Geb Fortress 2

The streets had grown quieter as Alex strolled through the heart of Geb Fortress, his eyes occasionally flicking to the illuminated sigils etched into the cobblestones.

Each step he took was taken with a calm precision that allowed him to blend into the city's ebb and flow without drawing undue attention. Yet, the tigress on his shoulder ensured he was never completely invisible.

"I don't understand," the tigress began telepathically, her tone carrying a faint teasing lilt, "You've been walking all day. You barely need food, yet here you are, looking for something to eat. Feeling nostalgic for human habits, are we?"

"It's not about hunger," Alex replied evenly, his gaze shifting to the rows of food stalls still open. "It's about control."

"Control?" she echoed, tilting her head. Her white fur glimmered softly in the glow of the streetlights, drawing a few curious glances. "You mean, you're eating to keep yourself... grounded? Isn't that a little dramatic?"

Alex didn't answer immediately. His steps slowed as he approached a modest food stall at the corner of the street. The smell of grilled meat and vegetables wafted through the air, rich and inviting.

"Call it a ritual," he said finally, stepping up to the stall. "A reminder of who I was... and what I'm not anymore."

Nyxara huffed, her tail flicking lightly against his shoulder. "If you say so. I'd rather have raw meat. But you don't see me clinging to 'rituals.'"

"Nyxara do you want me to return to the space storage" Alex said,

"Pls no, anything but that, I would rather eat vegetables than stay in that lifeless place" replied Nyxara as her body shivered.

"Then keep quiet" 

The stall owner, a middle-aged man with thick arms and a worn apron, glanced at Alex and the tigress warily. He seemed unsure whether to comment on the unusual sight of a white tiger perched on the stranger's shoulder but ultimately decided against it.

"Evening, traveler," the man said, wiping his hands on his apron. "What can I get you?"

"Whatever's fresh," Alex said quietly, handing over a few bills from the pouch inside his cloak.

The tigress watched with mock curiosity. "Hmm. You're still using regular money. Wouldn't it have been easier to flash something shinier? You know, leave an impression?"

"Less attention this way," Alex replied, accepting a bowl of grilled meat and vegetables. "Most people don't bother with subtlety. It makes them predictable."

"Right. Because drawing attention would be such a bad thing," she teased, stretching lazily as Alex carried the bowl to a nearby table. "I mean, it's not like you're walking around with a tiger on your shoulder or anything."

Alex ignored her, settled into his seat, and ate in silence. The food was simple but well-made, a reminder of the small comforts he allowed himself once in a while.

As the night deepened, Alex stood outside a modest inn nestled in a quieter part of the fortress. " Riverflow Motel," read the sign glowing gently above the entrance.

Inside, the warm glow of enchanted lanterns illuminated a simple but welcoming space. The receptionist, a young woman with a shrewd gaze, greeted him. Her eyes lingered briefly on the tigress, but her expression betrayed no surprise.

"Need a room?" she asked.

Alex nodded, producing a small stack of bills from his cloak. He didn't miss the brief flicker of interest in the eyes of a few patrons sitting nearby as he handed the money over.

"First room on the left," the receptionist said, sliding a key across the counter. "No trouble now."

"Trouble?" Nyxara chimed in telepathically as they ascended the stairs. "She doesn't know you at all."

Alex ignored the remark, entering the small but clean room and shutting the door behind him. It had a sturdy bed and a single window overlooking the quiet street. He placed his cloak neatly over the back of the chair and sat on the edge of the bed.

"You're getting predictable, you know," the tigress remarked as she hopped down from his shoulder and stretched. "Eat, sleep, plot revenge. Don't you ever get bored?"

"It's efficient," Alex replied.

"Efficient doesn't mean interesting," she shot back. "Just saying, you could stand to—"

Her words were cut off by the faint sound of footsteps in the hall. Alex's head tilted slightly, his expression unreadable.

"They didn't even let us settle down," the tigress muttered, settling onto the bed as a knock was heard from the door.

Alex moved over to open it

"You know you could always ignore them," said the tigress.

"They will just keep coming back better to remove the source of the problem than to let it grow and hit you where you least expect it."

Three men stepped into the room, their faces etched with confidence born of arrogance. The leader, a wiry man with a mole on his cheek, grinned.

"Saw you flashing that cash downstairs," he said, his tone dripping with condescension. "Thought we'd come by and help you lighten the load."

Alex didn't move from where he sat after opening the door, his eyes fixed on the floor.

"This is going to be good," Nyxara said, her golden eyes gleaming with amusement.

One of the thugs took a step closer, his hand resting on the hilt of a knife. "What, you deaf? We're talking to you."

Finally, Alex turned, his movements deliberate and unhurried. His gaze met theirs, and the room seemed to grow colder momentarily. He said nothing, but the air around him shifted—a faint ripple of power radiating outward.

The men froze. It wasn't anything visible, but the weight of Alex's aura pressed down on them like a mountain, suffocating and unrelenting.

The leader's sneer faltered, replaced by a flicker of fear. His companions took unconscious steps back, their bravado evaporating.

"Leave," Alex said, his voice low but carrying an edge that cut through the tension like a blade.

The three men didn't need to be told twice. They stumbled over themselves as they retreated, slamming the door behind them.

Nyxara chuckled softly. "Subtle as always."

Alex turned back to the window, his expression unreadable. "I don't waste time on distractions."

The tigress yawned, curling back into a ball. "Fine, fine. Wake me when it gets interesting."