Sunrise filled the basin with a glow like golden fire. John was sitting on a log next to a campfire as the sun peeked over the misty forest. There were twelve hours left on the safe harbor timer, Xanhilt was cooking chicken over the fire, and Noname was using John as something to sleep against, sharing the log with him. He was pretty sure she was awake, but she was probably inclined to continue resting. John didn’t mind having her there at his side, anyway.

Meanwhile, Xanhilt told them what happened in the past day and a half. He went over the details of the night they had been robbed especially. He was sorry that he hadn’t raised an offense against the three jerks that swept in like scavengers and ran off with some of their hard-earned loot.

John didn’t blame Xanhilt. He had been on his own while suffering magical depression. John thought Xanhilt had done the best he could under the circumstances.

So, there was no reason to get angry with the saurian. There was plenty of reasons to get angry with the robbers.

“When we see them again, I need you to point them out,” John said. “Especially that Victor guy. If I have to work my way through the tall chick and her brother, then they can get the works, too.”

His fists were dedicated to the equal opportunities of dishing out damage to all people, regardless of their race, gender, religion, and creed. That Sasha girl sounded like bad news, anyway. But John should be strong enough to get past anyone who tried to defend Victor.

“He really called me an imbecile?” John asked.

“And an ignoramus,” Xanhilt said, adding more fuel to the fire.

I’m pretty sure that means idiot, John thought, peeved.

“I can make them… disappear,” Noname mumbled, wriggling against John’s side. “I can make them suffer… before I make them disappear.”

That dimmed John’s anger. “Let’s not resort to doing that, Noname. They’re jerks that deserve to get their faces to rearrange, but that’s it.”

Noname lifted her face and looked at him blearily. “You’re too kind. But okay. I’ll listen as long as I get to exploit you.”

John chuckled. “At least they didn’t take the magic core. You wanted it, right?”

“You’re going to let me have it?” Noname asked carefully. “I can’t do anything with it now.”

“Yeah, but you might be able to later once we figure out how.”

“I don’t know if I deserve it,” she said.

“Noname, you’re a weird girl,” John said. “You say you want to exploit me, right? You can exploit this.”

Noname fell silent.

John continued. “If it wasn’t for you clearing half of those shamblers, we would’ve been in way more trouble. And you’ve helped me find a way to beat that knight the best way I can. Why wouldn’t I give you something to show you how I much appreciate you.”

Noname got up and walked away. “I gotta stretch my legs.”

Xanhilt hissed quietly. “Human mating practices are so strange.”

“Oh yeah? How do you do it, wise guy?” John asked, even though he didn’t believe he was trying to mate with Noname. Still, he felt a little annoyed that the saurian kept throwing digs at human practices when John didn’t have enough knowledge of saurian practices.

“I don’t do anything,” Xanhilt said. “It is the female’s duty to seek a male of their desires and persuade him to mate with her. Since there are more female saurians than males, they tend to compete with each other to win their right to mate.”

“You’re yanking my chain,” John said, finding the saurian gender dynamics incredible.

“Huh, what? I don’t have a chain to yank on,” Xanhilt said, flustered.

John chuckled. “Yeah, I know. It’s just another silly human saying.”

Xanhilt let out a soft hiss before taking the chicken off the fire. Using his claws, he stripped the meat and cut them into tender slices on a flat stone that served as a plate. He made plates for John and Noname since he’d already eaten before John woke up today.

“Next time we do this, man, I’ll cook,” John said, taking his plate. “I learned from my parents how to do food really good, and I’m sure you’ll love it. It’ll be my way to thank you for providing like this since I don’t know jack about wood-life.”

Xanhilt quirked his head. “I will be glad to try your cooking, but before we follow this train of thought, I must say that your mood is perplexing. Aren’t you upset with Victor and his party?”

“Man, there’s no doubt it’s going to be straight action on sight,” John said, smiling. “But for now, let’s just enjoy the moment. You and I both know we’re probably going to go through shit again soon. It’ll be nice to just… relax.”

Seriously, it would make for a great start to the day if they could have a moment to enjoy themselves. The chicken was bland without seasoning, but it was the best bland chicken John ever had. It melted on his tongue. Every bite invigorated him, knocking off the cobwebs that still hung around from sleeping for nearly thirty-six hours.

His [Soul] felt like it was reaching peak levels under the morning light with food at hand. After surviving a harrowing trial against a monstrous knight and dryad, life seemed so beautiful to John in its simplest moments. It felt so real. Like real, real.

Man, what’s gotten into me? I feel happy for no reason, even though it’s been shitty. Maybe I shouldn’t question it. Just like I told Xanhilt, gotta enjoy the moments when you can.

It would be nice to enjoy it with the full party, too.

“Hey, Noname!” John shouted. “Come back over here, girl! You gotta eat!”

“She disappeared into the forest edge over there,” Xanhilt said, pointing. “I wonder what’s making her go that far.”

John’s heart pulsed faster as he started to think of the worst. His fears vanished when Noname popped out of the forest and onto a slope that led into the basin. The young mistress’s thorny vines had withered away to the point that they were negligible now. Nothing blocked them from coming and going except for the safe harbor’s limits. Noname mustn’t have gone far since the safe harbor was still up.

But she didn’t come back alone.

“Xanhilt, those two kids following behind her,” John said, setting his plate aside, “do you recognize them?”

The saurian stood. “No. They look very different. And these humans don’t have the air of arrogance about them like the others. These humans look like scared survivors.”

John gave up his seat and food to the two new arrivals, Daniel Hughes and Samantha Mwangi. The Daniel was at Lvl 6, and Samantha was at Lvl 3. They took turns scarfing down food and relaying their experiences since waking up yesterday as new heroes.

“All I could do was run for my life,” Samantha said, hugging herself. She was a slim thing of average height with short curly hair. Just like everyone else, she wore poor clothes that hung loosely at certain parts. “I nearly twisted my ankle a couple of times. I could see what the system was telling me, but I couldn’t believe it. I still don’t know how I died and ended up here.”

“I was the same,” Daniel said. He was a little shorter than John and had a barrel of a body. He had a relaxed rural attitude that made John think he was a farmer’s kid or someone who had some outdoor knowledge. The stone club slipped inbetween the rope belt at his waist hinted at Daniel’s resourcefulness.

“You made that to fight?” John asked, pointing at the club.

“Yessir,” Daniel answered. “Sometimes Samantha had to help me out.”

“Given time, you could make a stone-axe,” Xanhilt said.

The new arrivals jolted from the sound of the saurian, giving him frightened looks.

“He’s a hero just like the rest of us,” John said.

“Pardon me, but I ain’t no hero. I’m just a farmer’s boy,” Daniel said. “I was fixin’ up the tractor and… I don’t think I got the stomach to talk further about it.”

“I can’t remember what happened to me,” Samantha said, wide-eyed. “But the game keeps saying I died, and there’s no going back. I didn’t agree to be a hero.”

“Yeah, nobody agrees to it from what I can tell,” John said.

“I’m surprised I was chosen,” Noname said quietly. “John’s the one whose hero material.”

John shifted uncomfortably. “Anyway, you two are safe now while you’re here. If you still got Dolala talking to you, then she’ll let you know that.”

“Ah! Yes. She’s the goddess, correct?” Samantha asked.

“I don’t see how that thing can call itself a goddess,” Daniel said. “If I hadn’t come across Samantha and got us to hustle from a bad spot, we would’ve been shambler chow, and that so-called goddess would’ve kept on yakking through her silly notifications.”

“We call her ding-dong,” Xanhilt said. “And we’re of a belief that there’s more than just her. She’s the tutorial goddess, so if she’s still talking to you, you’re still in the tutorial phase.”

“Well, the thing is, she gave us a farewell when we crossed into your safe harbor,” Daniel explained. “She was telling us we didn’t meet certain requirements to help develop talents, but we got experience for making it to safety.”

“She mentioned one of you is strong enough to protect us,” Samantha added. “That we’ll be your responsibility.”

Noname and Xanhilt glanced at John, which made the new arrivals follow their gazes toward him.

“Damn you, Dolala,” John groused, finding it ridiculous that the tutorial goddess was using him as a glorified babysitter. Shouldn’t it be their duty to safely see people or guide them away from danger? Did they do nothing when kids discover the trap that had once dominated the basin until John’s party arrived and cleared it out? John was getting tired of having a bunch of questions and no answers.

“Please, mister,” Daniel said, wringing his hands nervously. He had big earnest eyes like a puppy. He was the type of fella that was hard to not feel for unless you were a person who liked picking on people like that. “I do what I can to help Samantha and myself, but I ain’t no real fighter.”

“We’ve, uh, wasted our blessings already when we woke up to shamblers today,” Samantha said. “It was surprising that we were able to sleep during the night, but as soon as daylight neared, they attacked. They nearly overwhelmed us.”

Xanhilt hummed. He looked like he was pondering something that made John wonder what it could be. Letting the saurian have his own thoughts, John refocused on his new responsibilities. It was a little stressful for him because Daniel and Samantha didn’t have a fighter’s edge.

Even Xanhilt, who wasn’t much of a fighter when they had met, at least had an edge to him.

Noname was all edge, of course.

“I can’t protect you guys fully,” John said, watching their hopes dim. “I say fully because I can’t really guarantee your safety. Same for Xanhilt and Noname.”

Daniel and Samantha looked at each other with worry filling their eyes. Samantha was about to cry.

“But I can try my best to help,” John said. “We’re in a real… what’s that famous book? With all the teenage boys getting stuck together?”

“Lord of the Flies,” Samantha answered.

“Yeah, that. We’re in a real Lord of the Flies scenario, and I’m not the guy that’s going to tell you this or that and make promises. But I will fight for you. I’ll fight and fight as much as I need to. And if you’re in danger, I’ll do what I can to step in.”

“What he’s saying is he’s going to be a foolhardy hero,” Xanhilt said. “Which means you’ll be under some protection as long as we’re not too overwhelmed. No matter how much he tried to downplay himself, he’ll go above and beyond for you.”

John chuckled, feeling a little embarrassed by the praise. If it was boxing, he would eat it up. But being a hero was something grander than boxing. With that in mind, John couldn’t ignore the annoyance he felt from Dolala’s games.

“Don’t be a burden,” Noname said, making Daniel and Samantha flinch.

“A little harsh?” John asked.

“I’m serious,” she said.

“We won’t burden you much,” Daniel said. “If I have to fight, I’ll try.”

“I’ll stay out of the way as best I can,” Samantha said.

“Loot,” Noname said, pointing at Samantha. “If you can’t do much else, then help pick loot off of the kills.”

“Damn, Noname, who made you little miss tyrant,” John joked.

Noname looked away from him. “Nobody gets free meals. Nobody gets free anything.”

“Everything has a cost,” Xanhilt said. “While this is strange for me to do, I agree with Noname’s amendments to this arrangement. We’re about to reenter the forest soon, and if we are to be your protectors, it’ll only be fair if there’s some form of a trade.”

John was unsure if that was really necessary. But when Xanhilt and Noname agreed with each other, that meant something.

“Hey, that’s square with me,” the farmer boy said.

“I’ll work hard, I promise,” Samantha said. “I know how to pick through things quickly. I used to do it all the time when I’m looking for what’s useable in stuff people throw away.”

“Huh, nifty,” John said, a little concerned about Samantha’s background. It seemed like this new world picked up just about anyone to be heroes. The people who’d robbed them sounded very unlike heroes in John’s book.

“Where are you from, John?” Samantha asked with a small smile.

“Ah, I’m from this place called… I’m from….” John rubbed behind his neck.

“That confirms it, doesn’t it?” Samantha turned to Daniel.

“Yeah, it does.” Daniel shook his head. “You’re going through the same darn thing we’re going through. Can’t remember where we’re really from.”

“Noname, you too?” John asked.

Noname nodded.

John looked toward Xanhilt.

The saurian stared back, wide-eyed. “Why can’t I remember the names of the cities or states? Why must they take this knowledge from me?”

“I asked the system… Dolala,” Samantha said. “All I got in return is that it’s all a part of the process to make us the heroes of Urmatia.”

John thought back to the time Dolala mentioned there was 1% that was not entirely him. He relayed that tidbit to the others.

“That just ain’t right,” Daniel said. “What are they doing to us?”

“The gods seem to conduct their business without concern for own well-being,” Xanhilt said. “I am not like you humans. But I am of the same situation, taken from my world and delivered here.”

“Not taken,” Noname said. “Caught while in transit. We all died. We all got a second chance. Part of that second chance is being changed.”

“But that doesn’t give us a choice in the matter,” Xanhilt hissed, spooking Daniel and Samantha as they regarded him carefully. “If they were truly benevolent, they would’ve started us in a place of civilization where we could learn how things worked here gradually and have a choice to fight or not.”

“Dunno if they’re benevolent. Dunno if they have a choice, either,” Noname said.

“But they call themselves gods!” Xanhilt shouted. “How can they not have a choice when using us as pawns?”

“Whoa, there,” John said, stepping in as the saurian started to bare his fangs. “Take that energy and dial it back a few ticks.”

“Are you telling me to calm down?” Xanhilt asked.

“Please,” John said.

The saurian glared at him for a while. Then he stormed off.

“I don’t think he’s angry at you, Noname,” John said. “It’s the situation.”

“I know,” Noname said. “What he says matters, but I dunno if we should blame the gods.”

“Why shouldn’t we?” John asked, feeling a bit annoyed that Noname was ignoring all the things that happened to them concerning Dolala and the gods.

“Gotta confirm first,” Noname said. “Just like you have to make sure you’re killing the right person. Always confirm.”

Daniel and Samantha gawked at her.

John didn’t think it was appropriate to explain that Noname was a⁠—

“I was an assassin,” Noname said. “At least I can remember that.”

“A little girl like you?” Daniel asked, shocked.

“I can feel the spirit of death coming from you,” Samantha said, shivering. “I can’t imagine how you’re a hero.”

John scratched at his cheek. The new arrivals weren’t wrong. Noname was little. And she was all death and grimness. But they weren’t there when she had that look of wonder on her face when staring at the magic core, making her glow with an inner light that John found precious. They weren’t there when she helped cultivate John’s ability to stand against death with a smile.

“Noname’s awesome,” John said, patting her on the head. “And Xanhilt’s reliable. The three of us aren’t experts or anything, but we’ve been managing ourselves pretty alright.”

Noname stood rock still under his pats until he stopped.

“Gonna walk around with Xanhilt,” she said, taking her exit.

John watched her go. “Yep. We’re managing, alright.”

“Sir, with all due respect,” Daniel said, “it looks like y’all are a three-legged horse on a race track.”

Samantha nodded.

Yeah, I don’t even have it in me to challenge that, John thought. He was still caked in grime from two days ago. He should wash up in the stream before they got going.

“But the both of us tied together ain’t got legs to stand on nohow. So, we’ll do our best to hobble along and be of help. We can assure you that.” The farmer’s boy cracked a smile, standing to his feet. Samantha joined him as they took turns shaking John’s hand with great appreciation.

They were scared. They had their doubts. But they were desperate and in need of help. They weren’t going to turn that down even if they found John’s party weird, apparently.

We’re a freaking mess, John thought. But at least we’re trying.

The girl with no name, Lvl 18

Race: Outerhuman, Rank 2

Blessing: Cape of Bladed Shadows, Rank 2

Weapon Art:

Total AP: 227

Resilience: 10 + (10)

Endurance: 25

Strength: 10

Agility: 85

Perception: 15

Poise: 28

Intellect: 10

Soul: 34

Unspent AP: 0

Talents: [Unwavering Spirit, Rank 1], [Identify, Rank 2], [Urmatia Linguistics, Rank 1], [Inner Compass, Rank 1].

WA Skills:

Magic Cores: [Limited Clairvoyance, MCP 9], [Brightlight Orb, MCP 9].

Available MCP: 0

Items: [Necklace of Small Health, Good] … … ….