Six months after the iconic return of Laura to the human settlement, things were slowly changing for the better as Nike's group slowly spread its influence.
Its stone walls and badly kept structures that before were filled to the brim with lost souls of those out of the leader's inner circle now were much more vibrant and filled with life. Many still starved and suffered, as this was a basic condition of this hell of world they found themselves in.
The city was built hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago by the ancient dwellers of the rift, but not all knew of it. In fact, only the top brass of rulers that inherited the settlement in the first place and now some members of the Stardust faction (As it was starting to be known as) knew of the existence of past intelligent life.
Thus, to the new dwellers, the city seemed off, its architecture alien, its layout confusing and even its defenses lacking.
Many had to be mobilized every day to fend off monster coming from above and below.
As this specific day rose, the populace was ready to begin their daily survival routine.
However, news spread through the city, spoken in hushed tones and whispers.
''Have you heard? A new batch of awakened has started to arrive once more...'
''Really? Isn't it too early for new kids to be dragged here?''
''Yes, but the cycles have been growing shorter every year. But what worries me are the supplies, how are we going to feed this many people when so many starve already?''
''If only those bastards at the castle distributed the rations equally, but they have to keep their one troops better fed...''
A climate of tense worry was festering all around the city, and this did not go unnoticed by any of the factions in the settlement. Many knew what fate most of the young ones arriving had, as most weren't lucky enough to be teleported close to the city.
In front of the Stardust cohort's building, a young man with green army cut hair ordered everyone around.
''Get ready and be quick! We have to try and scout for more survivors instead of just hunting for food and blood, so the trip will be longer today!''
The troops rallied around him and all responded enthusiastically, everyone knew that despite the risks, joining this cohort was much better than slaving away at the castle. At least here they felt some purpose.
Inside the neatly cleaned, and polished, despite still kind of empty of furniture were two girls, one with entirely silver hair, elegant features and a somewhat tall stature, the other was a little shorter, had brown hair with its tips dyed white going to her shoulders.
Nike, the silver haired girl, spoke out loud to her sister in a worried tone:
''No! You aren't coming with us, and that is final. You've gotten a lot stronger, and that I can agree with, but I can't pay attention to you while there will be newbies to protect!''
''I can protect myself! What if we somehow find Jack out there?!'' An inaudible voice rang inside Nike's head, as in the time between Jack's fall and now, both sisters hunted a beast together and had found out that it was able to telepathically communicate with its kin.
After a grueling fight, they had managed to hunt the weird monkey-like monster and use its blood and brain to create a telepathy amulet. It was no cochlear implant that would allow Laura to hear again, but at least she could now better communicate. As for the reason that said implants were no longer used in society, it was that specially for awakened, having something made of metal implanted in their head could become deadly and there were many other ways to balance said disabilities.
''If we do meet him, I'll bring him back just like the rest of the new awakened! There is no need to risk your life going out, and I promise I'll keep my eyes open for him.''
''I'm not a reliability! I can help, and even better than any of your cohort's members.'' She retorted.
''You're so stubborn, Laura! Even if it's easier for you to communicate with others, it doesn't mean your weaknesses are completely out of the equation. And even if you can ask for help, your senses are still limited, only after becoming a warrior will we have a chance to overcome that! Damn, none of us can surpass the warrior level until we leave this damned place!''
''I've survived only with Jack for almost a week out there, I can take care of myself in a day trip! But you won't listen to me anyway!'' She yelled quite loudly in her sister's mind before storming out.
''... I hope she doesn't do anything reckless...'' Uttered Nike with a sigh.
When Laura was furiously leaving the building despite its unusual level of movement, many gave her condescending and judgmental looks.
'' There we go again...'' some whispered.
''The little princess gets to pass another deadly mission.'' Another scowled.
''Hey!'' The gossipers heard a shout from behind them and turned to see the green-haired man who had been directing them earlier.
''So... if you guys have time to talk of someone else behind their backs, I'm guessing you have energy to spare, why don't you go and pickup all the rope we ordered in the city?'' He continued, much to the two troublemaker's sadness.
A young dark skinned, muscular woman wearing full armor approached him.
''I don't see why these folks are bothering someone who is obviously stronger than she appears and who is visibly disappointed that they aren't coming with us. She is even slowly starting to go on her own hunts and other adventures.''
''Looks surely are deceiving, miss Tiana.'' answered the young man.
She laughed. ''Why are you always so stiff, mister nobility!? You should loosen up a bit or no girl will ever pay attention to you.'' Teased Tiana, while walking away to continue her work.
''Don't kill her.'' Thought the noble, trying to calm himself.
In contrast to the lighthearted fun had there, Laura, frustrated and depressed, ran through the city all the way to the edge where she and Jack had gotten separated.
Many people gave her some more odd looks, some with scorn, others with pity. One could say that in the time the two sisters had gotten to the settlement, their antics had been well known to most of the residents. That is one of the reasons no one had messed with the ''defenseless'' Laura, as doing so would make an entire faction your enemy.
Another reason most people would avoid anything related to the young deaf girl were the rumors that had spread on her return. That a single newly awakened man had fought a beast several levels higher than him to defend her, and that he had cried that any injury to her would bring doom.
Most considered that simple baseless rumors, but those that knew had one more reason to ensure no harm would come to her, as a man with that much determination, independent of level, would be quite a hassle to deal with. That is, if he survived, of course.
When she finally arrived at her destined location, Laura stopped and sat down at the edge, with her legs floating above the endless fall.
''Are you okay, Jack?'' She wondered. ''We were together for just a few days, yet why do I still miss you so much? I thought I would be over it by now and my ''regular'' life would return but the more I think of it the more I wish to see you again to talk to you, explain everything to you and have you hear my voice...''
Tears streamed down her face, dropping to never be seen again.
"In the end, you were the only one who treated me properly, who relied on me to help you despite my disability... you trusted me with everything, so don't you dare die down there.
''And when you come back, show everyone that you are not just some random guy who sacrificed himself for, but a true hero that will help everyone out of here, just like my sister.
Well, I guess I'm being a bit unfair to Nike, she never had to rely on anyone before, so I guess, there would be no way she'd rely on me right?''
After some time for letting her emotions go, Laura got up, hoping no one had seen her, and started making her way back to the settlement, also hoping not to see the expedition leaving.
The path was filled with plants and mushrooms just like the inside of the cave she had been before but much more sparsely distributed, allowing her to have a clear and unobstructed sight of most of the surroundings. It was much like a Savannah of fungi interlaced with stone and grass-like mold.
Heading back, she almost stumbled with a beast or two, but quickly hid, waited for it to pass and moved on. Despite her lack of hearing, her vision now was way and above what anyone would expect or know of. Just like before, it had been wide and open but much more, almost reaching perfection and the range of it had also improved too, allowing for a much more precise scouting of dangers.
Laura's scouting was so precise that the moment something entered her field of view, she would hide and eventually shoot down a few of the weaker ones, getting herself some blood. She didn't want to depend on her sister for everything anymore and a step to take which she implemented in the last few months was to hunt down her own blood and meat, only buying water in the city with the money earned from the pelts and corpses of a few higher leveled monsters she had managed to kill.
Maybe in the entire city, only the young merchants that bought from her were aware of how actually dangerous the seemingly fragile girl was. As they could see that she never after returning from her fall had actually gotten hurt hunting, hell most of what she hunted seemed to die in one very precise shot to eye.
To them, the girl who returned was not the same as the one who had been kicked out of the settlement, and in her place was a fierce warrior that was constantly being underestimated.
''Take care in your next hunt, Lady Starburst! Show them what you're made of!'' Said one of the merchants when she was leaving.
In response, she smiled and nodded.
''I guess not everyone here is that oblivious to what I can do, I guess.'' She thought, leaving the central marketplace area and returning to the base of the Starburst faction.
Thankfully for her, when she arrived there was no one there anymore, except for some base personnel, some bodyguards, and in general, those tasked with keeping the fort up while the main forces were out looking for newbies to save and, hopefully, recruit.
Laura let out a big sigh of relief, but some part of her was disappointed that she couldn't try and convince her sister again.
''Sis must've left earlier to not give me that chance.''
Everything was pretty quiet as usual in case of an expedition, so she managed to sneak past pretty much everyone and head to her room in the building. It was just like most other rooms, made of stone and lacking furniture, but Laura's had an old bow hanging, a big bed, and a window spreading the orange and blue lights of dawn.
She stared at the beautiful sun rising on the horizon with a somber expression and wished:
''Please find him, I haven't even repaid him yet, and be safe, sister.''
When she finished her prayer, something caught her attention closeby, On the rooftop of a nearby building there was a masked man in an entirely translucent state, he seemed to be looking intently at this building, feeling safe that no one would be able to see him.
However, when he began running towards the Starburst Base, someone did see him.