Pistol and Dagger

In the bustling refugee market, Alex's attention was drawn to a Colt M1911 pistol on a weapons stall.

The gun looked worn but still exuded a certain charm.

The metal parts of the gun bore the marks of time, slightly pockmarked, yet still radiating its former glory.

The wooden grip, smoothed and warmed by years of use, seemed to carry the warmth of its previous owner.

Alex picked up the gun and examined it closely.

The Colt M1911 was a classic sidearm, renowned for its reliability and powerful stopping power.

Firing .45 ACP rounds, it had an effective range of up to 50 meters and could deliver a strong punch at close range.

Despite its age, the design was still advanced and capable of firing powerful bullets.

However, the gun had a noticeable flaw—it appeared to have been submerged in water at some point, causing parts of the mechanism to rust.

Moreover, there were only a few bullets left in the magazine, which undoubtedly limited its use.

The stall owner was a middle-aged man who used to be a police officer in River's Edge and was now one of the refugees.

His eyes conveyed a sense of fatigue and helplessness, but they took on a complex look when he saw Alex holding the gun.

"This gun," the officer began, his voice hoarse, "was once my pride. I used it to protect many people and went through a lot with it."

Alex nodded, trying to learn more. "What happened?"

The officer's face suddenly turned a bit deranged, his eyes flashing with fear and anger. "It was a dark day," he whispered, "we lost so much, including our home. This gun... it has witnessed too much."

Realizing the topic was too sensitive for the officer, Alex decided not to press further.

He decided to buy the gun, despite its flaws, feeling it might come in handy on their journey.

He paid with some money and took the gun.

Meanwhile, Marcus stopped at a herbal stall.

He simply bought some herbs and parts of a leopard.

These items held special significance for him, but he only casually talked with the stall owner.

"These herbs and the leopard's claws," the stall owner said, "can bring good luck and strength."

Marcus nodded, paid with some money, and put the items in his bag.

He knew these items meant more to him than just a simple transaction.

Emily stopped at a hunter's stall.

She had her eye on a fine bow and a bag of arrows. T

he hunter was a rugged middle-aged man with a look of resilience and wisdom in his eyes.

"This bow was made by my own hands," the hunter said, "it can shoot far and is very accurate."

Emily nodded and began to haggle with the hunter. Her eloquence was excellent, and she eventually bought the bow and arrows at half price.

Impressed by Emily's eloquence, the hunter also gave her a hunter's manual for free, which detailed descriptions of common wild animals and how to make arrows.

"This manual will be of help to you," the hunter said, "I hope you can use it to protect yourself."

Emily smiled and took the manual, feeling grateful. She knew the bow and the manual would play an important role in their journey.

She paid with some money and took the bow, arrows, and the manual.

Lena wandered around the market and bought some things she didn't really need.

She mainly wanted to exchange these items for some food to give to the refugees who needed it more.

She knew they needed help too, even though they themselves needed supplies.

"Here's some food for you," Lena said to a refugee, handing over a bag of food, "I hope you can make it through."

The refugees looked at her gratefully, their eyes filled with hope. Lena knew she couldn't solve all the problems, but at least she could do her part.

She exchanged some items she didn't need for food with some money.

As they each completed their transactions and were about to leave the market, Alex's gaze fell on the ancient dagger once more.

In that instant, he felt a fleeting discomfort, as if some whisper was murmuring in his ear, but the sensation vanished in the blink of an eye.

Alex's heart raced, and he began to wonder if he had truly inherited his grandfather's mental illness.

Emily noticed Alex's odd behavior and approached him with concern. "What's wrong?"

Alex pointed to the dagger, his voice trembling slightly. "Do you sense anything off about it?"

Emily scrutinized the dagger for a good while before shaking her head. "It looks fine to me. Maybe it's just your imagination."

Just as Alex's heart sank, doubting his own sanity, Lena stepped over.

Although she wasn't sure what abilities she had awakened, her intuition told her that the dagger emanated a faint aura, completely different from the one she had felt from the grimoire.

The grimoire had an aura of mystery and power, summoning a gaze more distant than the stars, a force that filled Lena with a mix of fear and unease.

The dagger's aura was a stark contrast—it carried a chill and malevolence, as if whispering about some forbidden use.

Frowning, Lena spoke in a low voice, "I'm not certain what abilities I've awakened, but I feel a faint aura from that dagger, different from the grimoire's.

The grimoire's aura was mysterious and powerful, making me feel watched by some ancient force.

This dagger... its aura is cold and evil. I sense it was used in some forbidden ritual, perhaps for sacrifice."

Hearing Lena's words, Alex's heart skipped a beat. He realized his feeling wasn't just an illusion, but a genuine premonition.

Looking at the dagger, a strange dread welled up inside him.

Marcus also came over, his brow furrowing upon hearing Lena's words. "Sacrifice? What does that mean?"

Emily pondered for a moment, then said, "Sacrifice is usually made to gain some power or meet certain conditions. If this dagger was used for sacrifice, it might be connected to some dark force. We need to be careful; this could be a dangerous sign."

Nodding, Alex felt a growing unease. He knew this market might be hiding darker secrets than they imagined. And that dagger could be the key to uncovering them.

Determined, Alex approached the vendor. "I'll take the dagger."

The vendor's expression remained neutral, as if unaware of the dagger's peculiar nature. He simply asked for some money, treating the dagger no differently than the other items on his stall.

"This dagger is indeed good," the vendor said, "I hope it serves you well."

Alex paid with some money, pocketed the dagger, and could feel its weight. It seemed to remind him that this was no ordinary weapon.

As the last rays of sunlight faded at the cave entrance, the group gathered at the meeting point.

Each carrying their newly acquired items, they were filled with complex emotions.

They knew this market held many secrets, and they had only scratched the surface.

But they also understood they couldn't stay here long and had to continue their journey.

Emily glanced around, making sure everyone was present, then said, "We need to leave now. This place gives me the creeps; we can't stay here any longer."

Marcus nodded, his hand instinctively reaching for the weapon at his waist. He knew they might face danger at any moment, but their mission was far from over.

Alex clenched the dagger, determination filling him.

He knew the dagger might bring trouble, but he also believed it could be crucial for their survival.

With the last sunlight gone, they set off again.

They didn't know what awaited them ahead, but they knew they had to keep going, no matter how many unknowns and dangers lay in their path.

As they prepared to leave the cave market, Jaxon, the first refugee they had encountered, raised his hand in a wave. "Farewell," he said, his voice carrying a hint of finality.