Kale walked out of the Harbormaster's office. The smell hit him immediately—a pungent mixture of salt, rotting fish, and seaweed that assaulted his enhanced senses, making his nose twitch. He adjusted his hood and began making his way to a group of fishermen gathered by a cluster of boats. Their chatter and laughter quieted as he approached, their gazes wary. Kael stopped a few paces away, his imposing figure casting a long shadow over the dock.

  “Who here knows about the attacks?” he asked, his voice cutting through the quiet like a blade.

  The fishermen exchanged glances, shifting uncomfortably. Finally, one of the older men, his skin tanned and weathered from years at sea, stepped forward. He chewed on the end of a wooden pipe, his eyes narrowed as he studied Kael.

  “And who’s askin’?” the man said, his tone gruff but not hostile.

  Kael tilted his head slightly, allowing his crimson eyes to catch the light beneath his hood. The man’s expression tightened, and a few of the younger fishermen muttered nervously behind him.

  “I’m here about the creature,” Kael replied, holding up the notice. “If you know anything, talk.”

  The old fisherman frowned, glancing at his companions before speaking. “Ain’t much to say that you probably ain’t already heard. It’s out there, somewhere near the rocks west of here. Big bastard, from what they’re sayin’. More than a few of us lost friends to it.”

  “Describe it,” Kael pressed.

  The fisherman rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes darting toward the water. “Hard to say. The ones who’ve seen it and lived ain’t exactly talkin’ straight after. It’s fast, strikes without warnin’. Some say it looks like a man but with scales, claws, and a maw big enough to swallow a shark. Glows under the moonlight, or so they claim. Hell, some of us think it’s just a sea devil’s tale to keep folks from fishin’ too far out.”

  One of the younger fishermen, emboldened by Kael’s focus on the elder, chimed in. “I saw it!” His voice was shaky but resolute. “It came outta the water like a shadow, fast as hell. Tore through my uncle’s boat like it was nothin’. We barely made it back. I ain’t goin’ near the deep again, not for all the coin in the world.”

  Kael regarded the boy for a moment before turning back to the older man. “Anyone survive an attack and still have their wits about them?”

  The old fisherman shook his head. “Not here. Those who made it back are either dead now or too scared to set foot near this island again.”

  Kael let out a quiet breath, scanning the docks. The harsh sea air and rotting fish continued to assault his senses, making it harder to pick up on any lingering scents or signs of the creature. If it was as fast and deadly as they claimed, it wouldn’t leave much behind anyway.

  “Anything else?” Kael asked, his tone final.

  The fisherman hesitated, then leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “If you’re plannin’ to go out there, be careful. That thing’s more than just a beast. It’s smart. It’s waitin’.”

  Kael didn’t respond, turning on his heel and heading back toward the main path. The fishermen watched him go, their murmurs fading into the background as he moved on, his mind already focused on his next step.

  Kael walked along the rugged path leading toward the rocks mentioned by the fisherman, his boots crunching against the gravel and loose sand. The sun cast shimmering reflections across the water, but the beauty of it was lost on him. His mind churned through the fragments of information he’d gathered, sifting through years of experience and knowledge of aquatic beasts.

  The descriptions didn’t add up. Scales, claws, speed, glowing under the moonlight—it sounded like a collection of exaggerated accounts, stitched together by fear and imagination. He’d hunted sirens, sea drakes, and even monstrous Kraken in his time, but none of them fit every trait the fishermen claimed to have seen.

  “They’re either embellishing out of fear,” Kael muttered to himself, “or they don’t remember clearly. Neither helps.”

  The harsh sea breeze carried the sound of waves crashing against the rocks in the distance. He could already see the jagged outcroppings rising like dark sentinels from the surf, their sharp edges glistening with spray. This area was dangerous even without a monster prowling about—one wrong step and a fisherman could be dashed against the stones or swept into the churning water.

  Kael’s crimson eyes scanned the path ahead, his senses on high alert. He’d learned long ago that even in cases of exaggerated tales, there was usually some kernel of truth. If the villagers were truly terrified, something was out here. And whatever it was, it had already killed.

  As he approached the rocks, Kael paused. The air was different here—thicker, heavier. The scent of salt was sharper, and there was something else faintly mingling with it. Something metallic. Blood.

  He crouched down near the water’s edge, studying the ground. The rocks were slick with algae and seawater, but there were scratches along the surface, faint yet unmistakable. Deep grooves ran in irregular patterns, as though something with claws had scrambled across them.

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  Kael reached out and ran a gloved finger along the scratches, his brow furrowing. “Too large for any ordinary sea creature,” he muttered. “And too deliberate for an animal.”

  He stood and moved closer to the edge of the rocks, peering down into the waves. The water churned violently against the stone, the foam stained faintly red. Kael narrowed his eyes, trying to pierce through the reflection of the sun on the water.

  A glint of something moved beneath the surface—quick, almost too quick to notice. He tensed, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his short sword. The glint disappeared, leaving the water as murky and uninviting as before.

  Kael straightened, scanning the horizon. Whatever was out there, it was cautious. Intelligent. It wouldn’t show itself unless it wanted to.

  “Smart,” Kael muttered, turning away from the water. “But not smart enough to stop me.”

  He began making his way back toward the village, his mind already planning his next move. If the creature wasn’t going to come to him, he’d have to draw it out.

  Kael leaned against the weathered wooden wall of the Harbormaster's office, his arms crossed over his chest. The sun was beginning its slow descent, casting long shadows across the village. He had been waiting in silence for what felt like an hour, his patience wearing thin. The Harbormaster would return eventually, but for now, Kael remained a statue among the shifting light and sea breeze.

  The door creaked open behind him, and Kael glanced over his shoulder. The young woman from earlier stepped out, her green eyes widening slightly at the sight of him still standing there.

  “You’re still here,” she said, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and concern.

  Kael didn’t reply, his crimson gaze returning to the horizon.

  She hesitated before stepping closer, brushing a stray strand of hair out of her face. “I don’t suppose you’re much for conversation, are you?”

  Kael shrugged slightly, his expression unreadable.

  The woman crossed her arms, leaning on ,the railing nearby. “You’re not like the others who’ve come through here. Most of them were loud, boastful… full of promises they couldn’t keep. You’re differentand . Quiet. Focused.”

  “Is there a point to this?” Kael asked, his voice low and even, though there was no malice in his tone.

  She blinked, a bit taken aback by his bluntness but not deterred. “I guess I’m just curious. You don’t seem like someone who would come all this way for coin alone.”

  Kael glanced at her briefly. “Coin’s enough.”

  She tilted her head, studying him. “Maybe. But I get the feeling you’ve seen more than most people could imagine. Fought things they couldn’t dream of.”

  Kael didn’t respond, his silence seeming to answer her question in its own way.

  The woman sighed, leaning against the railing. “You know, my brother was one of the first to go missing. He was out near those rocks, same as the others. He was always careful, always came back before dark. I told him not to go that day… but he didn’t listen.”

  Kael’s gaze flicked to her briefly before returning to the harbor. “Sorry for your loss.”

  She smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Thanks. I just hope… whatever’s out there, you can put an end to it.”

  Kael remained silent, the wind carrying the faint scent of salt and decay.

  “You don’t talk much, do you?” she said, trying to lighten the mood.

  “Talking doesn’t kill monsters,” Kael replied flatly.

  She chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Fair enough. Im Eleanor."

  The sound of oars slapping against the water drew their attention. Kael straightened, his sharp eyes picking out a boat approaching the dock.

  “That’ll be the Harbormaster,” the woman said. She glanced back at Kael, her expression softening. “Good luck. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

  Kael gave her the faintest nod before stepping away from the wall, his focus shifting entirely to the approaching boat.

  As Kael approached the Harbormaster's docking boat, his thoughts lingered on the woman’s words and actions. It was strange. Her willingness to approach him, let alone hold a conversation, felt foreign. Most people kept their distance, their fear of the Ashen eclipsing any desire for interaction. They avoided his gaze, whispered behind his back, or outright fled his presence. But she had stood there, unafraid, even curious.

  The faint crunch of sand under his boots pulled him from his thoughts. He realized with a faint pang of discomfort that he couldn't recall the last time someone had willingly spoken to him about anything other than monsters or the horrors he hunted. What did normal conversation even feel like?

  He shook the thought away as the Harbormaster’s boat bumped against the dock. The older man aboard—grizzled, with sun-beaten skin and a thick gray beard—secured the vessel with practiced ease before stepping onto the dock. He spotted Kael immediately, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

  “You waitin’ for me?” the Harbormaster called, his voice rough from years spent shouting orders over crashing waves.

  Kael gave a single nod, stepping closer. “I am. You placed the notice about the disappearances?”

  The Harbormaster huffed, pulling a satchel over his shoulder. “Aye, that’d be me. Figured someone’d show up sooner or later. Though I wasn’t expectin’… someone like you.”

  Kael didn’t respond, his crimson eyes locking with the Harbormaster’s. The man’s posture stiffened slightly, but he held his ground.

  “You’ve heard about the attacks,” Kael said, his tone direct. “What do you know?”

  The Harbormaster scratched his beard, glancing over his shoulder as if ensuring no one else was listening. “Not much more than what’s on the notice. Folks goin’ out to fish, near that cursed patch of rocks, and not comin’ back. Few’ve claimed to see somethin’—a beast out there. Big, fast, mean as hell. No one can agree on what it looks like, though. Some say it’s scaly, others say it’s slick like an eel. Doesn’t matter what it is, really. What matters is it’s killin’ my people and scarin’ off the rest. Can’t run a harbor if no one’s willin’ to fish.”

  Kael studied the man’s face, noting the genuine worry etched into his weathered features. “No survivors?”

  The Harbormaster shook his head. “None that’ve come back in one piece. Couple o’ lads who washed ashore said they saw a shadow in the water, heard somethin’ like a scream before their boats tipped. By the time they hit the waves, their crews were gone.”

  Kael frowned slightly. A creature this elusive yet destructive was rare. Either the villagers were exaggerating out of fear, or they were dealing with something far more cunning than the usual aquatic predators.

  “Anything else?” Kael asked.

  The Harbormaster hesitated, his gaze flicking toward the sea. “There’s been… noises. At night. Not from the village, but carryin’ over the waves. Eerie, like a cry or a wail. Ain’t natural, I’ll tell you that much.”

  Kael nodded, the pieces of the puzzle slowly coming together in his mind. “I’ll take care of it.”

  The Harbormaster raised an eyebrow. “You sound awful sure of yourself.”

  Kael met the man’s gaze, his voice steady. “I’ve faced worse.”

  Kael paused mid-step, turning his head slightly to glance back at the Harbormaster. “One more thing,” he said, his voice low but firm.

  The Harbormaster straightened, eyeing him warily. “What’s that?”

  “We need to discuss payment,” Kael continued, stepping closer until he stood just a few feet from the man. “After the job’s finished.”

  The Harbormaster crossed his arms, his expression guarded. “And what exactly are you askin’ for?”

  Kael’s crimson eyes glimmered faintly beneath the shadow of his hood. “Cilfa or Gold. Enough to make this trip worth my time.”

  The Harbormaster shifted on his feet, clearly hesitant. “I’m not runnin’ a gold mine here. My people are strugglin’ as it is.”

  Kael’s tone didn’t waver. “I’m not asking for charity. You put out a notice, and you’ll get your monster dealt with. But my work isn’t free. Fifty Cilfa pieces.”

  The Harbormaster stiffened, his face darkening. “Fifty? That’s a fortune in these parts! I don’t have that kind of coin just lyin’ around.”

  Kael’s voice remained steady. “Then you shouldn’t have put out a notice. You want someone else to deal with your problem? Be my guest.” He gestured toward the horizon where the water stretched endlessly. “Let me know how that goes.”

  The Harbormaster grumbled under his breath, his fists clenching at his sides. “Thirty. That’s as high as I’ll go.”

  Kael tilted his head, his tone laced with quiet finality. “Forty. Not a coin less.”

  The Harbormaster hesitated, his jaw working as he weighed his options. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh. “Fine. Forty Cilfa. But I’ll need time to gather that much after you’re done.”

  Kael nodded once. “Fair. You’ll have untill I killed the monster.”

  The Harbormaster narrowed his eyes. “You drive a hard bargain.”

  Kael turned without another word, his cloak sweeping behind him as he strode toward the village. The Harbormaster watched him go, muttering under his breath, “He’d better be worth every damn coin.”