Vortex Origins
Chapter 80: Not interested

Chapter 80: Not interested

The sky hung low, draped in smoke. Creature corpses lay scattered like broken statues, their twisted bodies still smoldering.

But the night wasn’t quiet.

Music drifted from the heart of the settlement. A bonfire cracked and roared in the center square, flames rising high—not just for light, but for the dead.

Crowds gathered in loose circles. Some huddled together, whispering about the next wave. They survived Tier three already. What would Tier Four look like?

Others didn’t speak at all. They laughed too loudly, drank too fast. Some danced near the fire like they could chase away tomorrow.

Ash sat with his back to the flames. His blade scraped the ground, back and forth, leaving shallow lines in the dirt.

His gaze was fixed on his shadow—long and still, stretched thin by the fire behind him.

Another shadow slid into view, stretching beside his own.

Ash tilted his head.

Julia stood next to him, her face half-lit by the fire, expression unreadable, eyes wide and still.

She didn’t speak. Just stared.

Ash turned back to his own shadow.

"What is it?" he asked.

She lowered herself beside him, knees brushing the dirt.

"Why aren’t you with your brothers? The meeting’s started.

Ash didn’t answer right away. His fingers curled around the hilt of his blade, dragging it once more across the earth.

Then, he spoke

"I’m not needed there. And we don’t know when the next wave is coming. I’d rather be ready."

’And i don’t want to explain how I moved so fast during the battle.’

The fire popped behind them. Laughter drifted from the center of the settlement, carried by the wind like nothing had happened.

Julia’s voice came soft, but steady.

"They’re celebrating. Even though tomorrow..."

Ash’s grip tightened around the blade.

"And what do you want them to do?"

he cut in.

"Sit in the dark and count their hours? Let them dance. Let them drink. That might’ve been the last wave they ever survive."

Julia blinked once. Then a small smile tugged at her lips.

"So you actually care about them."

Ash’s brow twitched.

’What is she talking about? Of course I care. My brothers are still here. Sure, we could run—ditch this cursed place—but Kael wouldn’t let that happen. Our name would burn before the city did.’

"—Ash."

He looked at her again.

"Yeah?"

Julia’s smile hadn’t faded. It sat there like she knew something he didn’t.

"Tell me. Why did you save me back there?"

Ash lifted his chin.

’Save her?’

He thought for awhile until it hit him.

’Right... back at the wall. Is she really asking about that? It wasn’t a big deal. I needed her alive. That was all. She’s strong—we needed her strength. Hope she’s not thinking something weird.’

"That?"

he brush some dirt off his blade.

"You were too important to lose. If you’d died, the wall would’ve gone with you. And if the wall fell..."

He shrugged.

"Too many people would’ve died. I couldn’t take that risk."

Julia let out a breath. Then smiled again, softer this time.

"Well, either way—thanks. I wouldn’t be sitting here without you. Really... thank you."

Ash flicked his gaze toward her. She didn’t look away.

"Yeah. Don’t worry about it."

Julia stood. She brushed off the back of her coat, then stretched a hand out toward him.

"Wanna dance?"

Her voice was light, almost playful.

"Doesn’t seem like the creature wave’s coming tonight. We could kill some time—drink, dance, something."

Ash looked at her hand. Then back down at the ground.

"No thanks."

The tip of his blade scratched through the sand again. Back and forth. Drawing nothing. Erasing it again. Around them, laughter rolled like waves, swallowing the night.

Julia didn’t say anything. She stood there a moment, her arm still hanging in the air.

Then she turned and walked off.

Ash paused.

He didn’t look up right away, but the shape of her silhouette in the firelight was still clear. She made her way toward her team—Galeforce.

He glanced over his shoulder.

Horthgar was already lifting a barrel of ale to his mouth, chugging like it was water. Osric tried stopping him, but failed before the first gulp. The girl on the bench just watched. Ash didn’t know her name. He hadn’t talked to her yet.

Beside her sat the smallest one on their team. Ash didn’t know his name either. Short, quiet. He looked like he was waiting for someone—probably kalus and hunter. Who were still at the meeting.

Julia joined them, dropping into the empty space on the bench. She exhaled.

The girl leaned toward her.

"So? How’d it go?"

Julia gave a second sigh, deeper than the first.

"Not good. Looks like he’s not interested in me."

Ash froze.

’What? Why would she think that? Of course I’m not interested—’

His thoughts tangled. He hadn’t meant to listen. But his vessel tier made it hard not to. He could hear things he didn’t want to. Things he couldn’t unhear.

Ash dragged the blade across the sand again, slower this time. The sound scraped against the night.

Voices carried from the fire.

The other girl laughed, not trying to keep it quiet.

"See? Told you. Just cause he saved you doesn’t mean he’s into you. Honestly, he doesn’t know what he’s missing. You’re beautiful. You should go for his hotter brother."

The blade stopped. Ash’s grip tightened. For a second, the steel shook in his hand.

Then he moved it again.

Julia’s sigh drifted out.

"Kael? No. Not my type. He’s too arrogant. Thinks too much of himself."

Ash blinked.

A small smile crept onto his face.

’Finally. Someone sees him for who he really is.’

Julia kept talking.

"I don’t know... I guess I’m just a little disappointed. Thought Ash was different. But maybe it’s for the best."

The other girl tilted her head.

"Suit yourself. But who knows if we’re alive tomorrow? You keep waiting, you’ll regret it."

The music died. The instruments fell silent. So did the voices.

Ash looked up.

Across the firelight, shadows moved through the crowd.

Max had returned. The others from the meeting followed behind him.

Something in their faces made Ash forget the blade in his hand.