Chapter 18: First Fight

As Vykhor and Evelyn approached their shuttle, arms loaded with bags and ready to leave Kyr'naal, a sudden tension filled the air. Vykhor sensed the danger before he even saw it. His instincts, honed by years of combat, alerted him to a hostile presence before the group materialized in front of them.

Shadows emerged from the side alleys, forming a tight circle around them. The reptilians from earlier had returned, and this time, they weren’t alone. There were more of them, their gleaming scales catching the artificial light of the bustling city. The leader, a large reptilian with dark green, scarred skin, stepped forward with a sly grin, baring his sharp teeth.

Evelyn tensed, feeling the atmosphere grow heavier. Her eyes immediately darted to Vykhor, whose expression turned harder and more menacing. The reptilian leader stopped a short distance away, his piercing gaze fixed on Evelyn with a greedy glint.

"A human as beautiful and… unique as this one could fetch a fortune on the black market," hissed the leader, his raspy voice echoing around them. "You’re a mercenary, Kael'tarien. You must understand the value of such goods. Why not strike a profitable deal for all of us?"

The reptilian’s words stirred a wave of disgust within Vykhor. The very idea of treating Evelyn as merchandise sickened him deeply. His fists clenched as anger surged inside him. These creatures had no idea of the line they had just crossed. Without breaking eye contact with the reptilian leader, he addressed Evelyn in a voice calm yet full of determination.

"Evelyn," he said almost casually, "I’ll need a few minutes to deal with this little inconvenience. Stay here and don’t move."

Evelyn blinked, surprised that he’d describe their situation as a “little inconvenience,” given that they were clearly outnumbered. She opened her mouth to protest, but the words failed her. Vykhor was already standing between her and the reptilians, his imposing stature and faintly glowing prosthetic arm under the Kyr'naal lights radiating contained power, ready to explode.

The reptilian leader chuckled, clearly confident in their numerical advantage. "You’re alone, Kael'tarien. Even you can’t take us all on."

Vykhor responded with an icy stare before, in the blink of an eye, launching himself into the fight. What followed was a whirlwind of rapid, precise movements. Despite his massive size, Vykhor moved with an agility that defied expectations. His prosthetic arm, though recently repaired, was functioning at full capacity, its reactivated circuits granting him devastating strength and precision.

He grabbed the first reptilian that lunged at him, slamming it to the ground with such force that the ground trembled beneath the impact. Another rushed at him, brandishing a short blade, but Vykhor deftly dodged, seizing the weapon and turning it against his attacker, disabling them in one swift motion.

Evelyn, standing back as he had instructed, couldn’t take her eyes off the scene. She was both worried and mesmerized by Vykhor’s efficiency. Every move he made seemed calculated, every strike precise and lethal. She had seen strong and powerful beings in her life, but nothing like this. He wasn’t just a fighter; he was a force of nature, a storm incarnate.

Despite their numbers, the reptilians were no match for him. They tried to surround him, to overwhelm him with sheer force, but they were too slow, too disorganized. Vykhor struck with terrifying speed and strength, and within minutes, the bodies of the attackers lay scattered on the ground, some unconscious, others groaning in pain.

The reptilian leader, realizing too late that he had made a grave mistake, tried to back away, but Vykhor was on him in an instant. The Kael'tarien grabbed him by the throat, lifting him off the ground with ease. His yellow eyes glowed with barely contained fury as he spoke in a cold voice.

"Don’t make this mistake again," he growled before dropping the reptilian, who crumpled to the ground, terrified. Vykhor glared at him for a moment with disdain before turning back to Evelyn.

The entire confrontation had lasted less than five minutes, but to Evelyn, it felt much longer. Her heart was still pounding, but now that the danger had passed, she found herself feeling a new admiration for Vykhor. He wasn’t just a protector; he was a formidable warrior, capable of facing any threat with ruthless efficiency.

Vykhor approached her as if nothing unusual had happened. "We should leave now," he said in his usual neutral tone, as though the fight had been nothing more than a minor disruption to their day.

Evelyn nodded, still in shock but now convinced that she was truly safe by his side. "Yes... let’s go."

They quickly boarded the shuttle, leaving the scene of the fight and the defeated reptilians behind. As the shuttle lifted off and moved away from Kyr'naal, Evelyn leaned back against her seat, still shaken by the intensity of what had just happened but also incredibly reassured by Vykhor’s presence.

It was clear now that, despite his mercenary nature, Vykhor had values and a code of honor guiding him, and she felt more determined than ever to stay by his side and learn more about him. The journey ahead would be dangerous, but she knew she was in good hands.

A little later, Evelyn stood in front of the mirror in her cabin, looking at her reflection with some hesitation. She had just put on one of the suits she had bought on Kyr'naal, and while the fabric was both comfortable and functional, she felt a bit self-conscious. The suit, while practical for space exploration, was far more form-fitting than she would have liked. She had never been particularly aware of her beauty, and while she wasn’t insecure, the idea of being "revealed" like this made her uncomfortable.

She took a few steps around the cabin, trying to get used to the feeling of the tight fabric against her skin. The suit, a dark gray with light blue accents at the joints, clung to her body with almost unsettling precision. She tugged slightly at the collar, trying to loosen it a bit, but to no avail. She felt both exposed and vulnerable.

When Vykhor knocked softly on the door, she jumped slightly, pulled from her thoughts. He entered without ceremony, his gaze briefly passing over her, noting the new outfit but not giving it much attention. Evelyn, somewhat reassured by his apparent indifference, relaxed a bit. It was in Vykhor’s nature not to dwell on superficial details, and she appreciated that quality in him.

"How do you feel?" he asked, his deep voice resonating in the small cabin.

"It’s... functional," she replied with a tentative smile. "A bit more fitted than I’m used to, but I guess I’ll get used to it."

Vykhor nodded, accepting her answer without further comment. He held a small, simple-looking bracelet in his hand, made of smooth, dark metal. He approached her and, without a word, gently took her left arm. Evelyn watched curiously as he fastened the bracelet around her wrist.

"This is more than just an accessory," he explained as he secured the bracelet with meticulous precision. "It has several important functions."

Evelyn raised her arm to examine it more closely. The metal was cool against her skin, but not uncomfortable. The bracelet fit perfectly, almost as if it had been custom-made for her.

"First," Vykhor continued, "it’s linked to Kryna, who can monitor your health in real-time. It’s a way for me to make sure you’re safe, especially in potentially dangerous environments."

She nodded, understanding the usefulness of that function. In the unpredictable environment of space, it was a valuable asset.

"Second, it’s equipped with a defense system. You can activate it with your mind. It’s designed to emit an electrical charge that can neutralize an immediate threat."

The idea of being able to defend herself this way brought a slight smile to Evelyn’s face. She had always relied on her intellect for protection, but this added option was reassuring.

"And third," Vykhor added as he secured the bracelet, "it allows me to track your location in real-time. Wherever you are, I’ll be able to find you."

Evelyn looked up at Vykhor, amusement glinting in her eyes. "Should I be worried about being watched so closely?"

Vykhor gave her a neutral stare, but his yellow eyes gleamed with a hint of humor that Evelyn was starting to recognize as his subtle form of wit. "Only if you have something to hide."

She chuckled softly, appreciating his response, then looked down at the bracelet, still fascinated by the technology. "So, I can really control it with my mind?"

Vykhor nodded. "Try it."

Intrigued and a bit excited by the prospect, Evelyn focused, trying to familiarize herself with the feeling of mental control. She thought about activating the defense system, imagining the electrical charge being emitted by the bracelet. Suddenly, she heard a faint crackle followed by a muffled grunt. She looked up to see Vykhor, clearly affected by the charge.

"Oh my god, I’m so sorry!" she exclaimed, horrified by what she had just done. "I didn’t mean to... I didn’t think it would..."

She trailed off, stunned by what happened next. Vykhor, still feeling the effects of the charge, let out a laugh. It was brief, low, but genuine. It was the first time she had heard him laugh, and the surprise froze her in place for a moment. The contrast between the situation and that sound, so rare coming from him, was almost surreal.

Vykhor shook his head slightly, recovering from the jolt. He raised a hand to reassure her. "It’s nothing, Evelyn. The mental control is sensitive, it just takes some practice."

She nodded, still confused but also touched by his reaction. "I’ll be more careful..."

Vykhor regained his usual serious demeanor, but there was a softness in his gaze that Evelyn hadn’t seen before. "You have nothing to apologize for. It was just an accident. And besides, it shows the system works perfectly."

Evelyn couldn’t help but smile at his remark. Vykhor was an enigma, a blend of raw strength, pragmatism, and, surprisingly, a well-hidden sense of humor. The fact that he had laughed, even briefly, meant a lot to her. It showed that he felt comfortable enough around her to let his guard down, if only for a moment.

"Thank you, Vykhor," she said sincerely. "For the bracelet, and for... everything else."

He simply nodded in response, then turned to leave the cabin. "Rest, Evelyn. We’ll need to leave soon."

She watched him exit, then looked down at the bracelet, her smile still lingering. Maybe, in the end, getting used to this new life wouldn’t be as difficult as she had feared. Especially with an ally like Vykhor by her side.