|Location: Outskirt - Wasteland|
She rolled her eyes, a mix of impatience and mild disdain coloring her voice. "Well, to give you the full, infodump version," she began, taking a deep breath like she was about to launch a lightning-fast barrage of words—and she did. She spoke rapidly, leaving almost no space between sentences.
"Over a thousand years ago, everything fell apart. The planet was hit by this massive energy wave that wiped out more than sixty percent of civilization. The survivors back then said that it was the gods' wrath—no one really knows actually what it was or why they got so mad if it was really the gods. Yada yada yada, you get the idea." She paused, sucked in another deep breath, then blasted on. "The so-called 'gods' said it came down themselves to judge humanity, which obviously didn't go well. Then they raised their apostles—powerful beings—and gathered followers to hunt down the rest of us survivors. But for me those so-called 'gods' are just blood thirsted monsters with some intelligence."
I blinked, trying to keep up, when she suddenly slowed just enough for me to catch my breath. Zero narrowed his eyes, concern creeping into his face. "Hey, you can slow down, you know? It's okay to talk slower."
She shook her head sharply, signaling there was still more, and before I could say anything, she dove right back in.
"Alright, here's the cliché part," she said, taking another deep breath, her voice speeding up again. "One day, it's said that the people from the old era found the gods' weakness. At the same time, they unlocked powers within themselves—abilities to fight back and protect against the gods and their growing army. That's how people started manifesting strange powers." She scrunched up her nose, clearly repulsed by the whole idea.
I was about to ask if she was okay when she suddenly burst out, "Ugh! So cringe. But hey, that's the story."
Just as I thought she was done, she added, "Oh, and that's how the new era began—they called it the New Genesis."
"Genesis," I muttered, the word unfamiliar but heavy with meaning.
She launched into a detailed explanation, weaving the history with her own sharp commentary, like she was telling a story she both hated and couldn't ignore.
Listening to her, I realized just how much I still didn't know. The world was far bigger—and far stranger—than I'd ever imagined. And this was only the beginning.
The word "abilities" kept echoing in my mind, pulling me back to the group I had saved—their strange powers and unique traits lingering in my memory.
"Wait, so to sum up what you just told me," I said hesitantly, trying to piece it together. "You're saying people suddenly started manifesting powers? Like… um, esper-ish?"
She smirked slightly. "Kind of, yeah. But it's rare. Only a few people in our camp have shown any signs—my brother and sister included. And even then, there's no guarantee you'll awaken with a good ability." Her voice brightened with excitement as she continued, "I heard from the elders that far south there's this huge moving city almost finished. They're gathering people who might manifest powers and training them to unlock their potential."
I caught the spark in her eyes—like a cinder ready to ignite a fire. She waved her hand across the sky, painting the city with her imagination.
"That's a lot to take in," I admitted, still trying to wrap my head around it all. But one question had been nagging me since I met them. "By the way… why do you guys have pointy ears?"
She blinked, clearly caught off guard. Tilting her head in disbelief, she asked, "Huh? Seriously, that's your question?"
She was about to continue when her brother suddenly rushed in, tears streaming down his face. "Dia!" Nuk's voice cracked with desperation as he dashed through the rubble-strewn clearing toward his sister. He wrapped her in a tight embrace, his body trembling as silent tears slipped down his cheeks. The raw emotion in his hold spoke volumes of his fear and helplessness.
"Brother? What's wrong?" Dia's voice was soft but edged with worry as she looked up at him, her eyes searching his face for answers.
Nuk took a shaky breath, struggling to compose himself as he began recounting everything that had happened. His words were heavy, burdened by grief and urgency. As he spoke, Dia's face turned pale, the weight of sorrow settling over her like a dark cloud. She trembled slightly, her body succumbing to the flood of emotions that the news brought. Standing back, I felt a familiar ache tighten in my chest—an echo of helplessness I had felt before, watching loved ones suffer.
Unable to bear the overwhelming sadness any longer, I stepped away quietly. "Twice now," I whispered to myself, my voice hollow. "Every time, my mind blanks. I can't understand what I'm feeling, and maybe that's for the best. My chest tightens when I witness these moments. I want to escape from it all." I took a deep, steadying breath, trying to calm the storm inside me as I walked toward a solitary rock nearby.
The sky was shifting slowly as twilight deepened, the sun's last light fading and stars beginning to pierce the darkening canvas. I settled onto the rock, letting the cool air wash over me, the quiet only broken by the distant echoes of the siblings' sorrow.
After some time, soft footsteps approached, crunching over debris and scattered stones. I turned to see Dia and Nuk making their way toward me, their faces worn but resolute.
"We were looking for you," Dia called out gently, her voice steady despite the exhaustion in her eyes.
Nuk lowered his head in a humble bow, gratitude evident in his tone. "Thank you. Without you, we might not have made it."
I scanned the area but noticed the absence of their sister's body.
"Are you not going to bring her with you?" I asked softly, the question heavy in the stillness.
Both siblings shook their heads, swallowing the grief that threatened to overwhelm them again. Dia forced herself to answer, her voice barely above a whisper but firm in its finality. "We found a place to bury her. We can't bring her back. The dead attract Apostles and worshipers." She bit her lip, fighting back tears that threatened to spill over. The pain in her eyes was raw and unyielding.
Watching them, the ache in my chest returned with a sharp sting—an unfamiliar pain I couldn't yet name but felt deeply. I wanted to move on quickly, to shed this heaviness that weighed me down.
"I understand. Then it was a meaningful encounter. I'll be on my way," I said quietly, beginning to turn.
Suddenly, I felt a sharp tug at my clothing. The thin, tattered fabric I wore gave way with a ripping sound.
Nuk looked apologetic, holding a torn piece of my garment carefully between his fingers. "W-wait! My sister wanted me to repay you for saving us. I don't like asking, but… please, ask me anything." His voice was hesitant, eyes cast downward as he held out the cloth awkwardly.
I shook my head firmly, instinctively denying. "No, really. I'm fine."
Dia stepped forward, her tone insistent and sincere. "No. Our kind doesn't like to be in debt."
I paused, realizing what I needed most right now was information—especially about that massive moving city she had mentioned earlier. Meeting others there might be crucial for what lay ahead.
"Then can you show me a map? Just a quick look will be enough," I asked, hoping for their understanding.
Dia raised a skeptical eyebrow, clearly surprised by the request. "Just a glance? You?"
"I can memorize things quickly," I replied confidently, hoping to reassure her.
She studied me closely, doubt flickering in her eyes as she tried to gauge my sincerity. Still, she answered honestly. "We don't have a map right now, but we can—"
Before she could finish, Nuk nodded firmly, cutting in. The unspoken agreement between us was clear—a mutual understanding of trust and necessity.
In my mind, exchanging a safe return to their camp for a map was a fair trade. Yet, the thought lingered that they might still see me as just another scavenger. Despite that, I trusted their sister's intuition.
"That's fine, Dia. We agree," Nuk said earnestly. "Zero, come with us back to our camp. We have extra maps there." He reached out and handed me a worn hooded cloak. "Here, use this to cover yourself."
A warmth spread through me as I took the cloak. "Really? For me? I don't think I've ever had one before." I wrapped it carefully around my shoulders, the fabric soft and comforting. A genuine smile spread across my face. "Cool—a cape."
I couldn't help myself—I began running in small circles, letting the wind catch the cloak's tails and lift them like wings. For the first time in a long while, a lightness settled over me, lifting the weight in my chest.
Dia and Nuk exchanged glances, their expressions mixed with hope and lingering doubt—wondering if I could truly help them return safely.
Nuk cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Zero, we've wasted enough time. We should leave before the moon reaches its peak."
Dia nodded in agreement, determination shining in her eyes. "I'll lead the way."
I grinned, feeling a rush of anticipation and relief. Together, we set off into the night, the cool air brushing against us as stars twinkled overhead, guiding our path forward.
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