7 Reality Falls (1)

While I was bathing in the river, I was thinking about how the fight had gone.

'If I just used [Time] magic before actually deciding to use the man as bait, then I would not have lost that valuable source of information…'

I splashed the cold water into my body and face as I kept on thinking about my mistakes and its possible solution if I did another move instead of the wrong one.

'For instance, instead of ducking when a wolf rushed at me from behind, I should've just dodged to the side then brought my fist on its head.'

If I had properly studied the limits of my body, I might've just done that, but the lack of information hindered my decision. I splashed more cold water on my face and then, a thought came up to my mind.

'Actually… What is with this situation anyway…? Wasn't a trial completely out of the blue? How about the people fearing me? I didn't even do anything for them to be scared about…'

I lost myself in the thoughts that had yet to pop in my head when I was first brought to this situation. Just even being brought to court was already grounds for suspicion, seeing that it was mostly illegal. Next were the people in fear of me. What was up with them fearing me? Wouldn't they be curious instead of scared?

There wasn't even a single person who asked me about the incident, well except for Michelle, but she was a student. I'm talking about the adults who have work in this island.

'Unless, they have a reason to be legitimately scared of me…'

Thinking about it, fear of the unknown is one thing, but fear of the known is something that is just as important to human psychology. There are people who are scared of the dark because they are afraid of the unknown dangers that lurk within, but simultaneously, there are others who are scared of the dark because of something they know was inside lurking within.

This was pretty much what summed up my situation right now.

If the reason why they were scared of me was the latter, then how can they explain the reason why the other students disappeared while I remain? Hell, based on my observations about Michelle's behavior, I bet they didn't even question her that much, as well as fear her.

'What is the reason?'

Since I had no idea how they came to fear me, I was at a loss on how to proceed with this train of thought.

'If I was just able to get some information from that guy…'

The more I continued with this train of questions, the more I regretted having the man I brought killed. I splashed some more cold water on my face then left the river stark naked.

'I'll continue this next time. For now, I'll need to go to the other side of this cave.'

That way, I can set up a temporary base by building some shelter using wood. I got dressed with some new clothes, as for the bloody clothes, I put them inside a garbage bag then brought it with me.

'I'll have to clean this…'

Even though there were some holes here and there due to the battles, as well as a large amount of blood stains, it can still be useful as layering during the night, or even just as normal clothes. I've had my fair share of wearing clothes that had holes.

Next, I picked up the bag that was hanging from a tree branch. Once I was all ready to go, I continued with my journey to the giant tree that rests on the other side of this cave.

Since the cave was just a one way path, there was no way to get lost within it. The problem was that there were a lot of turns, as well as some dangerous obstacles so traversing it in the dark was incredibly dangerous.

I checked the battery of my smartphone and saw that there was still some juice in it, and without hesitation, walked into the complete darkness of the cave.

With the light guiding me through the dark and damp cave, it took me more than half an hour to finally reach the end. As if it was serving its purpose up until its final breath, the smartphone, drained of its battery, turned off.

'Finally…'

After a long night, I was finally able to reach my destination. The huge tree was breathtaking to look at with the moon right behind it. The sea beyond the cliff reflected the stars hanging in the sky, and the waves, gently brushed on the shore beneath the cliff.

"Ah finally! You're here!"

And just then, I heard a familiar voice that I wasn't expecting to hear at all in this place.

"Michelle?"

"Yeah, glad to see me?"

I was at a loss on why she was here.

'Wasn't she captured?'

"If you're thinking that I was captured by the same guys who knocked on your place, then you're dead wrong!"

She made a big X with her arms. Heck, she even pouted…

"… Why are you here…?"

"Why am I here? It's because I guided you here."

"… What…?"

More and more questions kept on popping up in my mind. First, who was she really, second, if she was captured how did she escape, three, how did she get past the wolf pack inside the cave…

And four, what did she mean by guiding me to this place…?

"You see Ren, you say you are distrustful of people, but for some reason, why do you openly share with me your secrets?"

"…"

"Back then, when we were walking to the bar, didn't I ask you about the source of your powers? What's more, you even answered it correctly like it wasn't a secret, a secret you didn't share during the trial."

She was right… She was the only one I shared my secrets to. Even during the trial, I didn't share about my Status Card, but I did with her… I had thought that I only shared with her my Status Card because she knew of my superhuman abilities firsthand, but apparently, that was my misunderstanding.

"You, what power did you receive…? No, how are you still here…?"

My mind was running on high gear to try and find out how she manipulated my mind process. My hand also went to the knife that was hanging from my bag while my eyes was kept strictly on Michelle at all times.

"You catch on quick, [Loner]."

"!?"

Just that one sentence made me realize how she was able to remain in this place without being sent to the Heavenly Dome or something.

"Are you a [Loner] too…?"

"Surprised…?"

"…"

I didn't think that this girl, of all people, was a loner.

"And I take it that you have a similar Status Card like me…"

"…"

Another hit. If what she was saying was true, then everything that happened earlier night was probably all an act to get closer to me.

"And then you used your special ability to what, hypnotize me?"

"Hmm… Close, but not quite."

She slowly got closer as I put more strength to my grip.

"We both are similar in physical strength and maybe pretty much similar in our magic power too. But what we don't have in common, is our [Skills]."

"…"

"So if you do not want to fight a physically fit person in an equal state, then I suggest you put away your weapon."

My hand holding the knife twitched for a moment, before moving down and returning to my side. I can't risk fighting against Michelle who I had no idea what her [Skills] were. If, and just if, she had a skill that countered my [Space-Time Magic], then I would be dead.

"Good. Now then, where to start, ah right there's that."

She twirled in place as if she was having fun, and then jumped up a tree branch of the giant tree.

"I am not your enemy, if anything, the enemy are those bastards who kidnapped the four delinquents."

"...What?"

I don't know how many times I've said what during this day, but who cares? I am at an utter loss on how to approach.

"You realized while you were bathing right? That everything about this situation is fucked up?"

"… Yeah, that's true…"

"Well, that was partly my fault, since I did that to you during the time you were falling after the incident."

"… And since you weren't at the scene, you were able to escape all kinds of suspicions, and place it all on me, thus, making that organization focus on me, and not you."

"You really are smart."

She made a smile as if she was pleased by my response.

"I know what kind of place this island is. That is one of the reasons why people were scared of you instead of curious. I also know partly about the organization that tried to kidnap us both."

I was silent the whole time she was discussing about the reasons why our situation was all fucked up now.

"This island, no all of the people here except for the students, including me and you, as well as the delinquents, isn't a part of our original world."

"… What…?"

That was the only word I could say. I was at a loss, an extreme loss on how to perceive her words.

'What does she mean about original world…?'

"This place, the Bermuda Triangle Island, isn't a part of Earth, but of another world."