The Calm Before the Storm

The sun was already high in the sky when Aiden emerged from his troubled sleep. The system's warnings still echoed in his mind, but he decided to ignore them for now. Will this be a mistake in the future?

For the moment, he didn't want to think about it.

There was too much to do, and he didn't want to worry his companions with his personal problems.

After a quick breakfast, the group got to work reinforcing the shelter's defenses. The expeditions of the last few days had allowed them to recover precious materials: metal plates, solid planks, even some tools. Everyone pitched in, consolidating the barricades, repairing weak points.

Aiden worked alongside Sarah, appreciating her calm and reassuring presence. Together, they reinforced the main door, welding metal plates to create a true shield.

"Not bad for a former nurse," Aiden joked as they admired their handiwork.

Sarah gave him a playful nudge.

"Hey, I'm full of surprises," she replied with a wink.

They burst out laughing, a joyful and carefree sound that warmed Aiden's heart. It was so rare in this world, a sincere laugh.

The afternoon was dedicated to training. John and Maggie were waiting for them in the courtyard, a glint of challenge in their eyes.

"Come on, youngsters," John called out. "Show us what you've got!"

The couple took up a fighting stance, and Aiden understood they wouldn't hold back. He and Ethan exchanged a glance, then threw themselves into the fray.

It was an intense fight, very different from the skirmishes against monsters. John and Maggie were formidable opponents, quick and precise in their movements. They chained attacks and dodges with a fluidity born of experience.

But Aiden and Ethan had the strength of youth and the power of their gifts on their side. They complemented each other instinctively, Aiden attacking head-on while Ethan manipulated gravity to unbalance their opponents.

For nearly an hour, they exchanged blows, parrying, feinting, counter-attacking. Aiden felt sweat running down his forehead, his muscles screaming in protest. But there was also a wild exhilaration in giving his all, in pushing his limits.

Of course, he wasn't using his caracteristics to the full, that wasn't the point.

Finally, John raised his hand, signaling the end of the fight.

"Not bad," he conceded, breathless but smiling. "You still have things to learn, but you're doing well."

Maggie nodded, wiping the sweat from her brow.

"Your coordination is your strong point," she analyzed. "You instinctively trust each other, you rely on one another. It's a rare and precious quality."

Aiden and Ethan looked at each other, a proud smile on their lips. They still had a way to go, but they were progressing, together.

"Today I didn't receive any notification from the system about my skill combat. Is it because I didn't give it my all? Do I need more to progress?"

That evening, as Aiden helped Sarah prepare dinner, he found himself observing her on the sly. She had tied her hair in a practical ponytail, revealing her fine-featured face with high cheekbones. Her green eyes, usually so serious, sparkled with mischief as she recounted an anecdote from her life before.

"... And then, Mrs. Johnson, 80 years old and with a temper like a pig, started chasing the doctor with her cane because he had dared to suggest she reduce her whiskey consumption!"

Aiden burst out laughing, easily imagining the scene.

"You must not have been bored," he commented, smiling.

Sarah shrugged, a nostalgic look in her eyes.

"It was another life," she said softly. "Sometimes, I feel like it happened to someone else. That the Sarah from before was a different person."

Aiden nodded, perfectly understanding this feeling.

"We've all changed," he said. "We had to adapt, become stronger. But that doesn't mean we've lost who we were before. It's still there, inside us. It's part of us."

Sarah looked at him for a long time, an indefinable emotion in her eyes.

"Maybe," she finally whispered. "But I also like the person I've become. Stronger, more determined. And above all, I'm not alone anymore."

She placed her hand on Aiden's, hesitant but sincere. Aiden felt his heart race, a new warmth spreading through his chest, and a slight blush on his face.

He left Sarah's hand on his, savoring this contact so simple yet so precious.

"No," he confirmed softly. "We're not alone anymore."

They stayed like that for a long moment, until the joyful voices of their companions called them for dinner.

As he took his place around the table, surrounded by these faces that had become so familiar, Aiden felt a new peace wash over him. Despite the trials, despite the challenges to come, he knew he was exactly where he was meant to be.

At dinner, as everyone laughed at a story shared by Max, John made a passing comment, loud enough for the group to hear. "Look at those two, Aiden and Sarah, inseparable since they started working together on the defenses." His tone was teasing, but the festive atmosphere of the past few days lent itself to it. Sarah and Aiden exchanged a glance, a mixture of embarrassment and shyness in their eyes.

Fortunately, the subject quickly changed, giving the two some respite.

And it was on this positivity that Aiden went to bed.

When he went to bed, he thought this night was going to be like all the others. Little did he know that it was going to be far more bloody and terrifying.

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The last chapter before the storm arrives, I hope you're ready...