Trust

Ding!!!

<Elimination of lvl 1 zombie>

<Skill points, quests and core element

unlocked>

<Hidden quest: First human to make an assist in

eliminating a hostile species in Xeon solar

system>

<Reward:

°Title gained 'Team player'

°Active skill: Mana Sense lvl 1>

TITLE: TEAM PLAYER(WHEN EQUIPED, HOST GETS 5% BUFF TO HP,MP AND INT WHEN ENGAGING AN ENEMY IN A TEAM

<element affinity foun…>

<Connection with regional mana circuit

connecting point found>

<Reassessing element affinity>

<Prime core has been established>

<Prime core 'Sun' is not suitable for hosts physique>

<Extracting suitable essense>

PRIME CORE: LIGHT

<Obtained resistance: Lower Light lvl 1>

<Hidden quest: One of the 1st thousand

humans to form prime core in Xeon solar

system>

<Reward: Active skill Light Manipulation lvl 1>

<Secondary core forming…>

SECONDARY CORE: FIRE

<Obtained resistance: Lowest Fire lvl 1>

<Hidden quest: One for the first 10 humans to

form secondary core>

<Reward:

°Active skill: Fire Manipulation lvl 1

°Active skill: Ignite lvl 1>

ACTIVE SKILL: LIGHT MANIPULATION LVL 1( MANA CONSUMPSION 1MP/MIN), FIRE MANIPULATION LVL 1(MANA CONSUMPTION 1MP/MIN), IGNITE LVL 1(MAKE A SMALL FLAME IGNITING YOUR MANA, MANA CONSUMPSION 2MP/MIN), MANA SENSE LVL 1(SENSE AMBIENT MANA AS IF IT'S AIR,SPREAD YOUR MANA TO SENSE YOUR SURROUNDING THROUGH MANA,RANGE: 5 METERS)

RESISTANCE: LOWER LIGHT LVL1( 11+10% LIGHT RESISTANCE),LOWEST FIRE LVL 1(1+10% FIRE RESISTANCE)

Sound of notifications overtakes growls from surrounding. I see that taking Alen's attention was counted as my contribution and I got a few rewards for it. I try to activate light manipulation and a glow forms around my body. I sense mana from the light and try to control it. As I focus on gathering light in my palm a small ball of light forms on my hand. Next I try fire manipulation but nothing happens. I feel the mana getting agitated but no results come from it. I seems the manipulation skills manipulates alrebady available elements. As it's daytime there's plenty of light so I can control some it but as there's no fire around there's nothing to control. I then use 'ignite' and a small flame forms on my fingertips. I use fire manipulation on it and the flame dance around my arm. If I use fire manipulation in conjunction with ignite I should be able to attack a zombie from distance, whether it'll be sufficient or not remains to be seen. I look back at my father and see him controlling a small ball of dirt.

[Did you form earth prime core?]

[No it's metal. It's not dirt it's rust. I wonder how the system decides which person forms which element mana core? Anyway let's go check up on other's]

[We should first check is anyone alive yet. We should at least explain the situation to them if they are, otherwise it'll be unjustified to them]

Father and I go in and check up on every door. Most of the nervousness from before has vanished after gaining magic. Although the feeling of somberness as I think about killing people doesn't wane I go to Susy's room and activate 'mana sense'. My perception of surrounding becomes clearer and can even sense the other side of the door. I sense a petite figure hiding under a bed and knock on the door. It's completely silent for a few moments. As I was thinking about opening the door, the door cracks open. Susy looks nervous. Her tannned face looks pale and black eyes looking around as if searching for something. Her short brown hair looks like a mess and hair strands stuck to her face because of sweat.

[Master!Young master! What are you doing here? What's happening outside? I hear some strange noises, I think I heard a gunshot too. Because butler Albert strictly forbid us to go out untill someone calls for us I cooped up in my room even during that earthquake and violent storm. I passed out completely untill I heard beastly noise coming from gardener Alen's room. I...I started to see things. I am seeing a floating text like a game's status screen. I am not lying young master believe me. The house must be haunted. I....]

Susy is mostly a silent person. But when she panics all semblance of silence goes away and she starts blabbering.

[ I believe you Susy. We all can see status screen. Gardener Alen became a zombie so Father had to kill him]

[ Zombies!!! How can there be zombies!!! Is it infectious? We must leave this place immediately then. Let's call the police...no no yyoung master call the arm...]

[ Calm down Susy. The zombies are not infectious. You go outside. Leon an mother are there.]

After I send her away Father and I climbe the stairs and stand in front of Uncle Albert's room. As I call for uncle Albert,he open the door. Although there's some confusion on his face he still composedly greeted us.

[ Good morning Master Lucas, young master Liam. Is the problems you asked the servants to quarantine for solved? I've been hearing strange noises and seeing a floating interface is the situation related to this.]

Father explains the whole situation to Albert. Soon his face changes colour.

[What do you mean!!? Viola and my daughters might be dead. How can it be!!]

[Get yourself together Albert. Let's check on other's]

Albert tries to compose himself. I can see his face looking gloomy and hand shaking. I go in front of aunty Viola's door but Albert stops me.

[Let me check up on her]

As I step aside Albert approaches the door knocks on it.

[Honey, it's me. Are you awake?]

In response to Albert something violently hits the door . With another bang a hand comes out of the door. The hand looks like how Alen's body looked. Albert's face loses all it's color and he tries to open the door from outside to check on her. I try to stop Albert but he pushes me away.

[Uncle Albert, what are you doing?]

[Move aside, I want to see my wife.]

I look at my father and he nods his head. The door handle breaks and Albert rushes inside. I and father follow him and I gasp seeing what's there. The whole room is a mess,feathers from pillows are scattered all over and scratch marks all over walls. In the middle of it stands a middle aged lady with scattered hair and pale blue skin.Veins not as prominent as it was on Alen's body but about 5 inches long nails on her fingers. I only had a look at Alen's body after he died but looking at her a feeling that whatever she is, it's not human comes to my mind. Shivers go through my vein as I grab the axe in my hand strongly. Albert approaches her and try to pacify her.

[Honey, calm down. It's me Albert. Nothing gonna happen to you. You'll be fine. We're going to take you to hospital and doctor's will fix you]

She lifts her face and looks at Albert. Apart from her eyes and skin nothing indicates anything wrong with her. My 'mana sense' shows her figure unstable. I try to warn Albert when she slashes at him and he blocks with his hand. Albert take a few step back and blood gushes out of his arm. She jumps at him when father shoots her.

[No don't]

Albert protest and stands between father and Viola. Viola writhes in pain an stares menacingly looking to attack again. Father gives Albert a stern look and says,

[You're Foster family's head butler,Albert. Get yourself together. Can't you judge what kind of situation we are in. You're wife is dead. The thing behind you is a monster]

Albert bites his lips and tries to calm down. He looks back at Viola. His wife doesn't look like anything he remembers. He looks back at father and says,

[Fine, but I'll finish the job myself. Please go out.]

I try to disagree but father holds me back. He hands over the gun to Albert and takes me out with him. I look at him bewilderedly. How can he give out his weapon in a time like this.

[There's somethings you've gotta leave a man to do by himself. Albert is a strong willed man. But he's in a volatile state now. He might even have to see his daughters die next. And if I hadn't trusted him with the gun now, it'll leave mark on his heart. Remember Liam, in a critical situation do not trust anyone. But those you do trust, trust them even if you think it'll be harmful to you, at least till you are actually harmed. I know it might sound counter productive, but trusting others is what makes us humans. Once you start suspecting everyone for everything your heart will get cold. Betrayal hurts,but what hurts more is not finding anyone to trust.]

[But what can I do when someone I trust betrays me and it costs me what I hold dear.]

[Then never let those that you love suffer from your affairs. Be mindful of betrayal but don't look for it. Be strong enough to your subordinates and those who you trust that they don't think about double crossing you. In a crisis you'll know who can betray you for benefits and who'll not. If Albert was someone I was suspicious of before the apocalypse I wouldn't have trusted him. You yourself call him uncle and see him as family subconsciously. How can you not be trustful of your family. The only way he would betray me is if it was for a method to save his wife or children. But if reversing their situation was so easy then why would most of humanity suffer from it. You were always a bit skeptical of everyone. Unless it's necessary taking care of everything yourself. But Liam humans can't live alone. Think about it, if you were being stubborn and refused that elf friend of yours, me,your mother,Leon or even you might not have survived. So specially in a desperate situation like this try to keep an open mind. People do many wrongs when they are desperate but as long as it doesn't cross your moral line don't admonish them.]

I find myself disagreeing with many of my father's point but still keep them in my mind. He is more experienced than me,was a lord and is a war veteran... His outlook on people is much broader than me who's still contemplating can I kill a person or not. A gunshot sounds and the silence spreads behind us. A bit later Albert with his eyes red an arms bleeding comes out and hands the gun over to father

[I apologize for showing such rudeness,master.]

[Let's go check on your daughters]

After that we go to Mia's room. As Albert call out to her the door opens and Mia hugs Albert while crying.

[Dad, I was so scared!!! The building was shaking and my window broke from the storm. Then my head started hurting and when I woke up I heard strange noises and sound of gunshots]

[You're okay,you're fine. Nothing will happen to you.]

Albert looks relived and doesn't let Mia go. I also feel happy seeing Mia alive. Mia looks at me and asks

[Brother Liam why are you going around with that axe.]

My face freezes thinking about explaining what's happening to her and about her mother's demise. Albert gives her a short explanation but doesn't talk about aunty's death. Mia gets terrified and grabs Albert's hand tightly. After that we approach Mery's room when suddenly the door breaks apart and a swift figure hits Albert away.