A Landing on Earth

-Earth, City of Zealous-

--Cole's Perspective--

---February 15th, 2446---

"Here's your radio. Don't lose this. We're in the forest, about two miles out from the edge of Zealous, which is the city we're investigating first. It seems that this is one of three cities with ships that could bring people from The Charred to Earth. I'll search the other two, but you get extensive research here before moving on to the next." Fico told me.

"Understood. If I find him here, will you be here to support me?" I asked her.

Fico punched me in the arm and grabbed a handful of my hair, pushing me up against the tree.

"Hell no. I won't help you, so don't get caught." She said.

Did she really have to be that mean about it?!

"Hey, Fico. Kire told me something interesting. He told me that he doesn't think Sky is at full power... if that's true, what's the plan then?" I asked for clarification. I wanted to keep silent about it, but even still, if Sky was weakened and Fico and I killed him, we could share some of the rewards.

"If that's the case, then I'll come over as fast as my wings take me. Until you can prove that, do not engage under any circumstances. Now that I'm done explaining, I'm out of here." She said.

Fico charged up into the air with a burst of wind from her wings that knocked leaves off of the trees around us. Damn, she really was fast.

I healed the injury she gave me with my Incarnation and proceeded through the forest.

It was barren, without much important life around. Squirrels, chipmunks, and some mice walked through the fallen leaves on the ground and the dirt holes they dug over time.

I found animal civilization almost as interesting as human. They all crowd in one area and think they're safe... but, that has never been the case for humans... and especially not at the hand of Sky Asterio.

Such a man gave me chills when I thought about him. I couldn't make eye contact with Eirikr, but I wasn't sure how Sky would be. I heard that long ago, they were even in power... Eirikr could easily kill me with a wave of his hand... could Sky do the same if he found me?

That's right, I hadn't considered that possibility before... what if he knows me already?!

"And that's when I impressed Alatus! I haven't improved my strength by a lot, but I'm getting there!"

I heard a young voice nearby and decided to take cover behind a large rock. In the forest stood a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, next to a smaller girl with red eyes and brown hair... just like Genesis's picture...

"I'm sure Dad would be impressed! I hope I can get smarter as well with Ruby's team..." The red-eyed girl told the blonde-one.

Dad? Are they related or something? No, that's impossible, they would have the same eye color.

"Dani, I sense somebody nearby." The red-eyed girl told her friend.

What?! How refined is her sixth sense?! Don't tell me... she has strands?!

No, that could be a pure coincidence.

The red-eyed girl looked exactly at me and frowned.

"You're bad at hiding." She told me.

I jumped out of cover with a nervous smile and fell to the ground with my hands raised.

"Please! Wait! I'm lost!" I told them with a desperate voice.

"Mister, you should know that I can tell when a person is lying. Tell me where you really came from." The little girl said.

Dammit! Such a formidable opponent already!

"Sorry! Let me collect my thoughts... I promise I'm not a threat to you two ladies. I just didn't know what to tell you guys!" I told her.

That was true, I didn't care about people like her, I only cared about Sky.

"He's not lying. Okay, then, what's your name?" The little girl asked me. The blonde-haired girl stayed silent. I could sense a stare of hatred deep within her pupils that seemed familiar to me.

"It's Cole," I told them.

"Great, my name is Faith, and this is Dani." She said with a smile.

"Are you hungry? We brought food." Faith said, reaching into her backpack.

"Uh no! I had some food a while back. I've been in this forest for my entire time on Earth, so I'm used to the food here. I'm sorry to be a bother... but do you guys have a home at all? Or maybe a sleeping bag? I'll work for my bed or whatever if you'd let me." I told them.

"He's still not malicious toward us, Dani. I think it's okay." Faith said.

"Sure. But, I won't be taking my eyes off of him." Dani told me.

Such a rude girl... and that stare... I just feel uncomfortable underneath it.

"Maybe we should ask-" Faith covered Dani's mouth and shook her head.

Oh?

What was that?

Something they didn't want me to hear? Something... of importance?

"Follow us, we'll ask Ruby." Faith said, taking the lead.

Such a little girl... yet such a high influence on this other one.

She would be quite troublesome if I don't get away from her...

"Thank you guys, I'll work hard, you'll see!" I happily declared to change the mood.

"You're right, you will," Dani muttered. I could see the smile looming from ear to ear.

"Firstly, Ruby will probably assess your abilities, and then assign you a job. You might not end up with Dani or me, but you'll be in trouble if you don't. They're hard workers here, and you won't be an exception." Faith explained.

We walked further on the path in the forest until, after about a mile of silence, we approached a huge city! With metal beams for walls that were supported by other metal beams, and towers that touched the sky... this looked like an old city on Earth! Yet... the road was still made of dirt... what an odd combination.