Zero and Kai sat outside the large stone wall, just left of the entrance they originally had taken to get inside not that long ago.
A fire roared between them as they ate their food in silence.
Zero had prepared two 'Revitalizing Chicken Soup' dishes for each of them to recover the health and fatigue lost from the journey as well as the fight. He took the second one since it was less effective than making it the first time. He had also prepared one of his other 2 bonus dishes, Energetic Rice Ball.
[Recipe: Energetic Rice Ball
Recovers 30% energy. Added outside ingredients can be used to slightly boost the effect.]
This was mainly for Kai as Zero hadn't used THAT much energy between using his two abilities once.
Zero - Exp +225
Kai finished the rice ball and let out a satisfied sigh. "I'm starting to think I should invest in a culinary system. This is too convenient."
"Well, it definitely makes me lack in the offensive area though." Zero added as he twirled his spoon through his unfinished soup.
Kai sat back and looked back at the tall looming wall to their side.
"It's a shame we had to leave empty handed. I'm sorry, Zero."
After Askook made the deep hole for them, Zero had closed the chest and placed it at the bottom so that it can be fully buried this time. Askook had given them one last glare of warning and then he vanished into thin air. They both knew that if they so much as tried a glance at the chest again that it wouldn't hesitate to add their names to his long kill list.
"It is what it is." Zero replied. "We didn't have much choice at our current level."
Kai nodded and let out a long yawn. "Yeah. Well, I'm going to get some sleep before we hit the road back to the city. You should too. It's been a long freaking day." positioned his arms underneath his head and laid down. It was probably only minutes before Zero heard light snoring.
As the hours ticked by into the night, Zero was still awake by the fire. His thoughts were wrapped in on themselves as a single question plagued him: What did Askook mean by he was empty inside?
Kai had said something similar - that they were both hollow inside. That he was missing something.
But what am I missing? Zero thought as he wrapped his arms around his legs. Can someone who is empty inside make it to the end?
Not to mention they made this whole journey for nothing. They still have nothing to trade for the helm or anything for that matter. It's only a matter of time before they run into another player and he was once again going to be dependent on Kai to finish the job. Goes without saying that they got 0 experience since they didn't actually win the fight.
"Still up?"
Zero turned his head as Kai was turned toward him clearly awake.
"I thought you were asleep." Zero responded.
"I have a hard time staying asleep long in this world. No idea why."
The two sat in silence for a bit as the fire crackled lower down. Kai turned on his back and looked up at the sky.
"Do you miss your family at all?" He asked softly.
Zero's eyes widened at the question. He hadn't even once considered the idea that he missed his family. "Honestly, I'm sure they're happier with me not around to hold them back."
Kai sat up. "Why would you even think that?"
Zero knew he could write out an entire list of reasons why he would think that. But, he settled for one.
"My name."
"Your name?"
"Zero means nothing. It has no value. It's absent of any actual worth. That is why my mother and father decided to name me that."
Kai's mouth went agape at the revelation. He had no idea how to respond to that. Zero...he thought.
"It's fine." Zero continued. "I'm doing this not just for them but for everyone - all the kids that lifes are being cut short. The parents who loved their kids who are still grieving them. I want to show my parents that they were wrong about me."
Kai closed his mouth and nodded with a soft smile. "That sounds like a good goal, Zero."
****************
When the sun rose, the two began their journey back to the city. It didn't feel as bad as the first go around and the temperature was rather nice.
They had stayed up a little longer last night talking, but Zero noticed that Kai asked a lot of questions but didn't really give the chance for Zero to ask any of his own. He wondered if he was being secretive for a reason.
Once they made it back, they went straight to Zanzabar's Shop of Accessories and Things to report their results.
Mr. Zanzabar looked over the two of their disappointed faces with his hands cuffed behind his back.
"So there was a dragon still there?" He asked.
"It called itself an 'Echo', whatever that is." Kai stated.
"Ohhh, I see. Based on what was in the chest that would explain why that old boss is still lying around as an Echo."
Zero's ears perked up. It does? What IS an Echo anyways? He thought.
"Hmm. Shame you couldn't get at least one of those eggs though. They really are worth quite a bit."
The pair let the taste of their defeat sink further in.
"Well, I can't just give you the helm as you know. But if you do find anything worth trading, come back by and see if it's still here." He said bluntly.
"Of course. Thank you, Mr. Zanzabar." Kai said. He then turned to leave out the store but stopped short as he saw that Zero wasn't following. "Something wrong?"
Zero waved him on. "You can go ahead, I just need to ask about something."
Kai raised an eyebrow for a moment but decided to go ahead and walk out anyways. Zero and Mr. Zanzabar were now left alone.
"What do you need?" He asked Zero.
Zero had thought long and hard last night about the events of the past 24 hours. And he had come up with a path of his own.
"Can you tell me more about Echos?"