Faced with the repulsive scene that was before her eyes, Emma had to hold on so as not to vomit when she smelled the putrid smell of dead chickens' bodies. With her hand covering her mouth, she quickly turned in the opposite direction of the bushes and walked a little, taking her hand out of her mouth and pulling fresh air into her lungs. A few moments later, she felt that Alay and her father approached her, which made her turn to them.
- Alay, what kind of animals do you usually have in your backyard beside the ones you breed? - She asked, still a little nauseous because of the strong odor.
- Not one bold enough to invade a farm, as far as I know. I've explored the woods near the city, never seen anything dangerous there, this is new even for me.
- Man, if there's nothing in this forest then I'm a nun! The thing that ate those chickens is at least the size of a big dog, I think it's hard that anyone has ever seen anything like that.
- Now that you've spoken, I think I have an idea of what it might be - Alay´s Father said, turning his gaze to the house. - I'll get something, stick around, but don't go too far.
They both agreed, nodding their heads. When the boy's father turned around, Emma fell to the ground, being hugged by the fresh, well-cared-for grass. Alay was surprised by the girl's action, who reciprocated with a look of doubt and curiosity.
- What is it? Aren't you going to lay down too? - she inquired, surprising the young man with the question.
- Lie down? Why I should?
- That's not the point. At times like this, you should be asking yourself, "Why not?" Come on, it won't hurt you.
With a little hesitation, Alay lay down on the grass, feeling the comfort of the soft and natural caress of the grass, allowing the sensation to dominate his body. A long period of silence between the two had passed, which left the boy embarrassed. He wanted to talk, but he didn't know what to talk about. As soon as he found the first subject that came to mind, he let the words out of his mouth.
- Emma... what did you do before all this? - the words flew in the calm breeze but hit the girl hard because she didn't expect such a question.
She tried to mentalize the most appropriate response, but couldn't find anything to satisfy her. Although it was a simple questioning, it became a profound inquiry, which echoed in Emma's mind like the ringing of an ancient forgotten bell, awakening dormant memories that were lost in the depths of her mind.
She closed her eyes and can imagine her, together with her parents, having breakfast like any other family. After that, just loneliness, codes and many hours lost facing the computer. The technology of the world in which she lived took up much of her life, and she was aware of what it would cost her, but she only realized how much she lost when she opened her eyes and contemplated the immensity of the blue sky.
Normally, she wouldn't expose herself to someone she just met, but her emotions took over her actions, making her vent right there.
- I was someone happy before, I lived with my parents, went to school early and came back in the afternoon to stay with them. However, all that changed when I moved to New York on account of my university. I thought I'd be heading towards a dream, but the city showed me its claws and teeth, and I, thinking they weren't real, let myself be torn apart by it - she paused, sighing and directing her gaze to the horizon, where she found the same exuberant scene as before. She tried to mentalize a continuation for this, but her mind was cloudy and confused in this part. - In the end, I became a reclusive, disorganized and lazy person, because I let the false comfort of an easy routine swallow me whole. And then... - when she realized he had arrived at the time to talk about how she had got there, she made up some kind of lie. - I died in an accident, I got hit by a car, that's how I ended up here. - she concluded, looking into the boy's eyes, that he faced her with a look of pity and sadness.
- You... you're lying, aren't you?
Upon receiving this question, she did not know how to answer it, leaving no reaction.
- What?
- You lied about your death, I know it. When you lie, you smile, it was the same thing when you said you were a person who helped others - Realizing that she was trapped, Emma continued listening, astonished. - I would normally just ignore it, but I couldn't this time. Everything except your death was real, I know that thanks to his clear expression of melancholy and regret. I got it right, didn't I?
Beaten, she accepted the defeat and smiled at him.
- Yeah, you got me, I can't refute it. And this time, that smile is for real - she laughed, making Alay laugh too. - And you, how did you end up here?
- Well, I... - He tried to talk, but was soon interrupted by the sudden appearance of his father, who appeared in front of them with a very old and beaten book.
- Did I interrupt you? - he asked, throwing a smile at them both. Although he had an explosive side, Emma noticed that the man could also be a good father. In his hands, he carried an untitled book with an old red leather cover.
- No, we were just talking while you were gone - Emma sat down and put her arms around her knees. - So, what kind of book you got there?
- You reminded me of something I bought from a nomadic merchant who visited this town a few weeks ago. It is a book with the fauna of the region, it is good for those who want to be farmers. - With a quick turn of the hand, he showed the pages of the book to them. On the paper, there was a roughly drawn drawing that looked like a kind of big lizard with distinct characteristics from anything Emma had ever seen in her life. - They call it the Saber Dragon, a reptile species that hunts at night. Because it is rare to find it does not have much information about it, but the size and footprints match with previous records
- A lizard, huh? I think it's less dangerous than wolves or wild dogs, but we still don't know what that liquid is that he leaves around. - Alay commented, trying to formulate an idea in his mind.
- It must be a kind of goo he uses to make it easier to get through the fence, our little friend must be a little fat because of his last meals - Emma cogitated, bringing her face closer to the drawing to try to see more details. - This thing has thorns too, besides these huge fangs coming out of his mouth...
- It can't be more than a big lizard, you can kill easily. - said Alay's father, not paying much attention to the drawing. - So, Miss Emma, you're gonna kill him, right?
At that moment, the long-awaited symbol indicating a mission to be accepted appeared above the man's head, emanating a soft golden glow. And in front of Emma, a text box opened, asking if she would like to accept the mission. Without hesitation, she selected the option that said "yes", disappearing with the hologram.
- All right, it's done! So what about my payment...
- Do you want to talk about the reward yet? You young people today are really in a hurry. Anyway, what's the value you want? We can negotiate or...
- I'd like to get some equipment.
- Equipment? What kind?
- You know, protection and a weapon. That animal shouldn't have such sharp teeth, so I think a thicker outfit and a knife should do.
- Well... I don't know if I have it, but I'll see you after dinner. Let's wait for the night to come, it won't do any good to look for that thing while the sun is still in the sky.
- All right, I'll be waiting out here.
- Are you sure? You can join us if you want.
- It's okay, I'm not hungry.
⥏☉☉✡☉☉⥑
As Alay's family dined, Emma watched the sun increasingly disappear on the horizon as she thought not only of the situation she was in but also a little more about herself. The more the years passed, the more the sands of time carried the girl's memories with them, making the simple act of remembering what had happened before her 18th birthday a difficult one.
It was as if she was depriving herself of the past, locking her memories with a lock whose key had long since been lost. From time to time, she was able to overcome the limits imposed on her mind and recover some fragments of memories. Gathering the pieces she's achieved over time, she's managed to rebuild a part of her past, her childhood. It was the best phase of her life, where she could play and do everything with his parents and relatives, even had some friends at school. Everything that came after that was covered by a dense fog that prevented it from reaching any other memory. Maybe that would change over time, it was impossible to know.
Before she could continue thinking about her past, Alay walked out the front door, carrying a plate of some food and a mug.
- Alay, I said no... - She would go on, but it was interrupted by the boy.
- You smiled again at that hour, so it was a lie. - he said, smiling shyly.
- Who do you think you are to keep reading me like that? - she asked, sighing and turning his gaze to him.
- Nobody important, but I wouldn't let you starve just because you are pretending to be strong.
.
- Shut up, you idiot... - After being quiet for a few more seconds, she surrendered to the smell of cooked meat and vegetables and took the plate along with Alay's cutlery and hand mug and started eating the food.
- See? It's easier, to tell the truth than to fool yourself
In response, he only obtained incomprehensible words, which, judging from Emma's mouth, were probably insults and curses. With a smile on his face, he sat on the floor next to her.
- We do not starve to death in this world, but the feeling does not go away until we satiate it. - he spoke, handing the mug to the girl, who took it calmly and took a sip.
- And you have a way to die? Isn't the purpose of this reality exactly to live forever?
- Yeah, but for now this place is just a prototype. - he said, looking at the first stars that had begun to appear in the sky - It may not seem so, but this world is not yet complete. This is Yharag Alpha, the first stage of Re: Birth development. As long as they don't finish the passage to the next stage, we are subject to errors and bugs from this place. That includes death, which is not canceled. If you die here, the data about you is deleted from the server, that is, it's over for you.
- It's a very risky undertaking, i think. But I think that when it comes to their own lives and those of their relatives, human beings ignore any risk and choose to take a shot in the dark. - Emma said, wondering if anyone would do the same for her, she did not get an answer, paying attention again to her plate, which was almost at the end.
- It's our nature, to do what isn't it?
- But it doesn't have to be. I never get carried away by the feeling, I always try to be as rational as possible to succeed in everything I do.
- That way life gets dull. Everything is much more fun and exciting when you act without thinking, guided only by feeling.
- But it's still the dumbest way to work things out. - he said, finishing eating.
- You never tried, how could you know? Without experience, it's hard to know what it's like or not.
Before the discussion continued, Alay's father walked out the door carrying a wooden box and headed towards them.
- The time has come, people. - he said, with a serious expression. - You said you wanted your reward for the equipment job, Miss Adams. Well, here he is. - spoke, opening the box carefully.
Anxious, the girl approached and saw a black suit and a white suit folded next to a serrated knife.
- I bought this for my wife in case she needed to go to the central city, but she never had to use it, so in order not to throw money away, I'll give it to you.
Taking the white garment and unfolding it, it turned out to be a white overcoat made of some kind of thicker fabric, which should offer more adequate protection than a simple peasant's clothing.
Accompanied by this was black pants made of the same fabric. Finally, Emma analyzed the weapon given to her and confirmed its apparent quality.
- That'll do for now. Thank you, sir.
- You don't have to keep calling me that, it makes me feel old. My name is Paul, Paul Morgan.
- All right, then. Thanks, Mr. Paul.
- And I just said... Ah, anyway! Go try on the clothes!
Without saying anything else, Emma asked for permission and went inside the residence, returning from there a few minutes later, quite different from what she was before.
She looked mysterious and threatening, almost as if she had become a nocturnal predator. Perhaps it was because of the contrast between her garments, or it could be the intense blue color of her eyes shining in the night, which was bathed in the moonlight. Grabbing the knife, it struck the air, giving several sequences of attacks to practice. Feeling confident and prepared, she looked at Alay and her father and gave a determined smile.
- This time, the hunter turned the hunt! Let's kill that thing!