Aric scanned the horizon, his eyes squinting against the dust-filled wind. The barren wasteland stretched on. It was like a desolate sea of cracked earth and decaying remnants.
But as time flew by, eventually his stomach growled with hunger.
"Groowwlll..."
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath. "I need to find something to eat."
But that was easier said than done. While there were a lot of trees in sight, Aric knew better than to just eat the fruits of a random tree.
Suddenly, his eyes flickered, catching a glimpse of movement nearby. A group of rabbits hopped cautiously among the debris. Their fur was mottled and thin.
Seeing the rabbits, Aric's heart raced.
Food.
"Alright, time to catch my prey" he whispered to himself, focusing his attention on the unsuspecting herd. Aric channeled his meager magical energy, feeling the familiar tingle of power course through his veins. It was a very basic spell which allowed one to become a little faster and increased stealth.
Aric had used this spell a lot of times to escape his bullies in the past. Unfortunately, this kind of spell had very little use apart from running in the magical world
"Easy now..." he thought, keeping his eyes locked on his target. "Just a bit closer."
As if sensing the danger, the group of rabbits' ears suddenly twitched.. But it was too late. With a burst of speed, Aric lunged forward and snatched one of the rabbits from the ground.
"Gotcha!" he exclaimed triumphantly. His eyes shone with relief. "You're gonna keep me alive another day, my friend."
Aric did not feel much sympathy for the creature, knowing full well the struggle to survive in this unforgiving world.
"Sorry, buddy," he whispered, tightening his grip on the rabbit. "It's you or me out here."
But as Aric examined his catch, he noticed something off about the rabbit. Its skin was covered in an unnatural sheen, and its eyes seemed to emit an eerie glow.
"What is this strange energy? I feel that if I eat this rabbit, I will die sooner or later" he muttered, puzzled by the strangeness of the situation
Determined not to let it go to waste, Aric decided to use one of his support magic spells: Cleanse. It was a spell often used by magical healers to rid the body of toxins and impurities.
Of course, Aric knew was only the most basic version of that spell.
"Cleanse," he chanted, focusing his energy on the rabbit. A soft, white light enveloped the creature
But nothing happened.
"Cleanse, Cleanse, Cleanse" Aric kept on chanting the spell, knowing that while each individual spell of his was weak, he could cast it again and again to remove the impurities.
Eventually, after 10 or so casts of Cleanse, the rabbit's appearance finally changed. The sheen and glow disappeared, replaced by healthy-looking fur and clear, natural eyes.
"Phew, that should do it," Aric sighed, relieved. He was almost out of mana, so he was grateful that the impurities was not too much. Of course, he could slowly recover his mana, but he would probably die of hunger till that time
Aric quickly set about preparing a makeshift fire using stones and some dry brushwood.
As the rabbit roasted over the flames, the tantalizing smell filled the air. Aric's stomach growled loudly, reminding him of just how hungry he truly was.
"Almost there," he told himself, trying to be patient. "Just a few more minutes, and I can finally eat."
Finally, unable to wait any longer, Aric tore into the succulent rabbit meat, savoring every bite.
"Amazing..." he thought, his spirits lifting with each mouthful. "I might actually survive another day."
But then, suddenly, he heard a rustling sound behind him. Before he could react, a dark figure emerged from the shadows, catching him completely off guard.
"Wha–" Aric managed to stammer, but it was too late. Overwhelmed and surprised, he felt a sharp blow to his head.
"Who are you?" Aric wanted to voice out his thoughts, but couldn't as darkness closed in around him. His body collapsed onto the ground, and unconsciousness claimed him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Aric's head throbbed as his eyes fluttered open. He squinted against the dim light, struggling to make sense of his surroundings. Panic surged through him when he realized his limbs were bound tightly.
"Finally awake, are you?" a voice drawled. Aric's gaze snapped toward the source, and he found himself staring at a beautiful girl with ebony hair and piercing blue eyes. She stood with her arms crossed, clearly establishing dominance.
"Who... who are you?" Aric stammered, his emerald eyes narrowing in confusion.
"Su Jing," she replied curtly. "And I'm the one who saved your life. Or at least I thought that I did"
"Saved my life?" Aric snorted. "By tying me up?"
"Can't be too careful," Su Jing countered, her gaze unwavering. "I saw you hunting the rabbits. I was sure that you would die after eating too much of that rabbit meat. But then.. sigh never mind. Now, tell me who you are and what you're doing out here."
"Name's Aric. I'm just a wanderer... trying to survive," he replied cautiously, his mind racing to find a plausible explanation for his presence in this world.
"Survive?" Su Jing raised an eyebrow. "You were eating a freshly hunted rabbit without irradiating it. And it turned out that neither the rabbit nor you have the slightest bit of radiation. You expect me to believe that you are just a random scavenger?"
"Well, that was.. nothing special," Aric was nervous. He hoped to keep his true origins hidden. "I am just used to eating meat like this"
Su Jing's eyes narrowed. "I don't trust you, Mr. Liar."
Suddenly she appeared behind Aric, her hands holding a slightly rusted knife close to his neck.
"So, here's how this is going to work: Tell me everything—no lies—or I'll slit your throat." Su jing threatened
Aric swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. He was trapped. "Alright," he muttered, his thoughts scrambling for a delicate balance between truth and deceit. "I am a mage, that is why I was able to clean the rabbit of impurities"
"A mage?" Su Jing's interest seemed piqued. "A mage as in someone who knows magic?"
"Long story," Aric said, avoiding her gaze. "Let's I did not plan to be here"
"Uh-huh." Su Jing's tone clearly conveyed her doubt. "And where did you learn your magic?"
"A... a distant place," he hedged, hoping she wouldn't press for specifics.
"Try again," Su Jing snapped, her patience wearing thin. "This is your last chance, Aric."
"Fine!" he blurted out, desperation spurring him to honesty. "I come from another world! One filled with magic and wonder!"
"Another world?" Su Jing's eyes widened, her skepticism momentarily replaced by surprise. "Do you really expect me to believe that?"
"Believe it or not, it's the truth," Aric insisted, his voice strained. "I have nothing left to hide."
"Nothing?" Su Jing stared at him intently, her suspicion still lingering in the air. She was far from convinced, but something in Aric's desperate plea seemed to give her pause.
Before Su Jing could respond, a sudden beeping from her surveillance screen interrupted their tense exchange. She glanced at it and saw the blips indicating movement surrounding their location. Her expression darkened as she realized what was happening.
"Bandits," she gritted out, turning back to Aric. "We're surrounded. Listen carefully, they probably don't know there are two of us here. You need to stay hidden, and when the time is right, make a run for it."
"Wait, what about you?" Aric's concern was evident in his voice, despite their strained relationship. "I can't just leave you behind!"
"Focus on surviving first," Su Jing commanded. "Now hide!" She untied him quickly and pushed him away.
Aric hesitated, but he knew better than to argue with Su Jing. He crawled into a nearby cupboard, barely fitting himself inside. From his cramped hiding place, he heard the sound of the door opening, followed by gruff voices echoing through the room.
"Time to pay up, girl," one of the bandits sneered. "You know the drill—protection money or face the consequences."
"Protection?" Su Jing scoffed. "You're nothing more than thugs preying on the vulnerable. I refuse to pay you anything!"
The bandits laughed, clearly amused by her defiance. "You've got guts, girl," one of them praised as the other approached her menacingly. "But that won't do you any good here."
Su Jing's hands tightened into fists and Aric, who was hiding in the cupboard, felt his heart racing in anticipation. Clearly, a fight was going to break out
Su Jing's fingers tightened around the hilt of her knife, her eyes narrowing as she gauged the bandits' movements.
The first bandit lunged without warning. His attack was fast and fierce. Su Jing sidestepped it, her blade meeting his with a clash of steel against steel. She pivoted, landing a swift kick to his abdomen, but the other bandits seized the opportunity, striking from different angles.
Su Jing had seen her fair share of encounters, after all, she was a survivor of this ruthless post-apocalyptic world.
Yet, the bandits are no novices. Their attacks grow more coordinated, and a barrage of blows forced Su Jing to retreat.
Fighting two or more people at the same time was no joke. Su Jing's instincts guided her through the chaos. She ducked a swing and dodged a second, but the third bandit's attack found its mark—a blow that sent her stumbling.
"Feisty," the bandit leader laughed. "You always were. But remember, if you don't pay up, all my boys will have a turn with you."
Aric's heart raced, his fingers gripping the edge of the cupboard door. He knew he couldn't just stand by while Su Jing faced danger alone.
Suddenly, inspiration struck Aric.
Aric closed his eyes, focusing on the small amount of magic he held within him. A spark of energy coursed through him, and soon the room started getting filled with a thick cloud of smoke.
The bandits coughed and stumbled, temporarily blinded by the sudden fog.
"You damn whore, what sorcery is this??" One of the bandits cried out.
In that moment of distraction, Aric seized the opportunity. He leaped out of the cupboard and grabbed a rusty pipe from the ground, lunging at the bandits. "Get away from her!" He yelled.
The bandits froze, caught off guard by Aric's sudden attack. Su Jing was quick to recover, slashing at them with her knife.
The bandits, although surprised, were no easy prey. They retaliated, but due to their sight being obstructed by the smoke, they had a much harder time countering the agile Su Jing.
Also, the smoke caused their coordination to break and they could no longer gang up on her.
"Ahhhh this bitch just stabbed my abdomen. Get her" The Bandit leader cried out.
But the other bandits were not doing well as well. Su Jing was nimble, and in a matter of minutes, she had stabbed the bandits multiple times.
"Retreat. Retreat for now. Ahhh you damn bitch we will remember this..." The bandit leader shouted out orders and started to run away.
Su Jing was about to give chase. After all, it was best to kill the bandits off when they were weak. But suddenly....
Thud!!
Su Jing turned around, only to see Aric lying unconscious on the ground.