Author's Note: Hey, back from my trip. So while I was gone I did some brainstorming for my story and came to some decisions.

1. I'm going to be cutting chapter lengths in half. I usually like to have chapters as story events, but work life is cutting into my personal free time. I'll come across occasions where it would take me ages to get a full length chapter out. I feel like splitting up chapters will allow for more regular updates.

2. This story is now going to be split into a trilogy. This is mostly due to this story clearly being split into three major story arcs and that the story title "Sole Survivor" becomes fairly irrelevant in part two and three of this trilogy.

3. I can now say that I have all my villains for part one finalized and I'm very giddy for the future.

Anyways, it's good to be back and I hope you all continue to enjoy this story.

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Chapter 15: Shame

"Tom!" Reia shouted. She gave his shoulders a slight shove. "Wake up!"

Reia took her hands off of him and cupped her cheeks. "Think, Reia, think. I need to restart his heart." Saying her thoughts out loud brought forth a memory from last week. During training, Tom had mention ways Humans would use first aid to heal people without magic. One of the methods he mentioned and briefly demonstrated was CPR.

"Okay, I can do this," she said as she crossed her hands and placed them over the center of Tom's chest. Reia began her compressions. "One, two, three, four, five..."

Reia made thirty compressions before tilting Tom's head back and giving him two breaths. She then returned to the compressions.

"Come on, Tom!" she cried out. The longer Tom remained unresponsive, the more Reia's despair and desperation grew. "You don't get to do this to me! You don't get to leave me!"

Reia changed the CPR process a bit using her magic by casting Heal for each chest compression. The healing spells helped give extra time for Reia to resuscitate Tom.

Tears fell from her eyes and landed on Tom's chest. "Please, Tom. Heal. Don't leave me. Heal. You can't. Heal." Reia grit her teeth and finally yelled, "You better not die before you tell me to my face that you love me!"

Tom suddenly took a breath and sat up slightly before lying back down on the ground again with his eyes closed.

Notice (Reia)Heal has reached Intermediate Level 4.

Reia sat there momentarily confused and shocked. She leaned forward and, while checking for a pulse on his neck, put her ear over his mouth. Tom's warm breath tickled her ear. Reia sat back up and released the breath she was holding in since he took his.

Notice (Reia)You have stabilized Thomas Everett's condition. He is now breathing and his heart is beating again. Tom is no longer losing HP.

"Thank Kara," she muttered. "Oh, thank Kara."

Notice (Reia)You used medical knowledge from two worlds to bring someone back from the brink of death and thus earning the title "Life Saver". This title doubles experience gain for any healing skill and increases your Vitality by +20.

Notice (Reia)You have understood medical knowledge enough to unlock the Group Heal skill.

Reia hugged Tom's chest and waited for her tears to dry. She rested her head on his chest and listened to his heart beat. Tom's quiet breathing helped her calm down after what she just went through. After being given enough time to recover, Reia noticed that Tom's face, the exposed part of his chest and armour was dirtied by dirt and caked blood.

'I-I need to clean him up before putting him in bed,' she thought.

Reia got a bowl of lukewarm water and a cloth. She then proceeded to remove each piece of Tom's armour. Her heart rate rate slowly went up as she removed each piece. With Tom stripped down to his boxer shorts, Reia was able to use her washing cloth to clean Tom.

Once he was cleaned and dried, Reia lifted Tom up with one arm under his knees and another under his shoulders. She slowly walked to his room and placed him on his bed. Reia pulled the covers over him and placed a kiss on his forehead.

"Sleep well, Tom," she whispered. "You deserve it."

Reia realized that she was still covered in Tom's blood. The blood at this point was more or less crusted on her. She walked towards the washroom and closed the door behind her. Reia turned on the nozzle for the shower allowing water to pour down from multiple directions inside the shower. She took off her armour piece by piece, letting each one fall to the ground with a thud.

As soon as she stripped her last piece of clothing, Reia stepped into the shower. The water from the shower drizzled down her body as she leaned against the wall with her right arm. Reia looked downwards with a solemn expression to her face and watched as the blood on her body mixed with the water and ran off of her legs and into the drain.

'I have to get stronger. For my sake and his.'

VVVVVV

"Wh- Where am I?"

Tom found himself suspended in a dark place. No matter how hard he tried to focus his eyes, all Tom could see was darkness.

"Am... Am I dead?"

"Not yet," a deep male voice replied. "Not from a lack of trying, anyways."

Tom couldn't tell which direction the voice came from. It sounded like it was coming from every direction at the same time. His again tried to search the darkness for the source of the voice.

"Who's there?" Tom demanded.

"Your future teacher," he replied.

"For my class," Tom concluded.

"Correct. I came to remind you of that. You have been putting it off for too long."

"I wanted to be ready for my training."

"You are. You don't need to worry. I don't plan to prevent you from reaching your full potential. And I most certainly don't need to be impressed."

"O-Okay."

"You're going to wake up soon and will need to recover from the injuries you sustained from your last mission. Once you have recovered, I want you and Reia to immediately come to the spirit realm to get your training. Understood?"

"Yes."

"Good, now wake up. She is waiting for you."

Tom felt himself nod off and his consciousness fade.

VVVVVV

Tom moaned softly as he slowly opened his eyes. His vision was slightly blurry. Tom rubbed his eyes with his right hand to allow him to see. With his vision cleared up, Tom realized he was back in his room.

Tom felt a small weight over his chest and left leg and something soft pressed against his left arm. Tom looked to his left and saw Reia curled up against him. She was wearing her newest sleep wear: a light green cotton tank top and soft cotton shorts. Her arm was draped over his chest, one of her legs was intertwined with his, and her chest was pressed against his arm.

'Thank god she's okay,' he thought in relief.

Tom gently grabbed Reia's hand and said in a quiet voice, "Reia... Reia... Wake up."

Reia groaned and curled up closer to him. "Not yet... Sleep..."

"Reia, wake up," Tom tried again. "I'm thinking of making blueberry waffles for breakfast."

Reia's eyes and ears twitched upon hearing the words: blueberry, waffles and breakfast. "Breakfast...?" She slowly opened her eyes to see Tom smiling at her. Reia's heart jumped. "Tom!"

Reia quickly sat up and swung herself on top of Tom. She repeatedly kissed his lips, cheeks and forehead. "You idiot!" she cried out. Reia couldn't hold back her tears. "You nearly died from taking that attack. Why would you-?" She started choking on her breath and cried into his chest.

Tom wrapped his arms around Reia and rubbed her back. Hearing her cry tore his heart apart.

"I did it so the woman I love wouldn't die," he said as he stroked her cheek. Tom finally confessed his deepest feelings for the beautiful woman before him.

Reia lifted her head from Tom's chest to look him in the eyes with joy in her heart.

"I love you, Reia."

Those were the words Reia wanted to hear from him. She smiled and said, "I love you too, Tom. I love you too!" With her declaration, she embraced Tom with a passionate kiss.

After their lips left each other, Reia rested her head under Tom's chin. She felt content as she listened to him breathing. Tom closed his eyes and sighed happily. Knowing that Reia and he were back at his home, Tom could come to a logical conclusion.

"We failed the mission, didn't we?"

"Yeah," she sadly replied.

"Damn it," he cursed in a whisper. "I can't remember much of what happened after the rocket."

"You took a lot of damage from the attack," Reia answered. "I managed to convince you to Fast Travel us back home. When we got back, the damage you took from the rocket began to take its toll on your body. Your heart and breathing stopped."

"Stopped..." Tom repeated.

"This created a double debuff that was draining your health faster than you could heal. I used the CPR you taught me along with Heal to save your life."

Tom briefly tightened his arms around Reia as part of a hug. "Thank you for saving my life, Reia. I'm so sorry I put you though that."

"Just don't do it again. I don't think I could bear to go through that again."

"So, Reia... Quick question. Not that I'm complaining, but what are you doing in my bed."

Reia blushed and then tuck her face into his chest. "I-I couldn't sleep by myself last night. After what happened yesterday, I wanted to stay close to you. In case anything happened."

'Don't push forward with this questioning,' Tom thought to himself. 'She's obviously bashful about this and I don't want her to leave my bed. Not while she's dressed like this.'

Tom looked up from Reia and saw a blue window appear.

"Not now," he groaned.

"What?"

"We just got another quest."

Reia's tail quickly coiled around Tom's legs and her arms wrapped around his.

"Reia, what are you doing?" Tom demanded.

"We are not going on that mission," she declared. Reia's usual carefree and cheery demeanour gave away to this serious person that Tom didn't recognize. "You still need time to recover from yesterday's mission."

"What are you talking about?"

"Look at your Status," she replied.

"Status."

StatusNameThomas "Tom" EverettLevel22Experience13320/13850ClassMagic BladeRaceHumanAlignmentGoodCurrencyCanadian$10,688,241.11Xoth0 platinum 4 gold 66 silver 30 copperTitleClever One, Determined, Giant Slayer, Vaccinated, One Of The First, Sole Survivor, Generous Healer, InterpreterBuffsAgent of Kara2x experienceBestiary of Xoth+10% damage towards the creatures of XothBrief History of Xoth+10% persuasion chance and friendliness towards the inhabitants of XothDebuffsPhysical TraumaAll stats reduced by 75% (52 hours)Health(290)1150Health Regeneration/min(8.6)33.99Mana(270)1090Mana Regeneration/min(9.3)37.2Stamina(270)1090Stamina Regeneration/min(2.1)8.2Fame3900Infamy0Strength(29)115Intelligence(27)109Wisdom(30)120Perception(15)58Endurance(27)109Vitality(26)103Agility(21)82Luck(23)90Unallocated Points0

Tom saw how the Debuff "Physical Trauma" drastically reduced his stats.

"You are suffering from physical trauma from the attack and when your heart stopped."

Tom struggled against Reia's grip and found himself unable to make her arms or tail budge an inch. "Regardless of the debuff, I still need to go. People lives are at stake."

"If you die everyone's lives will be at stake!" Reia countered.

"Reia, even with the debuff, I'm still stronger than anyone on earth."

"Not stronger than me. I'll stay here as long as it takes to make sure you can't go."

"Stop being unreasonable," Tom chided her.

"Being unreasonable?" Reia scoffed. Tears returned to her eyes. "You're the one trying to get yourself killed!"

"I'm trying to save lives. I have to do this!"

"You don't have to die to make your parents proud!" Reia yelled at him.

Tom immediately stopped struggling against Reia's grip. He stared at her with a flabbergasted look. After a moment, his look then transformed into sadness and tears came to his eyes. Reia felt guilty for bringing his parents into this, but she felt it was the only way to stop him. Tom outright broke into sobbing. Those words tore right through him and broke him out of his suicidal determination.

Reia loosened her grip on him. Tom took her by surprise by sitting up, hugging her tight, and continued crying into her shoulder. Reia hugged him back. She rested her head on his shoulder as she rubbed his back cooing him. He cried into her shoulder for several minutes before he started to calm down. Reia climbed off of his lap and sat next to him in the bed.

"I'm sorry," he muttered. "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," Reia assured.

"How did?"

"I... I followed you when you visited your parents."

"Oh... That..." Tom rubbed the back of his neck. "That makes sense."

"I'm sorry, Tom. You looked so distraught that morning that I followed you to make sure you were okay. I happened to overhear everything you said at their plot."

Tom rubbed his mouth in contemplation. "There's a lot you need to know. I'm... I'm not as selfless as you may think I am."

Reia laughed at hearing those words. She quickly stifled it. "Sorry."

A brief, small grin came to the side of Tom's lips. "I told you before how Kara gave me and ninety-nine humans a test to gain access to the SYSTEM, but I didn't tell you everything."

"Such as?"

"My motivation for taking on the task. How do I go about this? My father was a doctor. My mother was his secretary and assistant. They met in university and got married shortly after graduating. After some time they conceived me as their only child. They were very caring parents, but with their jobs, it was always... quiet at home. My parents spent so much of their time helping people with their illnesses. I looked up to them because of this."

"They were your heroes," Reia said.

Tom nodded. "Growing up I worked very hard to do my best in school. I wanted to make them proud of me. Eventually I found a passion in computers. I went to a local college to get into computer science and programming. I worked part-time at the college to pay for it. Felt good about myself as I learned more about computers. That feeling ended when I graduated." Tom took in a breath. "The economy took a turn for the worse and jobs became scarce. No tech company wants to hire a just-out-of-college programmer. Weeks went by as I applied to any job I felt like I could do with my education. Nothing. And you know what makes things worse?"

"What?"

"The longer you are outside of college or a job, when it comes to programming, you become less desirable to companies. They see your knowledge as obsolete or that without working with computers, your skills will dull. It's frustrating! Eventually months rolled around and I started to get desperate. Now I applied to anything I could find just so I could move out of my parents house. Eventually I got a job at a warehouse working with spread sheets where I was paid barely above minimum wage. I moved out and lived in an apartment that even cockroaches would find disgusting. It was the best I could do."

"Why didn't you ask your parents for help?" Reia asked.

"Pride," Tom answered honestly. "I was a failure at life and I didn't want my parents to know. So I tolerated my life until I could find another job. Things then.. Got worse."

"Worse?"

"Three years ago. There was a worldwide outbreak of a mutated strain of the Spanish Flu. With my parents working closely with the sick... They caught it too. The flu killed tens of millions around the world. My parents included."

Reia gasped. "I'm so sorry."

"My parents died before they saw me do anything worthwhile with my life. I've lived with that shame and guilt for the past three years. I guess you could say I was just a husk during that time. I just... existed. That changed on the day of the test. I was the only one to pass the test over the ninety-nine others who participated. When I first spoke with Kara, I was reluctant, at first, about her offer to become a protector for my world. I mean, me? I was a literally nobody who got lucky in defeating a cyclops."

"What changed?"

"I realized it was a way to redeem my useless life. That's why I got into this business. I was never selfless in my pursuits. I'm sorry I never told you this."

Reia wrapped her arms around Tom and said, "You give yourself too little credit, Tom. No selfish person could have done the things you have done. You are a good, selfless and brave person. The kind I would fall in love with. Also, while I've never met your parents, I'm sure that your parents were proud that you grew up to be the good man you are."

Tom happily sighed . He wrapped his arms around her and said, "It- It actually means a lot to hear someone else say that to me. You especially."

"It's my job as your girlfriend to give you support and to look out for you. Now are you going to stay here?"

"Yes. You don't need to worry about me going anywhere."

"Good." Reia opened up the covers of the bed and slid back under the sheets. "Come back to bed."

"I'm not about to say no to that offer," Tom chuckled.

Tom crawled under the sheets and rolled on his side to face Reia. She smiled and giggled as he wrapped his right arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. Reia tucked her head under his chin and enjoyed the massive heat that came off of his body and his scent. It was then that Reia decided to be a little bold.

"Can I make a selfish request?"

"Sure."

"Is it okay if I... sleep with you from now on?"

Tom smiled. "Selfish for you or me?"

Reia smiled at his joke.

"Yes, of course you can. I don't think anything could raise my spirits more than waking up next to you dressed like that."

A laugh escaped Reia's lips as she lightly smacked him on his chest.

"You know... Deep down I'm actually glad we're not going on this mission specifically."

"Why's that?"

Quest:Arac AttackDifficultyDGiverKaraTime Limit12 hoursA dozen Giant Hairy Spiders have arrived in the small town of Trevor's Peak, Colorado.[tr]Reward300 EXP

20 silver

Random armour

200 fameConsequence For FailureHundreds will die

"I really hate spiders."

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

Character Stats:

Spoiler :

StatusNameThomas "Tom" EverettLevel22Experience13320/13850ClassMagic BladeRaceHumanAlignmentGoodCurrencyCanadian$10,688,241.11Xoth0 platinum 4 gold 66 silver 30 copperTitleClever One, Determined, Giant Slayer, Vaccinated, One Of The First, Sole Survivor, Generous Healer, InterpreterBuffsAgent of Kara2x experienceBestiary of Xoth+10% damage towards the creatures of XothBrief History of Xoth+10% persuasion chance and friendliness towards the inhabitants of XothDebuffs--Health1150Health Regeneration/min33.99Mana1090Mana Regeneration/min37.2Stamina1090Stamina Regeneration/min8.2Fame3900Infamy0Strength115Intelligence109Wisdom120Perception58Endurance109Vitality103Agility82Luck90Unallocated Points0

ResistancesPhysical44%Disease/Toxin89%Fire44%Plant44%Ice44%Earth44%Lightning44%Water44%Wind44%Spirit44%Light44%Darkness44%

SkillsIdentifyMaster Level 2PersuasionIntermediate Level 1Language ComprehensionMaster Level 10Book LearningMaster Level 10TeacherBeginner Level 4NonchalantMaster Level 10Lightning StrikeIntermediate Level 6Lightning EnchantIntermediate Level 6Lightning ShieldIntermediate Level 3HealIntermediate Level 4PurifyIntermediate Level 5Sword SkillIntermediate Level 6DisguiseIntermediate Level 8PrayerMaster Level 10Hero's CallMaster Level 10Fast TravelMaster Level 10Loot CollectorIntermediate Level 3Magical RepairMaster Level 1TacticianIntermediate Level 3CookIntermediate Level 4Mixed Martial ArtistBeginner Level 8Club SkillBeginner Level 2Trap MasterBeginner Level 7UnbreakableBeginner Level 5FireballIntermediate Level 1Fire EnchantBeginner Level 9Bow SkillBeginner Level 9Power StrikeBeginner Level 10Enhanced BodyIntermediate Level 3Enhanced MindIntermediate Level 1Chain LightningBeginner Level 3Group HealBeginner Level 4Enhanced SpellsBeginner Level 9Enhanced ResistanceIntermediate Level 4SM TransferMaster Level 10Computer SkillBeginner Level 10MassageBeginner Level 1--

StatusNameReia ZyerLevel20Experience8835/8865ClassLancerRaceNagaAlignmentGoodCurrencyCanadian$0.00Xoth0 platinum 4 gold 45 silver 14 copperTitleUnknown, Giant Slayer, Determined, Life SaverBuffs--Debuffs--Health1400Health Regeneration/min9.7Mana450Mana Regeneration/min4.5Stamina1010Stamina Regeneration/min8.6Fame3100Infamy0Strength140Intelligence45Wisdom45Perception53Endurance101Vitality97Agility86Luck89Unallocated Points0

ResistancesPhysical24%Disease/Toxin100%Fire24%Plant24%Ice24%Earth24%Lightning24%Water24%Wind24%Spirit24%Light24%Darkness59%

SkillsIdentifyIntermediate Level 8Weapon RepairIntermediate Level 6Armour RepairIntermediate Level 3Weapon CraftingBeginner Level 9Armour CraftingBeginner Level 10Accessory CraftingIntermediate Level 1Spear SkillIntermediate Level 8Clothing ReformMaster Level 3Ice SpikeBeginner Level 6Wind ShieldIntermediate Level 3Wind BladeIntermediate Level 6HealIntermediate Level 4Club SkillBeginner Level 1Sword SkillBeginner Level 9PersuasionIntermediate Level 1Power StrikeBeginner Level 10Enhanced ResistanceBeginner Level 8Group HealBeginner Level 1FlurryBeginner Level 1