Chapter 4: Friend, Foe, Fear

Felicia and Eunice were bombarded with notification after notification once the fight had ended. Some of them were about defeating the wolves and the rest were about leveling up. They had now reached level 3 and their stats had gone up a little bit.

The thing that really stuck out the most to both of them was the new skill that they had just learned. The new skill was called “Extract.”

According to the explanation, it was capable of removing one thing from another. An oversimplified description that left little to the imagination. It didn't seem that impressive at first glance. To Felicia's new body roommate though, she was ecstatic.

“<Can it be true?! A new skill! I finally have a real skill!>”

In the mental world Eunice was jumping up and down with absolute joy. She was screaming her lungs out in excitement. It was something she had been waiting for so long desperately wishing it would happen.

One of her dreams had finally come true. She has a skill. The sound of the boy groaning from pain brought both girls back to reality. The shared body stood up and looked over at the injured boy.

He was clearly in bad shape. Just one little hit, even a flick looked like it could reduce him to nothingness. That, and the fact he had only one point of HP left. Most likely he had received some damage prior to her arrival.

A cold expression formed on Eunice's face “<We should take him out now before he becomes a problem later.>”

Felicia examined the boy carefully, and noticed the concerned yet fearful look on his face. Eunice was worried what this boy was going to do to them. Or at least, what he could potentially do.

He could be a huge threat, an enemy, or someone who just uses them later on down the line in some way. Or, he could be just like her. Someone who got stolen away from their home world. Just another scared kid.

Felicia realized that she, too, was also scared. Not just of what the boy could do, but what she could do. She didn't want to be some kind of cold-blooded killer. She fought the wolves to protect him and for their own survival.

But this guy hasn't done anything wrong as far as she knew. So many things about this just didn’t sit right with her.

She realized they were both waiting in anticipation to discover what actions she would take. She wasn't sure how to feel, especially since, Eunice was the one giving her the choice to make.

Did she want Felicia to do all of the dirty work? Or was she respecting her wishes of wanting some control over the choices they made? There was a lot going through her mind, but she just went with what felt right to her.

The shared body walked up to the boy and offered a hand. “Are you going to be okay? Do you need a hand standing up?”

He paused for a moment, taking a minute to study the look of concern on the shared body's face. It displayed real genuine worry, about his well-being. He decided to risk it and accept the hand up.

“Yeah, I think I'll be okay with a bit of rest. Thanks for giving me a hand back there. I don't think I would have made it out in one piece.”

Felicia made the shared body smile at him. “Unlike me, you could hold your own back there a bit. At least I'd say you have more experience than I do.”

A look of confusion formed on his face. “Are you new here? you came from Earth just like I did right?”

An annoyed look formed on the shared body's face. “It was the damn truck wasn't it?!”

He nodded. “Found myself here after meeting my Patron and got a new body. Your Patron already told you about the whole survival game, right?”

She casually waved her hand in the air. “Eh, more or less I'd say.”

They suddenly heard more howling in the distance. They both exchange a fearful look.

“I found a cave that I've essentially turned into some sort of bunker, house, base thing. The point is it's where I rest and keep my stuff. You saved me so you're welcome to crash with me for the time being.”

Irritation formed on Eunice’s face in the mental world. “<I don't agree with his idea. On the one hand I understand that safety is our main priority at the moment. However, he is still a complete stranger to both of us. we shouldn't trust anyone to begin with in general.>”

A smug smile formed on the shared body's face. “Lead the way.”

Euince face palmed herself in the mental world. The boy began to lead the two girls in the direction of his shelter. “By the way, Mr Axe Guy, what should I call you?”

He gave her an unamused look. “Definitely not, Mr. Axe Guy. We're about the same age I take it, so you can drop the mister.”

The shared body chuckled. “Alright dude. What should I call you, instead of saying hey you with the face?!”

He hesitated for a moment. “In this world since we were given new bodies. It doesn't feel right still going by our old names. After all, we're not the same people we used to be anymore.”

Felicia took a moment to stop and study her own hands. She let that fact truly sink in. He was right, neither one of them were the same people that they used to be. And they may never be ever again.

He halted when he noticed she wasn't following him anymore. She realized she was getting too far behind and rushed back over to him. He felt a bit guilty about bringing the harsh truth to her attention.

It was important however, since now they needed to go by new names. “Call me Vault” He said, while giving a comforting smile.

Felicia wasn't sure what name to go with. Never mind she still felt like Felicia Forge, but on the outside she clearly wasn't anymore. Even in that weird mental world pond place, a part of Eunice still existed there as a piece of her.

Yes, even in her own head she still technically wasn't just Felicia Forge. “I don't know who I am. This body is not my own, but unlike you, I'm sharing mine.”

Vault took note of the freaked out expression on the shared body's face. He had never heard of anyone sharing a body before, but he knew that if he didn't say the right words then it wouldn't help put her mind at ease. Or, at least one of them?

“From what I can tell, it's you and one other person right? It seems like both of you don't really get along. Maybe one day in the future, the two of you will be able to make peace and live in harmony.”

In the mental world Felicia and Eunice exchanged a look. Both of them were clearly unhappy with the circumstances of sharing a body. But, they knew they had to make an effort. They both nodded to each other.

The shared body spoke up “ Harmony…We…like it.”