A gentle voice awoke the youth, “Careful, I've healed the leg, but he is still weak.“ Alex turned, growned and slowly opened his eyes. Someone was kneeling by his side, slowly and gently touching his legs, wandering to his torso.

“I don't feel any more wounds, but better safe than sorry.“ The voice turned to him and continued, “Hey, you. You're finally awake. You were trying to fight the bear, right? We've heard the roars. But here, have some water and welcome back to the land of the living.“

Some time later, Alex had found his strength again and stood up. Lisa, the healer, had advised against it, but the sooner he was up, the sooner the others could leave. It was getting dark and he didn't want his saviours to have to stay in the forest.

Derek, the younger boy and the one giving him water, had told him about their hideout. They were living a few hundred meters from the forest and had build a small wooden shelter.

“You know, you can stay with us,“ Philip, the older boy invited Alex. “Thanks, but I probably shouldn't.“ He didn't want to tell the others about Jones, and that initially he was found by his former acquintances.

Alex didn't know if the group of four had any contact with the orphan camp, but he didn't want to risk them, in case Jones grew any more hostile against him. “Come on guys,“ Lisa began, “we need to leave before it gets too dark and Alex, I don't want to hear another excuse, you'll come too. At least until you are fully healed.“

Alex nodded, and Derek whispered, “Do you have anything you need for tonight at your camp?“ Alex shook his head, “I had a dagger and a spear, but you didn't find anything here, right?“ Derek denied. And both boys followed behind the siblings.

Mary, the smallest girl, maybe around ten years old, held Lisas hand, while Philip led the way. Derek, a year younger than Alex was whispering with the teenager. Occasionally, he supported Alex, as he stumbled along.

'Lisa's good, but the leg still hurts like hell and if Andrej, that fucker hadn't stolen my spear, I at least could use it as a crutch...' Alex, lost in his musings, missed the question from Derek and asked him to repeat it.

“How was the fight with the bear? We only heard him and while Philip said he'd seen it, I don't believe him. He often exaggerates to impress Lisa.“ 'Why does a brother have to impress his sister,' Alex wanted to ask, but he rather told the other boy about his fight.

As Derek continued his questioning with where the corpse was laying, Alex stocked, but after a moment of thought, decided to tell the others about the orphans camp and his problem with them.

“I can understand your reluctance,“ Phil interposed, “but if we don't work together in the new world, humanity is already doomed. We can't be sure that the grown-ups are okay, therefore the responsibility lays with us. If I hadn't rescued our neighbours Lisa and Mary, Lisa couldn't have healed me a week later. We have to help each other and pay it forward.“

After his exhausting speech, Philip fell silent, but Alex understood the sentimentality. If he was in their position, he would probably help them too. At least thats what he did in the orphans camp. Everybody has to pitch in as long as they are able.

That made him remember, “Lisa, can you heal bones? Or even straigthen them? My best friend, Lin, has had his ankle broken, and while it healed with the help of the system, its crooked now.“

But the girl shook her head sadly. “Maybe if I get a few more levels, my healing is a class skill, so I can't say anything specific. Sorry“

“Ah, by the way,“ Derek excitedly started, “which essence do you have? Phil has Fire, Lisa Water and I have Wood.“ “Shadow,“ Alex answered, “it's a rare one.“ He went with his earlier lie, as he didn't want to spread envy, or get himself in danger.

“It helps me with my fights.“ “Phil is also a vanquisher. Lis went with defender and I want to be a crafter, but I haven't had neither time nor materials to really do something,“ Derek nearly whispered at the end.

“You'll get there buddy,“ Philip replied over his shoulder, “and Mary gets the next one we'll find.“ Alex was ashamed for a moment. He knew where he'd find a seed, but it was already spoken for and he had been friends with Lin and Janine for more than ten years.

The teenager swore to find another way to repay his debt to the group of four. “We're nearly there. Did you have anything to eat yet?“ Lisa asked. “We should have some leftover bird. Phil has prepared it, and it's safe to eat.“

As the teenagers entered the wooden shelter, Alex asked Philil if he could show him sometime, how it was done. Despite his experience with fighting, traps and living, more or less, in the wilderness, he still hadn't prepared his own kills yet.

Of course the youth had tried, but he had forgotten to ask Gatex for some guide and he didn't want to risk his health doing something wrong.

“Naturally,“ the older boy answered, “ I take all the help I can get. Derek still gets queasy and the girls are excused as they don't like meat.“

“It's not just that,“ Lisa threw in, “as long as Phil does it, we don't have to.“ With that, the girl stuck her tongue out, giggled and quickly went to their part of the small hut, before Philip could give a witty retort.

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After dinner, the teenagers spoke about their lives during the apocalypse and Mary sometimes nodded, but stayed silent. The small girl was either intimidated by Alex or didn't talk much normally.

Alex regarded the four silently. He wasn't sure how he'd continue his life in the forest. The bear was slain, but something else would take its place and the dance would begin anew.

He thought about staying with the four. They seemed nice, and in Derek he had found someone his age, with whom he could be good friends.

The teenager was curious and asked many questions which Alex couldn't answer always, but he was a quick thinker and told many jokes. Philip was more laid back and easy going. Alex didn't know if he or Lisa led the group, as the older girl was gentle and did everything for her friends.

Alex didn't know what to think about Mary, maybe she would warm up to him in the coming days, maybe she wouldn't. The teenager didn't care anymore for that moment, closed his eyes and refined the essence he had gained.

With the stress of the last few days gone and finally somewhat safe, Alex' gains were less than he had expected. But he had only refined eight strands instead of nine. Still, 1230 refined essence were 1230.

The teenager swore to do it better the next time and fell asleep at last. In the corner of the small room, Philip and Lisa began a serious conversation and seconds before he slept, he could hear his name. But the teenager was too tired, his strength too depleted to listen to eavesdrop.

The next day, Alex was the first to rise. For a moment, he debated leaving, but Philip still had him to show a few things and leaving without saying anything or a farewell felt wrong. Instead Alex limbered up and did some streches.

Maybe Derek could build him a new spear, or the group could get to Gatex' shop and the teenager could show his appreciation there. Then he could also ask the Faun how the experience calculation worked. Until he knew, Alex wanted to keep the 1200 safe.

While he did his streches, Philip awoke and soon after, the others. “So what are we going to do today,“ asked an exuberant Derek. “We hunt for breakfast, we have a few conserves left, but the less we boys need, the longer the girls can stay vegetarian.“

“Did you try the shop already? Maybe Gatex sells that stuff,“ Alex chipped in. The others quickly turned his way. “Shop?“ a baffled Lisa asked. “Jeah, you know how you get coins when you kill something or do something for your job?“ The bigger girl nodded, “I got some while healing you yesterday.“

“Exactly. Well you can use them at the vendors. I know where the next one is...we may have to stay vigilant, I don't know how the others will react, if they see me.“ Alex rubbed his head in embarassment.

“We'll manage,“ Lisa said. And soon the group got ready for Alex to lead them to the Fauns shop. While they walked, Alex asked for a new spear and Derek answered excitedly, “of course I can, I already have a few ideas how to do it.“

“How? Were you that good at arts and crafts? Or was it some kind of hobby?“ Alex asked. “Have you never wondered how you know how to wield your weapon? How to sneak up to your prey? I think our specialisations help us...“ Derek answered.

“Look at Lisa for example. She said she wanted to become a nurse, but she is still 17 and hadn't began her training yet. But still she knows much about a body, how it works, about its inner workings and so on. Or Phil. He had devised his own training plan, without ever going to a fitness studio.“

Alex nodded, he had wondered the same, but never had the time or mind to really think about it. “So yeah,“ Derek continued, “I have a few ideas, I just need some kind of straight and strong stick. I think it'll work best with my essence. Do you need anything else?“

They spoke more about crafting, but soon Derek was lost in thought and Alex went to Phil and the two boys exchanged training ideas, until finally, Gatex shop came into view.

“Ah Alex,how did it go with your bear? You being here means it probably went well?“ Gatex raised his hairy hand in greeting. Alex grinned back, nodded and introduced his companions. All four of them were stunned, silent and with wide open mouths they regarded the Faun.

'Ups, I think I forgot to mention that the shopkeeper is not human...' Alex grinned. Even if this new world was dangerous beyond believe, he loved that one could find a new wonder behind every hill and forest. For a moment he mused how his future might look like, but quickly quit daydreaming as the others began talking.

Gatex nodded, showed his wares and sold different things to the others. Alex could see a haze and knew something was happening, but his gaze couldn't penetrate this peculiar barrier. It looked like he was watching them through some kind of frosted glas.

'Really weird, but surely thats a property of those merchants,' Alex thought, before a question from Gatex pulled him from his thoughts. “...you need?“ the shopkeeper grinned at Alex.

“Answers maybe? A new dagger and rope please,“ the teenager replied. “Why do I pay more than two or three hundred essence for my level ups?“ “I didn't mention that? The costs of your Skills are added to your level. Don't ask me how or why...That's a question for those studying the system.“ Gatex answered, somewhat abashed.

Alex grinned, the Faun didn't want payment for neither question nor dagger. Probably because Alex had mimed the angry customer after Gatex' admission. He hadn't found a suitable gift for the group and while the shopkeeper also sold essence seeds, they were so far outside Alex' means, he didn't ask after them.

After a lengthy morning, a succesful hunt and Phil showing Alex how to prepare his kills, the group was back at their hut and Alex rebuild his exercise equipement. Meanwhile Philip had a similar getup but concentrated more on the throwing aspect of his skillset.

Alex remembered his attempts at throwing the shadow daggers and both boys were exchanging tips and tricks, even going so far to use the others equipment.

Philip was remarkable with the training spear. They had found some sticks and Derek was already working on them, but for training purposes the unsharpened branches were enough.

Alex couldn't show the other boy more than he already had and soon Phil was dancing with a rope tied to his waist. Soon they had the idea to combine both exercises and while one of them jumped from stone to stone, stabbing at a piece of wood dangling from the rope, the other pulled said rope or threw shadow daggers, in Phils case, small balls of fire after the other.

Both boys collected wound after wound, but they had already shed most clothes and if they were bleeding or had a particular nasty burn, Lisa too, could get some training.

The three continued until the early afternoon, when Derek finally exited the hut, two sharpened and hardened spears in hand. “I won't bore you with the how, but here you are. Two spears. Phil, I know you wanted to stay at distance, but please take it.“

The other boy grumbled, but his training with Alex had shown him that versatility was key to win his fights. “Did you get enough essence to level up?“ Alex asked Derek. And suddenly all three were at attention.

“How do we do that? I asked the Faun, but we didn't have enough money,“ Lisa said. Alex groaned, “why haven't you said so earlier?! I could have taught you easily.“ “We didn't want you to feel pressured sharing such a secret with us,“ Phil asked, his face turning red.

Alex just waved their concerns away. Finally he had found a way to pay them back. At least a bit.