VIVIAN
Vivian slowly stepped backward. The shadow between the trees moved again.
Her heart pounded.
The lotus inside her palm trembled violently.
What is that thing? That could scare her Lotus.
Then...A tiny figure stumbled out from behind the trees. She wanted to run.
"C...Come back..."
Vivian froze. It was a little girl. She immediately started crying as she saw Vivian.
Her small shoulders shook as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Vivian’s fear immediately disappeared.
"A child?"
The little girl looked at her.
Her eyes were sea-green, matching her soft green hair.
She was so small and cute that Vivian’s heart melted.
"Oh..."
Vivian crouched. "Why are you crying?"
The girl didn’t answer. She simply ran toward Vivian.
Vivian caught her and hugged her tightly.
"It’s okay."
She gently patted the girl’s back."Where are your parents?"
The girl’s lips trembled.
"They said..."
She sniffed.
"They said they were coming back."
Vivian’s smile faded.
"But they never came back."
Vivian’s heart sank. She was abandoned!! Most people don’t deserve to be parents. They should be childless!! She recalled her real world parents that abandoned her. It created a knot in her heart and she felt pity for the child.
She looked at the little girl in her arms.
Then she felt something strange. The lotus inside her consciousness was trembling.
It refused to come out.. Vivian stared at her hand. And asked the Lotus
So you really don’t like children?
The lotus remained completely still.
Vivian sighed. "Fine."
She stroked the girl’s green hair.
"Feeding another mouth shouldn’t be too difficult."
The little girl looked up at her. Vivian smiled.
"I’ll take you home and take care of you.."
She lifted the girl into her arms and carried her back toward the campsite.
When she arrived, Herbert was nowhere to be seen.
Only Serial remained.
He was sitting beneath the tree with his eyes closed. She dropped the little girl.
Vivian glanced around.
Where did Herbert disappear to? Why isn’t he back till now?
Then another thought entered her mind.
Did Serial see me eating that mutant beast?
She glanced at her consciousness. It was still trembling.
It couldn’t possibly be this little girl that scared it, right?
Serial slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze landed on Vivian.
"You’re back."
Vivian nodded. Serial’s gaze dropped toward her legs.
"Your legs?"
Vivian immediately remembered.
Oh, right. She was supposed to be injured.
She quickly slumped to the ground.
"Ah!"
She grabbed her leg dramatically.
"My legs still hurt."
Serial immediately leaned forward.
"What about your shoulder?"
Vivian covered it.
"My shoulder hurts too."
She added weakly, "And I’m dizzy."
Serial frowned. "Where were you?"
"I went to relieve myself."
She pointed toward the forest.
"That’s where I found her."
Serial wondered. "Found who?"
Vivian turned, the little girl was still by her side.
"This girl," she pointed. And kept nursing her leg.
Serial asked again.."Who?"
She blinked, then she looked again.
The little girl was gone.
"What?"
Vivian looked around.
"Where did she go?"
Herbert suddenly appeared from behind the trees carrying a rabbit.
"Who are you talking about?"
Vivian’s face changed.
"The little girl!"
Herbert stared at her.
"What little girl?"
"The one that was by my side!!"
Herbert walked over and placed his hand against her forehead.
"Are you running a fever?"
Vivian slapped his hand away.
"I’m not crazy!"
Vivian looked around .Maybe she was frightened by you guys and left. She supported me walking."
Herbert frowned. "You’re talking about an invisible child."
Vivian looked around again. Nothing. Only the dark forest remained.
Serial stood. "Maybe you should rest."
Vivian nodded. Then Serial extended his hand. "I’ll lend you some of my energy."
Vivian immediately shook her head.
"No need."
Herbert snorted. "Don’t be ungrateful. Just accept it."
Vivian glared at him. "If you don’t keep quiet, I’ll sew your mouth shut."
Herbert immediately closed his mouth. But Vivian was hurt that the child ran away. Maybe next time she will find her.
Vivian turned toward Serial.
"Fine." She smiled. "Thank you, Serial."
Serial stepped closer.
"Don’t move."
Vivian suddenly felt warmth against her forehead.
He placed his forehead against hers.
A soft blue light surrounded them.
Vivian froze.
What is he doing?
The energy flowing from him was powerful.
It moved through her body like warm water.
Then Serial suddenly lowered his head.
His lips touched hers.
Vivian’s eyes widened. What the fuck?!
She instinctively tried to pull away.
But before she could...A tremendous wave of energy surged through her.
It wasn’t simply a kiss.
He was transferring his spiritual power directly into her.
The blue light around them intensified.
Vivian felt something rush from his body into hers.
Her exhausted muscles suddenly became stronger.
Her heartbeat thundered.
Then...The world blurred. Space twisted around them.
The forest disappeared. The three students were suddenly transported back to the academy’s training ground.
Vivian stumbled. She immediately pushed Serial away.
He staggered backward. "Cough!"
Blood suddenly spilled from the corner of his lips.
Vivian’s expression changed.
"Serial?"
He lowered his head. A thin line of blood ran down his chin.
Vivian stared at him in shock and was frightened.
Why did he cough blood?
"I am okay. He said, "Don’t be frightened."
Vivian’s face was sour. She went to him and said, "I didn’t mean to"
Her eyes turned red. She almost cried. He was shocked by her attitude. I am okay, he said again to calm her nerves.
Before she could ask...
"Vivian!"
A familiar voice called out.
Vivian turned. The beautiful girl who had rescued her during the mecha attack hurried toward her.
She wrapped her arm around Vivian’s waist.
"Are you okay?"
Vivian smiled in surprise. "You again?"
The girl nodded.
"I’m a logistics soldier specializing in healing."
She carefully supported Vivian. Then she glanced toward Serial.
Her sweet expression disappeared. She gave him a cold look.
"Goodbye. I am leaving with my friend." Vivian said and left.
Serial frowned but said nothing. He noticed Vivian’s friend was very hostile to him and he couldn’t explain why. But right now, he was also hostile to her.
Around them, the training ground was chaotic.
Students were being treated for injuries.
Military personnel rushed between the wounded.
Some students sat on the ground while medical robots scanned their bodies.
Others were being carried away on floating stretchers.
The girl helped Vivian toward a quieter corner.
Once they stopped, Vivian looked at her carefully.
Her long blue hair fell over her shoulders.
Vivian reached out and gently moved the hair away from her face.
"What’s your name?"
The girl smiled.
"Ariel."
Vivian’s eyes brightened.
Ariel? She remembered her appearance.
Blue hair. Sea-green eyes. She’s definitely a mermaid.
Vivian grinned.
"So..."
"You came out of the sea looking for your prince?"
Ariel blinked. "What prince?"
Vivian asked "Have you finally decided to become human for him?"
Ariel stared at her. "What are you talking about?"
Vivian’s smile immediately disappeared. "Nothing."
She coughed awkwardly.
"I was joking."
Ariel stared at her for a moment before smiling.
Her smile was so beautiful that Vivian almost forgot her own problems.
"You’re beautiful, your smile too."
"People tell me that a lot."
Ariel began treating Vivian’s bruises.
Soft healing energy flowed through her fingers.
Vivian watched her curiously.
"Did you get hurt during the mecha attack?"
"No."
Ariel shook her head.."I wasn’t injured."
Vivian nodded.
Then Ariel suddenly spoke.
"Those transmigrators..."
Her voice became strangely cold.
"They all have to die horrible deaths."
Vivian’s cheek twitched..Her smile froze..Her mouth practically stopped working.
What?
She stared at Ariel.
"What did you just say?"
Ariel continued applying the healing energy as though she hadn’t said anything strange.
"Transmigrators."
Vivian swallowed..Her heart began pounding..She forced a laugh.."What’s a transmigrator?"
Ariel’s fingers stopped.
Slowly...She looked up at Vivian.
Their eyes met. For the first time since Vivian had met her...Ariel wasn’t smiling.
"You really don’t know?"
Vivian’s blood ran cold.