Jeanne and Talulah looked at the child pointing a bow and arrow at them, their expressions remaining flat, without a flicker of change.
The two exchanged a look, uncertain if the child truly intended to rob them with a simple bow and stone-tipped arrows, or if this was some poorly conceived joke. Judging by the child's expression, however, it was no laughing matter.
"You plan to rob the two of us with a weapon like that? Do you think we'd be afraid of such a little thing?"
Talulah observed the children. The one in front, with the pointed ears, didn't loosen his grip on the bow. Given his sharp features, he was likely a Phidia. This race, known for their stealth, was rare in these parts; Talulah racked her brain but couldn't recall seeing many Phidias in the surrounding villages.
At this moment, Talulah's expressionless face carried a natural air of majesty. At the very least, the children looked at her as if terrified she might strike at any second. Being stared down by her felt like being locked in the sights of a dragon—a realization Talulah had only recently come to. She seemed to be able to influence others through sheer presence alone.
She attributed this to the time spent caring for the land dragons Jeanne had entrusted to her. She had subconsciously picked up their imposing aura through their daily interactions.
Even though she had no intention of scaring them, simply standing there was an act of intimidation. The white-haired child behind the archer was visibly trembling. He looked like a timid soul who wanted nothing more than to flee, yet he stayed for the sake of his friend.
"Because we're Infected! There's our blood on these arrows! You wouldn't want to become Infected over a few loaves of bread, would you?"
The blue-haired boy tugged at the sleeve of his arm—if that tattered rag could even be called a sleeve.
The two women saw a black crystal protruding from the boy's arm. There was no doubt about it; this child was an Infected. This suggested his friend was likely Infected as well, though perhaps the lesions weren't as visible.
"See that? We just want some bread! You can afford a car, so you must have plenty to spare..."
After revealing his infection, the boy threatened them for food, his voice strained as if he weren't sure how much longer he could keep the bow drawn. As for the "blood" on the arrow, it wasn't actually theirs; it was leftover from a rabbit they had caught some time ago. They only wanted food and had no real intent to harm anyone. In fact, he was worried his strength might fail and an accidental shot might hurt someone.
To their surprise, however, the two women didn't show the usual "plague-avoidance" expression upon seeing the Originium crystals. Their reaction was as if they had just been told something incredibly mundane. What was wrong with these two? Why was there no reaction to an Infected?
Jeanne and Talulah locked eyes, and Talulah reached down to snap a branch from a nearby bush. In her hand, the wood instantly burst into flames. She looked into the children's eyes and said, word by word:
"I can give you food, but you must tell me why you're living out here. I'm not giving you food because I'm afraid of your infection. As it happens, I am an Infected as well."
The children fell silent as they watched the branch roaring with fire in Talulah's hand. The blue-haired boy lowered his weapon, dropping the "vicious" act. Talulah sighed as she looked at these two children, who were as thin as dry twigs. Clearly, they had a story.
She pulled two large loaves of bread from the car and handed them over. To her surprise, the first thing they did wasn't to eat, but to offer their thanks. Despite being so hungry they were likely lightheaded, they maintained their manners and expressed their gratitude to Talulah and Jeanne.
To Talulah, this level of etiquette was rare in the wilderness. Anyone raised in these harsh lands would have normally snatched the bread and inhaled it instantly. These children had clearly received a good education, at least in terms of social conduct. This meant they were likely Infected who had fled from a city, though looking at their state, Talulah felt it was a miracle they had survived long enough to reach this place.
"Where did you two come from? Did you run away on your own, or did your families leave you here? Do you know anyone in this area?"
Talulah questioned them as the two small figures stopped eating after only a few bites to sate the edge of their hunger. Jeanne could tell they still desperately wanted more, but they were suppressing the urge with remarkable willpower. They knew they faced a long stretch without food and couldn't afford to finish their precious supplies all at once.
Jeanne and Talulah listened to their self-introductions and the stories of their past. They learned their names: Sasha and Eno.
Jeanne immediately realized who they were—the future Mephisto and Faust duo of Reunion. Looking closely, they did resemble the older versions she knew, but with their faces covered in grime and their bodies so emaciated, she hadn't recognized them at first.
The personalities of the children now were vastly different from their future selves. Currently, Mephisto was just a shy, introverted child, while Faust was the more talkative of the two. Mephisto hadn't yet become the madman who took pleasure in harming fellow Infected.
Knowing the potential future of this child, Jeanne found it hard to believe he could warp to such an extent. She could only blame that scum Kashchey; education and environment truly have the power to transform a person completely.
Jeanne could sense the fire of hatred burning in Sasha's eyes. With just a little nudge, this child could easily become an expert at lashing out at society.
"Sasha and Eno, is it? How long have you been living here? How have you been finding food?"
Talulah looked at the two children, who had been tormented by hunger for who knows how long, and offered a warm smile. Perhaps because they now knew Talulah was also an Infected, their guard lowered significantly.
"We've been here for almost three months. We try to catch small animals, or Sasha finds where the inspectors hide their food and steals some," the white-haired Eno explained in a soft, thin voice. Even from these few words, Talulah could tell how difficult their lives had been.
For two children to survive three months in this frozen wasteland while sleeping in caves was a stroke of incredible luck. As for stealing from under the noses of the inspectors... even Talulah had to praise their courage. It required utilizing the Phidia's racial traits, but more importantly, it required a heart devoid of fear and excellent stealth.
"What will you do now? The heavy snow season won't end for at least another three months. During that time, you won't be able to hunt anything."
Talulah's words cast the children into silence. Since fleeing to the snowfields, they had been living one day at a time. They didn't know much about the geography; they had only come here because they had nowhere else to go.
"Do you want to come back with us? If you're in the village, your survival will at least be guaranteed."
Talulah looked at the two homeless little ones and extended a formal invitation.