The Ytherrian Luminary

Xalin walked the dimly lit streets, his thoughts distant as he navigated the rough neighborhood of Galdar. The air was thick with tension, a reminder of the lawless chaos that plagued this part of the planet. As he rounded a corner, his sharp eyes caught sight of a gang of four towering men, cornering a girl against a stone wall. She appeared human, but something about her energy hinted at a different origin.

The girl had pale, almost porcelain-like skin, with delicate features that seemed ethereal. Her long, silver hair cascaded down her back, framing her vibrant blue eyes that glowed faintly in the darkness. Her ears were slightly pointed at the tips, revealing her to be an Elisian, a rare species known for their attunement to nature. She wore a tattered green tunic, common among wanderers, and a light leather vest. Her boots were scuffed, and a simple belt held a small pouch at her waist. Though she looked fragile, there was an underlying strength in the way she stood, as if she had seen more battles than her appearance let on.

Xalin paused, his instincts warning him not to get involved. It wasn't his problem. He had enough on his plate, especially with the weight of his powers. If he lost control here, the consequences would be catastrophic. He began to turn away, willing himself to ignore the scene.

But then her voice pierced through the alley. 

"Help... please, help me!" she cried, desperation lacing her words.

Xalin clenched his fists, muscles tense. His heart pounded as he tried to keep walking. He didnt need to be the hero today. Not with how dangerous things could get if he did.

Just as he convinced himself to move on, one of the bandits, a bulky man with a massive sword resting lazily on his shoulder, sauntered over to him. His face twisted into a mocking grin.

"Hey, hey!" the bandit jeered. "A girls calling out for help, and you're just walking away like we don't exist?" 

Behind him, another bandit cackled as he grabbed the girl and tore her tunic, exposing her shoulder. She shrieked, struggling to cover herself.

Xalin stopped, taking a deep breath. The dark flame inside him flickered, dangerously close to igniting.

He scoffed, eyeing the leader. "If I asked you nicely to let her go, would you?"

The bandits burst into laughter, their arrogance filling the air. They had no idea who they were messing with.

Without warning, Xalin flung his cloak at the sword-wielding bandit in front of him, momentarily blinding him. In one swift motion, he followed it with a full-strength kick to the mans chest, sending him crashing into a nearby wall.

The second bandit swung his fist wildly, but Xalin easily dodged it, bending slightly and delivering a precise elbow thrust to his rib cage. A sickening crack echoed through the alley. As the bandit gasped for air, Xalins right hand erupted in black flames. He thrust it forward, burying his fist into the bandits stomach. The man choked, blood spilling from his mouth as he crumpled to the ground.

The remaining two bandits, realizing the danger, charged him at once. Xalin smirked, his movements a blur as he dodged their weapons effortlessly. He unleashed controlled bursts of flame, each strike knocking the bandits back, but they kept getting up, their determination fueled by desperation.

Xalin closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the energy channels coursing through their bodies. In his minds eye, he could see the flow of magic within them. With precision and brutal efficiency, he targeted the major flow points of their magic, striking them with bone-shattering kicks and punches. One by one, they collapsed, their energy blocked and their bodies left limp and powerless.

The girl watched in awe, clutching her torn tunic, her heart racing as her savior dispatched the bandits with ease. Xalin exhaled deeply, his dark flames fading as he bent down to pick up his cloak. He threw it over to the girl without a word.

Cover yourself, he said, turning away to leave.

"Wait!" she called out, her voice still trembling. "I have nowhere else to go... mind if I tag along?"

Xalin sighed, his eyes narrowing. "Im not looking for company. You'll get lost if you follow me."

"That's fine," she responded, determination clear in her voice. "Id rather be lost with you than left here."

Xalin stopped and turned slightly. "Whats your name?"

"I'm Lira," she said, her voice soft but steady.

He nodded. "Xalin. Im headed to the Water Sages. Its a long journey."

"Then Ill follow," she said without hesitation.

Xalin and Lira made their way to the local station in search of a travel pod that could take them off the planet of Galdar to Valaria, the home of the Water Sages. As they reached the station, Xalin cursed under his breath.

Crap. I forgot I don't have any money, he muttered, scanning the fare board. It costs 3000 creds about the same as an intermediate beast orb.

Lira looked around nervously. What do we do now?

Xalin scratched his chin, thinking. "There's a tavern nearby where hunters look for bounty posts. Maybe we can earn the money by taking on a job."

The tavern was dimly lit, filled with the hum of conversation and the clatter of weapons. Xalin and Lira scanned the bounty boards, but all they found were low-tier jobs. No posters for intermediate beasts.

That's not going to cut it, Xalin grumbled.

Just then, a group of three hunters approached the board, each wearing battle-worn armor and carrying weapons of varying quality. Their gear wasn't of the highest caliber, but they looked experienced enough. They were a mix of Level 4 warriors, with one clearly standing out as a Level 5, a man with a scar across his cheek and a massive hammer strapped to his back.

"Looking for a hunt?" the scarred man asked. "Were heading out to take down an intermediate beast. Need an extra pair of hands?"

Xalin glanced at Lira, then back at the group. "What's the catch?"

The man chuckled. "No catch. But youll need to wear this." He held out a wrist device designed to gauge ones power level, from Level 1 to 8.

Xalin put on the device. A glowing number "5" appeared on the screen. The group raised their eyebrows, impressed.

Level 5, huh? You'll be useful.

Lira hesitated, but Xalin gestured for her to try. Her wrist device displayed a 3. The group looked skeptical

"Shes with me," Xalin said firmly, taking responsibility for her. "Well handle it."

The scarred man shrugged. "Fine by me. We leave at dawn. Well be hunting on Draenor, a rough planet. If you're as strong as your level says, you'll fit right in."

As Xalin and Lira left the tavern to prepare, Lira glanced up at him. "Thanks for sticking up for me. I wont let you down."

Xalin gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. "Just stay close and keep your guard up. Draenor isn't forgiving."