Josie was struck with overwhelming shock upon hearing that all her other companions had perished. For a moment, she found it nearly impossible to accept the brutal reality.
In a low voice, Sakiri asked, "Where do you come from? Are there any others?"
Josie responded slowly, "We hail from a shelter north of the food transfer station. We were sent out on a mission to gather supplies..."
Alecto frowned, his tone cold. "You? In these times, venturing out without a 'Revelator's' ability is recklessly dangerous. How could your shelter have permitted you to embark on such a perilous errand?"
Josie lowered her head, silent. At that moment, beside her, Elain began to stir and awaken.
"J... Josie?! Where are we?" Elain asked, dazed and bewildered.
In a soft voice, Josie explained, "This is another shelter, not ours… these people saved us."
Just then, a voice sounded from the doorway, reporting, "Sakiri, Achilles and the others have returned, but Eos has been injured."
The man continued, "Phoebe sent me to fetch the medic to the entrance."
The medic put down the alcohol he'd been holding and nodded. "Understood, let's go quickly."
Sakiri turned to Cleo, saying, "They're awake, good. In an hour, escort them to the meeting tent; we have matters to discuss."
Cleo nodded, "Understood, I'll bring them over." Sakiri then headed toward the shelter's entrance.
As everyone left the infirmary, Alecto, attempting to appear suave, turned back and waved to Josie and Elain with a playful smile. "See you soon!" he called, blowing them a cheeky kiss.
At the shelter entrance, the medic was inspecting Eos's injured right leg, breathing a sigh of relief. "Good thing you brought the antidote along; without it, Eos might not have made it back."
Achilles explained, "We were ambushed at the food transfer station. It's turned into a nest for 'antlions,' and the sudden attack caught Eos off guard—he got bitten."
The medic murmured thoughtfully, "So it was mutated 'antlions'…"
Achilles raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"
Demetrius quickly chimed in, "Before we met up with you, we encountered five people. They collapsed soon after, poisoned. Three didn't make it, but I sent Alecto and Cleo to bring the other two back to the shelter."
Achilles nodded, "Understood, so those two survivors are here with us, correct?"
Just then, Sakiri arrived and nodded. "Indeed. We're holding a meeting shortly, Achilles, make your preparations. Eos, follow the medic back to the infirmary for treatment—no need for you to attend this time. Oh, and Alecto, head to the forward defenses and summon Nasis, Miyagi, and the 'newcomer' to the meeting as well."
Inside the meeting tent, as everyone took their seats, Sakiri stood and addressed the group. "Josie, Elain, and Kaires, please sit there, facing me… Good. Now, allow me to introduce everyone, left to right. First, we have Achilles, followed by Demetrius, then myself, Sakiri. Next to me is our shelter's leader, Hades, and finally, Nasis and Miyagi. Together, we form the decision-makers of this shelter." He paused, his gaze steady. "We've gathered today to discuss the roles each of you might play here going forward."
Kaires raised a hand. "I'm grateful to you all for saving me and helping awaken my 'Revelator' ability… but more than that, I need to know how I arrived here—and how I might return to my own world."
Josie added, "If it's possible… could Elain and I return to our shelter? We have family waiting for us there."
Hades replied with calm resolve, "Kaires, your abilities have already proven immensely valuable in defensive combat. As for a way back to the original world, we've been searching too, but unfortunately, we've yet to find a clue. And Josie, Elain, if you choose to leave, we won't hold you. You're free to go whenever you wish."
Josie and Elain, relieved, replied, "Truly? Then we'll depart soon, and thank you—thank you for saving us!"
Sakiri spoke up once more, "However, before you leave, we need to know the location of your shelter." He spread a map across the round table, motioning for Josie to indicate the position.
Wasting no time, Josie pointed swiftly, "It's about fifteen kilometers in the one o'clock direction from the food transfer station—right here."
Hades and Sakiri exchanged a glance, and Hades said, "It's quite a distance. There shouldn't be any impact on us in the near term."
Sakiri then asked, "How many 'Revelators' does your shelter have?"
At that moment, Elain gently tugged at Josie's sleeve, speaking up eagerly, "We don't know either. Our shelter has a strict hierarchy; people like us can't access what you call 'Revelators.'"
Sakiri bowed his head slightly, lost in thought.
Hades nodded and said, "Very well. Before you leave, see Cleo—he'll prepare some rations for your journey back."
Josie and Elain replied gratefully, "Thank you, truly!" With that, they left the meeting tent.
As he watched them go, Sakiri turned to Kaires. "So, Kaires, what are your intentions for the future?"
Kaires lowered his head in thought, then after a moment, he looked up. "May I ask… have you ever tried to venture out, seeking a way back to the original world?"
Hades regarded him steadily. "My duty is to safeguard this shelter, to ensure that people survive in this world."
Sakiri continued, "Kaires, you're new here; you may not yet understand the terrors of this world and its grim patterns. Stay a while, and perhaps you'll come to see that returning to the original world may not be a blessing."
Kaires hesitated. "I…"
Nasis offered a warm smile. "Stay with us, Kaires. This place is like a family—everyone is kind."
Kaires shook his head resolutely. "No, I want to find a way back! And… part of my memory is missing. I want to recover those lost fragments."
Sakiri pondered for a moment before replying, "Memory loss… it's a common occurrence here. In time, sometimes days, sometimes years, you'll begin to recall what's missing. There's no need to search deliberately."
Kaires shook his head. "No, my intuition tells me it's not that simple. I need to retrieve those memories myself!"
Sakiri met his gaze seriously. "Are you truly planning to leave?"
At this, Achilles interjected, "Stay, Kaires. I'll take some time to talk things over with you."
Nasis added, "Sakiri, Hades, let us handle it. We'll convince Kaires to stay… Leave it to us."
Sakiri was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Meeting adjourned."
Hades glanced at Sakiri with resignation, then echoed, "Meeting adjourned."
Kaires stepped out of the tent, his mind filled with images of Sakiri. The aura of authority and latent menace he'd just displayed made Kaires feel as if Sakiri was the true leader of the shelter.
Not far away, he saw Josie and Elain chatting with Cleo, who was sharing a joke that left the two laughing heartily. Kaires smiled faintly and approached them.
"Josie, Elain, are you preparing to return to your shelter? When do you plan to leave?" Kaires asked.
Elain replied, "It's late; we're planning to set off at first light tomorrow."
Kaires nodded. "In that case… may I accompany you on the journey back?"
Josie and Elain looked at him, surprised. "Are you sure?"
"You have no 'Revelators' with you on the return trip. It could be dangerous, and luck might not favor you next time as it did before," Kaires said earnestly.
Josie and Elain exchanged glances, and Elain said quietly, "You make a good point, but… will Hades and the others allow it?"
Kaires smiled serenely. "Why would I need their permission? I have my own freedom and choices."
Josie pulled him aside, lowering her voice. "You're too naive, Kaires. You've only just arrived in this world—you don't understand its rules yet."
Kaires frowned. "What do you mean? Isn't it as simple as that?"
Josie looked at him gravely. "The horrors of this world aren't limited to mutated creatures. They come from the conflicts between 'Revelators' as well. Any shelter that obtains a 'Revelator' will go to any lengths to keep them. And if someone refuses to stay, most shelters have one solution: no mercy."