At World's End

Entry 2

"Day 25 of the first month, Eos, in the year, 40AC ( After Civilization). 

"10 days since my team and I were commissioned to retrieve materials from the ruined world. I thought the mission would go smoothly, that is until We came into contact with an Otherworldly today. 

"They call it a Rottenling, a creature with no definitive features apart from its rotten flesh. 

"We were lucky that we met only two of them. This C-rank Otherworldly move in packs." 

I closed the journal in my hand as I tried to imagine what a Rottenling looked like. 

Of course, not much could be made out of the image with only rotten flesh as a definition. 

It still sounded quite scary and exciting regardless. I yearned to experience it for myself. 

Dad always told me stories about his encounters outside, even documenting them in a journal to keep me company whenever he wasn't around. 

Those were fun times, indeed. 

Unfortunately, it's been five years since he died. 

After a series of investigations, they wrote it off as suicide but I don't believe that. 

Why would he take his own life when he was so close to completing his research? 

It made no sense. 

So I argued and cried, hoping that they would reopen the investigation, but no one listened to me. 

It would have been weird to listen to the cries of a thirteen-year-old child considering I had no real power to move them. 

It hurt me though. 

He dedicated his life to figuring out the truth behind the Fog that caused the fall of civilization, yet his death was accepted so casually. 

It's not like I expected the whole tower to mourn with me, but at least show some respect. 

Hah, what's the point in thinking about this now. 

I tried to get back to reading when the door opened with Leila walking in with a small paper bag. 

"You are back." 

She nodded smilingly. "Mn, hope you didn't miss me too much." 

"You wish." I shot back, smiling as well. 

Even after dad died, Leila remained. 

She went a step further and took over his unfinished projects. 

Unfortunately, since the fire that destroyed our home also burnt all of dad's files, she had to start from scratch. 

She was an assistant but dad never shared his findings concerning the Fog's existence with her. 

He might have told me but I honestly couldn't recall even if I wanted to. 

"You hungry?" Leila asked as she set the paper bag down on the table. 

I nodded enthusiastically. "Mn." 

It was quite rare to not have to head over to the Floor canteen on the west wing to have meals considering the amount it cost to have a special meal made for a single home. 

"Alright then, we will be having potatoes for dinner," Leila said as she walked into her room to get changed. 

"Nice." 

Not many were lucky enough to eat meals delivered to their homes on their birthday in the Tower. 

It was for a select few and luckily… I could be one of them. 

Suddenly the lights flickered before they went off without warning. 

The room was plunged into darkness. 

A few seconds later and it came back on like it never left. 

"It's getting worse and each time, it takes some time to come back on," Leila remarked as she stepped out of the room, wearing a t-shirt and shorts. 

I worriedly nodded in response. "If we don't claim the outside world soon enough… Haven would be plunged into darkness." 

We didn't say anything more because the mere thought of losing electricity in the Tower brought with it untold consequences. 

I didn't have the heart to imagine it. 

A few more seconds passed before Leila turned to the storeroom to pick out what we'd use to eat what she brought home. 

As I watched her figure disappear, a heavy sigh escaped my lips. 

A lot had happened since dad's death. 

After the house fire, the area was quarantined and tagged as a dangerous zone. 

Something about my father's variance still being active. 

I knew they were lying but I couldn't stay back and ended up moving in with Leila. 

It wasn't bad, but compared to home… it was somewhat lacking. 

It was noticeably smaller with only a parlor, bedroom, and storeroom. 

The toilet was shared with the adjacent apartment. 

The parlor was substituted as a workspace with several of Leila's lab equipment kept there with the rest stashed in her room. 

Once I come of age, I'd be able to get dad's savings but I have a feeling it won't be that simple. 

Hah, patience is key. 

With nothing else to do, I returned to reading the journal. 

"After the encounter with the Rottenling, we were forced to retreat in fear that the rest of the pack would come for us. It was then that we received the message… a Godspawn was approaching!" 

... 

Roughly two hours later and dinner was done. 

I'm stuffed. 

It was nice to have a sister that cared. 

Leila cleared up the dishes and washed them using the water from the water drum we use to store water before coming to join me in the parlor. 

Silence reigned as we sat adjacent to each other. 

It was a nice view considering the lighting in the room illuminated her beauty… darn it, I thought I was over this! 

Just then, she spoke up. "Do you have to do this?... Becoming an Explorer… it's dangerous." 

Her voice was tinged with worry for a younger one. 

It was quite appealing, unfortunately, my mind was made up. 

"I have to." 

"I don't think that's what Doctor Walker would want." 

"On the contrary, I believe he would want me to do this. Dad died five years ago and it was termed a suicide but I don't believe that. I have to finish what he started... I have to figure out the real cause of his death and secondly…" 

I paused for dramatic effect before adding boldly. "To complete his research and reclaim Earth for humanity!" 

An awkward silence followed before Leila muttered. "You shouldn't say things like that when you have no idea about the monsters that dwell in the Fog." 

What did she say?