I was wandering around, waiting for the class representative, when I saw someone who didn't seem to have accepted our current situation.
That thought crossed my mind again. It was strange. Why had we accepted this so easily?
She was the only one who still showed a hint of fear on her face. When I looked at the rest of my classmates and compared their expressions to hers, I felt ill; their behaviour felt 'forced' or 'unnatural'.
And I was acting the same way: I knew I should be worried, I knew I should be feeling sad for my family, I knew I was scared by the fact that I didn't belong to this world.
But there I was - even though I knew how I should be feeling, I wasn't feeling that way.
Instead, I was walking towards her, looking to cheer her up.
"Mind if I sit?"
"Sure, Dylan. Go ahead".
I sat next to her.
We were watching the others show off their new abilities, like nothing bad had happened.
"They're having fun, aren't they?"
"Seems like it."
But the truth was different - everything was wrong.
What should I say to her? Everyone's alright, so let's just do our best? Try to talk her out of her fear? No - I couldn't do something like that.
Her fear was real. Sje was trying her best to not break down, to not worry any of us. That was the reaction everyone should have had.
I can just keep her company - show her we were fine.
"Do you like candy? These are my favorites"
I opened an orange candy package I had in my pocket and placed one in her hand.
"Thanks."
I didn't say anything else. I couldn't bring myself to. I could only wish she didn't lose hope.
It was quiet until she spoke again.
"By the way... do you have this skill menu too? This is mine."
A skill menu appeared before my eyes.
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Skills
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[Healing Touch] [Augmentation]
[Mind Control Resistance]
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"Your skills are really amazing."
"Do you really think so?" It was subtle, but I noticed that hearing that made her feel a bit better.
What she needed the most is feeling like she can protect her students again.
"These candies are really good."
"I'm glad you like them" I said while smiling.
We didn't talk after that.
Some time later, I heard my name.
"You should go."
"Yeah."
I stood up and walked over the class representative.
"Dylan, you are in the food gathering team." - He pointed a group of students laughing behind a tree.
I walked towards the group.
A classmate with green hair and a jacket started giving orders.
His name was Mark. I hadn't spent much time with him before, but I knew he had experience with cooking.
He was the kind of guy who would wake up at five o'clock just to make his own food instead of relying on the student cafeteria. He was also known for making the strangest combinations.
I also heard his cooking was great, even if I didn't have the opportunity to try it before.
"It seems everyone is here. My name is Mark, as you might already know. I'll be in charge of the food gathering team".
"I'll keep it brief: you must choose a partner whose skills work with you, go around and bring everything that seems edible."
"If it's only food gathering, wouldn't it be better to go by ourselves and try to cover a bigger area?" - A girl asked
"We've seen animals lurking around. They don't seem dangerous, but let's be careful at least for now. And if you somehow end up in danger, please run away - don't try to be a hero."
"How will we know if it's actually edible?"
Mark smiled.
"Just bring everything that looks like food. I'll make sure it's edible with my baby."
Mark showcased his skill.
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Maybe It's Edible
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By using MP, you can check if
something can be eaten
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Isn't it really convenient that he, of all of us, got that skill? I thought to myself.
One by one my classmates were saying the name of their skills. They weren't showing their menu.
I was in trouble. I didn't want to drag anyone down with me, but saying that I had no skills wouldn't be good either.
It was my turn.
Mark tilted his head.
"It seems, Dylan, there is nobody else to team up with you."
I was anxious thinking about what to do that I didn't notice before, but our numbers were odd. Of course there would be someone who wouldn't manage to find a partner.
"I guess, you could wait and see if another team is in need of a hand."
I felt bad about not doing anything, I had a strange urge inside telling me to go do something.
Suddenly our teacher approached Mark. She looked just a bit better and that was good.
"Mark, would you mind if I joined your group?" - She asked.
Mark nodded.
"Oh, Dylan, you are lucky you get to team up with our teacher."
He didn't even ask for our skills and made the team in the spot.
"I will be waiting here, do your best!" - Mark start waving his hand saying goodbye.
And like that I started walking with my teacher, moving away from the reat.
I didn't know what to say.
"It's okay now."
I looked at my teacher's face.
"I want to help everyone too."
"Teacher..."
She was walking with her arms behind her back, her voice felt still unsure.
"If you are doing your best then It's just fair I do the same. You seem to be forcing yourselves to act, if you can do that then I can do it too."
She also thinks our way of acting was forced. Who wouldn't? We weren't acting as we should.
That feeling kept growing inside me.