It was the eighth day. She’d woken up just an hour past dawn. The pain on her arm had gone away, even if her fingers still felt somewhat dull. She took a quick visit to the streets. The monsters had returned, their instinctual fear of the Gramatoa having gone away after its death. She returned to her room soon after.
The siblings woke up an hour after her. She greeted them with strawberry sandwiches, and they happily dug in. She asked them what their preferred weapons were as they ate. The two had looked at each other for a moment before they shrugged. “Anything, I guess.” James had said as he took another bite of his sandwich.
She gave it a minute before she made her purchase.
A sword for James. A dagger for Grace. Both bought from the Shop. Both enchanted with Rotting. It was Alex’s little gift to the two. Something that’d keep them alive better than the flimsy bat and knife they’d been using. She’d also bound them to herself. She wouldn’t have them weaponless in any circumstance.
It felt somewhat odd to have a Bound Weapon be held by someone else. It was…she wasn’t sure how she’d describe it, really. It was like lending pieces of herself to others. Her chest felt a little hollow the farther they went from her.
She’d also discovered that the additional effects added onto the weapons were random. Or somewhat random. James’ sword was enchanted with Toughness, and Grace’s knife came with Bleeding. The enchantments their weapons received were coincidentally aligned with the way they fought.
Maybe the added effects were correlated with the intentions of the weapon? If so, why had her sword gained Silver?
Hmm.
Grace had practically shrieked when she received hers, happily muttering about ‘blessing’ and ‘an honor’ and such. James had stared at his sister, amused and somewhat horrified, before he quietly thanked her for the gift. His eyes went dull for a moment before he asked her what being ‘Bound’ meant.
She gave a quick explanation on her Skill. The boy leaned back and stared at his sword as if it’d fallen straight from heaven.
She then asked them if they wanted to go on a hunt. They were quick to agree.
The new weapons did wonders for the siblings’ prowess. And her own worries. She could feasibly let them out of her sights and not feel like she’d find their half-eaten corpse several minutes later. She still did follow just behind the two however. Just in case something happened.
Svels began running from them. Vlaids were brought down in seconds. Boros were sturdy, but a combination of Rotting and Bleeding left them inches from death with just a couple dozen strikes from Grace’s knife. The Raeys’ dive would be blocked by James, and Grace would throw her dagger into its open mouth. Alex would recall and return it to her after the Raeys died. Mitheles would bleed out by Grace’s dagger and James would plunge his sword into its head.
She’d only step in if they encountered a Prytor.
Prytors. Giant snakes the length of a bus. They would chase their prey with abandon, and their hiss would be heard minutes before they would appear. Their fangs would tear steel like paper. Their weight alone would be enough to crush a truck. They were the strongest of the early monsters. An apex just below the Gramatoa.
They were thankfully quite rare, and incredibly territorial. They’d know immediately when one was around the moment the streets became clear of any other monsters.
They were strong, but she’d dealt with stronger. She’d throw her sword into their mouths, and as they writhed in pain, she’d recall her sword and plunge it straight through their heads. Its skin was minutely enhanced with mana. Her sword’s enchantment wouldn’t work on them. But her mana-enhanced strength alone was capable of puncturing through their heads.
They returned to their apartment at noon for lunch. Pre-prepared meals and some sandwiches. They returned to the streets an hour later.
An Endurance of six was required to nullify the weakness of the Second Scenario. She had no doubts the siblings would breach past that requirement in the month they had. It was just a matter of when.
James would be the first. He was the gate of the two, his fighting more defensive than anything else. A game of defense and parries, of taking the blow and striking twice as hard. His Endurance was most likely his Main Attribute.
Grace’s Endurance would rise slower. She was an eagle. Speed was her game. Her strikes would come swift, and she’d disappear just as swiftly. She’d be weaker than her brother, more fragile, but her speed would far outclass his. Agility was hers to conquer.
Or maybe not. Maybe that’d change in the future. These archetypes they’d all fallen into weren't set in stone. It was just a mold. It could shift and morph.
They returned to rest when night came. The streets would clear, the stars would appear, and she’d sit by the streets and watch the night skies pass by. James would find her an hour after their return and offered to sit with her. She agreed. Grace would come minutes later, confused as to where they’d gone. Her brother would invite her, and she’d sit by his side.
Alex didn’t feel like resting just yet. Neither did the siblings.
At some point, Grace would begin filling the silence with anecdotes of her life. Of how dumb school now felt. Of how much she wanted to punch the face of that one bully in her school. Of how much she wanted to return to Track just so she could boast about her speed.
Her brother would idly comment about how he missed his games. Of how he forgot to save before the apocalypse came. He lamented on just how much progress he’d lost, and his sister would gently pat his back as she made a solemn nod. They’d then turn to her and ask just how her life was before everything fell apart.
Alex would hide a wince. She didn’t remember much about her previous life. She admitted that her life wasn’t all that interesting, but the siblings were adamant to know. She caved in after a minute.
She told them about the college she could barely remember. Of how droll and dull her classes felt. Of the parents she could hardly remember. Of what few friends who she’d forgotten. She told them of watching the stars. Of the many nights she spent outside. Of how she dreamt of going to space.
“Were you lonely?” Grace would ask, with something that looked scarily like understanding in her eyes.
“I was.” She’d gently admit.
The night would pass on as they talked. Chatter, laughter. The silence of the night would be filled. It was dangerous. Noises meant monsters. But she couldn’t find it in herself to silence them. Nor could she find herself stopping as the night continued on.
She’d learn that James was adopted, and how that did little to stifle the connection they had. She’d learn that their parents had been on a business trip when the First Scenario came, and how they would often wonder how they were doing.
They’d learn that she hated being underground, of how cold and small it made her feel. They’d learn that she often wondered if monsters had appeared on other planets as well. They’d learn that she had a brother somewhere.
“Are you still lonely?” Grace would later ask, sounding vaguely like she was pleading.
Alex would turn to her, with memories of death and regrets, of bonfires and of hunts, of strawberry jam and of stars, and she’d find herself smiling. “No.”
The night wore on, and she felt like the stars shined just a little brighter that night.
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“Keyword?” James asked.
Alex nodded. “Completing the First Scenario gave you access to the Monolith.” The siblings nodded. “But it’s asking you to say an Unlock Code.” They nodded again. She smiled wanly. “It’s just as it sounds. There’s a word that you need to say before you can use the Monolith. And it’s different for everyone.”
Dawning horror fell onto the boy. “Wait, that means-”
Her smile remained fixed.
“Oh god.” Grace looked a little sick. “Do we just say every word in the dictionary or something?”
Alex shrugged. “That’s what I did.” Or what she would’ve done had she not cheated and returned with prior knowledge. “You two should probably spend an hour or two each day going through a dictionary. You’ll find your Unlock Code eventually.”
Grace nodded grimly. James gave a small sigh as he finally stabbed his sword into the Mithele they’d been fighting for the past minute. She smiled thinly. “I have a dictionary back in our apartment.” She said. “Nabbed it the day before.”
They nodded and continued on their way.
The streets were a little emptier than the day before. Which made sense. They’d gone through this route yesterday. The monsters had seen the corpses the siblings left behind. And without the arbitrary restrictions beset by the Monolith, the monsters would follow their instincts and run away. Or, most monsters would. Boros and Mitheles would still attempt to attack them.
They weren’t truly hunting today. They were searching for anything of interest. Supplies, tall buildings, oddities that could lead to Sub Scenarios. Anything.
They needed to find a new home soon. Somewhere away from the cities, yet also free of any other Units. Separating themselves from any major groups would let them slip past the usual restrictions of the Second Scenario.
She ultimately decided to live in the woods. The siblings had stared when she suggested so, but it wasn’t all that outlandish. It wouldn’t be until the Third Scenario that forests would become filled with monsters. For the moment, monsters would populate the cities, filling the places where humans had once lived.
That, and she had over a thousand Coins to spare. Fast-growing plants and magical trinkets would always be available to purchase.
The siblings agreed after that.
They’d leave in a couple days. They’d return, of course. She still needed to raid the city free of strawberry jam after all. They just wouldn’t be living in the midst of a region crawling with monsters.
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They began their walk back as the sun began to set. They walked through streets they’d traversed hours before, now emptier than before.
Alex stopped moving. The siblings immediately noticed and asked her what was wrong. “Nothing.” She eventually said, The siblings were clearly unconvinced. She smiled thinly. “Let’s get back before night comes.”
They did.
…
The siblings soon retired for the night. She wasn’t surprised. Though the streets were emptier than yesterday, monsters would always be a constant. The siblings fought for most of the day, and did so without Mana. It wasn’t a surprise that they went to rest the moment they finished their dinner.
She returned to the streets. It was quiet. She could vaguely make out what looked to be a small group of Boros to her left. They were sleeping in the middle of the streets, huddled against each other. Her mana roused slightly, eager for another battle. She quelled it.
It was cold tonight. She took a breath. And pulling her sword from her waist, she spun.
“W-Wait!”
Her eyes went wide.
It was a small person. Barely the size of her palm. Their hair glowed a floral green. Their eyes shone brightly. There were a pair of small, translucent wings on their back. Golden glitter would fall with every flap. They were shaking slightly, small tears building on the corners of their eyes. “C-C-Can you take your s-sword back?” They tried to smile. “P-Please?”
She’d stopped her sword just by its neck. She could kill them in an instant. A small twitch, and her sword would graze their neck, and its enchantment would come to play.
She slowly lowered her sword. They sighed, relieved.
“S-Scared me there.” She attempted to laugh. It sounded more like a sob than anything. “T-That how you greet people?”
“Then don’t sneak up behind me.” She said instead.
“R-Right.”
They fell into silence. They nervously watched her. She stared back.
She was rather surprised, really. She hadn’t expected to find a Faery this early. They were magical spirits, a conglomeration of nature’s essence. Many would begin to form after the Third Scenario, when the flora of Earth finally absorbed the abundant mana that had flooded the planet.
She knew little of them, admittedly. She knew they’d create civilization in the future, and that they were naturally aligned with magic. She knew little else aside from that. She didn’t come across them all that often in her previous life.
Why had one appeared so early?
“So,” They started slightly as she began. “Why were you following us?”
“Ah, well-” They glanced away and coughed. “I-, I was curious, y’know? Rare to see someone so attuned to their mana.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Any Units previously related to the mystical would be the same.”
“Yeah, but their mana’s raw. Their mana’s a seed, and turning into Units gave them the chance to grow.” They grinned. “But you? You’re different.” Their voice went soft, almost reverent. “Your mana’s a bloomin’ flower. Your control’s as sharp as a blade, and its weight burns like the sun.”
So her mana was…mature? She wasn’t quite sure what that meant.
“Can-” Their smile became just a little desperate. “Can you show me?”
She frowned slightly. They…didn’t feel malicious. The coldness of danger was nowhere to be felt. And more than anything, there was something about how they looked, of the way they stared at her as if she was their salvation. Those eyes looked eerily like Grace’s, like the eyes she’d seen in her own reflections.
She cautiously raised her hand. A surge of heat coiled beneath her chest, and sparks of blue began rising from her fingers.
“So-” Whatever she was trying to say fell away when the Faery suddenly hugged her finger. There was a small smile on her lips, soft and content, and Alex found herself speechless. “Uh-” She tried to say, but they ignored her.
Then, to her horror, the Faery began to cry.
And so all she could was wait as they weeped, whispering words she couldn't understand as they clung onto her finger. Her mouth opened and closed for a few minutes. Because what could she do? What was there to do?
So, slowly, she gently rubbed the Faery’s back. “It’s okay.” She found herself saying. “Smile if you’re happy. Cry if you’re hurt. Wail for those you’ve lost. Live for tomorrow.” They were words someone had spoken to hers once. She didn’t remember who it was, the memory clouded by time, but the words remained clear all the same.
They cried louder.
She eventually brought the sobbing Faery into her room. The night was getting cold. And she doubted she could feasibly fight a monster after all this.
Their sobs began to fade. Slowly, painfully, but their tears began to dry. “T-Thanks.” They managed to say. She nodded, and the sparks on her fingers faded away. They reached out towards the fading glow before their hands fell.
She cautiously watched the Faery, of the way her shoulders were slumped with defeat, of the ever familiar look in those eyes.
An answer sprung forth in her mind.
“...you’re not from this world, are you?” She eventually said. They turned to her, surprised. Their gaze slowly fell as they nodded. She sighed. “So you’re all alone.” She said. Another nod, slower.
A sad smile came onto her lips. “We’re not so different then.” They turned up to her, confused. She didn’t explain. They didn’t ask. Some sort of conclusion formed in their mind, and they too held a sad smile.
She didn’t know what they’d come up with. She didn’t want to know. It’d probably hit a bit too close.
She took a breath. “We should rest.” She glanced at her bed. She frowned. “Don’t think we have a smaller pillow. Can you-”
“Can I sleep with you?” They asked instead. Her words died in her throat. An uncomfortable feeling rolled in her stomach. She…didn’t like sleeping with someone else. Especially not in an enclosed space like this. Not in a place like this.
Her discomfort must’ve shown, because they quickly spoke up, “You don’t need-”
“It’s fine.” She managed to say. She took a breath. “It’s fine. I’m just…adjusting.” She attempted a smile. “It’s fine.”
They nodded. She dropped onto her bed and they followed. The Faery would lay on the pillow for a few minutes before she flew onto her chest. Alex blinked, and they had a shy smile as they slowly tucked themselves into the pocket on her shirt. “It’s more comfortable here.” They said, and she made a small shrug.
…
“What’s your name?” She later asked.
“Frieyen.” She whispered. “You?”
“Alex.” She said. They nodded.
The rest of the night was silent.
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“This is Frieyen. They’re with us now.”
The Faery smiled shyly. “Hello.”
…
“You’re so small. How do you even go to the toilet? Do you like-”
“Don’t even finish that sentence.” James growled. “Don’t you dare!”
“What!? I was curious!”
Alex turned to the confused Faery. “Sorry.” She smiled wanly. “Tell me if they get a bit much.” The twins immediately got into another argument. She sighed. “This is pretty normal.”
They smiled. “They’re fun.” They said gently, hope and longing in their eyes. “They seem nice.”
She hummed. “They are.”
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Another tree fell.
She took a breath. That was another tree she’d felled. She gave her sword a quick glance. Not a scratch, even after she’d used it to cut through thick barks of wood. Which wasn’t a surprise. Enhancing its blade with her mana was enough.
They’d left their apartment just an hour before, all their supplies packed and carried on their backs. They followed a straight path out of the city and took a detour to the woods. The woods were silent, almost scarily so. They’d gotten quite used to the noise of the roaming monsters, and she needed to gently coax Grace to finally follow them in.
It didn’t take long for them to find a small cottage hidden between the trees. It was long abandoned, left with nothing but a bed and the barest of supplies. That was more than enough.
The twins were out exploring the woods. There could be more cottages around. Perhaps they could find a bedroll of two to bring back. It didn’t matter all that much really. Anything they brought back would be helpful.
Frieyen went out to gather seeds. Anything they could grow would be useful. Anything grown with mana would grow faster. Anything grown by a Faery would be blessed. She’d initially wanted to buy some from the Shop, but Frieyen could produce magical plants and more.
She was out gathering wood. Wood was fuel. Wood could be used to create. More materials would be handy, and she could always make herself another cottage if she needed to. And she could always use them as a weapon. It’d be a better weapon than her bare hands, at the least.
She glanced around. There were a dozen fallen logs around her. She glanced at the clean stumps they’d fallen from, and the other trees still around her.
A dozen should be enough.
Clipping her sword onto her hip, she began dragging the logs back. One trip at a time. It was rather tedious, really. She had no magical tools to help her. But she could at least carry two logs at time, holding a log on each shoulder as she carefully walked around the standing trees. She set them down just by the left of their cottage.
The twins returned just an hour after she finished. They’d found a bedroll from a nearby cottage to the south, placed just by a rolling river. It still wouldn’t be enough for the three of them. That was fine. She could always sleep on the floor. The twins were quick to argue on that, before she simply asked if either of them was willing to spend an entire night sleeping on the floor. Both weren’t confident.
Frieyen returned just minutes after her victory, carrying in her arms a small pile of seeds. “They’re raspberry seeds.” They said, smiling. “I’m gonna grow ‘em good.” Alex had blinked at that, before she nodded. “Do you mind helping?”
She blinked once more. “What do you need?”
Their smile turned a little sheepish then. “Well, you can induce stuff with mana, right?” She nodded. “Can you do the same with these?”
“I…can.” Most likely. She’d never actually tried. Never had a reason to. But she could induce strawberry jam with mana. And she could infuse her blade with magic. It shouldn’t be too much of a leap to do the same with a seed. Hopefully.
She picked out a seed from the pile Frieyen had brought back. She pressed it between both her palms, and with a small grimace, she called forth her mana. Heat coiled beneath her chest and small blue sparks lit from between her hands. Focusing on such a small object wasn’t easy. Nor was making sure she didn’t just vaporize the seed entirely.
She studiously ignored the awe she was receiving.
Slowly, she parted her hands after what felt like hours. She let loose a small sigh at the unbroken seed in her hand. She hadn’t destroyed it, thankfully.
Magical Raspberry Seed
Rank: F+
An ordinary raspberry seed. It was then enhanced with mana and blessed by the Fae. Its growth and yield have been dramatically increased.
She blinked. A Rank of F+? And more than that, ‘Blessed by the Fae’? She glanced at Frieyen, and the Faery returned a small, smug smile. It seemed they knew full well of what happened. She supposed she should’ve expected that.
She gave the seed over to them and smiled. “Will this do?” She asked.
“It will!”
She turned to the pile of seeds they’d brought back. There were clearly more than a hundred. “I won’t be able to finish them all today.” She sighed. Her chest still felt somewhat warm. “But I’ll try.”
She grabbed another and began once more.
It slowly got easier the more seeds she enchanted. It became a little easier to focus her mana so sharply with every instance. Her speed increased with every try. Her hands began to feel clammy after ten seeds. They began to shake after twenty. Her chest felt painfully hot after thirty. She managed another ten before she ran herself dry.
Some forty magical seeds. A yield lower than she hoped and higher than she’d expected.
Frieyen was ecstatic however. They smothered her with a thousand thanks before they dragged the twins out to help them plant the seeds. The door closed on their leave, and she let loose a sigh as she slumped against the wooden wall. It took her everything to remain standing in front of them. To not look like she’d suddenly collapse from sickness.
She had a feeling Frieyen knew. It was probably why they’d dragged the twins away to help them.
She closed her eyes, idly listening to the chatter just outside. They’d made it out of the First Scenario. Survived it. They were out of the cities now, away from the nesting grounds, away from other people. She’d taken down the Gramatoa. The twins had grown tremendously since they first met. Frieyen had found her before it was too late.
They’d done well.
She smiled. She soon fell asleep.