Alex was trapped in his dark thoughts again. He thought he had found a new group of friends, with whom he could grow stronger. But Lisa was a liability. If she really wanted to hurt him for his rash decisions, she would be able to. Just not healing him, while he was wounded after a fight, would probably be enough. He would bleed to death, and she could deny life saving aid.

The teenager would milk the groups help as far as possible, but if Lisa didn’t change in the near future, he would try to find other groups. As long as he didn’t have to stay alone, he would come out on top. The adventure of the day before had netted him enough refined essence to get to level five and Alex put the two free attributes into Intelligence. Maybe with more Magicka, he could have [shadowcloak] active for much longer, and that would help the [shadowdrinker] passive from his class.

There would come a time, when he wasn’t dependent on the good-will of his healer anymore. And Alex swore, as long as he still was, he would play by their rules. He continued his training with Philip, Lisa’s healing easing their wounds. It seemed as if her previous bitter words were forgotten, and she was laughing at Mary’s antics. But Alex still caught her grim glanced, if she thought she was unobserved.

Some time after their training, the shadowblade joined Derek. The younger teenager had continued his excursion in the art of crafting and with their loot, he had tinkered a few arrows and a bow. “Did you test them already?” Alex asked, startling Derek. The boy shook his head, “No, I still want to make a few more. Four arrows aren’t really that much and if I miss a shot, it may break and undo my hard work.”

“But how do you know, that they work? If you don’t try them out, you don’t know if your bow string is strong enough, or the arrows straight. Come on Derek, let’s try them,” Alex held out a hand, to help the boy up. Laughing, he collected the arrows and egged the crafter on, until he grabbed the bow and followed the hunter.

The two young boys shot arrow after arrow and some even hit their target. Afterwards they collected them and after much scrutinising, Derek threw two away. He quickly scrambled after them, removed the goose feathers and threw them away again. Alex laughed, and shook his head. The other boy was just too clumsy.

For the next few days, Alex continued his solo hunts. He didn’t grew immensely, but every bit helped, and as long as Lisa didn’t want to come with, Philip would also stay at the hut. He slowly gathered essence, but still hadn’t gotten enough for a level up. He knew he could win fights against foes a few level stronger than him, but if a second or even third enemy joined, Alex was done for. So he decided to stay on the safe side and stay near the wooden hut, always ready to bolt, should something ugly rear its head.

The shadowblade was upset at Lisa’s decision, but he seemingly couldn’t make her change her mind. He spoke at lengths to Philip, trying to sway him, but he and Derek stayed unanimous and wouldn’t follow him outside to hunt. A few days passed and Alex grew more and more pissed off at Lisa, until it all culminated in a big argument.

“Just do something! Anything, you can’t just stay here and sit out the apocalypse,” Alex yelled. “I can, and I will. We have earned a few coins and buy everything we need from Gatex,” Lisa screamed back. “Going out will only put us in danger and I won’t risk Marys life!” Alex huffed angrily. He wanted to argue further, but could see that Lisa would block every word he said and Philip, Derek and Mary had drawn back. Not wanting to get in on the screaming match.

“Well, I will go out, and if you don’t wanna help me, it’s your fault if I get hurt or killed,” he growled. Alex knew, he was entirely wrong and he couldn’t sway her, but why didn’t she want to become stronger? If they went out, they could find a new essence seed and then Mary could grow stronger. But he held his tongue. Even that wouldn’t change her mind. So he left the hut, threw an angry glare at the other teenagers and went outside to hunt a bit more.

‘Fine, if she doesn’t wanna help, then I will grow on my own. I’ve done it before and can do it again. Who needs them anyway.’ Alex thought sadly. He knew his time with the group had ended and he had to leave. ‘One last try. I’ll hunt something nice and after some good food, maybe they will change their minds.’

Back at the hut, Lisa called the other three back, and like a mother stemmed her arms to her sides. She glared at the two boys, who had left her alone, fighting against that brute. A new discussion ensued.

Alex crept slowly through the streets. His every sense concentrated on the slightest movement, the slightest sound. Ready to pounce or flee, depending on what he’d find. Soon his slow approach was rewarded and two rabbits crossed his path. Carefully, the shadowblade drew nearer. Alex even remembered to sneak against the wind.

Moments later, he was near enough, to try throwing his [shadowweapon]. Afraid to be noticed, he summoned the dagger and with the trained throw, he skewered one rabbit. The other immediately rose, bolting to freedom, but Alexs pumped attributes were enough. He jumped the last few meters and stabbed forward. The rabbit was wounded, and slowed for a moment. That spelled its doom, as the teenager surged on and stabbed through its thin pelt.

‘Wow, I am getting better. Two at once and in seconds,’ Alex grinned. The first rabbit, the one he had wounded with his dagger, soon died of blood loss. Apparently his dagger had dematerialised after it hat hit the animal and the wound was big enough to end it. ‘Ugh, I hate it when they empty their bowels…but let’s quickly gut them.’ Alex pulled the real dagger, and began his work. Soon he was bloodied up to his elbows.

As he finished his work, and searched for a place to throw the offal away, Alex noticed something weird. The second rabbit had, while loosing its bowels, left something weird. A gleaming, brown pea. And at first, the teenager neglected the pebbles, but in the coming dusk, one stood out. He carefully kicked it and pulled out his water-skin.

‘Is that…’ he slowly dripped some water on the dirty pea. ‘I can’t believe it…’ The teenager bent down and grabbed the small seed.

Congratulation, you have found: Seed of Earth (C).

Error: Seed of Earth (C) is incompatible. Seed of Shadow (M) already in use. No catalyst found.

Alex wanted to shout out, but at the last moment, his reasoning won out. He had found another seed. It was just common, but he could gift his two best friends a seed each, if he ever got back to the camp, or if he could free them from Jones’s yoke. Or…and Alex thought, he could gift the common seed to Mary, and Lisa and the rest of the group would be persuaded to help him hunt.

If he did that, he would have to find another seed for Janine and Lin, but he had found two seeds in under a week, he could find more. Elated, the teenager grabbed the two rabbits and hid the seed in his boot. That way he wouldn’t loose it, if he had to run from a big predator.

His gains were enormous for the day. Maybe not that much in essence or coins, but he had two tasty rabbits and a elemental seed. Alex already thought about how he would cook his prey. He was sure they still had some vegetables at the hut and as Mary and Lisa had begun to eat meat, he didn’t have to buy more stuff at the shop. His mouth was watering and he was happy that he had found a way out for Mary and Lisa.

The others couldn’t say no anymore if he gave Mary the seed. The tiny girl could hunt or craft too and who knew what class she would get. It may not be as strong as his, but if she could become a mage as Philip was, she would be safe in the back row. Alex continued to paint rosy pictures of his future, while he went back to the wooden hut.

“Hey guys, I’m back! And I brought dinner,” Alex shouted as he entered the hut. Derek sat in a corner and waved, “Welcome back! Lisa and Phil are still out, hunting too. We were out of food.” The teenager crookedly grinned, “If you had informed Lisa, that you went hunting for food, the two would be here…Now she will scold you again.”

Alex sighed, but didn’t answer. Instead he rummaged around, until he found the pots and pans. The teenager began preparing the food. He knew for a good broth, he had to cook the rabbit for at least a few hours. He roughly cut a few vegetables and threw them in the pot, too. After most preparations were done, he joined Derek, who was crafting a few new gadgets.

“I have a book from Gatex. Lisa and Phil got it for me…It helps me with ideas and procedures for my woodworking.” Derek muttered, completely engrossed by his work. “Ah, by the way, where is Mary,” Alex asked, not seeing the girl anywhere in the hut. “She is outside, playing with a few puppets I build earlier.”

Alex wanted to ask more questions, but could see, that Derek was useless while concentrated on his task. So the youth left the building and looked for Mary. The girl sat outside, as Derek had said, and played peacefully. The hunter debated, if he should join her, but Mary still was a bit afraid of him and he decided against it. The day grew older and after some time, Alex continued with his cooking, wondering where Lisa and Philip were.

He hoped nothing had happened to them. He still didn’t really like Lisa, but they were integral for his future plans. And if they were gone, he had to somehow care for two weak teenagers. He was terrified of that thought and prayed for both of them to safely return.

Finally, Alex heard some ruckus outside. He quickly stood up and went to the door, but it was already opened and Lisa, with Mary in tow swept inside. Philip a few feet behind them. “Why did you leave Mary alone outside? She could have gotten hurt!” Lisa growled angrily, as soon as she saw Alex. “I didn’t leave her alone at first, but I had to finish dinner, otherwise it would have overcooked or burnt. And you left her, while I was still outside, hunting alone…just saying.”

“Calm down you two. We don’t have to fight tonight. It’s useless,” Philip interjected. Lisa glared at the older boy, but stayed silent. She huffed, sat down and directed Mary beside her. The other boy walked up to Alex, grabbed his arm and said: “Thanks for preparing dinner. You shouldn’t have done so.”

“It’s okay, I wanted to do something nice for you and I guess Lisa. We might not like each other, but we can still work together, right,” Alex grinned. Philip grimaced painfully. “Sorry Alex, I couldn’t stop her and don’t think you deserved that…”

Before the youth could react, he heard loud voices from outside. “Alex, we know that you're here. Come out! Leave your weapons and come outside!”

He knew that voice...

“What have you done,” Alex cried aghast. He quickly grabbed his spear, the dagger still secure by his belt and bolted outside.