As the little girl nervously stepped forward and extended her hands, a small stream of water trickled out, sparkling in the sunlight. Emma observed the display of elemental power with a mixture of surprise and understanding of the bit of confidence the dad had in his voice.
Reflecting on her memories from her past life, Emma recalled humans after being compressed by the apocalypse for 2 months began transforming and earning these supernatural powers. Only around one percent of the population can awaken these powers, and that started the new round of fighting against the apocalypse. However, this little girl seemed to be an early bloomer, displaying her elemental prowess within the first month.
Turning her attention back to the family, they stood before her, their faces etched with exhaustion and desperation, yet still hopeful for a chance at survival.
With a heavy sigh, Emma thinks about her next move. While the little girl's abilities held promise, Emma knew she wasn't fit to care for a child, especially since the little girl looked around four to five years old, one of the highest energy ages. Her responsibilities to her puppies already demanded much of her attention, and she couldn't deal with adding another dependent to her list.
"I will tell you what," Emma began, taking a step forward to address the family directly. "I won't take the girl," she stated firmly, casting a reassuring smile in the direction of the little girl, who looked on with wide-eyed curiosity. "But I will trade with you if you agree to become my civilians."
The father exchanged a glance with his wife, silently communicating their decision. With a nod from the mother, he turned back to Emma. "We agree, but can we pack our things first?" He wanted to quickly pack their things before they went to a new place.
"Pack your things?" Emma echoed, her brow furrowing in confusion. "You aren't going anywhere," she clarified, her tone firm yet gentle. "You're staying right here. This is going to be my territory, and you guys are staying right here and being my first civilians."
Emma's words lingered, making the family realize the sudden change in their situation. But before they could fully understand the weight of her offer, Emma flashed them a dazzling smile, her face lighting up with warmth and sincerity. "Are you guys ready to start?" she asked, her voice brimming with optimism.
The parents exchanged bewildered looks, their minds racing to grasp the reality of their newfound circumstances. Meanwhile, the little girl, enchanted by Emma's radiant smile, lifted her hands in excitement, her soft voice chiming in with enthusiasm. "Yay, start!"
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Emma couldn't help but be charmed by the innocence and joy radiating from the little girl. Her heart softened at the sight, reaffirming her decision.
"Umm, okay, let's start," the parents agree, kind of unsure.
Approaching Emma with gratitude shining in her eyes, the mother spoke softly, her voice tinged with emotion. "Thank you, umm...," she hesitated, unsure of how to address Emma.
"Just call me Ms. Lin," Emma interjected with a reassuring smile, extending a hand in friendship.
"Thank you, Ms. Lin," the mother replied, her expression filled with gratitude and relief.
As Emma walked toward her RV, she made a show of rummaging through the back, pretending to retrieve supplies from the storage compartment. In reality, she just pulls it out of her inner storage. With a bucket filled with bottled water and various food items in hand, Emma approached the family again.
"This will be the food for this week," Emma announced, "I'll decide the trade system after this week."
The parents' eyes widened with relief at the sight of the supplies, gratitude shining in their weary gazes. "Thank you, Ms.Lin," they exclaimed in unison, their voices brimming with genuine appreciation.
Emma nodded in acknowledgment before taking out a small notebook from her pocket. "Your names and occupations before all of this happened?" she asked, her tone businesslike yet empathetic.
The father, Cedric Krank, identified himself as a vet, while the mother, Katey Krank, revealed that she had been a plant biologist. As they spoke, their daughter Lily eagerly joined in, her youthful enthusiasm contagious as she introduced herself as Lily Krank. Her smile warmed Emma's heart, prompting a small grin.
Emma took a candy out from her pocket and handed it to Lily with a gentle smile. "Here, Lily," she offered, her gesture met with shy gratitude from the little girl. After looking at her parents for approval, Lily accepted the treat, her eyes lighting up with delight as she glanced up at Emma. "I like you," she declared before darting back into the safety of her home, leaving Emma and the adults chuckling at her adorable display of affection.
Emma was pleased upon learning about Cedric's past occupation as a vet. It meant that if any of her animals ever fell ill, she had someone trustworthy to turn to for help.
"So, what's the situation around here?" Emma asks she wants to gain a better understanding of their surroundings before continuing to kick down people’s doors.
After absorbing the information shared by the family, Emma nodded thoughtfully, processing the details of the community's layout and residents. It was a newly constructed community, with only a handful of families residing within it. With around fifty houses, a few of the family have gone off to vacation, while some others have driven away after they heard about the apocalypse. The people in charge of opening and closing the gates went back to their own homes after the apocalypse happened so there was also no one in the employee's house. There may still be some people at home, but according to the Kranck family, barely.
Emma was ready to make sure her new and only civilians were safe. So, she went around checking every house carefully. She kicked open doors and got rid of anything dangerous inside. As she reached the final house in the row, Emma's senses remained high.