Chương 6: How is it here?

I froze. It was here in front of me, on my side of the river. One question wandered through my mind. How did it find its way across the river? It was a few meters away, standing still. I extended my hand while keeping the distance.

"I don't know what you want," I said quietly.

"But I'm not your enemy." It kept staring at me with its focused eyes. Maybe it was waiting for the right moment to attack. I swallowed hard. I couldn't predict what it would do next. In the distance, the voice echoed. I was able to recall the voice. But I heard that before somewhere. The high-pitched screech… The velociraptor looked in that direction, but stayed quiet. I knew that high-pitched screech was from the velociraptor pack that I fought with yesterday.

It stared in that direction, then looked at me with that tilted head of its. I clenched my teeth with fear. Please don't call your pack, please don't call your pack... My fingers were already on the hunting knife that I crafted using wood, stone and ropes. Waiting for a moment to see if I get attacked. It didn't move an inch, not even a slight. I wasn't able to read its strange behavior. What are you trying to do? Suddenly, it turned back and started walking towards the direction of the voice, towards its pack.

I was confused why it didn't screech and signal its pack. It could have, but it didn't. It looked back at me one last time before running away in that direction.

"Weird…" Usually, predators like the velociraptor don't hesitate to attack when its prey was in front of it. But this one acted differently. It stalked me and then ran away. I was certain it was going for the kill, and that is why it stalked me. Well, I am on a completely different planet. So, it isn't a surprise anymore. Still, I think I should go now, who knows it will lead the pack towards me.

"Open Log," I said.

"Tell me how far the misfit city is from here." A flicker TECHNOLOGY LOG THE NEAREST CITY: THE MISFIT CITY DETECTED. DISTANCE: 30. 3 KILOMETERS"Still 30km to go, huh…. At least this time I know I don't have to worry about a stalker following me." Well… I wouldn't be that sure. I turned my head back and frowned. Squinted my eyes"I guess it's really gone."

"Good…" I muttered.

"Now let's get going, Nova." Day 2: I walked north following the rocky path. The forest seemed different. The path got less dense as I walked, it got clearer. Yesterday I was walking through the dense forest and now in the open plains. Some parts of the land were uneven with huge stones, and some had less growth. Something feels weird.

"I don't have a good feeling about this —" Wait, what's that smell…

"It smells like there is smoke coming from that direction." This smoke has a woody scent. I stopped for a second. A campfire? A ray of hope flickered through my body. Am I finally out of this forest? Maybe there are some people over there. Maybe they tell me where the city is. Or they might have seen my crew. I followed the smoke. I saw some people sitting on the tree log. I was right, there are some civilians here. A group of people sitting on a tree logs, talking with each other. A woman looked towards me.

"Huh… who is that…" she told her party. I guess I can't hide anymore. The woman stood up.

"Hey, you over there, who are you?" She spoke in Elgard. I was able to understand her all thanks to the Technology Log. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. A man stood up.

"Don't worry, we won't hurt you…" He spoke. They seem to be hunters. The weapons they have are ancient, not fancy. Wooden clubs, roughly sharpened spears. Maybe swords, and guns weren't invented in this place. The woman has ropes tied to a cloth. Wait, is she a slinger?

"Hey, are you listening to us?" the slinger woman said.

"Hi, sorry I spaced out… I was just passing by here. I didn't mean to cause you any trouble." I replied. I couldn't believe it; I just spoke in Elgard.

"Wait, but what were you doing in the Elderwild?" The woman asked. Elderwild? Did she mean the Dinosaur Forest? I think so…

"I don't remember, but I think I got lost somehow. Hehe…" I scratched the back of my head.

"Are you new in this region?"

"Yes, I was looking for a way to The Misfit City." Her eyebrows raised after hearing those words and a smile came down her face.

"You must be from the Royal Capital of Edgefall. Am I correct?" she asked. At the time, I didn't know what to say, so I nodded.

"Oh, that's nice, please come join us. We have food and water. If you like, you can have it."

"Oh, that's not necessary, I don't want to trouble you people." I politely declined by shaking both my hands sideways. Their face dropped as if they were disappointed.

"Please, I insist, come join us." I awkwardly chuckled. They seem like nice people. Maybe I can learn more about this place from them.

"Alright… Fine, I'll join." She smiled, grabbed my hand and took me to the camp.

"So, what's your name?" she asked.

"My name is Nova," I replied.

"Hi Nova… I am Aeris. This is Orgill, Talia, Kargel, and Eli." The group were wearing the ancient outfit that used to be worn by Balearic slingers on Earth. Rough on the edge's beige in color, head rope on the head. Aeris seems to be the leader of this hunter group. Orgill looks like he is the spearman of the group. Talia is also a slinger, just like Aeris. Kargel has a wooden club; he looks like a warrior, and Eli… he doesn't have anything, so why is he in the hunting group? Maybe… he is a cook or something else.

"So, Nova, why are you going to the Misfit City?" she asked. I don't know what to say… I have to think of something quick. It's not like I can tell that I am from another world and am finding safe place to live.

"Nova… hey, what are you thinking?" she asked. I spaced out again.

"Oh… I am just visiting…" I laughed awkwardly, Aeris looked at me and smiled.

"Oh, that's good, we love to have visitors from Edgefall." She said.

"Wait, are you all from The Misfit City?"

"Oh yes, we are. In-fact the city is really close. Don't worry, you are on the right path." Kargel said.

"Our city is right towards the north," Orgill said.

"We could take you there if you want," Talia said"Oh, that's fine, I can find my way over there. I don't want to trouble you guys." Aeris walked closer.

"Don't be stupid, Nova." Aeris said with concern.

"Don't you know the area is full of Elderfangs?" Did she mean dinosaurs? I think these people call it Elderfangs.

"I can manage somehow… Please don't worry." She put her hands around her waist and leaned in a bit.

"Do people from Edgefall always act recklessly?" She said. Aeris crossed her arms and turn her body other way, like she was mad. I couldn't help but smile. She is just like Iris… persistent.

"You guys look like you are heading somewhere. I don't want you to change your destination because of me."

"No, actually we are also heading for the Misfit city. So, it's not an issue for us." Kargel said.

"Oh, and we would have extra hands in case of any danger," Talia said.

"And I would get to know you better, Nova. Come on, please…" Aeris requested. It doesn't seem like a bad Idea…with them I could get to the place faster.

"Okay… Alright, I'll come." Aeris rushed and hugged me.

"Good let's go…" she said. We walked through the forest on a safer path. I didn't see any dinosaurs so far. As per my luck goes, everyday a new dinosaur loves to play hide and seek with me. I thought this was my life now.

"Nova… what's it like in Edgefall? I always wanted to go there." Aeris said. Another question which I don't know what to say… You really ask some tough questions, Aeris.

"Well, its peaceful and quiet nowadays," I said I hope that lie works. She might not be that gullible, though.

"Oh, I wish I could go there someday…" It worked.

"Maybe you can invite me to your home."

"Yeah, sure." After hours of walking by and talking…

"Hey Aeris, I think we should stop here for now," Eli said.

"Alright, Eli… if you say so." She smiled.

"Your name is Eli, right?" I asked. He looked hesitant.

"Can you tell me why we are stopping here?" He didn't reply, just kept quiet. Is he shy?

"Sorry, Eli has a hard time talking to the people he doesn't know," Aeris said.

"Oh, that's completely fine. I understand""We stopped here to take a break, can't go anywhere with an empty stomach, can we?"

"Oh, I see."

"Fire is ready… let's cook." Talia said. We ate and talked as the sun rays settled down. The afternoon went by quickly.

"Here, drink this." She offered me a drink. I took that from her hand. And started drinking. A flicker, Text appeared. TECHNOLOGY LOG ANALYSIS: SLEEPING EFFECT PLANT: SLEEPER FERN DETECTED STATUS: USER BODY WILL FADE IN 5: 00 MINUTES"What!" Did they do this on purpose? But why? Why would they do that? I was careless. I let my guard down and trusted them…

"What's going on, Nova? Are you alright?" Aeris said.

"You!" I stood up.

"You!"

"Hey, what's got into you?" She said.

"What did you give me just now?" I was furious. So, I swung my fist at her, but she dodged.

"Wait Nova what are you talking about." She said.

"Don't play dumb what was in this cup." Her face changed. She was smiling a moment before. But now her expression went cold. Her eyes had a serious look.

"So, you catch on quickly. I had to give you some credit, Nova."

"Why did you —" My vision blurred at the edges.

"Why did I what, give you that drink you ask." She laughed… it was bitter "Like you don't know." I don't know why she did that.

"What are you talkin —""Shut up!" she shouted.

"You think I am that stupid?" The others stood and circled me.

"Isn't that obvious?" Her voice dropped, "We hate people from Edgefall." All of them had a serious look on their face. Their eyes glaring me coldly.

"Do you think I would allow a person like you to enter my city… huh?" She threw a fist at me. My health points dropped.

"You people treat us like trash." She stepped closer.

"You people make us your slaves."

"You think I would let that happen again!" She threw another punch, harder.

"You think I will let you do what you want…" and she punched again. Her hands were like hammer hitting the nails. My lips spilt blood, I tasted it in my mouth.

"Now you will understand what it is like to be treated as MISFITS!" She drove a hard punch into my stomach that knocked me to the ground. I coughed hard.

"You will understand what it is like to be treated as a slave," she stomped and rubbed her feet on my face.

"Look at her clothes. Huh…" Kargel said.

"She is definitely from a royal family." I felt pain in my stomach and was about to pass out. I heard a voice, but I couldn't recall. It sounded familiar to me somehow.

"Aeris!" Talia eyes widened with fear.

"Aeris!" She shouted. Aeris looked at her and replied.

"What!" Talia's eyes were focused in one direction. She pointed her finger towards that direction. Her hands were shaking.

"It's the Elderfang. And it's coming in our direction. We need to run!" Talia said. Aeris looked at the direction then looked down at me.

"Pick her up and take her with us," Aeris said.

"But we can't carry her with us, Aeris," Talia said.

"I said do it." Kargel rushed and picked me up.

"Let's go, Aeris, before it comes here." Orgill said My vision was blurred and head was spinning. But I saw something chasing us. You… again It was the velociraptor that started me, followed me. Stalked me. It was here.

"Aeris just drop her, let the Elderfang eat her. We are not going to make it otherwise," Kargel said.

"Aeris!" Kargel screamed. She clenched her teeth.

"Alright, drop her." She said. And they ran away… TECHNOLOGY LOG ANALYSIS: SLEEPING EFFECT PLANT: SLEEPER FERN DETECTED STATUS: USER BODY WILL FADE IN 0: 10 SECONDS Kargel dropped me. I hit the ground. I couldn't move. I trusted them. And they left me as the bait. 0: 08 How could they… 0: 07 HOW COULD THEY! 0: 06 I didn't do anything… 0: 05 The weak always get hunted. How could I possibly forget that. 0: 04 It's my fault, I trusted them. It's all my fault. 0: 03 For once I thought, I was not alone.

But now I understand clearly. It was all pointless. My eyes were shutting down. I heard the footsteps. Closing in on me. It was here. 0: 02 It was looking down on me, and I could see its face leaning down over my head. 0: 01 I guess I am dead. 0: 00