Chapter 1 - The First Client

Alice leaned against the wall of Clear Solutions, her arms crossed as she watched the morning sunlight pour through the cracked blinds, casting fractured patterns over the cluttered room.

Trinkets of strange origins sat on shelves—wards, sigils, and tools, all waiting to face the chaos of Arcadia's supernatural underbelly.

It was a small sanctuary in the heart of the city, and in a world where power ruled, it was one of the few places where the Giftless had a fighting chance.

Her tiger-like blue eyes were fixed on the door, sharp and expectant, as if they could pierce through the wood and anticipate what might come through.

Every job was a test—another opportunity to hone her skills, to get closer to finding Kain, and to prove that raw determination could stand against the overwhelming force of supernatural abilities.

The familiar jingle of the doorbell shattered the silence. Alice's posture stiffened as a man stumbled into the room, his disheveled appearance and wide-eyed terror instantly painting a picture of desperation.

His suit was rumpled, dirt smudging his once-polished shoes, and a thin layer of sweat glistened on his pale face. He looked as if he'd been running for hours.

"You're Alice White, right?" he gasped, his voice trembling. "I—I need your help! Please!"

Alice's brow arched as she pushed off the wall and approached him, her steps slow, measured.

Despite his frantic demeanor, her tone was calm, commanding. "Take a breath. Tell me what's going on."

"I'm being followed," he whispered, his voice barely holding together. His eyes darted to the door, and his hands wrung together. "There's this... this thing. It's been stalking me, watching me from the shadows. It hasn't attacked yet, but I think—no, I know—it's after something."

Alice's expression shifted from curiosity to razor-sharp focus, her mind already spinning through possibilities. She grabbed a coat from the chair, her movements smooth and efficient. "Let's go check it out."

The man's eyes widened in surprise. "Just like that? You're not... scared?"

Alice allowed a small, almost teasing smile to curve her lips as she walked past him. "Fear doesn't get the job done. Lead the way."

---

The streets of Arcadia pulsed with life around them, the city's relentless energy a stark contrast to the tension coiling between Alice and her anxious client.

As they made their way through winding alleyways, the towering buildings seemed to lean inward, casting long, oppressive shadows that swallowed the narrow roads.

The air grew heavier, the usual chatter of the city fading into an eerie silence.

Finally, they reached a dim alley behind the man's home—a place where the city's neon lights barely penetrated, and where shadows clung to the brick walls like living things.

The man stopped abruptly, his breath hitching in his throat. "It's here... I can feel it."

Alice's pulse quickened with a thrill she didn't show. She was already scanning the alley, her instincts fine-tuned to danger, every fiber of her being on high alert.

Then she saw it—a hunched figure, barely visible in the gloom, its glimmering eyes reflecting the faintest glint of light. It crouched low, animalistic, watching... waiting.

"That's it," the man whispered, trembling.

"Stay back," Alice said, her voice low and steady. Without taking her eyes off the creature, she dropped into a fighting stance, her body aligning with the teachings of The Way of Flowing Steel.

Every breath she took was controlled, every movement fluid and poised for whatever came next.

She knew this wasn't just about brute strength—it was about reading the situation, understanding the creature's intent before it made its move.

The creature shifted, its glowing eyes narrowing. In an instant, it lunged, its sharp fangs gleaming in the dim light as it came at her with savage speed.

But Alice was faster. She sidestepped the attack with the grace of a dancer, her body flowing around the creature's movements.

As it passed, she countered with a precise, bone-rattling kick that sent it skidding across the cobblestone ground.

"Whoa!" The man gasped, his fear giving way to awe as he watched her with wide eyes.

"Stay focused," Alice warned, her gaze never leaving the creature. It wasn't done yet.

The creature scrambled to its feet, its growl low and feral, but Alice saw something beyond the aggression. Its movements weren't purely hostile.

They were defensive, frightened. She lowered her stance, adopting a less threatening posture, her sharp eyes studying every twitch, every shift in the creature's body.

"What are you after?" she murmured, as if speaking to a frightened animal. "What do you want?"

The creature hesitated, its glowing eyes flicking toward the ground.

Alice followed its gaze, spotting a small object lying near the man's feet—a worn, ancient trinket, its surface engraved with strange, arcane symbols. Recognition dawned on her face.

"This?" Alice asked, picking up the trinket. She held it out toward the creature, her voice soft but commanding. "Is this what you've been after?"

The creature's eyes brightened, and to Alice's surprise, it nodded—a small, almost imperceptible movement.

The fury drained from its posture, replaced by something almost like... gratitude.

Alice took a careful step forward, still holding the trinket out. "Take it. Just leave the man alone."

With a speed that belied its previous clumsiness, the creature snatched the trinket from her hand, retreating into the shadows as silently as it had come.

The darkness swallowed it whole, and within moments, the alley was still once more.

The man let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "That... that was incredible!" He ran a shaky hand through his hair, his eyes wide as he turned to Alice. "How did you know what to do?"

Alice gave him a sideways glance, her lips quirking into a half-smile. "It's not always about fighting. Sometimes, you just need to understand what the other side wants."

As they walked back to Clear Solutions, the city's noise gradually returned, filling the air with life again.

But Alice's mind was elsewhere, her thoughts drifting back to the alley and the creature's desperate eyes.

Each encounter brought her closer to understanding this chaotic world, and every victory—big or small—reminded her of Kain's words: Power is how you use it.

With each step, Alice felt that power growing within her. Her path was long and full of uncertainty, but she knew one thing for sure—she was far from done.