Caeson and Reu were sitting on the desk of the church with silent and deeply thoughtful expressions.
Bishop Elane was also sitting on the chair from his place of preaching, reading the book "The Newlife."
Caeson, almost pleading, said to Reu,
"I have to ask one thing."
"Well… I knew about it long before, but I forgot why it is not possible to farm here."
Reu stared at him from the side with suspicion, because how could a person forget such an important thing?
He began speaking.
"As you know, ten years ago a calamity happened in our world."
"All across the six kingdoms."
"The Kingdom of Bondphile, the Kingdom of Theron, the Kingdom of Pentarone, the Kingdom of Bruda, the Kingdom of Deccan… and our precious Kingdom of Cavorite."
"People started converting into zombies."
"Do you know how the first zombie was discovered?"
"It was in our kingdom, in Doret City."
"A man who transformed into a creature. He was a rich peasant whose eyes and toes were covered with flames."
"From far away it looked like someone was burning down."
"But when people looked closely, he seemed calm. It was like he didn't feel any pain at all… he was smiling."
"He burned almost all the farms with fire shooting from his eyes. His eyes were like burning balls, and his sprinting feet burned the ground and the grass."
"Anyone who got close to him was burned."
"He didn't even hesitate to harm his own family."
"Many members of the Royal Senate army also died."
"After that, fig trees started appearing in the forest that lies at the center of all the kingdoms."
"It was shocking because they were only fig trees. No other trees appeared."
"It was as if everything had changed in one single night."
"People from the cities close to the borders ate the figs out of curiosity, even though they had stored food."
"At that time our kingdom also had plenty of food stored in the royal storage, and it was spent for the welfare of the civilians."
"But from that point onward, people from cities like our Norus City started turning into other ugly creatures."
Caeson twisted his tongue slightly and said,
"Isn't it true that people turned because of the figs?"
"Then how did the first person get that disease?"
Reu relaxed and said,
"Well… I don't know."
"I have really not forgotten that day."
"8 May."
"That was my seventh birthday."
Caeson asked,
"So what was the main reason farming stopped here?"
Reu paused and replied,
"It was because of the people who turned into zombies."
"They were attracted to farms."
Caeson smirked.
"I already knew that information long ago… back in the prison."
Hawker spoke inside the mind palace.
"Well, yeah… kind of."
Caeson replied in his mind,
"But didn't you tell me before that this land cannot grow anything?"
Hawker answered,
"Well… back when the fig trees appeared, everyone was shocked why they only grew inside the forest."
"The fig trees never appeared inside the kingdoms."
"And from that point, farming slowly disappeared."
"No trees could grow here anymore."
"Only grass and wild plants."
"The Senate scientists kept saying that the fig trees absorbed all the nutrients from the soil."
Caeson began thinking deeply.
How could that even be possible?
If the soil had nothing left to give, then how were grass and wild plants still growing inside the kingdom?
Something felt wrong here.
Suddenly there was a hustle near the door.
It was because many people were entering.
This was different from other days.
Now civilians only had one option left.
To pray to God.
They were coming to the church, praying to be fed.
Caeson and Reu stood up and freed their seats for the people.
Bishop Elane stood up from his position and told Reu,
"Send Sister Tama and Sister Alisa here."
"You two can take care of things outside."
"I will begin preaching now."
In the small ground outside, the children were playing soccer.
Beyond the ground there was a corridor.
Caeson and Reu were standing there, observing the kids.
Caeson suggested,
"Can we also join the kids?"
But the kids were not convinced at first.
They were calling it "El Clasico."
Caeson thought to himself,
So it is the same as our world… a rivalry between—
The round-faced girl Uru and the green-haired boy Harry convinced the others.
"It would be more fun if the big shots join the game!"
Two teams were formed.
On one side were Uru, Gotham, Caeson, the girl with the black hat, and three more kids.
On the other side were Reu, Instewl, Harry, the boy with pink glasses, and three more kids.
Two kids became referees with whistles.
Caeson was chosen as the goalkeeper.
He thought confidently,
This will be easy.
I have watched too much soccer and played a lot in video games.
And these are only kids.
Reu was also the goalkeeper on the other side.
The game started.
0 : 0
Game end.
8 : 1
Everyone collapsed on the ground, exhausted after the long match.
Caeson had conceded eight goals.
He thought bitterly,
Underestimating kids was my mistake.
They were passing the ball like professionals.
Gotham, with a wicked grin, said,
"How bad are you at catching a soccer ball?"
"Reu is damn good."
"He only conceded one goal, and that was because Uru distracted him."
Uru immediately protested.
"No I didn't!"
Gotham laughed.
"Oh really? Look how innocent you act. You purposely fell there. He got concerned about you, and I scored the goal."
Caeson said,
"Well kids, do you know this back and forth is what keeps the game alive?"
The girl with the black hat said sadly,
"But we lost the game."
On the other side, Harry was praising Reu.
And Instewl, who alone scored five goals.
Harry suddenly said,
"Well… I feel thirsty."
"I have to drink water."
Harry ran toward the corridor where the water duct was.
He rotated the tap and drank water quickly.
Then he took a deep breath.
But suddenly he felt dizzy.
His vision became blurry.
And he collapsed.
Hearing the noise, Reu ran toward him and lifted him onto his shoulder.
After some time—
Harry opened his eyes on a bed.
Sister Tama was there beside him.
She asked softly,
"Are you okay?"
Harry answered in a steady voice,
"Yes… after drinking water I collapsed."
Outside the room, Caeson was thinking nervously.
What if it happened because I gave him canned food?
Hawker spoke from the mind palace.
"Nah. It was fresh."
Caeson replied mentally,
"But isn't fast food bad for health?"
"And what if everyone finds out?"
"I could become homeless again."
Reu and the other kids were also there.
Sister Tama came out and said,
"He is okay. It was only faintness."
"I think it happened because of energy drain while playing."
"Now I am going to the church."
She left.
Inside the room, Reu asked Harry,
"Do you need anything?"
Uru said kindly,
"You can have my toys while you rest."
Harry replied,
"But not forever."
Uru pouted.
"You are very hopeless."
All the kids and Reu went back to the church.
It was almost evening.
Only Caeson stayed with Harry. He sat beside him on the bed.
Then he asked slowly,
"Well… what happened when you fainted?"
"I mean, fainting is normal… but Uru said before that she also felt dizziness after drinking water."
Harry, still lying on the bed, said,
"Yes… I drank water and suddenly felt dizzy." "But it is normal."
"People have been feeling dizzy after drinking water for a long time."
Caeson frowned.
"From long ago…?"
"Water…"
Hawker spoke from the mind palace.
"Water."