Base for two

We maintained our Spartan training early every morning, pushing ourselves harder each day. Both of us were making real progress, working like soldiers, waking before dawn and continuing our hunt and gathering until the late hours of the night. Our days were exhausting but productive.

Albedo was the perfect child soldier, obedient, driven, focused. Most importantly, she had a fire burning inside her, a fierce hatred that fueled her desire for revenge against the Carja tribe. Her trauma was her constant companion, and she would never let go of it until she had spilled rivers of Carja blood with her own hands.

The ten days passed quickly, and soon it was time to return to base. The ancient ruin was waiting for me, and there was still much I needed to learn about the code. I also had to explain things to Albedo.

As we sat down to dinner, I turned to her and laid out the plan.

"We're leaving this place for now," I said. "Pack everything we've gathered. We'll head to the new world I mentioned. You're ready to learn more."

She looked confused for a moment but trusted me completely. Without another word, she began to pack, and we quickly gathered all that we could carry. It would be nearly a full day's journey, even with everything we had accumulated in those few days.

The journey was harder than I expected. By midday, both of us were already feeling the weight of our burdens.

"Let's take a break," I said. "We still have more than half a day's journey ahead."

As I rested by a nearby river, I noticed some turkeys basking in the sun. Without hesitation, I took the opportunity to hunt, never passing up a chance to gain more experience and resources.

Level 2

"Hahaha, perfect timing," I muttered to myself.

Concentration

Delivers a shot of adrenaline to the body, improving eyesight, muscle response, and mental cognition.

I grinned. Perfect. It didn't slow down time, but it was almost better—now I could think and solve problems faster, without needing to aim or slow down the world around me.

After a few minutes, we resumed our journey. Just a few more miles, and my first base would be in sight.

"You need to be brave now," I told her, my voice steady. "I don't want to hear any complaints or questions. You have to trust me and follow my lead. I'll explain everything later. Do you understand, Albedo?"

She looked me in the eye, unwavering. "Yes. I'm with you. Don't worry, nothing will scare me."

"We'll see about that," I muttered. "There's a rope ladder ahead that will take us down into a new underground cave. It's our new home for now. Stay close to me, and don't stray."

Without hesitation, we moved toward the base, an ugly and foul-smelling ruin. But it held something important: the code and technology that would shape our future.

Albedo didn't speak, but I could feel her eyes scanning every corner of the ancient structure. She was cautious, clinging to me, knowing that this was a taboo place for the Nora tribe—a cursed place, tainted by the Metal Demon.

Finally, we reached the room I had prepared. It wasn't much, but it was enough. I picked up one of the focus devices I had found earlier and handed it to her.

In a grave tone, I said, "Open your eyes for the first time, Albedo. This is the world we live in. Put this on your ear and don't take it off."

Her hands trembled as she took the device, but she obeyed. When the focus activated, her face contorted in surprise. She gasped, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. The new colors, symbols, and letters she could now see overwhelmed her young mind.

"That's a focus device," I explained. "It helps us understand the world around us, to learn from the old world. It lets us see the unseen, control machines, and so much more."

She shook her head. "I don't understand… This place is cursed by the Metal Demon. Why are you showing me this? Why?"

I felt my frustration boil over, and before I knew it, I was yelling at her.

"Why?! To make you stronger! Don't you want revenge? To kill the Carja who took everything from you? To be a great hunter? This device will help you more than any false god ever could. Cursed? The real curse is the ignorance we've been living in! We were meant for so much more than just surviving, than just hunting and gathering every day."

I paused, realizing my outburst. It wasn't her fault. The matriarchs and the old laws had corrupted her understanding of the world.

I took a deep breath, calming myself, and spoke again, softer this time.

"Do you trust me?"

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. After a long minute of silence, she finally nodded, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes… I trust you. If this thing helps me, then so be it. I don't care if it's cursed or not."

"It's not cursed," I muttered. "Maybe this is too much for you right now, but with time, you'll understand. I hope. Let's rest for now. Tomorrow, I'll teach you how to use the focus."

I wondered to myself, Will she stay, or will she run away?