「 CHAPTER 10: Understanding 」
Due to the curse the ring gave me of having incurable insomnia, I used my time cooped up inside my hut and further explored the Menu and the other windows.
As the morning came, I went Eugene to ask him questions and discuss about my punishment.
As I was on my way, I came across Khali Meil from my class. She was jogging when we happened to bump into each other, she was surprised to see me as I was surprised to see her.
I felt a sort of relief seeing a classmate of mine. We exchanged greetings and went on our way.
When I was reaching close to Eugene's, I was stopped once again by two guards, but they immediately recognized who I was and let me enter.
I was gonna knock on his door to see if he was awake, but when I was about to, the door opened. As soon as I saw the door open I was surprised to see that It wasn't the School Head, but a female student from a different program carrying a bucket half filled with water and some cloth.
We met eyes and she was startled to see me, I couldn't say hi or even good morning because she ran away immediately. I squinted, suspicion growing as I started questioning myself if this man was a good person.
I entered his hut and closed the door behind me. He was sitting on his chair as usual waiting for me as if he was expecting me to come.
"Who was that girl?"
"Oh, Shirley? She was on duty cleaning my hut. Why?"
I took upon myself to sit down on the chair right beside his table.
"Forget it, I have some questions to ask-"
"I know, It's about the Skills right?"
"How'd you know? Have you been aware?"
My suspicion grew larger as my questions piled over.
He then gaze straight into my eyes.
"The incident last night, the guards told me that the prisoner was gone and there were burn marks on the floor."
"You used magic didn't you?"
I got up and stepped back from him as I was surprised by his knowledge of magic. This man, he knows something.
He got up and moved toward the window, I kept my distance from him because I was unsure if he was a threat to me. He held his hand behind his back and said.
"I know about this world..." I was startled as soon as those words went inside my ears.
"It was your friend, Cad, who told us everything about this world."
My eyes widened and my jaw dropped from disbelief.
"He knew that we're inside of the world of a game?" He turned to look at me and nods.
And then suddenly, memories flashed in my mind, It was the time when I invited Cad to play the game. He studied the game's lore and mechanics before playing because he was just like that.
"A week has passed after we formed a search party to come look for you, and he demanded a one-on-one meeting with me privately. And so I agreed."
"He told me that this world we are currently in, is the world from a game called [ LEGACY ]."
He told me about the Menu and other Windows and taught me how to use them.
That's why we were able to function well in this dire situation, that's why we were able to eat and make houses for each and every person here.
"But last time he told me that you guys still don't know where we are."
"He probably said that to protect you, because if you knew, then you'd do something stupid."
"I told the principal about it along with the other school staff to ensure the safety of the students. At first, they didn't believe us, but after Cad showed them the Windows, they froze and were awestruck."
"He told the principal who had the [ Build ] and [ Layout ] skills to make a hut for you only, because every person here has to sleep with a buddy because it was efficient."
"And he appointed us reliable and trustworthy students with skills that can protect people, and formed the force, Guardian Elites, with Cad being the Captain."
Eugene looked at the window and pointed his hand at the students outside of his hut.
"From the food and water, to clothes and furnitures and other necessities. Cad brought us people who had amazing survival Skills that shaped the camp."
He also mentioned that people who already had skills, are people who are true to what they want to be in life, true to their feelings and to their dreams. The skills represents who you are and what you want to be.
Kayden's eyes widened in shock as the realization hit him. He had always viewed the camp as a well-established, almost natural part of their world, but hearing that Cad had played a pivotal role in its development was a revelation.
The news struck him like a bolt from the blue, filling him with a mix of astonishment and deep respect.
A surge of mixed emotions overwhelmed him—surprise at the extent of Cad's influence, admiration for the unseen effort and leadership that had shaped their environment, and a hint of sadness for the friend whose contributions had been taken for granted.
The weight of Cad's legacy hung heavy, a poignant reminder of his impact and the complex layers of their shared history.
Tears started coming out from my eyes, and emotions that I thought I'd forgotten flowed back to my heart.
Kayden starts crying on the School Head's table as he comes to know that Cad's sacrifice wasn't in vain. The empty feeling inside him started filling up once more, and the emotions he tried to get rid of, came back. Kayden finally accepts his friend's departure and sacrifices to the camp and he will forever remember him, the camp will always be a reminder of Cad's sacrifice and why Kayden needs to find a way back to Earth.
After a while, Kayden finally stopped crying and mourning for his dead friend. The School Head went back to take a seat on his chair again.
"About your punishment..."
I didn't react much because I was ready for my punishment and to be exiled out of the camp. I was ready to leave the camp anytime once he permitted it.
"I will allow you to stay here at the camp for seven days and before midnight comes of your last day here at the camp, you must be already gone." I was surprised. I was even expecting him to let me stay, but I guess he sticks to his words.
The School Head thought to himself while looking at Kayden with a relieved look.
"I wanted to tell him that Cad was also the one who requested me to kick you out if you ever kill someone." It turns out that Cad predicted that Kayden would do such actions and previously requested Kayden's exile if the prediction did happen.
The School Head smiled as he saw Kayden's face now happy and full of determination.
「 END OF CHAPTER 10 」