"Oh, of course! Don't we all have letters on our nape? What about yours?" Aeith asked us as she dug into hers and then pulled up her hair. "This is mine, M."
I looked at her nape. It was our newly tattooed mark. Aeith has the letter M.
"Here's mine," Fourth also turned around and parted her hair. I saw the letter R.
"What about you, Second?" they both asked.
I just bent down, and they parted my long hair.
"Letter H," they said. I straightened my hair after showing it to them.
"What does this mean? We lost the numbers on our arms but now we have an embedded tattoo on the back of our necks?" Fourth wondered.
"Hmmm... can't this be our new name? Because our names used to be numbers and ordinals, which are on our arms but are no longer there," Aeith suggested.
"Why does it need to be changed?" I asked a question, but no one could answer.
"Second is right." Fourth agreed. "Besides, why do we need more letters when we already remember ourselves?"
"Ay, you're right! Speaking of what, what are your names?!" Aeith asked happily and eagerly like before when we were still in the castle. She was also very eager to know our names given to us by Author. She held out her hand to us for a handshake. "I'm Ms. Quevas, Myriana Quevas!" We shook hands with her.
"Hi, dear friends! My real name is Rochevel Javinendo. Nice meeting you all," she giggled. And we also shook hands with Fourth as if we had just met for the first time.
They looked at me and waited for me.
I smiled at them sparingly before introducing myself with a real name. "Heavien Cyre Luvitos. Just call me Heavien."
"Um, excuse me. We should cook. We need your help." Aeizen called out to us.
We went back to the tent and helped with the cooking. The boys gather wood and dried leaves for the bonfire. There is no sun so it will be difficult and tolerable for us to make fire.
I thought that the letters on our nape meant the first letter of our names. I questioned the others what letters were on their necks and what their names were, and I was right. There is a sense of relief and gladness that I now know their real names.
***
When the meal was over, we went back to sleep. We still seem tired because of the game.
I stared at the ceiling of the tent and thought about what First had told me after we had eaten.
"What's your name?" I asked him as we finished eating and getting ready.
He turned to me. "Why?"
"Just curious. I knew everyone's except yours."
"Let's just say... Hmm, I don't have a name."
"Huh?" I frowned in confusion.
"Just call me L and I'll call you H," Then he left me with a mysterious smirk.
Why doesn't he even tell me? He won't tell others, too. He insisted he would just say it later. He has a letter L tattooed on his nape. Letter L is the first letter in his name. He can call me Heavien, but prefers to call me Second or H. He insisted that he won't call me by my real name to be fair to me, since I still don't know his. This is his way to be fair to me. People either keep a secret for good or for their own good. First, you are close to me, but you also feel so far. There is a lot of stuff I don't know about you. I closed my eyes because I was thinking too much about the mystery of First, the identity of L.
I dreamed of something with the girl's voice again. I was stunned for a moment, then I remembered that my voice was the girl speaking in my dream. I understand that. I remember that. I am narrating my own dreams. The comic I'm making doesn't have a title yet, but the content of its chapters is what happens to me in the tri-games. From the moving up ceremony until the end of the game here on the nth planet made by Author. I don't know why I wrote and drew the comic and why I know what happened in the tri-games. For some unknown reason, I know that we will play the next level 2, stage 2. If I remember the story of the comics I wrote correctly, Author will show up to us later to announce the next game. If I remember correctly, the tri-games did not turn out well. I laughed to myself because I looked paranoid. I slapped myself.
"Hey! Wake up, we're going to eat!" Someone's voice interrupted my sleep.
I came out of the tent after Aeith woke me. I was the last to wake up among the girls. We had a simple breakfast. We can only eat vegetables and fruits because our resources are limited. This reminded me of our initial situation when we first came to nth planet.
***
The short meal was over and all when Author's presence came. I knew it. The ten of us gathered and we surrounded Author's hologram outside of the tent. We waited for it to announce the next expected game.
"The battle 10. For your next game, the Health Level: Stage 2, you will be playing again as a pair."
If my dream about the comics I wrote is correct, this is no longer a common game because...
"This game, unlike the game you played in virtual reality. It will get bloodier because it is an actual fantasy."
Author mentioned it to be bloodier, which is more difficult, more challenging, and more dangerous. From virtual reality to actual fantasy, wow.
"An actual battle between the five pairs."
This is bad. The comic I wrote is correct. If I'm lucky enough to just remember everything I wrote there, First and I have a chance to win. Not only the two of us, but we can find ways for all of us remaining ten to survive and make it out of this game. For some unclear reason, I seem to see future happenings and will use that to our advantage. I hope to recall more of my memories and dreams.
"Each of you will randomly possess a unique and specific ability."
I already know what that is, the five human senses!
"Your ordinary five senses will be enhanced, called the nth sense."
Bingo! I got it right. This is doing me good.
"The enticing sight, the alluring scent, the piercing sound, the acrid taste, and the eerie feeling."
It would have been nice if we were the ones to choose our nth sense, but it was not possible. If ever, I will choose 'the enticing sight'. I think you will be able to see your opponent from a distance, which is a great asset for this game.
"When you already possess your nth sense, the weapons will choose their rightful owner to hold and use them. Discover what your nth sense, then your weapon will increase its ability."
"How are we going to discover that?" Sectwen questioned with her arms crossed.
"That is for you to answer."
We don't choose our weapons either. What are we going to do? What if we can't afford to use our weapons? Every game seems to be more torturous as the levels and stages advance. In the virtual game, someone controls me. Here, even though First or L and I are still partners, we must be able to read the situation with collaboration.
"Unlike in the virtual game, where you only experienced 60% of the pain and suffering... This time, it's purely 100%."