The Earth After Rebirth

Chapter 28: The Journey, II

The girls stopped walking, while the boys walked a bit further and stopped and turned to see what was the matter. Both their faces were sour and kind of angry.

"So, let me get this straight, you took the money your parents worked so hard for and bought a game?" Isla was livid, but she didn't show it. The boys didn't notice, so they just nonchalantly nodded.

She took out two dummy arrows, and shot at both of them. It would sting but they wouldn't take any damage. She took out more and started shooting at them.

"Ouch. Cut it out. We'll pay it back. Obviously! We'll take on a part-time job and pay it back. Calm down! Hey!" Kiro shouted in vain, as she hadn't stopped raining arrows down on them.

After a good 5 minutes, she finally calmed herself down and stopped.

"You do know we're stronger than you right?" Kiro said, amused.

The girl had guts. It was as simple as that. Kiro didn't seem to hate her bossy nature. He liked it quite a bit. He never wanted to shy away from a challenge he liked, unlike in his previous life.

"Obviously. That's why I used arrows that didn't inflict any damage," Isla said matter-of-factly.

Outside the beginner's village, players could PK each other. If a serious fight broke out here, they could fatally harm each other. Kiro was impressed that she factored that in before attacking them.

They walked far and wide, until they reached the mouth of the forest and took a break. Saanvi was too tired to continue, apparently she used all her attribute points on intelligence and ignored everything else. Much like Hiro who prioritised strength.

So her stamina was quite low, she couldn't walk for long distances without wanting to take a break. Originally, Kiro offered to carry her on his back but she was too embarrassed that she cut him off before he could explain.

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Kiro noticed that Isla was visibly nervous, she was fidgeting. It seemed as if she wanted to say something, but she was contemplating.

"What, what's the matter? You guys can't fight?" Kiro enquired.

She was a little surprised that her thoughts were laid bare to be seen by Kiro. Although he was right that something was bothering her, he was wrong about what.

"We're both level 25s, what do you mean, can you guys fight?" She asked almost irritated.

"Well, I see somethings bothering you, if it's not this then what is it?"

"I—well, I was wondering if I can just pay back the money you two 'borrowed' so you don't have to look for a job and just focus on your studies," she said, her face crimson, as she said this her head was downcast she couldn't even look at them. This was the most embarrassing thing she'd ever had to do.

Kiro noticed that Hiro's eyes gleamed, but quickly he shut her down. "No, we can manage."

She quickly looked up, "but why? I'm just trying to help."

"Yes I know you are. But I wouldn't like our friendship's foundation to be like this. Remember you said people used you in the past for money, I don't want to be like that," Kiro said.

As considerate as this was of him, Isla didn't hear a word after Kiro claimed her as a friend. She was ecstatic, as this was someone she'd go as far as to say, was her first friend.

She knew Saanvi but they weren't all that close, they happened to live in the same neighbourhood and they chanced upon each other in-game and decided to be in-game companions.

He hadn't the slightest idea, but this made Isla extremely happy.

Kiro didn't want to be indebted to rich people either, as much as be liked Isla and wanted to be friends, there was still some lingering feelings telling him to hold his horses. Rich people were dangerous, it may not be her but her family.

After the short break was up and Saanvi could move, they finally entered the forest. Kiro was walking nonchalantly with his staff on his shoulders, his arms hanging on it. They were all walking in silence, well Hiro was whistling.

It was a strange but a beautiful feeling. The snow, its texture didn't feel like snow, at all. Felt like, soil. White soil. Which caused the 'greenery' in the forest to grow with a different colour, white.

Kiro had a funny feeling that even the animals would be of the same colour.

"I can't get used to this view. Why would anyone think making trees white was a good idea," Isla commented.

"People do have peculiar aesthetics," Saanvi answered back, looking at Kiro then Isla.

"You, hush."

Saanvi laughed merrily. She may have been naive but her instincts seemed to be really sharp.

The farther they walked the more the fauna had colour about it. Some had a tinge of pink or purple. It looked like a forest straight out of a fairytale, Alora, Kiro's little sister, would love.

Kiro of course prepared for this little adventure. He had told Hiro to buy things for survival too. Though it seemed the girls had no idea, they had nothing.

"How did you both know that you'd need all these?" Saanvi asked, Isla stood there nodding at her question. It was too suspicious.

"Does it even matter? You're able to eat because of how prepared we were," Kiro answered, they had already erected the two tents. They were just sitting around a fire, roasting fish.

"Well, I guess." Saanvi shrugged at Kiro's answered.

They had to camp, they walked until dusk. The white forest looked absolutely stunning with the orange hue covering it. Although Kiro had prepared for the journey, he wasn't entirely sure how long it took to get there. It's a detail he had forgotten, the food would definitely not be enough for 4 people for 30 days.

So, they'd have to hunt at times. It was strange though, because they hadn't run into any animals. The trees too, they didn't bare any fruits.

The sat around the fire, chatting and getting to know each other. Telling each other stories about the districts they lived in, unlike before there were no debates, just listeners eager to know about the others different worlds.

With the crackling wood accompanied by laughter and happy chatter, the night wasted away.