"Why is it yellow, this time?"
"Not to mention that it's so... many."
"Well, that proves our 'genius' leader's statement 'the number of safe zones appearing is decreasing' wrong."
"You, shut up first uncle! What's your problem with Gautam you have been trying to prove him wrong from the beginning."
"Hey, my name is not first uncle! Don't start calling me that like our genius leader."
"What's your name then? I'm sure you don't even have one, because you are a third-rated side character."
"That's..."
Before the discussion turns into a conflict I clapped my hands to bring the attention of the group to me.
"All right everyone, how about we take a look at the safe zone? If it's normal like the one we know then... good!"
«A starler is watching you.»
«A starler is watching you.»
Pausing for a moment I looked at the people listing carefully to me. I choose to ignore the system messages, I have been receiving them since the appearance of second safe zone.
"If it's something dangerous, like a monster's living in it, then we just need to retreat. After all the quest is about surviving not entering the safe zone."
"What about the wolves roaming around?"
"Yes what about them, you don't expect us to fight them, do you?"
Hearing the questions of uncle first and second, I smiled.
"Of course not! We will avoid them or use the fishes as a distraction, if they aren't distracted, we can just climb on trees and wait for the countdown to end."
Both the uncles didn't say anything else, nor did anyone else.
"Since no one has any problem let's head to our destination."
I walked to the beam nearest to us followed by Suraj and sturdy, the group walking behind them.
.
.
.
.
The low branches and leaves along with the darkening sky were reducing ours visibly. As we passed through the trees, no one said a single word.
'Are they tensed because of the change in the barrier's colour?'
"Hey Gautam, what do you think is this 'Tutorial'?"
My sister asked out of the blue.
I ponder over the matter for a moment, too have been wondering the same question, 'judging by the situation so far...'
"I think they would teach us how to fight and stuff, it is a tutorial after all."
"Why would they do that?"
The always silent Suraj asked in his heavy voice, ' if he hadn't told me that he is 20 years old I would have thought that he is an uncle from the army'.
"Who knows, to fight monsters maybe?"
"Like the main characters in anime?"
A new friend of mine James asked injecting in our conversation, though I don't mind.
"Maybe? Like... they made the stage to prepare the people for monsters we would be facing later."
"Wow. Sounds cool."
"Hehe. You guys were teenagers, right? That explains your heroic fantasies."
"Oh, it's good to have a young mind."
As James was exclaiming in admiration some people from behind teased us.
"Oh, is that so. Then how about you the 'experienced' people share your opinion."
"Very well then, listen carefully I think that after this we would be taught some management skills in the tutorial, and then we would be chosen by our respective gods to work under them."
"Oh! That's a sound theory, Leo! So that's what the guy meant by people above watching."
"Oh god! I don't want to do more work again."
"Haha..!"
As we walked in the almost dark forest, the tension once present in the group was gone, as they voiced their opinions and laughed at some amusing ones. Even the always gloomy uncle first and second actively participated in the conversation.
*Yelp!*
The bright atmosphere however was broken by a pain-filled yelp of a wolf.
I raised my hand at the group, and the waves of laughter died down. Looking beside me I nodded at Suraj and held my stick tightly.
Suraj walked ahead holding the thick log in both hands.
Passing through a tree he stopped at his track. And didn't move any further.
"What's the matter Suraj?"
There was no response.
A little worried I nodded at my sister and walked toward Suraj.
Grabbing his shoulder I was about to shake him awake when my eyes landed to the side understanding why Suraj was frozen...
Five wolves were lying down or rather their carcass were laying down with holes. The blood flowing from their bodies died the ground red. Standing in the middle of this puddle a boy, around my age was retrieving a spear from Wolf's body.
The boy had black hair and an angular face his clothes were covered with cuts, especially at his right shoulder, giving a peek at his toned body.
Pulling the wooden spear out of Wolf's body he turned to us, his black eyes scanning us.
Suraj standing beside me tensed up, lifting his club ready for an attack.
Putting my hands on his shoulder I walked past him towards the boy.
Standing a step behind the puddle...
"My name is Gautam Raj, 18 years old. I died with my sister in a car accident. Nice to meet you...?"
I introduced myself extending my hands for a shake.
As I did so, I could hear two sighs behind me. Which I choose to ignore for obvious reasons.
The boy walked towards me, fresh blood dripping from his spear.
I couldn't but gulp in fear, but stood my ground.
He arrived in front of me. Just when I was starting to find the silence awkward...
"My name is Tommy, no last name."
Standing upon the puddle of blood, with dead carcasses laying behind, he gave a smile which for some reason looked dangerous.
Grabbing my hand he lightly shook them.
Feeling something wet I looked at my hands...
And for the first time in my life...
"As for how I died?"
My hands were...
"There was a fire, a big one."
Covered in blood.