I wake up, again. I'm hoping it's heaven this time, though I don't deserve it. I rip open my eyes and I'm facing the ground. The bare cobblestone of the city is replaced with dirt. I think I'm on the back of a horse, tied up and hanging on it.

There are other knights beside me. All of them are strong, stronger than me at the very least. I saw it firsthand when a wild-boar charged. They dispersed in a natural manner and allowed the boar to move in. It was a U-shaped formation.

Then they charged in and killed it with their short spears. It looked like a hedgehog with all those short spears sticking out of its back. I don't think they were even trying since they got off their horses to take care of it.

I don't want to make any noise or let them know I'm awake yet. The rest of my companions are asleep as well. They're human, not zombies. This isn't good. I have no idea what their intentions are.

Skills

[Create Will]

[Contract]

[Meditate]

[Mana Sense]

[Mana Intake]

I still don't have [Mana Storage]. I have the ability to take in mana but without adequate storage options, it just wreaks havoc in my body.

I still have the manual. A brief sigh of relief travels through my body. I can feel it pressing up against my chest.

Quest Window

[Hint of Av——]

[Quest Completion Requirements:]

[Survive]

[Kill Three OtherWorlders]

[Penalty: Death]

[Reward: LOCKED]

I don't know why the area after 'Av' is just a blank block. There should've at least been some indication of what it meant. I'll find out in due time.

I pull up the map. Right now, I don't think any of the dots are near me. That's a relief but I think they should be coming to hunt me right away. The knights could take care of them. However, if the knights kill one of them does it count as my kill or theirs? It has to be there.

I've been thinking about the combat potential of these [Other Worlders]. I got an extra skill because I was the first one to come here but all of them should have a single skill. If their skills are somewhat easier to use than mine then I'm at a huge disadvantage.

The knights stop at dawn. They pitch their tents, start a fire in the middle, and two of them skin the hedgehog. I've never seen an animal being skinned before. They made an incision near the neck and start pulling down the fur.

Then they chop off the meat in giant chunks. They smoke parts of it and wrap it in some cloth. I think they intend to ration it, the rest is cooked up in giant pots. It doesn't just smell good, it smells great. My stomach grumbles at the sight. I hope nobody noticed.

Somebody kicks me in the ribs, I can't see who it is, but it's from behind me. The air rushed out of my chest and I heave. "Get up, we know you're awake."

My bindings are cut up and I get up. It's a knight with a patchy beard, a wide nose, and slim eyes. I don't know why but he makes me think of a raccoon.

He grabs an herb from his pouch and puts it under the noses of my companions. Each of them wakes up from their slumber.

He places a bowl of the stew in front of us and watches us down it, then he ties us back up. Its humiliating and demeaning. I don't want to be in this situation ever again. I've spent enough of my previous life in chains. This just angers me.

I sit there brooding and thinking of how to get out of this. The biggest obstacle is how strong they are and the fact that we're smack dab in the middle of the camp.

After the soldiers are done with their meals, their leader comes over. She has olive skin and a pair of striking eyes. She's out of her armor and I see her arms. She's got more strength in those wiry limbs than Ake. She's beautiful but there's a hint of melancholy around her.

"How did you survive?" We just look at her. Nobody says anything.

"How did you survive?" She repeats her question. Again, no reply. "Jake, do your thing."

The guy who kicked us in the ribs grabs Moon's foot and pulls off the boot. I know what's about to happen and it's not good.

"It was an item!" Shera shouts out. She's trying to stall for time. Let's hope this works.

"It was shaped like a small glass bell. The clapper was filled with a blood-red liquid. We rang it and it formed a barrier above us."

"Where is it?" The Knight-Captain knows that whatever this item is, it's important. Something that allowed us to avoid that god-forsaken apocalypse is quite invaluable.

"It was an expendable item. We used it." The knight just shakes her head. She doesn't believe it. Anybody in this situation would do or say anything, as long as it helped them survive.

"Jak-"

"Wait, please! Don't hurt him! My brother can make more!" If her eyes could shoot laser beams, they would be shooting out desperation right now.

"Ok." I see Ake just sigh in relief at the knight's reply. It's like a mountain was lifted off of him. "Make me one. You have until tomorrow. I expect it to be in my hands when we pitch camp tomorrow night."

"We need some materials."

"For what?"

"Enchantment. I don't think you guys have any." That makes the knight smile.

"We'll turn back to the city tomorrow and retrieve everything you need since it wasn't ransacked."

"Why wasn't it ransacked?" I say that, I shouldn't have said it but the words are out of my mouth now. "Were they afraid of something?"

"No, they were in a hurry." The knight replies.

"Why?"

The question sours the mood. Jake isn't pleased. The captain isn't pleased. Both of them are pissed.