Cycling through the conversation they had, Visha could be sure of one thing. It would be hard as hell to find her way home.
A disappearing ice wall would definitely make it hard for her to go home. She also remembered the Wind Wails, as they call them. She knows she isn't able to get past them. How does she convince people who don't know her to endanger their lives for her?
Her mind was a mess, and she didn't know what to do. She thought of the interface she had seen before, and it popped up.
She saw the reward that was left. She didn't click to receive it. She decided to look around and see if there was anything that could help her.
Since she was able to understand them, it proves she isn't crazy. Which means, this thing, whatever it is, might be able to help her.
The little hope that had dwindled was fiercely reignited.
She started going through everything she could find.
[Host: Visha Solace]
[Race: Human]
[Stamina: 5/10]
[Agility: 6/10]
[Strength: 6/10]
[Current status: Mild dehydration, hungry]
She looked at the status in front of her and wondered if she was really that weak. She usually works out because the jobs she does are strenuous. She couldn't help feeling a little down when she saw it.
But she continued to look through.
[Tasks]
[Rewards]
[Inventory]
[Mall]
[Help]
She checked each tab. Realising the Mall option couldn't be opened, she left it as it was. She clicked on rewards and decided to take the ration pack she was offered.
[Check inventory]
She clicked on inventory, and there it was. Water, jerky, a Swiss Army knife, and a flashlight. She hurriedly took out the water and drank some. Instead of eating the jerky, she ate the berries she was given earlier.
She checked the task option and found available tasks.
[Mission task: Enhance cave safety]
[Reward: unknown]
[Mission task: Ensure everyone survives the winter]
[Reward: unknown]
The two tasks sounded simple, but she knew they were anything but. How was she supposed to help them survive when she herself didn't know if she could? None of these tasks has anything to do with helping her get home.
She looked at the last tab that said [Help]. This should tell her everything she needed to know.
It would tell her what she needed to know. It would also tell her something she found unreal and wished she had never known.
Visha clicked it, hoping to see something that would tell her what was happening. Instead, she saw a search bar.
Since there was nothing else, she decided to type in a question.
How do I get home?
A simple question. She had no hope of actually getting an answer, but she was shocked when something did pop up.
[You are home]
What the f-? I am not home. I'm nowhere near home.
She didn't get the answer she wanted, so she tried again.
How do I get to the xxx country?
[You are currently unable to access that data]
I'm only trying to get back home. Why is this such a hassle?
She sighed. The only thing that could answer her questions was this thing. It wasn't helping at all. No matter how many times she asked for a way home, she was either told she was home or access was denied.
Going crazy was definitely not on the agenda for her. She looked at the bustling cave, completely unsure of what to do with herself.
Since asking about home wasn't working, she would try something different.
What are you, and how did I get here?
[I am your companion, you may call me Sys. A gift bestowed by a nameless god who does not wish to see the people of this continent die. You arrive here after your death. As the first person to access the veil between both worlds, you were granted access to a new life in exchange for your help.]
Died? What do you mean, I died? When did I die?
Visha tried wrapping her head around the information she got. There was no way she died without knowing it. She remembered everything she did up to this point.
If she really died, then when did it happen? How could she have forgotten? Was it peaceful?
She shook her head, refusing to think about it. If she did, she would start crying. And she definitely wouldn't be caught crying in a cave.
Instead of tears, she turned her attention back to the search bar.
How did I die?
[After climbing the ice wall, your body was unable to handle the freezing temperature. At the border of your world and this, your body fell into the cracks.]
Now she really did want to cry. She couldn't stop the tears from flowing. This thing had no reason to lie to her, so she couldn't help but believe it was telling the truth.
Stuck between belief and disbelief, Visha cried for the life she may have lost. Silently, she shed tears of sorrow. She lamented the unfairness of life.
And when she was finished crying, she made a new resolve.
She remembered asking how to get to her country, and it told her she couldn't access the data. Which meant there was a way, she just didn't know what it was yet.
Maybe nothing happened to her, and it was a lie? If it was, no matter what the reason, she would find out.
And since there was a way, she would try her damned hardest to make it back. Come hell or high water.
She wiped her tears and stood up. Clenched her fist and gave herself an encouraging nod, ready to battle the day.
She had two tasks to do. She needed to make sure they were done. If doing them could help her get home, she would do everything she could and then some.
But first, she really needed to talk to those two men again.
Strengthening her resolve, she was mostly back to her usual self. This led her to think about what happened earlier. She patted her cheeks that were threatening to turn red.
She closed her eyes, hoping to block out what she had seen. But it hits her full force as she sees it even more clearly when she closes her eyes.
It's so big! Both of them!