In the midst of our relentless struggle for survival, we undertook a noble endeavor that would not only secure our future but breathe life into the hearts of the young souls amongst us. Within the confines of our resilient community, we erected a modest institution – a sanctuary of knowledge, a sanctuary for our children.

Our school was a haven for these budding minds, a place where hope and wisdom intertwined. The children, divided into two distinct age groups, embarked on an educational journey that unfolded like the grand tapestry of our history.

For five hours each day, seven days a week, our dedicated educators imparted the essence of our history, everything we could remember about the old word. Then we taught them about the epic battles against the looming monsters that threatened our existence, and the secrets to vanquishing these formidable foes.

But our mission extended beyond lore; we aimed to forge a generation of problem solvers and warriors, equipping them with the skills to conquer not only the beasts lurking in the shadows but also the challenges that life presented.

Our curriculum was as diverse as it was essential, encompassing not only the art of combat magic but also the gentle touch of support abilities. The children delved deep into the elemental mysteries, learning to harness the primal forces of fire, earth, ice, and water, weaving these powers into their very beings.

But our teachings were not limited to the battlefield alone. We nourished the blossoming talents of creativity and healing within our young wards. They marveled at the wondrous spells that could coax furniture from the very earth itself, their imaginations as boundless as the limitless potential of their craft

We found ourselves thriving in our new way of life, thanks to the skills and knowledge acquired from our daily activities and from the past.

The children in our school were making great progress in their studies, and the combat training with Kero and John was bringing out their natural abilities. Those interested in other skills like welding and carpentry had the opportunity to train under their masters after school.

Kero and John were exceptional in combat and magic, and their expertise in those areas was helping us become better fighters. Kero had perfected his fire magic to the point where he could burn a giant rat with just two fireballs, while John could now shoot ice arrows and freeze 15 mangue bleue fruits without passing out.

As for myself, I still struggled with my fire magic and felt like the odd one out. However, I compensated with my physical strength and had parts of the vines from the mangue bleue tree embedded in my machete, giving me an edge in combat.

Sometimes, though, my body felt heavier than usual, and I often passed out during training. I wondered if I didn't have enough energy like the others, but I was learning to accept it and work with what I had.

The first couple weeks were challenging, but to be honest it improved drastically. Our main problem was fighting off monsters that came for our crops, but the monsters weren't that dangerous so far.

We haven't seen much spiked dogs since that time and when we did, we were always in groups of four or five, so killing one or two wasn't really a challenge. I was a great asset to the group. My physical attributes were more impressive than the others, but their abilities were more impressive.

Despite my let's say magical challenges, I always made sure to contribute to the community in my own way, and tonight was no different. We were cooking a big pot of food for everyone, and I was helping with the preparation.

Today's dish was fried frog legs and rat legs with onions and spices, and it was Celestia's family who took charge of the cooking. Her dad, a former chef, knew how to make the meat taste amazing, and everyone was impressed with his skills.

As we sat down to eat, we marveled at how far we had come and how much we had accomplished in such a short time. Our new way of life might not be perfect, but we were making it work, and we were doing it together

"Hey Rommie, have you ever wondered what lies beyond the boundaries we've set for ourselves?" John asked, piquing my curiosity.

"Yea, I do wonder at times, but it seems like you guys are afraid to go beyond a certain point." I gestured.

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"Oh, so you're saying I'm a coward?" Asked John.

"Yea, you all are." I replied laughing.

As we continued our conversation about exploration, I couldn't help but feel intrigued by the idea of embarking on an adventure and uncovering new mysteries and creatures.

Kero chimed in, reminding us of the benefits of training and growing stronger as we conquer more monsters, and maybe we could venture out further if we improved our skills.

My desire for strength was fueled by the thought of what could happen if even the smallest of creatures could grow to such impressive sizes. As I shared my thoughts with my friends, I excused myself to talk to my mom about our plan.

"What, no...you were lucky enough to survive all this, and now you want to leave on some grand adventure." My mom pleaded with me not to go, but we couldn't just stay here and not explore and try to improve our way of life.

Despite her tears and hesitations, we were all adults and capable of making our own decisions. However, her reaction made me realize that we were the only ones left of our family since the explosion. The pain and sadness of that reality hit me like a ton of bricks.

My family, my dad, little brother, friends. They were all gone. Our maybe not. If I had survived them, maybe even a few of them could have survived as well and have special abilities now too.

My sister, Janessa's plea for caution, resonated with me as I continue thinking about the girls I had feelings for and the friends we had lost and family. "I promise to be careful," I reassured her, but the weight of my words felt heavier than ever before.

As we prepared for our upcoming adventure, it was decided that one of Kero and John's second-in-commands would take over the combat lessons while we were away. We set the date for departure two months in the future and trained even harder than before.

Our efforts paid off as we became strong enough to take out a spiked dog with only two of us, and I could even send one flying with a single punch. Despite my lack of progress in magic abilities, I was slightly confident in my physical abilities.

In addition to combat training, we also helped with food and farming, and various other tasks. Time passed quickly, and eight months had flown by since the explosion, and life had been moving on smoothly.

Finally, the day arrived for our departure. Our group consisted of myself, Sarah, John, Kero, and Celestia. Sarah and John had started dating, and their lovey-dovey behavior was starting to get on our nerves. Meanwhile, the rest of us were still single and ready to explore.

We stocked up on food, healing potions made from the trees, and weapons. Each of us had a small knife and a primary weapon. Myself, Sarah, and Kero had swords, John had a spear, and Celestia had a bow with razor-sharp edges capable of cutting through flesh.

Our weapons were made of the material from spiked dogs.

While our weapons weren't perfect, we were still able to do damage despite the lack of refinement.

As we prepared to set off on our adventure, our parents and friends saw us off. My mother gave me my chain that she found on the ground, it seems I had lost it a couple of days ago. I quickly placed it around my neck. It glowed bright gold.

"That chain looks like it would have sold for thousands in the old world Rome." Said Kero.

My sister hugged me, and my five-year-old nephew, Atwaine, asked me to bring him back some sweet treats, making me laugh as I explained that sweets were not available at the moment. It was bittersweet, leaving behind those I loved, but I was eager to explore.

The warmth I felt from my family and all the others in the community was something I would miss for a while.

Ted came to thank me, and I remembered how my research into primitive life survival had come in handy in building and discovering many things, including fiber, getting metal from the spiked dogs, and oil from coconuts. I promised to help create a wind turbine upon my return, but we needed a way to store the energy and convert it into electricity also to try and make cement, so our defenses might be a bit more sturdy.

"Goodbye! Come back in one piece, ok guys!"

Shouts from everyone as we set off on our journey, the goodbyes of our loved ones slowly faded away as we ventured further from our homes.