I woke up blearily, feeling more than just rested. I felt good. And when I opened my eyes I explored my sanctuary in greater depth. If the Skill description explained anything, it meant this place was a reflection of myself.

I threw off the blankets and walked around, barefoot on dark wooden floors. There were plants peeking out of vertical and horizontal planters across the walls. A couch that was perfect to relax. Glass windows, sleek black marble. It was raining outside which was peculiar since there wasn’t an outside.

It was comfortable. Easy. It had running water, which I was amazed at. No food though, the kitchen was empty. But the storage was there, an empty pantry. It was a beautiful calming space, it gave off a sense of serenity and peace. The air was cool, with no trace of uncomfortable heat or humidity, just like how I’d prefer.

I’d acquired [Never Alone] the moment I got my Class. Followed by [Low Profile] after escaping from the university campus. Then I got [Solo’s Insinct] at level ten. It made it hard to determine whether the Skills came at certain milestones, or from certain actions.

This one? [Solo’s Sanctuary]? It felt powerful in a way I couldn’t define beyond its logical benefits. The Skill was powerful. Not just its effects.

“I could stay here,” I whispered, sinking into my couch. Mine. I was probably one of the few people who could lay claim to any type of safe haven in the world. “I’d never have to leave. With my clones, I could have everything I want just from this couch.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew they were wrong. With the Skill came the odd instinctual awareness of the capabilities it brought about. Sometimes it was direct and unsettling, other times they came to me as they became relevant.

Like now. The fact that this place tired my soul. Where I could relax here, recover both my mental and physical fatigue, I accrued another fatigue altogether. A sanctuary indeed, invaluable in this apocalypse, but not without a cost. I felt it now, a peculiar strain on some ethereal part of me.

“If only it’d be so easy.” I sighed, closing my eyes. I had a few hours.

Outside the sanctuary, Second and Fourth were furrowing their brows, their faces lost amongst the crowd.

How the hell did someone take it down?

My parents… what happened to them? My family…

Oh god, what are we supposed to fucking do? I can’t live like this. What about—

A tide of thoughts, barely comprehensible. Too many mental voices. I couldn’t filter them all. Instead, I weathered them with sheer mental fortitude. I might’ve staggered before but my mental attributes had since been enhanced. It was less the acute pickaxe sensation of the rootmother’s thoughts and more of an unyielding tide, a general pressure as opposed to a sharp one.

A piece of firewood fell to the floor and I stared up to find that same woman I had saved. Her eyes were a deep blue, sparkling, but her face was red and puffy as if she’d been crying. She looked like she’d seen a ghost and it only took me a moment to gather my thoughts to realize why. I had died saving her. In her eyes, she was seeing a ghost.

The sudden distraction jarred my mind and allowed me to focus, ignoring all other mental voices.

“I-I watched you die.” She stammered, unsure and eyes wide. “It’s you, isn’t it?” How is he alive? He was… taken. Right in front of me.

I grimaced. “Don’t remind me.” I saw her blink as if she didn’t expect I was real.

“How are you alive?” She asked, gathering the firewood she dropped, holding me with an uncomfortable stare. It would’ve been offputting before. Now? I could read her body, understand her motive. I blinked, strangely aware of her posture, the slouch of her shoulders, the expression in her eyes.

Was that the effect of the CHA attribute? I was seeing things I’d never catch before.

“You don’t have to feel guilty about it,” I said slowly, not trusting my intuition.

“I-I’m… you saved me.” She blurted. “Thank you. Thank you. I owe you, I owe you so much. If there’s anything I can do, just say the word.” But how did he escape? A Skill? Should I ask? No, I can’t just ask a stranger for their Class and Skills.

“Look, you really don’t have to go that far—”

“How are you alive?” She interrupted me.

Would answering give away my abilities? Did I need to be so cautious with what I could do? Somehow I knew how to navigate the question without a second thought.

“Does it matter?” I asked, giving her a small smile. “I’m happy you’re safe. It’s a little funny but you’re the first person I’ve sacrificed myself for.”

She reddened and I had the uncomfortable certainty to realize she was blushing. “I guess… it doesn’t matter, not really. I’m Rosa, and really, thank you. I don’t think you realize it, you saved me.”

She put emphasis on it this time and I did straighten a little. “You’re welcome. I’m Evahn.” I gave her a small wave.

“Are you the one who killed it?” Could it have been him? Parker said he was the first person he saw saving people. Her eyes were searching.

“The [World Notice],” I said, pretending recognition. “No, that wasn’t me. I… couldn’t even imagine taking that thing on.” Apparently, lying fell under charismatics.

She took a seat next to me. “Well, they’re not among the people here. If they are, they’ve been keeping quiet. They must have a powerful Class or Skill. I’m only level 3 but I heard some people are up to level 5. But to face that thing? I have no idea how strong you’d have to be.”

They were weaker than the group from the library. But that was understandable, given the circumstances. I only hoped it didn’t cripple their chances of survival.

I watched the throng of people. Campfires were lit, a perimeter of watchmen. They’d organized a defensive formation, some of them butted against larger roots, but otherwise exposed in the clearing. The main benefit was the long sight line, an early warning for any dangers.

“Have they decided what to do?” I asked. “I mean, after all this, they can’t stay here, can they?

Rose sobered, quieting as she followed my gaze. There quite a few people just staring blankly, into their campfires, at the skyscraper, at the ground. Trying to process.

“Most people are still coming to terms. This whole thing is unbelievable.” She said softly. “No one’s ready to leave. Even though I think that’s what we’re going to end up doing.”

But where was there to go from here? It was a question even I didn’t have the answer for.

“Rose, there you are! Are you—you.” A man slowed down from his jog, staring. I recognized him as the first person to help Second, to help Third save Rose, and one of the two people who saw me be pulled up towards the Field Boss’s mouth. A conventionally handsome man, rugged and muscled, with earnest eyes. “I saw you die.” He whispered.

I smiled good-naturedly. “I survived, somehow.” That was the story of my life in the apocalypse so far, wasn’t it?

“How?” Came the immediate expected question.

Rose shrugged. “Let’s not pry, Parker. He saved me. That’s all that matters. Besides, I think being so open about your details might not be a good thing.” She answered for me. Though from the side glance she gave me I could tell she was intensely curious.

“A Skill then?” Parker questioned, looking at me. It was disbelief, rather than distrust, so I weathered his stare as his mind worked through it. It makes sense, if he was risking himself so much he had to have had a way out.

Hearing their inner monologue was jarring in its own way, now that the other voices stopped. I didn’t know how I felt about it but I couldn’t deny its use.

As he came to that conclusion he slumped with relief. “That’s good. That’s one more survivor, after all. We might need all the hands we can get.”

He looked at me directly. “Thank you, for what you did back there. You saved a lot of people.” And it was the curse of charisma that I could see just how genuine and earnest the sentiment was.

It caught me off guard, how serious he came off. “You’re welcome,” I replied, slightly off-balance. “I… I couldn’t just let people walk to their deaths.”

“I was telling Evahn,” Rose cut in, gesturing to me. “About what’s going on. Did anyone say anything?”

Parker looked at Rose, face grim. “That’s actually why I was looking for you. Some folks wanted to at least secure the remains of the skyscraper. It’s collapsed and some of it hasn’t stopped smoldering, but we could still use it as a base. Better than being completely exposed or camping out in the swamp.”

“Why are they looking for people?” I said, sitting up. “Was there something else in there?” The thought chilled me.

Parker took a seat on a nearby root as Rose started a small fire. I watched her fingers spark in surprise. Crackling embers rose into the sky, a candle compared to the inferno I had breathed life into.

Parker exhaled, staring at the campfire and Rose. “Well, there’s someone with a [Seeker] Class. His [Search] Skill came up with something. We’re not sure what is yet but he didn’t think it was inherently dangerous. We’re gathering people to go inside and confirm it, people who can handle themselves.” He glanced at Rose and then at me. “I came to convince Rose but, if it’s not too much to ask, you seemed like you could handle yourself too.”

Something in the ruins of the skyscraper? The thought of any unfinished business irked me. I thought the fire had ended things. Was there something more? At the very least, it would be a good opportunity to see what abilities other people gained beyond what First had already seen.

“I’ll come,” I responded after a moment. Wordlessly, two other clones moved among the crowd.