Four Months

*4 months

Athena picked up the crossbow and the pair have been training with their respective weapons to the point they have bought their own target ready-made, costing 50B! Luckily it was really well made and only had gotten a little noticeable damage.

The pair also decided not to buy any type of carts since they found that even when they sell their items, they will still earn less because they have to carry so many random things that have an always-changing price. Sometimes it is worth it, while other times it is a useless hassle.

After half a month after the journey with Pops, Athena had gotten good with the crossbow to the point that she gained her own Wanderer ID. She had shocked almost everyone at the M.E.G. since she didn't seem strong enough to pull that string into place to shoot her weapon.

She also barely passed the strength test with her melee weapon. Her melee weapon was the hatchet Vain originally owned but gave to her when he saved enough to buy a short sword from one of the blacksmiths in another town.

They also got their IDs updated to get the information of levels 0-7 to much of Athena's joy. Vain was also very happy since he didn't have to be asked about everything she wanted to know anymore.

The rest of the time they had spent traveling town to town to see how well off other areas were compared to where they began. All they found was that they started in something that could be considered a ghost town compared to anywhere that had a town next to the entrance to the Hub.

One thing that both of them started to consider was if an entity gets too close like the Faceling children, they should learn to kill some entities. Vain didn't allow Athena to do close-quarters combat, but he had started to practice killing every hound in close quarters. Athena was especially mad about not being allowed to attack them in close quarters, so Vain had to allow her to practice against him so that she could also at least understand her way around her own weapon.

Vain could never allow her to be hit and sent flying with the possibility to have her die in her first fight. He himself ended up suffering from Athena's pestering since every time she saw Vain almost always kill a hound in a single hit, she would always be so excited seeing that he looked 'Awesome' as she put it.

The pair had tried to get another person to join their group, but all those saw a child and looked at them like they were crazy. Whenever this happened Vain remembered how crazy he must really be. Athena appeared to be growing faster than a normal human child as well. Vain asked M.E.G. about it Vain learned that it was a side effect of Almond water, but it shouldn't have affected her this much since she had grown nearly six inches in less than four months.

*

Finally, after two months of traveling, Vain and Athena made it back to their little ghost town. The pair had decided to find Pops and tell him about their intention to travel to level 2.

The pair wanted to know the opinion of the most experienced person that they knew. They had grown even more attached to each other and they had kept the story that Pops had told them fresh in their minds. The two now couldn't imagine such a crazy idea of having one of them dying in an accident that they can't control. Pops was the only safe bet they could think of to make sure that they don't die the first time they enter the level.

The pair arrived at the entrance of Tom's Diner and discovered that they were in luck since Pops came back from a small journey to take a look around the level alone. Following the attendant they found Pops talking and drinking with other older men.

"Hey Pops! I'm back!"

"Vain! Don't tell me you are here to get me to go on a run through the level, because I learned my lesson after the first one!" Pops was laughing and seemed to be excited to see Vain. Pops turned to the men and spoke to them, "Sorry but look now I have a friend of mine that needs me, so I will be on my way!"

The men looked to be in distress, and one of the men spoke up, "Wait! James, we are friends too arent we? We would really like you to join our expedition just like old times! You are one of the best! Please!"

Pops instead ignored the man and pulled Vain and Athena in another direction, "Come let's talk somewhere it isn't so rowdy!"

*

The men could only watch as Pops left with Vain and Athena, disappearing through the door. The man who begged before simply sighed. "I knew he wouldn't agree."

Another man patted his shoulder, "I know, but we needed to try in case he agreed. After all, very few can compare to how good a trigger as he does."

The group of three sighed and paid their tab and went on their way, but this time they weren't following Pops.

*

Pops brought Vain and Athena to a small cafe that focused on making different flavors for their Almond water, even making tea. These places were very high-end, Vain himself only went to such a place once with Athena. Vain had to admit that they deserved a reputation for being high-end since these places even served baked goods along with delicious drinks.

Sitting down Pops laughed loudly and spoke to the pair, "I must thank you for helping me escape those idiots! Everything you two order is on me!"

The pair nearly started to drool hearing that they could choose whatever they wanted without consequences. They couldn't help it either since only in cafes or restaurants that are high end will one find baked goods that are fresh with sugar and not the hard bricks that is called a ration loaf, that can rarely be found in the crates. Those loaves don't even have sugar!

Vain quickly stopped Athena from ordering everything on the menu and turned to Pops and started to talk with utmost seriousness. "Pops you might not like us so much if you hear what we came to tell you."

Pops frowned and looked Vain in his eyes, but then he smiled and laughed loudly like always, "Vain I can tell you haven't killed anyone, and your eyes are innocent, so there shouldn't be anything that you could ever do to at this point that would make you dislike you! Unless! Athena! He didn't do anything to you, did he!"

Vain nearly lost his entire serious demeanor, "Pops I doubt I could ever face you seriously if I did something like that so please don't joke like that."

Athena on the other hand nodded to Pops, "He did a lot to me! Mainly take care of me!"

Originally Pops was trying to make Vain liven up the mood since he had just escaped the most serious people he knows, but instead, he found that Athena really doesn't understand as much as he thought she would have. He knew she always asks questions, so why does she not understand humor yet!

"Athena I was making a joke about Vain touching you inappropriately."

Vain really didn't want to talk more about such a subject so he coughed loudly and told Pops their reason for seeking him out. *cough* "Pops we have come to tell you that both me and Athena have decided to head to the lower levels."

Pops' smile disappeared again, "NO! You are most definitely not ready! How old is Athena? Wait at least a year!"

"Pops me and Athena are ready to know more about other levels. We can't really learn more by staying on this level. You know how Athena wants to know more always. She is mature enough even without waiting a bit longer."

Pops looked mad at Vain for the first time since he had known the man, "NO! AND THAT'S FINAL!"