The first ray of dawn seeped through the tattered canvas roof of the Iron Rust Workshop, catching the layer of machine oil that coated every surface. Lin Che knelt beside a broken hydraulic pump, his calloused hands tightening a rusted bolt with a wrench. The workshop was quiet—too quiet. Usually, by this hour, the other apprentices would be yelling over the clatter of tools, or Old Wang would be grumbling about "lazy kids who couldn't tell a screwdriver from a wrench." But today, the only sound was the distant hum of Mechanic City's industrial fans.
Lin Che frowned, pausing to wipe sweat from his brow. His wrist tingled—the faint silver glow of the Star Marrow birthmark peeking out from under his sleeve. Ever since he'd escaped Zhao Kun's trap two days ago, the mark had been acting up, as if warning him of something. He'd hidden Su Qing's Arcane Manual under a loose floorboard last night, but the memory of her worried face lingered: "Zhao's family won't let this go. Stay low."
A crash from the workshop entrance made him jump. The wooden door flew off its hinges, slamming into a pile of spare parts. Zhao Kun stood in the doorway, flanked by four burly thugs—all wearing the Zhao family's brass badges on their chests. Zhao Kun's face was twisted with anger, his knuckles white around a metal pipe.
"Lin Che!" he roared, stepping forward. "You think you can trick me? That 'faulty part' you 'fixed' blew up my father's cargo mech! Cost us a fortune!"
Lin Che stood slowly, gripping his wrench tighter. He'd known this was coming—Zhao Kun had always hated him, ever since they were kids. But he hadn't expected the thugs. "I didn't trick you," he said, keeping his voice steady. "The part was defective. I told you it needed replacing, not patching."
"LIAR!" Zhao Kun swung the pipe at Lin Che's head. Lin Che ducked just in time, the pipe slamming into the hydraulic pump behind him. Oil sprayed everywhere, slicking the floor.
The thugs surged forward. Lin Che dodged a punch from the tallest one, slamming his wrench into the man's ribs. The thug grunted, doubling over—but another grabbed Lin Che's arm, twisting it behind his back. Pain shot up his shoulder, and he dropped the wrench.
Zhao Kun stepped closer, leaning in so his breath reeked of cheap synthetic beer. "Where is it?" he snarled. "The Arcane crystal Su Qing gave you. My father wants it. Hand it over, and I'll let you walk out with just a broken arm."
Lin Che's jaw tightened. He'd promised Su Qing he'd keep the crystal safe—promised he'd meet her in Black Stone Forest. He wouldn't break that promise, even if it cost him. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said.
Zhao Kun laughed, cold and sharp. He nodded to the thug holding Lin Che's arm. "Break it. Slowly."
The thug twisted harder. Lin Che bit back a scream, his vision blurring. Then—his wrist burned. The Star Marrow birthmark flared to life, silver light spreading up his arm. A memory flashed in his mind: Su Qing's hands on his shoulder, her voice calm as she taught him basic Arcane healing—"Focus on the pain. Let the energy flow to it."
It was Su Qing's memory—the one the Star Marrow had unlocked when he'd been hurt before. Lin Che closed his eyes, focusing on the tingle in his wrist. The silver light pulsed, and suddenly, the pain in his arm faded. He twisted free of the thug's grip, slamming his elbow into the man's face.
Zhao Kun's eyes widened. "What the hell—?"
Lin Che didn't wait. He grabbed a nearby hammer, swinging it at the thug closest to him. The man yelped, stumbling back. Oil on the floor made another thug slip, crashing into a shelf of bolts.
But Zhao Kun recovered quickly, swinging his pipe again. This time, it hit Lin Che's ribs. He gasped, doubling over. Zhao Kun raised the pipe to finish him off—until a voice shouted from the entrance.
"Leave him alone!"
Su Qing stood there, her hands glowing with faint green Arcane energy. She held a small crystal in her palm—the Arcane crystal Zhao Kun was after. "The crystal's mine," she said, stepping between Lin Che and Zhao Kun. "Let him go, and I'll give it to you."
Lin Che's heart dropped. "Su Qing, no—!"
"Quiet," she said, not looking back. "I'm not letting you get hurt for me."
Zhao Kun's greedy eyes locked on the crystal. "Drop it, and get out. Both of you."
Su Qing hesitated, then set the crystal on the floor. "Now let him go."
Zhao Kun nodded to his thugs, who backed off. But as Lin Che stumbled to his feet, Zhao Kun grinned. "Foolish girl," he said. "My father wants both of you. Grab them!"
The thugs lunged. Su Qing pushed Lin Che toward the back door. "Run!" she shouted. "Black Stone Forest—meet me at the old stone arch! Go!"
Lin Che hesitated, but Su Qing's eyes were fierce. "Go!" she repeated, unleashing a burst of green energy that knocked two thugs off their feet.
Lin Che ran. He burst through the back door, sprinting into the narrow alley behind the workshop. He could hear Su Qing's scream behind him, followed by Zhao Kun's laughter. Guilt twisted in his stomach, but he didn't stop—he couldn't. Su Qing had sacrificed herself for him. He had to get to Black Stone Forest. He had to find help.
The alley opened onto a busy street. Lin Che ducked into a crowd of factory workers, his heart pounding. His wrist still tingled—the Star Marrow's glow fading to a faint shimmer. He could feel it, somehow—Su Qing was alive, but in danger.
He tightened his fists. He'd find her. He'd get the crystal back. And he'd make the Zhao family pay.
But first, he had to reach Black Stone Forest.
Lin Che pulled his hood up, blending into the crowd. Behind him, Mechanic City's smokestacks belched black smoke into the sky. Ahead, the distant outline of Black Stone Forest loomed—his only hope.
He ran faster.