They all woke up the next day with a huge commotion at the courtyard of the settlement. The gate that was opened for 50 years, closed without warning leaving everyone inside stranded.
Matthew sat down on bench, while Michael and Paula went to talk with the other adventurers and workers who were there. Matthew had his hands on his face, hunched down on himself and trembling.
Vanessa sat beside him, putting her arm around his shoulder.
"It's all right kid. We have plenty of water and food. We have a well and the forest has plenty of fruits and animals for us to hunt. We'll be ok until they find a way to rescue us."
"I'm cursed, aren't I?" Matthew said scared.
"What do you mean?"
"First my odd unique skill, then the dungeon fluctuation, then Hell… Now this…" He said with a sad laugh.
"You got unlucky, kid." Vanessa comforted him. "But it does not mean you're cursed."
"I should just give up being an adventurer."
"If you truly think so. But these things happen more often than you realize. It's not always in the media and it's not all talked about on the internet. Remember what I told you? Having in mind your goal and why you started is important to keep a clear head forward. Adventuring is very draining." As Matthew didn't say anything, Vanessa asked: "Why did you come here this time?"
"My sister. I was about to quit, but my sister convinced me to go forward."
"Wasn't she against it?"
"Yes. But after I came back to hell she said she realized that she wanted to help people." Matthew smiled. "She said she was going to be an adventurer idol. She wants to heal people with singing."
"That's…" Vanessa found herself at a loss of words. "Odd? But it's as good motive as any."
"So I figured I had to be strong for her. To protect her. To protect the people around me. But now I'm thinking if I'm not the problem."
"You know I used to be married." Vanessa said seemingly changing topics. "He was Eric's brother. Edwin." Her tone gave away that she didn't want to be interrupted. "We married as soon as we finished college. We both got our law degrees and passed the bar exam. Soon I went to work for a prestigious firm and he passed the exam for the DA's office. Everything was great. Eric was already adventuring for some time, he married our best friend from high school Katrina, bought that house, had Katia…" Vanessa showed him a smile. "But a year ago, Edwin and Katrina were on a mall shopping for a present for my birthday. And then a dungeon fluctuation happened nearby to where they were. Monsters got out and they reached Katrina and Edwin, they could do nothing to defend themselves. The dungeon was licensed to a private guild, but when the fluctuation happened, instead of trying to contain it, they fled. I tried to sue the guild, but the owner of the guild is the mayor's son, so my boss was against it. So I quit the firm, and sued myself, only for the action to get thrown out by the judge, who I'm sure is in the mayor's pocket."
Matthew looked at her with empathy. Now it was his arm that was around her comforting the woman.
"I gave up the law after that. I only went to the dungeon sometimes to get rid of my anger on something. Sold everything I had, but my bike. Eric was kind enough to lend me his garage, but I couldn't just live there for free. So I got a part-time job to help him with the bills. Not that he needed, but I wanted to be useful."
"Then, why did you decide to become a full time adventurer?"
"That guild. Howling Spear. They did it again."
"What?"
"They ran away at a raid with Eric's guild. A friend of ours, Igor, died because of them." Vanessa had her voice filled with anger. "I need to level up." She said ominously.
"Are you planing to kill them?" Matthew asked a bit scared.
Vanessa just smiled at him: "That's why you shouldn't feel guilty. It's not your fault. These things happen all the time. You fought both times and you will fight now too. That's what matters. It's better to be strong and face when bad things happen, than to flee."
"You two seem to be bonding." Paula said bit irritated.
Matthew jumped from the bench after realizing he almost hugging Vanessa.
"Don't let my sister ruin this." Michael came soon after his sister.
"So… You feeling better kid?" Paula asked a bit hostile. "Not going to murder us, will you?"
"Paula!" Vanessa screamed. "Don't even joke with that."
Paula scoffed and turned her head.
"I'm sorry." Matthew said lowering his head. "I didn't mean to scare you. I lost control back there. I won't let it happen again."
"Yeah. He's our friend, sis. Ness trusts him. Don't be like that." Michael tried to mediate.
As Paula was still silent and looking the other way, Vanessa turned to Michael.
"So, what's the plan?"
"They want us to help guard the walls until someone makes contact. Nobody leaves base until the gate is opened again."
"And when is our shift?" Matthew asked.
"I don't think it's wise for the kid to fight while infected with demonic Mana, Ness." Paula said.
"I hate to agree." Vanessa turned to Matthew. "It's too dangerous. The demonic influence might take over you and make you do things you'll regret. I think you should stay put."
"Ok." Matthew agreed a bit hurt.
"They want us at the north gate, by the tower, overlooking the sawmill." Michael explained.
Matthew went back to his room. He fidgeted with his phone, but, without internet, there wasn't much he could do. Then he turned the TV and picked a random movie from a thin selection that the device had recorded in itself.
About halfway through the movie, he noticed that the usual blue light that pierced the windows was now bright red. He walked towards the window and saw that the whole place was lit red.
Looking up, he saw that the moon had changed color. It now looked like it was painted in blood.
On the distance, he heard a loud howling. Then gunfire to the east. Then to west and north. Only south was protected as the settlement was built against a steep side of a mountain.
This was bad. He armed himself, put on his protective vest. But got scared to leave the room. What if he lost control and hurt the others?
It was then that a scream for help came from downstairs. He rushed down and found that a red wolf just broke the door down and was growling at a scared receptionist who tried to hide behind a couch.
Matthew shot at the wolf, but his bullets weren't strong enough to pierce its Vitality. Then he charged forward using his shield to protect himself from the beast's claws. In the same movement, he hit the wolf with his shoulder creating enough space to put his gun forward at point blank and fire multiple times killing the beast then and there.
The receptionist thanked him repeatedly. He told her to go upstairs and lock herself in a room and went to see how thing were outside.
Few wolves got in the settlement, but were being subdued by adventures who were in the courtyard.
Not sure what to do. He rushed to help cull the ones the got in and save the civilians.
Trading his gun for his machete, so he wouldn't hit other people, he approached one of the wolves from behind who was in a standstill with another adventurer and heavily hacked its hind legs. This created the opportunity for the adventurer to stab it with his spear right between the eyes.
"Thanks kid." He said and explained that the wolves suddenly got violent and a horde from the forest was charging the settlement. The north wall failed and some got in, but they were holding it now.
Matthew got a chill down his spine. He rushed north. Vanessa and the others were there. If it failed, they might be hurt. Praying for their safety, he headed forward.