Chapter 2: The scholar's proposal

Morning in the hidden settlement. The sun filters through the dense trees surrounding the camp. Jay sits on a wooden bench near the training ground, absently running his fingers over the hilt of a wooden practice sword. The morning air carries the faint sounds of the settlement stirring to life. Selene approaches with purpose, a notebook in her hand and determination in her eyes.

"Jay, we need to talk."

"About what?" Jay looks up, already sensing trouble.

Selene sits beside him, flipping through her notes "The library here is missing too much. Key records are gone—whole sections on the demon invasion, ancient civilizations, even the origins of this settlement. If we're going to survive and rebuild this world, we need that knowledge."

Jay frowning "And where do you think you'll find it?"

"In the other hidden settlements. I've been piecing together old maps and hints from the texts here. If we visit them, I can fill in the gaps. Maybe even find ancient monuments or ruins that hold answers." Selene says while looking at him

Jay grimaces, setting down the sword "Selene, it's not that simple. Do you even know how dangerous it is out there?"

Selene leans forward, her voice steady "I do. But doing nothing is worse. Knowledge is power, Jay. It might even be the key to defeating the demons."

Jay exhales, staring at the ground. He's conflicted. It's a logical argument, but the thought of venturing out while so unprepared gnaws at him.

Jay mutters "I'm not strong enough yet. I can barely handle myself in a fight, let alone protect you. And those artifacts? They won't even recognize me. How am I supposed to keep you safe?"

"You underestimate me. I'm not asking you to protect me—I'm asking you to let me help." Selene smiles faintly.

As Jay struggles with her words, Tomas watches them from a short distance. He sits against a tree, sharpening a crude knife. His mind, however, is far from their discussion. Images of his destroyed village, his family's faces, and the monstrous laughter of demons flood his thoughts.

'They talk about survival and knowledge. But what about justice? Revenge? Those demons are out there wreaking havoc around the world, and here I am, stuck here without doing anything meaningful. I want to know who killed my parents, but the question is... who killed them? Where do I even start?' Tomas Thought deeply.

Jay notices Tomas's distant gaze but chooses not to pry. Before he can respond to Selene, heavy footsteps approach. Ronan strides in, carrying a wooden training sword over his shoulder.

"Enough sitting around. The real training starts today." Ronan gruffly, interrupting their conversation.

Jay blinks his eyes, feeling confused "Wait, what? What have I been doing this whole time?"

Ronan snorts, smirking "That warm-up? Kid, that wasn't training. That was me making sure you don't trip over your own feet."

Selene hides a smile behind her notebook. Tomas, still lost in his thoughts, glances at Ronan briefly before returning to his knife.

Jay grumbles, standing up reluctantly "Great. Can't wait to see what you call real training."

Ronan grins "You'll thank me when you're still breathing after your first real fight. Now, on your feet. Let's see if you've got the guts to survive this world."

As Ronan pulls Jay toward the training ground, Selene stands, watching them go.

"Don't break him, Ronan. I'll need him alive for our journey." Selene teasingly called out.

"I never agreed to that!" Jay groaning, turning back to her.

Selene shrugs, walking off toward the library "You will. You just don't know it yet."

As the others disperse, Tomas remains seated, his hand tightening on the knife's handle. The weight of his thoughts presses on him. He stands abruptly and heads toward the edge of the settlement, his expression dark. He doesn't speak to anyone. His search for answers begins, even if he doesn't know where to start.

Scene shifts to the training ground. Ronan circles Jay like a hawk, barking commands as Jay struggles to keep up. Sweat drips from his brow as he parries clumsy strikes and stumbles over footwork drills.

Ronan shakes his head "Pathetic. Do you think demons will wait for you to catch your breath? Again!"

Jay panting, frustrated "You could at least pretend I'm improving"

Ronan laughs dryly "You'll improve when you stop complaining and start fighting like your life depends on it. Because out there? It does."

Jay grits his teeth and adjusts his stance, determined to prove Ronan wrong. He raises the wooden sword, his movements still clumsy but more deliberate this time. Ronan narrows his eyes, nodding slightly as Jay manages a halfway-decent block against an incoming strike.

"Better. At least now you look like you've held a sword before." Ronan said gruffly.

Jay muttered under his breath "Thanks for the confidence."

Meanwhile, Selene sits by a stack of old books in the settlement's small library. Her notebook is open, and she's furiously jotting down notes. Every now and then, she glances at a crude map spread out before her, her mind piecing together routes and possibilities. The quiet scratching of her pen is the only sound in the room.

Not far away, Tomas sits by the firepit, staring at the blade in his hand. He presses the edge with his thumb, testing its sharpness, his expression unreadable. The sounds of Jay's training echo faintly in the background, but Tomas doesn't look up. His thoughts remain his own, silent but heavy.

The morning stretches on, each of them absorbed in their tasks. The hidden settlement buzzes with quiet activity, its inhabitants focused on rebuilding what little they have. For now, what Jay needs to do is to get stronger and adapt to this world, with the resolve of saving this world and the Earth.