Max: So....can you guys help me out..?
Max was seated opposite them. All four of them were in an unequal circle. Max was seated beside Chuck who was about four feet away to his right. Ahead of him was the campfire. On the other side was Melissa and Lin to her right, both facing Max and Chuck.
After he had mentioned about his connections to the "past", everyone unilaterally avoided the topic altogether and decided that they need to make a campfire. First of all, there were a lot of mosquitoes. And it was biting everyone in that area.
And when asked if the Samurai would find them from the smoke, Max told them that the Samurai was injured and that if he ever came back he could handle him. Chuck reassured them that it won't be a problem as the smoke won't be visible to anyone in the forest. This was a tightly enclosed village, and the entrance was impossible to find.
Max and Chuck were picking up wood on the far side of the village when he turned back and saw Melissa and Lin talking to each other and pointing to Max. He realised that they were trying to judge him, based on what they know. Max didn't know what kind of people they were, but he knew that they were atleast kind to him. And that must mean something.
Max had gathered the wood and ignited the fire with his special powers of a star making all three of them watch in awe.
Chuck: Wowww. That's the second time I'm watching it and it's still awesome to see!!
Melissa: Wow...you also have a Blessing??
Max: What is a blessing?
Lin: So you mean to tell me that all humans from the past can do this..?
Max: What? No! I have no idea why I can do this. I just woke up now and I had this power.
All of them looked at him, confused. Except Lin. The expression he had on was something that resembled annoyance.
Max: Why are you always annoyed..??
Lin: Blame your own annoying face.
Max growled at him. But then sighed. There was no use in fighting against people with low IQ.
Melissa: Hehe...you both sound like best friends..
Lin: Shut up!! I've warned you that I'd kill you if you ever utter the word "friends" when you're with me.
Chuck: But isn't it wonderful to have friends..?
Lin just turned and gave Chuck an aggressive look. That was enough to make Chuck terrified. Max looks at them. And he took a deep breath.
Max: So....will you help me??
All of them turned back confused.
Melissa: What do you mean, Max?
Max: I have a family. My mom, dad and five siblings. I wanna find them. Can you help me..?
All: Five ???!?
Max was taken aback at all of them screaming in unison.
Lin: Wait...your parents had six kids in a world like this?
Chuck: Umm...remember. They aren't from a world like this. They are from before the Towers.
Melissa: What makes you think your parents are here too..?
Max: Well ...remember how you found me in the Dome..? I believe that my entire family is out there somewhere the same way.
Lin had his palm on his chin, thinking. Chuck was also thinking on what to do.
Lin: I'm sorry pal, I have stuff to do. I don't have the time or obligation to help someone like you.
Melissa: Lin!!!
Lin: I'm not being cold. I'm just giving him facts.
Max knew that he was true. Even when he snapped back at Melissa, who was trying to stop him.
Max: I see....I understand. Thanks for considering it.
Lin: I never considered it though.
Max felt like someone was stabbing his stomach, due to his insulting way of speaking. But Max was a calm man.
Max: You said, I am from before the Towers. What does it mean..?
Chuck was silent for a second. Then he explained.
Chuck: You see the world has gone through four Ages. The Age of Gods, The age of Life, the Age of Advancement and the Age of Creation.
Max: Okay...drop the lore.
The other three didn't understand him, but Chuck continued.
Chuck: So, in the first Age the Gods created the universe. The second Age they brought about life in the universe. They say that our Earth was home to huuuge creatures too.
Max: Yeah. The dinosaurs. Continue.
Melissa: Even though humans, were around for a couple years, the Age of Advancement began with the imprisonment of the God of Destruction. They say, that's when humanity learnt how to make tools. And weapons.
Lin: Hence why it's called Advancement.
Max: Wow....I wouldn't have known that if it weren't for you...
Lin just looked annoyed once again, after Max replied in a sarcastic way.
Max: So...the Age of Advancement was A.D.
Melissa: Yes...that's why I was kinda surprised when I saw that the letter had 2025 in it.
Chuck: That's the year that the the third Age ended right?
Melissa nodded. Lin was trying to keep up with them.
Max: So...how did that Age end?
Melissa: I don't know everything...but do you know of the Towers?
Max tried imagining a tower. He had seen lots of towers in his life. He had even seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa once a long time ago, on a trip. But all he could think of, was the Tower he saw when he woke up here. There was a huge Tower that touched the sky and had dark clouds with purple lightning striking every now and then.
Max: I've just seen one, from afar. About a few hours ago.
Chuck: Well, there are eighty seven of those Towers around the world it seems.
Lin: How are so knowledgeable kid?
Chuck: I just read the books. I love books.
Chuck replied with a smile. Max was contemplating his options. For some reason, these Towers literally just appeared ending the Age. And started a new Age. And it had been 1807 years since then. And for some reason, humanity had cryo-freezed themselves, in a way that wasn't possible with the scientific technology that they had back then.
Lin: Wait a minute...Chan....how did you find Melissa at the dome. She did say you were there..
Chuck: It's Chuck actually...
Lin: I still don't care..
Chuck sighed. And then explained himself.
Chuck: After you both came to my village and saw that no one were there...you inquired about what happened remember?? Yeah, after you left, the Samurai guy also came here. And as he went out, I followed him to where you guys were.
Melissa: And you came back here, without getting lost..?
Chuck: I'm just really good at maneuvering in the forest. I have tons of experience in doing so..
Max was trying to piece it together. First, the village members vanished suddenly, when Chuck wasn't there. When he was alone, a day ago, Melissa and Lin somehow "found" this very "secretive" place. After they left the Samurai also got into this "secretive" place and tried going after Melissa and Lin. Chuck followed him and met them there. That explained a lot....But that one thing concerned him..
Lin: Whattt??? The Samurai easily found this place..??
Chuck: Um...I mean, it could've been an accident.
Lin: Quick, get rid of the smoke and light.
Max understood that they were terrified of the Samurai finding them. Max was honestly confident he could take him down. And when he imaged the guy in the woven hat, he couldn't for some reason think of him as an enemy. Especially after that last action that the Samurai did.
Suddenly as they were scrambling to put out the fire, they heard a noise. The leaves rustled and someone was standing in the bushes at the corner of the village....