The man didn't move closer.
That was the first thing Kael noticed.
Everyone else tonight rushed, hunted, circled. This one stayed where he was, under the weak lantern light, hands behind his back like he had time to spare.
Human.Normal height.No sharp teeth. No wrong joints.
Too normal.
"You're staring," the man said calmly.
Kael wiped blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. His arm felt heavy. His head still buzzed from the last hit.
"Yeah," Kael said. "You don't look like the others."
The man smiled slightly. Not friendly. Not cruel. More like polite.
"That's because I'm not here to eat you," the man said. "I'm here to talk."
Kael snorted. "Bad night for talking."
"I disagree," the man replied. "This is exactly the kind of night people listen."
Kael shifted his weight.
Late, as always.
"Who are you?" Kael asked.
The man glanced at the unconscious body near Kael's feet.
"First," he said, "you should move him. They'll smell the blood."
Kael hesitated.
Not long.
He grabbed the man under the arms and dragged him into the shadow beside the shop. It wasn't gentle, but it worked.
Kael straightened and looked back.
The man hadn't moved.
"Now," the man said, "we can talk."
Kael clenched his jaw. "Name."
The man nodded once. "You can call me Ilan."
"Real one?" Kael asked.
Ilan shrugged. "Real enough for tonight."
Kael studied him.
Dark coat. Clean boots. No dust. No sweat. No fear.
"What are you?" Kael asked.
Ilan smiled again.
"A contractor," he said. "Like you. Just… earlier."
Kael felt his stomach tighten.
"How early?"
Ilan thought for a moment. "Early enough to learn when not to sign."
Kael laughed once. Sharp and humorless. "Good trick. Teach me that part."
Ilan tilted his head. "I'm considering it."
The lantern flickered. Shadows stretched and shrank.
Kael felt the pressure again. Not fear. Not doubt.
Attention.
"You've been watching me," Kael said.
"Yes," Ilan replied. "Since the alley."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "Then why didn't you help?"
Ilan answered without pause. "Because help teaches the wrong lesson."
Kael took a step forward.
Late.Unsteady.
"You let those things almost tear someone apart."
Ilan's expression didn't change. "And you stopped them."
"That wasn't the point."
"That was exactly the point."
Kael stopped.
His chest tightened. Anger bubbled up, hot and sharp.
"You play games like this," Kael said. "People die."
Ilan nodded. "Yes."
The honesty threw Kael off.
"You're calm about that."
"I've had practice," Ilan said.
Kael's vision flickered.
⟪FOREIGN CONTRACTOR — STATUS: STABLE⟫
Kael grimaced. "You're balanced."
Ilan raised an eyebrow. "That's what it looks like from the outside."
Kael laughed softly. "No. You don't shake. You don't lag. You don't flinch."
Ilan stepped forward.
Just one step.
Kael's body tensed late.
"I learned something early," Ilan said. "The Log doesn't reward bravery. It rewards timing."
Kael clenched his fists. "And you're here to tell me what? Stop signing?"
"No," Ilan said. "That's impossible."
He looked at Kael's hands.
"Your hands shake," Ilan continued. "Your reactions are off. Your emotions arrive late, then hit too hard."
Kael didn't answer.
"That means," Ilan said, "you're signing under pressure. Panicking."
Kael exhaled slowly. "I don't have a choice."
"You do," Ilan said. "You just don't like it."
Kael stepped closer until they were only a few feet apart.
"Say it."
Ilan met his eyes.
"Let people die."
The words landed heavy.
Kael felt his chest tighten again.
"No," he said.
"That answer," Ilan said calmly, "is why your balance is fractured."
Kael's jaw worked. "You're saying I should walk away."
"I'm saying," Ilan replied, "you should choose who is worth the cost."
Kael laughed, bitter. "That's the same thing."
Ilan shook his head. "No. It's worse."
A sound echoed down the street.
Not footsteps.
Something wet. Dragging.
Ilan's eyes flicked sideways.
"Ah," he said. "Speak of bad timing."
Kael turned.
Something was coming from the far end of the road.
Low to the ground. Long arms. Its body scraped stone as it moved. Its head dragged behind it, mouth open, teeth clicking together.
Kael's breath hitched.
"What is that?" he asked.
Ilan stepped back.
"A Debt Hound," Ilan said. "Drawn to unstable balances."
Kael swallowed. "Drawn to me."
"Yes."
The thing lifted its head.
Its eyes locked on Kael.
It smiled.
⟪THREAT: DEBT HOUND⟫⟪SIGN-IN WINDOW: FORCED⟫
Kael felt his heart slam.
He looked at Ilan.
"You're not helping?" Kael asked.
Ilan shook his head slowly. "This one is yours."
Kael cursed.
The hound lunged.
Fast.
Kael moved late.
Its claws raked his side, tearing cloth and skin. Pain flared hot and real.
Kael stumbled back.
"Ilan!" Kael shouted.
Ilan watched closely.
"Choose," Ilan said. "Now."
Kael's vision blurred.
Fear rose.Doubt followed.Then anger.
"Fine," Kael growled. "But you're watching."
⟪SIGN-IN CONFIRMED⟫
The world dipped.
⟪SKILL GRANTED⟫Ugly Focus⟪EFFECT: IGNORE PAIN, TRACK ONE TARGET⟫⟪COST: TUNNEL VISION — AFTER⟫
The pain dulled.
Not gone.Just pushed aside.
Kael's world narrowed.
Only the hound mattered.
It lunged again.
Kael stepped in.
Late—but direct.
He grabbed its arm and slammed it into the wall. Bone cracked. The hound screeched and bit at him, teeth snapping inches from his face.
Kael drove his knee into its chest.
Once.Twice.
The hound collapsed, twitching, then went still.
Silence dropped hard.
⟪ENTRY COMPLETE⟫⟪TOTAL ENTRIES: 6⟫⟪BALANCE: DANGEROUS⟫
The tunnel snapped shut.
Kael staggered.
The street spun. Everything else rushed in at once—sounds, lights, fear.
He grabbed the wall, breathing hard.
Ilan stepped closer.
"You chose," Ilan said quietly.
Kael looked at him.
"Yeah," Kael said. "And I hated it."
Ilan nodded. "Good."
Kael frowned. "Good?"
"It means you're still human," Ilan said. "For now."
The night pressed in again.
Same street.Same blood.Same debt.
Kael straightened slowly.
"Then teach me," he said. "Before it takes that too."
Ilan smiled.
"That," he said, "depends on how much you're willing to lose next."