The sound of soulless climbing was causing the girls to become agitated as they obeyed Noah's unspoken instruction. Noah activated the final one of his new abilities. Goosebumps appeared on the girls exposed skin from cold, causing them to press closer as Meghan finally allowed Missy to hug her. The mist was extending from the alley to cover the road in front.

Noah had seen an open building in front of them a little way down the street. It was relatively intact compared to most after the Arrival. He ignored the girl's shivering as the [Freezing Aura] shrouded them from being seen.

If I can get the girls into that building. I will be able to fight the horde without worry. The soulless won't be able to get inside without alerting me.

"See that building?" Noah asked.

"Yes," the twins replied in unison, only Missy nodded her head.

"Good. I want you to go inside and wait quietly for the horde to pass. If the soulless find us, I can only deal with them if I don't have to worry about you both being hurt," Noah instructed.

"Will you be coming with us?" Missy asked. Noah ignored the question now that the street was blanketed with cold fog.

"Quickly, go now!" Noah whispered sharply.

The trio exited the alley into the fog as the scratching drew closer. There was confused screeching as the soulless arrived and couldn't see. Noah had dismissed his [Ice Spear] and hand a hand on each girl's shoulder behind them as they ran in a crouch across the street. A shadow appeared in front of them. It was a soulless standing listlessly, confused by the fog.

Noah ushered the twins to continue running while changing direction and approaching the shadow in a crouch. An archaic dagger formed in Noah's hand as Meghan paused to watch him before being dragged away by Missy. Noah wrapped his forearm around the creature's neck, driving the bracer into its mouth to block sound as he plunged the dagger into its skull.

He buried the blade to the hilt before dismissing the dagger and lowering the corpse to the ground silently. Resuming his crouched run, he discovered a second shadow in the fog. This time it was the opening to the building. He entered it without hesitation while deactivating the [Freezing Aura].

***

Inside, the twins stood facing the entrance. They each wore blank expressions as they waited obediently. A man stood in front of them. He was inspecting the girls like they were merchandise as they failed to react, looking straight ahead.

The man was of average height with faintly glowing skin and shoulder-length hair. The hair shimmered with pink-lifeforce as it shifted in the breeze. He was cleanly shaven with extremely handsome features. He was wearing sleek system armour integrated with high-quality cloth coattails extending from the bottom over tight pants of the same material and knee-high metal boots. Everything was a uniform black color.

The man circled behind the girls, plucking at Missy's short skirt and Meghan's torn sweater. He looked up to make eye contact with Noah as he smiled. The smile was a little too wide and never touched his eyes.

"Welcome! Would you kindly shut the door. It's letting in a draft." the man spoke.

Before Noah could reply, a screeching sound behind him caused him to turn. The opening was closed off as a large man pushed a heavy table across the hole and stood it upright to barricade the entrance. The large man's forehead was beaded with sweat as he grinned stiffly, showing all of his teeth awkwardly. The man stepped to the side of the table. He crossed his hands to wait obediently with his hands crossed over each at his waist.

"Ah, much better. Thank you, Chad." the man spoke again.

"Who are you? Let them go," Noah replied.

"How impolite of me. My name is Marcus." Marcus introduced himself.

Marcus lifted a handful of Missy's hair before dropping it. He then lifted a handful of Meghan's hair to hold to his nose, inhaling deeply. On his hands, Marcus was wearing strange golden talons, turning his hands into claws.

"This is where you respond with your name. Would you kindly introduce yourself." Marcus said, pausing his hair-sniffing to chastise Noah.

"Noah," Noah replied involuntarily.

"Noah. Well, Noah, have you ever encountered anything so exquisite? Twins. Both undergoing [Rite of Awakening] at the same time, no less!" Marcus said with excitement.

Marcus lifted Meghan's hair to his face to inhale once again, tilting his head back with eyes closed and a look of bliss. A man ran into the room from another part of the building with an expression of panic.

"Lord Raptor, the Shadow Walker is back!"

" Don't interrupt me while I have guests. I will have the Shadow Walker join us. She only needs to get close enough for me to invite her. Also, didn't I tell you all to be happy? You serve me now, not that old dinosaur. Would you kindly smile." Marcus replied in annoyance.

"Yes, Lord Raptor," the man forced a smile as beads of sweat formed on his head, similar to the large man at the door.

The new Arrival wore a crude breastplate with a filthy shirt underneath. The shirt's sleeves were rolled up to expose the man's forearms. He had a tattoo above his wrist, which caused Noah to abandon any thoughts of diplomacy. Noah summoned his [Ice Spear] to grip with both hands, and he crouched into a battle-ready position. The tattoo was the familiar serpent symbol of the Fallen.

"You're Fallen!" Noah hissed.

"Indeed we are. There is no need to get hostile. You are my guest. Would you kindly put your weapon away." Marcus requested.

Noah noticed a slight flare of pink-lifeforce on Marcus's throat when he spoke the words. In response, his [Ice Spear] disappeared without any warning. Noah was confused as to why he obeyed the request.

"I shall welcome our new guest. Would you kindly wait here." Marcus said.