A week after the Act ended.
Everything had returned to normal, except Isaac becoming disabled and the village population being reduced to 9. After bandaging Isaac's wounds, she ventured out to look for the rest of the villagers and found their bodies littered around a nearby river.
After informing Isaac, they both decided to hold a funeral for those lost. They scraped together a basic funeral and laid their bodies to rest. For Hilda, they dug a hole and filled it in.
After the funeral, the two were stuck wondering how to move forward. With Isaac being a cripple and Riley having to move on from the village, the children were left without a caretaker.
Then one day, as she was preparing dinner, a certain individual visited. It was Decker Ruin.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was tasked to give you this," He handed over a letter with a blue seal.
"Are you sure it's mine?" She didn't know anyone well enough to write to each other.
"Check the address." She checked. It was for her, but from whom? The letter only mentioned the sender's address as the Rangers Military Academy.
"Thank you for the trouble." She decided not to worry about it as she felt she would find out sooner rather than later.
"No problem." He looked around.
"Where is Hilda? I want to sell her some of my herbs."
Riley looked at him and sighed.
"She is dead."
"Tell her…Wait! What!"
"Most of the villagers died during the Act," she said matter-of-factly.
Her words seemed to have stunned him. The people who had been alive a week ago had all died. He found that hard to swallow.
"How…?"
"Hilda was crushed by a tree, some died of sickness, and the rest is unknown."
Her words stunned him again. His legs suddenly felt weak, and he felt nausea climbing up his throat.
He looked at her. His first impression of Riley was that she easily got along with people. For her to say the deaths of all the people she held dear without a change in expression felt strange.
"I saw some of the children playing. Are you the only ones?"
"No. The Village Head was the only one left alive but…"
"But?"
"He lost a leg"
He pondered over her words, and in the distance, he could vaguely make out some makeshift graves.
"So what do you plan to do?"
"Well, I have to leave for the capital, but I have been delaying taking care of them."
"Why don't you take them with you?"
" How can I? I am already a burden by myself, what more with the ten of us?"
"The food here won't last you long. The money as well."
"I am well aware," she snapped at him.
He sighed.
"Allow me to be your benefactor."
"How so?"
"Let's all go to the capital in my caravan—"
"But—"
"Allow me to finish. The kids can go with us to our headquarters, and I will send Isaac to the hospital in the capital"
"I am not sure we can afford that," she said, sceptical.
"I will pay for it—"
"B—"
"Don't get ahead of yourself. You are, of course, going to pay me back, and I will put those children to good use."
The offer was too good to pass up.
She sighed.
"Let me talk to him first."
Afterwards, he joined them for dinner, and she brought up the offer to Isaac.
"Let's do it."
"Are you sure?"
"We can't keep holding you back, kid. I am sure the kids feel the same."
She later told Decker that everyone was on board.
"Good. We leave in two days."
Everyone retired to bed except Riley, who stayed behind to clean the kitchen.
"Haaa…" She was finally done. She walked back to her room and collapsed onto her bed.
"Tough day?" Nicholas asked as he scurried onto the bed. He had become very energetic after waking up a couple of days ago.
"Yes."
"There will be better days."
"I sure hope so."
He scampered towards her head and patted her head.
His actions caused a giggle to escape from her. She held him in her hands and sat up straight.
"Silly mouse," she grinned.
"You know I am a person, right?"
"Person or mouse, you are still my friend, and I am glad you are alive"
"I'm glad you have survived as well, Miss Riley."
"Survived?" she chuckled.
"You are an odd one, Sir Nicholas." She smiled and placed him down.
"Perhaps, I am."
She smirked and pulled out the letter.
Its seal emitted a faint glow as it basked in the moonlight. She tore it open and read.
After reading, she sighed.
"What the matter?"
"I just received a ticket," she said, waving the letter.
Puzzled, he asked," Ticket?"
She grinned. "Yes. Our ticket to going back to Earth"
***************
"Get into the caravan! Make sure you haven't left anything, " Riley's voice thundered above the chaos. It was the day they were heading out to the capital. They had packed everything they could, and despite their inclination not to, the money from the villagers. Riley had packed a few clothes and Hilda's books and research.
"Riley, meet my son, Cypher."
She focused her attention on the boy beside Decker. He was scrawny with black curly hair and blue eyes. He looked like the type to be blown away by the wind.
She smiled. "Nice to meet you."
He mumbled something in return, but she could barely hear it.
"He is also a student of the Academy. Same age as you."
"I heard the entrance ceremony for new students had already happened. So why is he still here?"
"It's not my fault. A certain person had been stalling me," he smirked at her.
She grimaced. "I see…"
"With that being said, I am sure you will do your best to take care of him."
She sighed. "I will."
She smiled at the boy. " I hope we can be friends."
The boy seemed embarrassed as he looked down and blushed.
She giggled. 'He is adorable.'
They walked to the caravan and found everyone already seated. She climbed in herself, and almost immediately they set off.