It was already late afternoon. Zafron had been working all day, looking for the job he went out for. Already he had gone to two out of the contacts Matilda gave him in the morning, and they had all said they'd get back to him.

He was already getting tired, his cash severely depleted from the expensive transportation. 'Who knew these fancy carts would cost so much just to get from one place to another?' he thought, shaking his head.

Right now, he was seated at a construction site, watching the work go on. Some of the workers were using magic to effortlessly manipulate the materials, guiding bricks and mortar into place with a mere flick of their fingers. Meanwhile, others toiled away without any magical assistance, sweating and straining as they hauled heavy loads and wielded tools.

'Why is it that magic is so prevalent here, but not back home in Astoria?' Zafron wondered as he took a bite of the delicious spiced lamb Mara had packed for him. 'The alchemists there are the only ones who seem to possess any real magical abilities.'

He observed the contrast between the magical and non-magical workers, admiring the determination and hard work of those who relied solely on physical labor. 'I'm certainly not cut out for that kind of job,' he thought ruefully. 'My skills lie more in the intellectual realm, if I have any skills at all.'

Zafron's thoughts drifted to the Eros vitality system and how it helped bolster the unique connection he shared with Matilda and Mara. It was the one thing he felt truly proficient in, even if it had been a completely unexpected development.

'At least that's something,' he mused, a small smile forming on his lips. 'These two remarkable women have chosen to put their trust in me, and I can't let them down.'

As he finished the last of his lunch, Zafron wondered where else he could look for a job. While he appreciated the recommendation spots Matilda had given him, he simply felt they weren't quite the right fit.

'Nothing really seems to be my thing, if I'm being honest,' he sighed, gazing out at the bustling construction site. 'I'm just an ordinary guy, unqualified for any of these specialized positions.'

Zafron sighed, looking at the dwindling money in his pocket. The ridiculously expensive transportation system of Drakoria had taken its toll on his finances. 'Walking it is, then,' he thought, resigning himself to a long trek back home.

With the crystal magic orb in hand, Zafron navigated the bustling streets of the industrial area. The map indicated he should turn left, but as he glanced in that direction, he saw it led to an alley. His stomach churned, remembering his first unpleasant experience in a Drakorian alley.

'Do I really want to go down there?' he wondered, hesitating. 'But what choice do I have? This map is my only way home.'

Clutching his basket in one hand and the map in the other, Zafron pressed on, fatigue already setting in. His goal was to reach an area not too far from the house before finding an affordable cart for the final leg of his journey.

As he approached the alley, movement caught his eye. A veiled woman walked ahead, disappearing into the shadowy passage. Zafron might have ignored this, but what happened next made his blood run cold. Three men emerged from a hidden corner, following her with predatory intent.

'Those men...' Zafron's eyes widened in recognition. 'They're the same ones who tried to rob us before. The ones Malachi Vex scared off.'

His heart raced as he realized the woman was about to be robbed. Every instinct told him to turn around and walk away. He was tired, alone, and in no position to play hero. But just as he was about to retreat, something extraordinary happened.

[New quest available]

[Save the stranger from being robbed]

[Reward : ???]

[Accept quest : Yes or No]

Zafron blinked rapidly, certain he must be hallucinating. 'The system is giving me a quest now? Of all times?!'

He stood frozen, torn between self-preservation and the unexpected call to action. The quest notification hung in his vision, impossible to ignore. Zafron glanced at the alley, then back at the busy street behind him. Safety lay in one direction, danger and possibly heroism in the other.

'What am I supposed to do?' he thought, his palms growing sweaty. 'I'm no hero. I don't have any special powers or fighting skills.'

But as he wavered, Zafron couldn't shake the memory of Malachi Vex's intervention. Although he didn't quite like the man, he couldn't deny their asses were saved that day because of the man. He had just left the hospital and was in no shape to fight anyone and thankfully that didn't happen. The mysterious man had come to their aid when they needed it most.

Could Zafron do any less for someone else in danger?

With a deep breath, he steeled himself. 'I can't believe I'm doing this,' he thought, taking a tentative step towards the alley. 'But I can't just walk away and let this happen.'

Gripping his basket tightly - his only potential weapon - Zafron entered the alley.

Zafron rushed to catch up, his heart pounding in his chest. When he finally reached them, they were in an open area, deserted except for the cornered lady facing the three threatening men.

"Give us your money, or else!" one of them snarled at her.

Without thinking, Zafron dropped his basket and charged forward, yelling, "Hey! I recognize you guys! I can't believe you're at it again!" He hoped his bluff would work as he added, "I know Malachi, and I'll tell him what you're doing!"

The men turned to look at him, unimpressed. One of them sneered, "Malachi isn't here, kid. And who told you you're going to make it back to him in one piece?"

'Oh no,' Zafron thought, his stomach dropping. 'I'm cooked!'

Escape seemed like the only option now, but even that looked impossible as each man's hands suddenly burst into flames. 'Great, they have magic too?!'

Zafron gulped, instinctively moving to protect the lady. "Get behind me," he said, reaching for her hand. But the moment he touched her, something strange happened:

[Subject scan complete]

Name: Cassandra Beaumont

Age: 22

Marital status: single

Compatibility: 2%

....

Just then, the screen went blank while still in Zafron's field of view. It appeared momentarily like a glitch before coming back on with a new set of information.

...

[Special trait detected in subject]

[Subject possesses XX virus]

...

But like the first time, before Zafron could even process what was happening, the screen went blank again.

'What in the limbo is -' Zafron barely finished his thought before the system screen popped up yet again.

...

[Compatibility Calculations Complete]

[Host's Qi Resonance with subject is High]

[Host's potency and magical ability acquisition are optimal]

[Host is eligible to copy subject's magical ability]

[Would host like to proceed with acquisition?]

"Huh?" Zafron muttered in shock, staring at the system screen only he could see.

At that moment, a fireball flew towards them. But before Zafron could react, the veiled lady stepped forward, her hands glowing green and coated in a strange, goo-like material. She caught the fireball effortlessly, the goo absorbing it instantly.

Zafron stood in absolute shock, his mind reeling from the rapid turn of events.