For a long time, the air carried only the raw scent of water, the damp chill of wet soil, and the soft sound of the river flowing.
Jun sat half-leaning on a tree branch. His back rested against the trunk. One leg stretched forward, the other slightly bent. The bandages on his chest were still damp, with faint traces of blood visible.
The sky slowly shifted from blue… to violet… and then into darkness. Night was just beginning. Then Jun heard something perhaps the sound of someone walking
A figure formed from fog… with one red eye and one normal human eye.
Red Eye
Her mist-like body shimmered faintly under the first silver touch of moonlight. Thin red lines glowed along her form, like something alive within.
She stopped in front of him,"Master… the shelter appears to be unclaimed."
Jun opened his eyes slightly,"…Hmm?"
Red Eye tilted her head,"I saw a group of rabbit-type aliens there. They don't seem very strong. They're gathered around a strange statue and this shelter looked like L3"
Jun straightened a bit,"How many? And what kind of statue?"
"Approximately 20 to 27," she replied instantly.
Then, with quiet confidence,"But don't worry, Master. I can eliminate them all."
Jun shook his head,"No, Don't kill them all."
He narrowed his eyes,"And that shelter… doesn't look like L3."
Red Eye went silent for a second.
Jun continued,"Not all at once. We kill them one by one."
"Why, Master?" she asked.
Jun looked toward the river,"Because if we kill them all at once… we lose our food. We need to survive. We stretch what we have."
Red Eye watched him quietly,"…Understood, Master."
She stepped closer,"So what's the plan?"
Jun lightly touched the bandage on his chest. Pain flickered through him.
He exhaled slowly,"We stay here and this becomes our temporary base."
Red Eye didn't argue.
Jun closed his eyes halfway,"From today… start hunting them and I need rest. Let these wounds heal."
Red eye said,"As you command, Master."
Every day Morning or evening Red Eye would go out. And return with one rabbit-type alien.
Sometimes long feathery ears, glowing yellow eyes and unusually sharp teeth. But none of them were strong. She would clean them and start a fire to cook.
Sometimes the meat tasted like fish, octopus, and crab.
And every time Jun's card flashed:
Power Points +3
Power Points +11
Power Points +2
Power Points +1
Power Points +7
Power Points +0
Power Points +10
With different numbers. But one line always remained the same:
Power Skill: None
Jun would stare at that line for a few seconds. He could hunt himself now because his body was recovering, leg was improving and his balance was returning.
But Red Eye never gave him the chance,"Your only job right now is to heal, Master."
And she would handle everything. Sometimes Jun felt irritated. But the truth was simple, he was alive because of her.
That night was quiet and stars were visibly clear. Moonlight filtered through the branches, casting silver patterns on the ground. Jun lay half-reclined under the tree. Red Eye sat on a rock in front of him. Strangely… she felt human.
Jun spoke softly,"How many are left now?"
"Seven… maybe eight," she replied instantly.
Jun nodded,"…Good"
He was about to close his eyes when Red Eye suddenly asked,"Master… why don't you go back?"
Jun opened his eyes with a faint, tired smile,"You know…"
He looked up at the sky,"If my family in Elysira finds out… They won't let me come back here again."
Red Eye stayed quiet.
Jun's voice lowered,"Dad will stop me. Shreya will think I've lost my mind. They'll say… surviving was enough."
After a paused,"…But it's not enough for me."
Red Eye kept watching him.
Jun closed his eyes,"I can't go back like this."
His fist slowly tightened,"I have to become the strongest here… no matter the cost."
Then Red Eye spoke Softly,"You don't seem weak to me."
Jun glanced sideways,"Oh?"
She replied plainly,"You looks like stupid, Stubborn, and Sometimes annoying."
A small smile formed on Jun's lips,"That's it?"
Red Eye moved closer.Moonlight reflected on her glowing eye,"…But I still like you."
Jun froze,"…What?"
"I like protecting, watching and if you died… I'd feel bad a lot."
Jun coughed awkwardly,"Are you… flirting?"
"Yes,"red eye said.
Jun narrowed his eyes,"Are you a power soul… or a problem?"
"Both"
Jun laughed for real a small, genuine laugh maybe after many days. And for a moment... even the pain in his chest felt lighter.
Red Eye asked softly,"If I were human… would you take me on a date, Master?"
Jun replied instantly,"No"
"So rude…" she said, pretending to be offended.
Jun closed his eyes with a faint smile,"You talk too much."
"And you listen too much,"red eye said.
Before he could say anything more his breathing slowed relaxed. Red Eye's voice continued… soft, peaceful and flirty. And somewhere between her teasing… and his fading responses Jun fell asleep.
Next morning Cold light touched Jun's face. His eyes slowly opened. For a few seconds his mind was blank. Then he looked around but Red Eye wasn't there. Jun immediately sat up. His expression changed.
"…Red Eye?"