"Are these foods any good?" Lucas asked, casually dropping into the chair beside Lucy amidst the hustle and bustle of the crowded desk. Others around them were digging into the food, and Cale couldn't resist licking his fingers in between bites.
Jeremiah nodded, his stomach growling audibly. Starving since his release yesterday, no one bothered to feed him or Kristian. The hunger was hitting him hard.
Lucas grinned, satisfied. These kids, though just a year younger, weren't your run-of-the-mill teenagers. But then again, what's normal in an apocalypse?
Admittedly, Lucas wasn't much older himself, just a month into his 16th year. No significant seniority compared to the rest.
Meanwhile, Kristian's hand reached for the honey-dipped chicken, fingers wet, but hunger trumped any reservations.
Belle had briefed him on their adventures with Lucy the day before. Honestly, Kristian was still terrified they might off him. Witnessing Julia's head blown off by a bullet aimed at Lucas had left its mark.
As Kristian took a triumphant bite, he glanced at John, the only surviving adult in their group, now a captive. Unlike the rest, still wary of the mysterious new folks, John sat there, knees bent, savoring every mouthful in a white t-shirt.
John was devouring as if there was no tomorrow, making Belle nervous. She fretted that if Uncle John polished off everything, Lucy and Lucas would lose it. But no one dared say a word. The longer they stayed silent while munching away, the more Belle feared they'd snap.
"Enjoy the feast!" Lucas exclaimed, catching Belle's eye. He gave her a nod and, out of nowhere, produced a bunch of snacks from his pouch. Belle's jaw dropped.
Meri, curious as ever, asked, "Did you spend all your coins at the black building, sir? This is a feast!"
They hadn't tasted fresh meat in ages, and the only chance was hunting mutated beasts, assuming they were even edible. With Lucas grabbing more goodies, Meri felt justified in asking.
Lucas just grinned at her. "Dig in! I swiped a bunch of food from there."
Looking around at the group enjoying the impromptu feast, Lucas felt nothing but joy. With Lucy by his side, they were like siblings. Add four foes at the same table, and Lucas couldn't help but say, "Eat up because after today, it's going to be rough." He flashed a smile while toying with the emblem on his fingertip—a spider with eight legs carved into it.
***
"Swing it like this," a loud thud echoed through the air.
"Hey, kiddos, be patient with me. I'm still figuring this out," John sighed, feeling the weight of the moment.
"No, keep going," Lucas chimed in, his voice expressing disagreement. After surviving the dungeon, he realized there were too many big shots out there. To face them, he needed a team.
"Hold your knife like this," Lucas commanded, pointing with emphasis. Kristian, Belle, and Jeremiah clutched their knives, a mix of fear and curiosity in their eyes. Lucy stood nearby, keeping a watchful eye, holding her chin.
"Lucas, do I really have to do this too?" Lucy asked, her voice filled with reluctance. The sun shone on them as they stood on the university rooftop, and Lucy's body bore the evidence of a good workout.
"Yeah," Lucas replied with a shout, scanning the rooftop crew. On the roof were Lucas, Lucy, Jeremiah, Kristian, Belle, John, Meri, and Cale. Well, mostly seven, as Cale couldn't be trusted with a knife. He was off playing while Meri practiced her dagger skills, keeping an eye on Cale.
Lucas's voice broke the rooftop scene once again, "Come on, guys, be precise with those chops!" None of them, not even Lucas, had ever wielded a knife to end a life. They were all pretty clueless about the techniques, and Lucas was trying to be this fancy sword-teacher guy.
"Lucas, maybe we should mix it up and teach them different weapons. A knife seems kind of puny," Lucy suggested, struggling with her katana swings.
"Nah, stick to close combat for now. It's better to know how to handle something nearby than to bite the dust waiting for a slow bowstring," Lucas replied, pointing at Meri as an example.
He continued, "Meri's got the bow and dagger combo down, ready to defend herself. The rest, including you, only rock the katana."
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"But Lucas, I'm already a close combat person. I use a katana," Lucy complained. She sighed, dreaming of a comfy bed and air conditioning.
Lucas checked her out and said, "I get it, but you need this. Last night in the dungeon without your katana, you were basically a sitting duck."
"No, Lucas, but—" Lucy tried to argue, but her brain failed her. With a resigned sigh, she said, "Alright," and continued slashing through the empty air. She could unleash hail endlessly, but when the magic she needed to hurt the man didn't show up, she was left with no choice but to strike him with her heel.
Top of Form
"It's working, though," she muttered as she kept striking. Lucas, overseeing the chaos, noticed a horde of zombies gathering at the university entrance, now barricaded with a massive wooden plank.
Lucas strolled up to John, who, for some unknown reason, was shirtless again, swinging a short knife. John shot Lucas a questioning look, "My level's pretty high. Do I have to do this? I already know my way around a knife, kids."
"Yeah, John, you've got to do it. We'll see if fate wants you to be up close and personal or a long-range warrior," Lucas responded, eyeing John, who seemed disappointed and confused.
As Lucas continued to gaze at his uncle, the smell of everyone's sweat in the hot sun wasn't pleasant. Lucas told John, "I did mention precautions, just in case, John. Can you promise not to betray us?"
Feeling a mix of guilt and annoyance at the lack of trust from the guy in front of him, John looked over and nodded, "I won't go back on my word."
Lucas chuckled slightly, "Uncle, that's not enough."
John, now confused, asked, "What more do you want from me?"
"This..." Lucas vaguely said, earning a puzzled look from John. It didn't take long for him to grasp the situation as the teenager muttered, "[Subordination]."
A screen of light appeared before John.
---
[You've been marked as a follower of Lucas Tharla!]
[Do you accept?]
---
Finally understanding that the teenager had a foolproof method to ensure loyalty, John subtly chuckled, stopping his knife swings and sighing, "Alright, kids!"
---
[Congratulations!]
[You've chosen to become a citizen of the Dawn Kingdom!]
---
The light screen flickered in response to his acceptance. John looked at Lucas and asked, "Is that it?"
Honestly, the whole thing happened so quickly that he didn't see it coming. Assuming it was over, he started swinging his sword again. But the teenager in front of him just stared and then said, "Of course not. That wouldn't be a foolproof way to keep you in check, Uncle."
John gave him another confused look. "This is the most crucial part," the boy said, holding his jian, "[Knight]."
Even though John knew it was just another one of the kid's weird skills, another screen of light appeared.
---
[You have been promoted to a Knight of the Dawn Kingdom!]
[Do you accept?]
---
Even if they wanted his approval, he couldn't really say no in front of the young boy. So, all he could do was nod in agreement. As he agreed, a lively energy surrounded him, and a soft glow came from the holographic display that had just popped up, showing new messages.
---
[You have been knighted as the first Knight of the Dawn Kingdom!]
[Subclass slot one has been allocated for the Dawn Knight class!]
---
"Ah," John murmured as the notification claimed one of his three subclass slots, giving rise to a fresh identity: 'Dawn Knight.' Yet, the tale didn't conclude there. A grin adorned the teenager's face.
Lucas, the teenager, seemed to know this was coming. His eyes showed he understood more than his young look suggested. Even though John probably expected this, he felt unsure about asking more. A new holographic screen popped up, stopping any immediate questions.
---
Achievement Cleared:
[Platinum] The First Kingdom Knight
Rewards:
Steel Guardian Shield [Heroic]
---
After a long wait, he finally had a rare moment of success. A real achievement unfolded before him—a special, top-tier item earned through a big accomplishment. The young boy in front of him didn't seem surprised, just casually saying, "This is your weapon now," before walking away from John.
Watching the departing figure, John's gaze lingered, and he picked up the shield placed before him. In contrast to past experiences, where the use of acquired items required repetition to discern their effects, now, with all the other adults around him fallen, he had no choice but to rely on himself to uncover the shield's capabilities. He sighed, realizing, "It's only been two days," exhaling once more.