The sun was already high when Dex finally managed to get up.
His body felt shattered, every movement brought stabbing pain.
His ribs must be cracked, his jaw swollen, and dried blood froze at the corner of his lips.
He leaned against the alley wall, taking slow breaths so it wouldn't hurt too much.
The streets outside were already busy again. People passed by as usual, no one cared about what happened.
Dex stared at the ground where he had lain all night, covered in blood and wet soil.
"Weak" he muttered softly, with his hoarse voice.
He closed his eyes, remembering the faces of those two soldiers, the way they laughed, the way they kicked him like trash.
And what hurt the most wasn't the wounds on his body.
But the fact that he couldn't do anything.
He only threw wind balls aimlessly, without enough power.
Like a child just learning to walk.
"Haha, maybe I finally found the reason" Dex muttered half-crazed.
With staggering steps, Dex walked out of the alley, sunlight dazzling his swollen eyes. Some people glanced at him briefly, but no one stopped.
In this city, scenes like this were probably common.
Dex walked slowly, each step stabbing his ribs, He didn't know where to go, his money had been stolen, his sword taken, and his body barely able to move.
He reached the old fountain in the small square.
With difficulty, he sat on its edge, washing his face with cold water.
Dried blood dissolved in the water, leaving a red trace on the surface.
Dex stared at his reflection in the water, swollen face, black eyes, cracked lips.
"Damn" he muttered while holding his growling stomach.
He looked at the crowded street, merchants selling bread, roasted meat, fruits, The smell made his stomach growl even more.
But he had no money.
Not even for a piece of bread.
Dex lowered his head, his hands clenched on his knees.
"What should I do now?"
He was just a stranger who was hurt, without money, without a home, without a purpose.
Dex looked up at the sky that began to cloud, Maybe it would rain again later.
He took a deep breath, then tried to stand, groaning as pain stabbed his ribs again.
---
Dex walked aimlessly, through the busy streets, His eyes observing around, looking for an opportunity, anything that could help him survive.
At the end of the road, he saw a wooden board posted on the wall, some kind of bulletin board.
Some people gathered there, reading the papers that were pinned on it.
Dex approached, his eyes scanning the writings on those papers.
"Wanted: Warehouse Worker, Pay 10 copper coins per day"
"Wanted: Hunter to drive away wolves in the northern forest, Pay 50 copper coins"
"Wanted: Escort, Must have a card minimum Rank E"
Dex read them one by one, Most jobs required special skills or cards of a certain rank,
His eyes stopped on one worn paper in the corner.
"Wanted: Laborer to Clean Warehouse, No experience needed, Pay 8 copper coins per day, Come in the morning to Merchant Galen's Warehouse on East Street"
Dex stared at that paper for a while,
8 copper coins, Not much, but enough for food.
He pulled the paper from the board, folded it, and put it in his pocket.
---
That night, Dex slept under an old wooden bridge on the edge of the city.
The cold pierced his bones, but at least he was sheltered from the rain that started to fall.
He curled up in the corner, hugging his sword tightly, staring at the small river flowing under the bridge.
In his head, the same question kept spinning.
"Why am I so weak?"
He had a Rank B card, The Wind, That should be strong enough, But he couldn't even defeat two soldiers with Rank E cards.
The problem wasn't the card.
It was himself.
Dex didn't know how to use it properly, Didn't know how to fight correctly, Didn't know how to control the power inside him.
Dex closed his eyes, trying to feel the connection with his power.
That power existed, pulsing slowly like a second heart.
But every time he tried to summon it, it felt like trying to hold water with bare hands, Nothing stayed.
Dex knew how to use it. but he didn't know how to control it.
"I have to learn" he whispered softly.
But how?
Who would teach him?
He had no money to pay a teacher, No connections, Nothing left.
Dex opened his eyes, staring at the dark sky through the gaps of the bridge.
"Well If no one will teach me, I'll learn by myself"
His decision was made.
Tomorrow, he would work to earn money.
And after that, he would train.
Train until he could control The Wind perfectly.
Train until no one could bother him again.
---
Morning came with light that wrapped the city.
Dex woke up with a body that still ached, but a bit better than yesterday, He washed his face in the river, then walked toward East Street.
Merchant Galen's Warehouse wasn't hard to find, a large building with stacks of wooden crates in front, Some workers were already busy carrying goods.
At the entrance, a middle-aged man with a round belly stood while checking notes in his hand.
Dex approached. "I came for the warehouse cleaning job"
The man turned, looking at Dex from head to toe, swollen face, thin body, shabby clothes.
"Are you sure you can work in that condition?" he asked skeptically.
"I can" Dex replied firmly.
The man paused for a moment, then sighed. "Alright, My name's Galen, You'll clean the back warehouse, sweep, throw away the trash, and move broken crates, Work from morning till evening, 8 copper coins. Deal?"
"Deal"
"Good, Start, now"
The job was heavier than Dex expected.
The back warehouse was full of dust, cobwebs, and rotten wooden boxes, He had to lift, sweep, and throw them all away.
Every movement made his cracked ribs ache, Sweat drenched his body, His hands trembled from exhaustion.
But he didn't stop.
He kept working, sweep by sweep, crate by crate, until the sun began to set.
When it was done, Galen came to inspect the result.
"Not bad" he said while tossing a small pouch of coins to Dex. "Come again tomorrow if you want"
Dex caught the pouch, feeling its weight in his hand.
8 copper coins.
Enough for dinner and breakfast tomorrow.
"Thank you" he said softly.
Galen nodded, then left him alone in the now clean warehouse.
Dex sat on the wooden floor, staring at the coin pouch in his hand.
Even if it wasn't much.
At least, he could still survive.
---
That night, after eating cheap bread and soup at a small tavern, Dex returned under the bridge.
But this time, he didn't sleep right away.
He stood by the riverbank, staring at the water flowing slowly under the moonlight, Then he raised his right hand. "Come on, once more"
He closed his eyes, feeling the connection with the power in his chest.
The card appeared, floating above his hand with a soft blue glow.
A gentle breeze began to rise around him, This time, he didn't force it, He let the wind flow, softly, freely.
The wind swirled around his hand, forming a small, steady vortex.
Dex opened his eyes.
The vortex was still there, stronger than before, more controlled.
And under the moonlight, by the quiet riverbank, Dex began to train.