded. "It appears to have been abandoned for some time."

"Yes, but there were reports of strange lights here, about half a month ago."

Esther's heart skipped a beat, coinciding with her arrival in this world.

Light? Esther couldn't help but think of her extraordinary behavior in the alley. Was it the insect's power? No, that didn't seem right... Esther's thoughts grew muddled until she realized the woman was still watching her.

The woman continued to observe Esther thoughtfully, refraining from disturbing the girl lost in complex emotions.

"Apologies... I have no insight," Esther responded, her words lacking conviction.

Surprisingly, the woman smiled, patting Esther's head gently. Her actions provided an odd sense of comfort, dispelling Esther's chill.

Observing Esther's dazed expression, the woman expressed concern. "You seem troubled, child. It's unsafe to wander alone at this hour. Allow me to assist you. Are you heading home?"

"Thank you, but it's unnecessary. I know the way to Slim Bakery from here. I'll manage."

"Very well. Take care."

Esther nodded before turning to leave.

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