Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: The Armory’s Heartache

The Portland armory, though scarred by battle, became a fragile sanctuary in the days after the Wraith King's defeat. Elias spent his mornings repairing the walls with his Enhanced Strength, hauling steel beams and piling sandbags to patch the breaches. Afternoons were for learning—Nova taught him to interpret the runes etched into Wraith bones, explaining they were a form of Void energy signature, while Jax drilled him in hand-to-hand combat, his gruff instructions cutting through Elias's lingering hesitation to fight.Mia, meanwhile, honed her Danger Sense. She'd sit atop the armory's roof for hours, eyes closed, focusing on the hum of energy that warned her of threats. Lila kept the infirmary running, her medical kit now supplemented by supplies scavenged from a nearby pharmacy—thanks to Elias's Energy Blasts, which blew open the reinforced door without damaging the stock. Leo, for his part, became the armory's errand boy, delivering messages between guards and sneaking extra rations to the younger survivors.But peace within the ranks was short-lived. On the 12th day, a Guard member named Tate—once a construction worker with the Ability to manipulate concrete—snapped. Grief over his wife's death (killed in the Portland slaughter) had twisted into resentment, and he accused Elias of hoarding system rewards. "You're just using us!" Tate roared, summoning a wall of concrete to block the armory's entrance. "You get powers, you get the system—what do we get? Scraps!"Elias stepped forward, his Leadership Aura (unlocked quietly the day before, a faint warmth he'd yet to master) flaring softly. "I'm not hoarding anything. The system rewards are for the group—for repairing the armory, for getting supplies. Tate, I'm sorry about your wife. But this isn't the way."Tate didn't listen. He hurled a chunk of concrete at Elias, who dodged and fired a weak Energy Blast—enough to disarm, not kill. The blast hit Tate's shoulder, and he stumbled back. Nova moved in, her rune-etched bandage glowing as she bound Tate's wrists with magical restraints. "He's a danger to the group," she said, her voice tight. "We exile him at dawn."Elias nodded, but his chest ached. Exile was a death sentence in the Wraith-infested ruins. That night, he visited Tate in the armory's holding cell. "I'm not your enemy," Elias said, sliding a can of beans through the bars. "If you calm down, you can stay. We need everyone."Tate spat on the floor. "I'd rather die than follow a boy who's never known real loss." He pushed the can back. "Go away."At dawn, Elias walked Tate to the armory's gate. He handed him a knife and a canteen of water. "Stay close to the river—Wraiths hate running water. There's a small survivor camp 10 miles east." Tate stared at him for a long moment, then turned and vanished into the ruins without a word. Elias stood there, watching, until Mia placed a hand on his shoulder. "You did the right thing," she said. "Mercy isn't weakness."[System Notification: Host has demonstrated Compassionate Leadership. Bonus Reward: Energy Manipulation Lv.2.]Elias smiled faintly. Maybe Mia was right. Maybe strength wasn't just about fighting—it was about choosing kindness, even when it hurt.