Chapter 2 – Hidden Gazes
Vaën stood in the shadows, in the corner of the brothel's main hall, where the walls were stained by years of dampness and where the light struggled to reach. He observed, as he always did. His gaze moved without haste, without visible emotion, but his eyes were more than simple contemplation. Thanks to his Watcher's Eyes, he could see beyond appearances. He saw statuses, abilities, and sometimes even the thoughts hidden behind masks.
His first glance landed on Mila. She stood near the entrance, talking to a client who seemed nervous. Her face, marked by years and experiences, still held undeniable beauty despite the wrinkles beginning to settle around her eyes. She had cared for him when he was wounded after the incident with the merchant at the age of thirteen. Now, she was no longer just a caregiver, but a silent witness to his evolution.
Mila
Class: Experienced Prostitute
Age: 39
Level: 14
Stats:
Strength: 6
Intelligence: 7
Charisma: 12
Endurance: 10
Speed: 4
Skills:
Desire's Call (active)
Empathy Mastery (passive)
Vaën blinked, as if adjusting his focus. Mila didn't seem ready to reveal her deeper skills or intentions, but he could feel an aura that went beyond her role as a simple prostitute. She had a keen understanding of human behavior, able to manipulate desires and weaknesses to her advantage. He remembered when she had tended to him—not out of kindness, but necessity. She, too, knew that in this world, everything had a price.
Next, he turned his gaze to the other side of the room. A young man, a bit older than him, stood there, watching others with palpable arrogance. Vaën couldn't ignore him; something lurked behind that confident expression.
Dorian
Class: Warrior in Training
Age: 17
Level: 8
Stats:
Strength: 14
Intelligence: 5
Charisma: 7
Endurance: 12
Speed: 6
Skills:
Raw Power (active)
Determination (passive)
Dorian was a product of the streets, just like him, but his way of displaying strength was different. He had raw physical power, a capacity to dominate through sheer force. Not very smart, but driven by sheer will. The kind of person who believed that hitting hard enough solved everything. Vaën knew Dorian could easily become an enemy if they crossed paths at the wrong time, but for now, he didn't feel threatened. Dorian was too busy observing and waiting.
At the back of the room, he noticed a more familiar face: the Matron. She was speaking with a richly dressed man, likely a passing client, but her aura still radiated the same sense of power and control. Vaën hated her—but passively. He despised her without the loud hostility others might have shown. She had abused him, but that was a reality he had learned to accept. He didn't need to fight her; quiet disdain was enough. She was the embodiment of the world's cruelty.
The Matron
Class: Brothel Owner
Age: 46
Level: 16
Stats:
Strength: 7
Intelligence: 10
Charisma: 15
Endurance: 9
Speed: 5
Skills:
Mind Control (active)
Soul Manipulation (passive)
She was a master of control, able to toy with minds and desires, turning others into puppets at her will. Vaën knew she still had many secrets. She was more powerful than she let on, and that only deepened his disgust.
Then, a new face entered Vaën's field of vision. A middle-aged man, seemingly straight out of high society. He moved with elegance, a fluid step, but his eyes betrayed a man lost in thought, haunted by invisible demons.
Hector
Class: Fallen Priest
Age: 38
Level: 7
Stats:
Strength: 5
Intelligence: 12
Charisma: 10
Endurance: 6
Speed: 4
Skills:
Divine Healing (active)
Emotion Manipulation (passive)
This priest, though bearing the stature of a holy man, carried a heavy burden. A broken man, a priest whose faith had been tested too many times. He had turned to carnal pleasures to escape his torment. This wasn't the first time Vaën had seen him here, but today something felt different. Perhaps it was the sorrow that clung to him, or maybe a weakness about to consume him. In any case, Hector was someone he had no desire to approach, yet he still watched him. One day, they might meet again under very different circumstances.
Finally, Vaën turned his attention to himself, as he often did. He wasn't in a hurry—yet. The others' stats and skills interested him, but he knew the key to progress was to remain calm and patient, to wait for the right moment to evolve without drawing attention.
Vaën
Class: Prostitute
Age: 16
Level: 1
Stats:
Strength: 5
Intelligence: 6
Charisma: 4
Endurance: 8
Speed: 7
Skills:
Silent Submission (passive)
Bodily Resilience (passive)
Watcher's Eyes (active)
He didn't have any great powers—yet. But he knew everything would come in time. His growth would be slow, but deliberate. Each level, each skill, each choice mattered. One of the biggest advantages of his current state was his ability to watch others without being noticed. This power to analyze people, to understand their motivations without ever revealing his own, was a weapon in itself. And all he had to do… was wait.
It wasn't time to act.Not yet.But soon.