The clearing had settled into a tense quiet, the smoke from the earlier battle still hanging in the air. Sera was deep in conversation with Zyra, the adrenaline of the fight finally wearing off. Her muscles ached, her mana reserves were depleted, but her mind was still sharp, processing the events of the day.
Time seemed to slow down as Sera and Zyra continued their exchange, the firelight casting flickering shadows over their tired forms. But just as the two were starting to discuss their next move, a sudden impact knocked Sera off balance.
What the hell?
In an almost comical slow-motion sequence, a small figure collided with Sera, the camera of their reality capturing every angle of the bizarre scene. Sera's brow furrowed as the stranger slammed into her with unexpected force, sending them both stumbling backward.
"Ack! Get… the fuck off me!" Sera growled, her frustration quickly growing. The pressure of the small body against hers was ridiculous—why is she so strong for such a small person?!
It took a few seconds too many, but as the awkward struggle continued, Sera's irritation spiked. With a sudden, forceful movement, she brought her knuckles down against the woman's back, not hard enough to cause any real damage, but enough to make her point.
The woman yelped, the sound sharp and exaggerated, as she finally released Sera and rolled onto the ground like a wriggling worm.
"Bosssssuu! What was that for?!" the woman whined, her voice high-pitched and full of indignation.
Sera stood over her, blinking in confusion and mild annoyance. She hadn't expected someone to crash into her—let alone someone so loud and uncoordinated. She quickly assessed the situation. The woman had short platinum blonde hair that stuck out in various directions, and wide green eyes that shone with youthful energy, despite the chaos that had just unfolded. She was small, both in stature and build, but her sudden display of strength was surprising, almost laughable.
A small bump had formed on the woman's forehead where Sera had struck her, and she was now rubbing it with both hands, pouting in the most dramatic way possible. "Ow, ow, ow…"
"Who the hell are you?" Sera muttered, the irritation still lingering in her voice as she stared down at the newcomer.
The woman rolled to her knees, still rubbing her forehead with a pout. "Ava. And that hurt! You didn't have to hit me!" she protested, throwing a quick glare up at Sera.
Sera raised an eyebrow, glancing at Zyra for an explanation, but Zyra simply shrugged, just as confused as Sera. "I don't know her at all," Sera muttered, her tone flat and unamused.
Zyra couldn't help but chuckle softly under her breath, the absurdity of the situation breaking the tension slightly. "She's persistent, I'll give her that."
Ava puffed up her chest, trying to appear more composed now that the moment had passed. "I'm the leader of the convoy… or at least, what's left of it," she said, her voice softening as she glanced around at the remains of the battlefield. The proud tone she had used a moment ago faltered as the weight of reality hit her again. Her once-strong convoy was in ruins, and the engineers she had worked with were either dead or scattered.
Sera crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. "You're the leader? Of what, exactly?"
Ava stood up fully, brushing the dirt from her clothes with a sigh. "Well… not much anymore. We were transporting equipment and supplies through the forest, but, as you can see, things didn't exactly go according to plan."
Her words hung in the air for a moment, the grimness of their situation creeping back into the conversation. Sera's gaze softened ever so slightly, though she still wasn't fully convinced about this tiny engineer who had crashed into her.
"You're not exactly… helpful," Sera said bluntly, her eyes narrowing. "You almost got yourself killed back there."
Ava's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she crossed her arms defensively. "I was trying to help! I thought I could… I don't know, do something." She hesitated, her voice growing quieter. "I didn't want to just stand by while everyone else fought."
Sera rolled her eyes. "You got in the way more than you helped."
Zyra, watching the exchange with a smirk, couldn't resist adding her own comment. "You have a knack for making an entrance though."
Ava shot her a glare, but there was no malice in it. "Look, I know I'm not a fighter," she admitted, her tone more serious now. "But I'm good with tech, and I know how to fix things. We've lost a lot of people, but there are still a few survivors left. Twelve, I think." She gestured vaguely in the direction of the remaining convoy members who had huddled together in the distance. "We could use help. And I… I want to stick with you two. You're strong. I think I'd be safer with you."
Sera's gaze hardened again. "And why would I let you tag along?" she asked. "You've done nothing but get in the way so far."
Ava bit her lip, clearly frustrated but also desperate. "Because I can help!" she insisted. "You need someone who knows tech, right? You don't even have a Specialization Unit yet, do you? I could build one for you! You're strong, but with an SU, you could be even stronger."
Sera raised an eyebrow at that. The idea of having someone who could actually build her a Specialization Unit was tempting. Her sequences were strong, but without the amplification and speed an SU provided, she was at a disadvantage in prolonged fights. Still, she didn't want to make a decision based solely on that.
"Look, just give me a chance," Ava continued, her voice pleading. "I know I'm not much use in a fight, but I swear I can help in other ways. Just… don't leave me out here on my own."
Sera glanced at Zyra again, her expression unreadable. Zyra, for her part, gave a small shrug. "Might not be a bad idea," she offered, her tone casual. "She's annoying, but she's got guts. Plus, if she can actually build you an SU, it might be worth it."
Sera sighed, her internal debate visible on her face. She didn't like the idea of taking on more responsibility, especially for someone like Ava. But at the same time, she couldn't deny the logic in what Zyra said. Having someone who could handle tech might give them an edge they needed.
"Fine," Sera finally said, her voice begrudging. "You can come with us. But don't expect me to babysit you. If you get in the way again, you're on your own."
Ava's eyes lit up with relief, her earlier embarrassment forgotten. "Thank you! I promise I won't let you down," she said, almost bouncing on the spot.
"Yeah, yeah," Sera muttered, already regretting her decision. "Let's check on the rest of the survivors."
They made their way over to the group of engineers who had survived the attack, their faces pale and their expressions weary. Only twelve of them remained, huddled together as they tried to salvage what little was left of their convoy.
Sera's gaze swept over them, her mind already calculating what needed to be done next. This forest was dangerous, and staying in one place too long was asking for trouble.
Ava approached the group, speaking softly to the remaining engineers, offering them a faint smile. She had a natural way of making people feel calmer, despite the devastation around them.
Sera watched from a distance, her arms crossed as she leaned against a tree. She still wasn't sure about Ava, but for now, she had agreed to let her join. And if Ava proved herself useful, then maybe—just maybe—she'd be worth the trouble.
Zyra walked over to stand beside Sera, watching the scene unfold. "She's not what I expected," Zyra said, her voice low.
Sera snorted. "Yeah, tell me about it."
The two stood in silence for a moment before Zyra added, "But she's got potential. We'll see how it goes."
Sera nodded, her gaze drifting back to the small engineer. "We'll see."