I do not understand the women I am on this odyssey with. Some might claim that I don’t understand women or people in general, but that is for you to judge. I will not admit to that. First they want to tell nobody anything, but one of them is fine with leaving her children to a stranger, just because that stranger is promising to run an informal school session. To be sure, I understand the argument that resisting somebody who can kill you no matter what you do is futile. But why does that apply only to strange priestesses who promise schooling?

Is this some kind of addiction to sending children to school?

L: We can form as many groups as we have looting powers.

Z: I think I am the second strongest fighter among us. So I should team up with you, as we both can fly.

L: Makes sense.

KN: That way we have two teams with a medic and a looting power.

----------------------------------------

We are both heading to the lake in a vehicle, planning to go around it in two different ways. We are doing this for loot hence a tested method makes most sense. Baiting lake monsters should work. Those crab/sharks are less than agile. Even if we can’t kill them, retreat will be an option.

I have lent Pavol my strong staff. I mean this totally factually.

PN: You did this already?

P: Yes. You will need to get used to this, if you want to advance, unless you think that you will have the money for buying awakening stones and monster cores and a set for your son.

PN: I am aware of that. I accept it. It is a good deal. I don’t have to like it.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

I lightly slap his shoulder.

P: I would have trouble with people who like to fight monsters. Though, intellectually, it would seem like hunting, which people have been doing since before our species existed. At the same time, the powers are just cool.

KN: Did your attitudes towards that change when you got your essences?

P: No. I always detested hunting. But at the same time I recognise that is a primal behavior of our lineage. I need to remind you that I started out as human. Regarding my new race, yep, I got a stinger and venom for hunting, but so have wasps and the adults are vegetarians.

KN: You know animals surprisingly well.

P: You never had an ant farm?

KN: You may need psychological aid.

P: I have gained characteristics of an arthropod. That may or may not have affected me mentally. I haven’t had much interaction with other members of my race and it looks like I never will.

PN: We have seen you look at your companions. Be assured that in important regards you are still a human male.

P: Well, I never aimed for a gold medal in subtlety. You are indirectly asking about my future plans.

PN: Yes.

P: You are worried. You should be. I am, too. But what do you want us to do? We are under quarantine.

KN: You simply want to wait it out. I get that that is, viewed from a certain angle, just rational behavior.

P: So I get what you are saying. You want to help the people in the fort. I think that’s too risky, but it is your life. I won’t stop you. You know the risks better than I.

KN: You won’t stop us. The guys from the Adventure Society will.

P: Presumably yes. That’s their duty. They are enforcing the laws on public health. Again, you know better than I how important that is.

KN: I do.

P: Besides, I am not going to start our life here by turning myself – and some people whom I feel a duty to protect and aid – into an outlaw by breaking a sensible law. I respect the medical profession and see why you want to help, but again, you are intelligent people. Why are you bringing this up? We are already trying to get more potions.

KN: Yes, but you are not even looking for a solution because you think it is fruitless.

I pause.

P: That is a pretty high barrier.

PN: You would set it for yourself.

I pause again.

P: You are right.

My companions know how to use silence.

I lean back. Do I view people from this world as aliens not relevant to me? Or, worse, no longer as members of my species I do not have to care about? No. I think the realization that conspiracy theories …

KN: Pozor!

I am catapulted forward.