Arin gripped the slingshot tightly, his heart pounding as he watched the humanoid figure slowly materialize from the ash-filled fog. It moved towards him with a steady, yet unnervingly unnatural gait.
Arin felt a surge of instinctual fear, but a part of him was also drawn to the mysterious figure, unsure whether to prepare to defend himself or to wait and see what it might bring.
What if it is another human? it sure is shaped like one.
But it could also be a human shaped monster, maybe some thing like those zombies shown in the movies
Arin was torn between two choices. If he attacked and it turned out to be a injured human, he could kill a fellow candidate, mistakenly. Or if he didn't attack and it turned out to be a monster, he would have to fight another arduous fight.
Although Arin was fully healed, he was still feeling fatigue. It was like an illusion, a phantom fatigue.
As figure was getting nearer, Arin had an idea.
"Hey are you a human?" Just as the words left his mouth another thought hit him.
Monsters can not speak right? Arin glanced at his rat then the fallen beast. Well none of any I encountered did.
And even if it was human. Was it a good thing or bad?
At first Arin wished it to be human but now that he thought, a human could be as dangerous as a beast, after all it was the lankyman who forced him to face the grimveil hound.
Arin was getting impatient as figure didn't answer him. He watched as figure moved like a marionette missing some strings.
As figure closing in, the ash-fog clung to its limbs like half formed muscle revealing only flashes: jacket and boots that looked like his.
Arin shouted the same words again, hoping maybe earlier it didn't hear him properly. And this time he got reply.
"Yes, I am a human, you half dead boy." Arin heard a little feminine voice but he didn't let his guard down.
Seeing Arin still tense, slingshot raised, the figure spoke again.
"Easy hero. Don't be very tense, least you hurt yourself any further." Arin heard the feminine voice again but he didn't lower his weapon until the figure was full visible to him.
She stopped in safe distance away as both observed each other. Arin recognized the girl from the lobby. She was the one trying to calm down the other girls. He didn't realised earlier due to she was in sitting position but now face to face he could see that she was tall and lithe. She had short brown hair and clear grey eyes. She had a fair but rough skin.
She must be naturally beautiful but too lazy to care, hence the short hair and rough skin. Arin lampooned.
As Arin was judging her. He reckoned she was also doing the same.
Uh… so what do I do now? Arin thought.
He wasn't the best at ingratiating himself to strangers. In fact, people usually avoided him and liked it that way. And that was in normal circumstances. But here making new friends could be beneficial...
…Or disastrous, Arin thought as he remembered the lanky man.
"Behind you." Arin heard the her shout. His face paled as he saw the girl moving toward him quickly. She still had that gait but her movement seemed less unnatural and more fluid.
Normally, people walk with a symmetry, every step similar to the last. But not her. She took uneven steps. Earlier, her steps looked unnatural but now when she moved her uneven steps flowed into each other like a fluid.
Arin was so amazed that before he could realize it, he was pushed to the side. As he fell, he saw the girl kicking his rat in the same fluid motion, sending it flying away with a startled squeak.
"NOOOO.." Arin cried as he realised, she must have mistaken his rat for a monster.
Arin put away his slingshot and ran towards his rat to stop the newcomer, before she could slay it.
"Wait. Wait", Arin shouted as he ran. He easily caught up to her. Her stats were probably lower than his or maybe its the gait that was making her slower.
Arin stopped between her and his rat. He tried to grab her but again she dodged his hand and threw her on the ground.
Arin looked at her upside down with confusion as she kicked away his rat again.
This time, Arin didn't rush toward her. He thought in confusion,"Is she some kind of Martial Artist? But her kicks are powerful but not damaging."
Arin again got in between her and his rat but this time instead of grabbing her, he tried to talk to her.
"Hey. Hey. Lady,Wait. What are you doing?" Arin said cautiously. Ready for any sudden movement this time.
"Are you blind? I am trying to kill this monster before it kill us." Answer the girl as she drew her knife.
"Wait! It's just a rat!" Arin shouted as he glanced back and forth between girl and the rat.
"Although it is a bigger and little ugly. It still is my, my pet" Arin's voice trailed as he fall into the thought.
Would it be more appropriate to call it my pet or tamed beast or something like beast companion?
"Just because you took a liking to an ugly monster, it doesn't mean you can take it as pet. Now get out of the way!" she barked, her voice sharp as a blade.
Arin woke from his thought but without warning, she shifted her weight and struck, a quick jab aimed at his midsection. He barely managed to sidestep, feeling the rush of air as her fist grazed him.
"Stop!" Arin pleaded, but she was relentless. She feinted left, then spun right, her movements fluid and practiced. Arin stumbled back, trying to block her strikes, but her experience was evident. She danced around him, landing light hits like a grown up playing with baby.
Although hits were light but after getting hit again and again, it took its toll.
"Why are you doing this?" Arin gasped, his heart racing. He was sure, he had higher stats than her but it seems just having high stats were not enough. He felt like a cornered animal, desperate to protect his rat.
She advanced again, her foot sweeping low in a calculated kick. Arin, instinctively reacting, sidestepped but lost his balance due to exhaustion. In a moment of chaos, he reached out, grabbing her wrist to steady himself. Instead, he inadvertently pulled her off balance, sending her tumbling to the ground.
She landed with a thud, eyes wide with surprise. As she looked up, the rat cautiously approached and stood behind the now standing up, Arin.
"Please, stop! It's not a wild monster. I tamed it using an item." Arin exclaimed, breathless.
"What… what item?" she asked, confusion replacing her aggression.
"It was a rare item." Arin replied, relief flooding through him. "Rare item dropped from hunting monster. Just like a video game."
She blinked, realization dawning. She pushed herself up, brushing dirt from her clothes, her expression still serious. "I'm sorry. I thought it was a wild beast."
Arin sighed, a tentative smile breaking through his earlier fear. "No harm done. Just a misunderstanding."
"By the way, I am Arin. What's your name?" Arin asked as he sat down.
The girl followed suit and also sat down to rest as she answered,"Liv. Just call me Liv."