The sun had set some time ago; Akane wasn't sure how long ago that was. She was at the outskirts of the «Starting City» and she didn't dare draw attention to herself. She had plenty of rest, and plenty of time to think this new life through. Perhaps one could wait in the city, perhaps they'd be rescued soon, but perhaps they wouldn't. Money made the world go round, and in this game, one would have to eat. The longer they stayed in the game, the more dangerous it would be to wait. So, Akane would have to earn money, and so would others.
Would most people be fine with earning money from hunting? She didn't think so. The gamers here were a diverse lot, and she had no doubt that some here were major freaks and/or morally deficient. Statistically speaking, quite a few of them would be criminals of some sort, and some... were probably cold-blooded murderers and rapists. Somewhere deep in her heart, she couldn't bring herself to truly believe that. She believed somewhere deep down in the goodness of her fellow human beings, but her head swore differently.
Her head told her that she could daydream about a perfect world with people working together, sharing information, supporting each other, and not murdering, robbing, and raping others. While she was at it, she could wish for a godly weapon and impervious armor and cotton candy made of clouds. However, that was not this world, and it was unlikely that such wishes would ever come true or be granted. People were imperfect. People were greedy. People would sell their blood, their kin, murder their friends and family, rob philanthropists and poor alike, and even go so far as to rape a baby if they could gain something from it.
That was reality. That was the world she lived in. That was what she should believe in and expect.
The angry cynic within her spoke, and she fed it as much as she could. Impetuousness, arrogance, and naivety might well get her killed. Caution, keen ears, and a quick wit was what would keep her alive. If she wished to live, she must be wary; she must be suspicious of anything and everything. She resolved to harden herself, she began to force herself to harden and, as she would do many more times in the future, she began to reinforce her newfound beliefs.
She could not keep her guard up forever, and once she let it down once, it would be harder to keep it up. She knew this. She knew that she would become complacent. That could not be helped. So, it would be best to make some distance, with luck, her complacence would not appear at an inopportune time.
In her head, she chanted to herself all the stories she knew from the news, books, internet, and history. Murderers, traitors, rapists, she repeated their tales in her head. There were those that betrayed their children, their mothers, their friends for coin, others for pleasure, and others for some foolish superstition. Twins buried alive, children forced to murder their families and become soldiers, young girls tricked and sold by relatives or strangers to die young, die early selling their bodies.
If people could do terrible things to their own kin; what more could a stranger do to her?
She planted and carefully cultivated the seeds of doubt and mistrust she had sown in her heart as further armor against danger in the future. She would trust no one but herself. She would not even trust the NPCs. Her relationship with other creatures would only be out of necessity. She did her best to crush and stamp out the fires of hope and dreams. They would be a weakness to her.
It pained her to do so. She had a strange sort of pride in being a foolish idealist. This is for the best. She told herself resolutely. She could not, could never allow herself to believe in her fellow man. Not until she was free of this world. No, not until I’m dead. She turned her mind away from the thought. It was a dark thought, a bleak thought. But so are all the other thoughts I have. What is one more shadowy thread to the others I plan to weave around myself like a dark cloak?
She shook her head at the thought. It was too theatrical, but then again, so was her name. I shall become something different. I shall become something cold, hard, and dangerous. Like a blade. I shall become Akane Uta, the Brilliant Red Song. With these hands, I will kill Janet, or at least, let her rest, until it is safe.
The words in her head rang hollow. It would not be as easy as that, and she could feel it, she knew it. She did not wish to be a liar, hypocrite, or braggart. She had the sinking feeling that she had already become one.
It does not matter. I shall lie, until the lies become truth.
Akane shook herself free of her thoughts, and quickly slipped into the tall grasses towards the shadowy forest. She would go elsewhere for now. She would follow after the strong, and let the vanguard make the world safe before she would go in herself. She would be cunning. It would be honor-less, it would be craven, but she would be alive.
Death is the end, but life holds a wellspring of possibilities. Better be a coward and alive, than fearless and dead. So long as one is alive, there is a chance, something can change.
Akane carefully placed each foot in front of her, and strove for silence in her steps. She would not have the benefit of an automatic sensing range, or scent that a monster in this game would. No, this is not a game. This is reality. She strained her ears for sound and began training herself to distinguish the difference between normal night-time sounds, and that of a moving predator.
She had already trained her eyes once, to see small creatures hidden in shadows, leaf, trees, grass, and water. Now she would have to train herself harder. This was no longer for casual observation. She would have to hone her skills for survival. She would have to teach herself to think differently, to live differently, and to become another person. She would train herself to think of as many of the possibilities as she could, and prepare for them.
She heard a faint rustle a little ways ahead of her. It was a bit different from the sounds she had heard before. Was it the wind? But no, this was a game; though it was possible they had varying sound effects, just to break up the monotony. Akane froze and listened. She peered into the darkness searching for any difference, anything that might mean danger. Her hands slowly inched towards her blade. A growl was the only warning she had.
There was the hiss of her blade being unsheathed, the thuds of padded paws on ground, and the snapping, snarling, and growling of the pack she faced. For once, her head and heart were in accord. They both cursed this string of ill luck she had had so far. She couldn’t see her attackers clearly, though she knew what they were. She whirled as she heard running feet to her left, somewhere slightly behind her, and her sword glowed green.
Somehow, at this moment, the lights from her sword seemed eerie and somehow otherworldly.
In the light, she caught a glimpse of white fangs and yellow eyes as the system completed the attack for her.
«Slant»
She heard a yelp and the wet sound of sword tearing through flesh. In a moment she felt a claw fasten itself into her leg.
«Vertical»
She brought her sword down upon its head. A message for a critical hit popped up for a second, she dismissed it and continued.
«Horizontal»
Her blade met a wolf in midair.
Akane fought like a demon. Silently, desperately, and in terror of her life, she fought as ferociously as any cornered animal. I will not die. I will not! She sensed movement and reacted reflexively. She swung her blade. Yet another yelp carried through the night. She wished she had bought a shield in the store. It would have been very useful right now. Akane did not know how long she had struggled, and despair nipped at her heels as she fought the pack.
Eventually, somehow, the remnants pack retreated, leaving behind their dead.
Akane stood, nerves on edge, listening to the sounds of wolves slinking away into the deeper shadow of the forest. Her heart pounded; in her mouth was the metallic taste of fear, and blood, from where she’d accidentally bitten her lip. With the back of her free hand, she wiped her mouth. She took a few deep breaths and tried to settle herself. Perhaps slipping away in the dead of night was not very clever.
It did not matter; she had already done it. Now she would have to make do with what she got. She would need to find a place to rest, and that place could not be in the forests, nor could she simply wait here for daylight. If one pack had found her so soon, another pack could probably easily find her.
She set her teeth, and continued into the forest. Her goal was to find a location where she could rest. She wanted an easily defensible place with water nearby. Only when she found such a place would she stop moving. She would hole up, and wait for day. With luck, she’d be able to see another day. With luck and caution she would survive this world.
