NPC Code: Red Riding Hood

We waited for a few days for Match's hands to heal from the burns that she took from her powers. The burned mark covering her hands became scars, which only meant that Match's skin healed at a rapid rate. If it were not, Match could not use her fingers for lifting heavy objects such as firewoods for our campfire.

Like any other day, we circled at the crisping dry twigs and planks, chopped from the close by trees. Instead of eating boar's meat, the two of us settled for rabbits, which taste like chicken. The thought of hunting down hogs that trampled us from before sent shivers down our spine.

We would never fall prey to these monsters, who nearly killed us if it were not for Match's abilities.

"Let's start your training tomorrow," I announced, and sliced the rabbit's meat with my teeth. "I won't go easy on you. Since you said you want to fight with me, I will train you as I train myself."

I had my doubts about inviting Match to my futuristic clashes against players and the game developers. However, leaving Match here was also not an option for me to take. Isolating this little girl would also mean leaving Clementine behind me, behind this cruel world.

"It's okay! I'm ready for anything you would do to me... and that turned out weird, didn't it?" Match remarked, and chomped down the rabbit's using the make-shift utensils. That girl disliked using her hands to eat food. But on rare occasions, Match would mimic me and eat her meal with her stark fingers.

The night grew old, and the sun had finally set on the west. Dozens of owls perched on the boughs while giving out blaring hoots for a complete minute. Their songs were the only sound that reverberated through the forest, giving us a soothing lullaby for our sleep.

I volunteered to stay up late and protect Match during the night. Much to my surprise, Match also wanted to become a watchguard after my shift. She said that I had black spots covering my eyelids.

"You know, I can protect you, too! And even if I can't, I can still wake you up to protect me!" Match expressed, while instructing me to wake her sleeping body soon.

A smile emerged on my face, thinking that I would get some rest later. But in the meantime, I needed to inspect our surroundings and make sure that the environment was a safe place for us to stay.

I had enough with those monsters and players chasing us around. I was the only one who knew how to fight. But I knew I could not win every battle that I would face. My body only borrowed these powers that my system granted me and came not from my hardships and experiences.

All those rulers that I killed were all because of a well-crafted plan. I never butt heads against them. I only used the element of surprise to my advantage, hence their defeat. But if I would battle them again head-on, I would lose that fight.

I drowned myself with these thoughts and remembered that I have a bow inside my [astral space]. My hands reached out for the obsidian dimension and took the longbow out from that realm. It was the emerald bow the elves used against us in Nirvana.

I tried using this weapon against the boar and hit my target. However, I did not feel any satisfaction with that event. My accuracy only enhanced during that battle because of my colourless, glowing right eye. That light heightened my senses and amplified the power contained inside of me.

But there was never a point where I used my skills and experiences to overpower my enemy. That idea was the driving force for me to train with Match as soon as the sun would greet our eyes.

"I need to practise my bow while monitoring the place," I told myself, and sauntered a fair distance from Match.

Nobody wanted to sleep in a noisy place, especially when someone wanted to train with a bow.

There was an odd-looking stone that I placed in the bark's hole. That pebble served as the target practice I needed to hit from afar. I also needed to deactivate my right eye from glowing and giving me an advantage.

I took a deep breath and grabbed my string tighter than ever. But my hands-just like from before became tensed at each movement. It forced me to slip my grip off from the cord, unlatching the bow from my hand. It was like the entire bow and arrow was sliding from my fingertips, refusing to choose me as the marksman.

This event made me realise how inferior I was when I did not have my ability activated. I was nothing when my right eye did not glow.

However, it was too late for me to give up this soon. "I haven't tried to shoot that arrow. Why am I feeling like this early," I murmured, and picked my bolt back between my hands.

After placing the shaft to the string, I launched the arrow into oblivion. That dart hit the nearby log, standing forty feet in front of me, but not the pebble standing fifty feet away. It was a pitiful scene that almost made me want to cry.

But no tears fell from my eyes. There was nothing for me to do but to stare at the mistake I made, thinking that I would never become the person I wanted to be to protect the people I love. When the time comes when I face someone stronger than me, I would definitely lose. With this state of mind, my body was not in peak's condition. It did not have the skill to clash against a veteran player.

Those trains of thoughts shattered as I heard someone clapping behind me. My body jerked backwards and glanced at my rear, only to find Match slapping her hands. Despite her tired eyes, that little girl woke up from her sleep to cheer me on.

"How long have you been watching me?" I asked,

"By the time you moved away from me?" Match answered, but unsure of the reply she gave me. "But I watched that."

Match directed her gaze at the pebble that I wanted to hit. She then shifted her look at the shaft that landed against the log. Instead of mocking me, Match asked if she could borrow my bow and arrow. I lent her my weapon and watched Match do her thing with my head tilting at the side.

I wanted to ask her about Match's reason for borrowing my weapon. But I kept my mouth shut and continued to observe the situation.

Match tried copying my posture and my movements. She lifted the bow and placed the shaft between the cord and her fingers. The longbow was strenuous for Match to hold, but she tried her best not to let go of the weapon. That little girl locked her feet on the ground and launched the arrow towards the pebble.

"Is Match a prodigy for using bows and arrows? I thought she was a mage?!" I could not help but think of the little girl that way.

But those thoughts turned into dust after witnessing such a reversal scene.

Match's result was worse than mine. The shaft, which I thought would outdo mine, flopped on the ground before it could reach the air. The vibrant scene that I thought would become an elegant piece shattered my expectations. It was an anti-climatic sequence that Match and I never expected to happen. But that was not the case.

A grin emerged from Match's mouth as she went back towards me to return what she borrowed. My hands took the bow and arrow away from Match, while my body became a statue, staring at her body.

Match knew she was going to fail. However, I still did not know why that girl would do such a thing.

Before I could express my thoughts, Match faced me and flashed me a smile.

"Did you see that! I thought I almost had it! Maybe next time I will improve the art of archery! I only saw players do that! But when I saw you, Match, from the first time, I wanted to be like you!" Match confessed, but stopped midway from her sentence.

After that pause, Match took a deep sigh and shook her head. She moved closer to my side and continued, "I know I can't do the things that you do. Everyone has their own strengths! You don't have magic, but I do! But I can't use the dagger and the bow, but you do! That's why we're going to train, am I right? Without using our mysterious glowing eye!"

A glass of some sort imploded inside of me, breaking the negative thoughts compiled inside my brain. I thought I was alone in this world, but I wasn't. Someone continuously gave me support all this time, and I took that for granted.

I did not save Match from despair.. Match saved me from mine when I had nobody else besides her.