Cryverra incident

Remi: (sitting by the window, staring outside) This… isn't a dream, is it?

S: (softly) If it is a dream, I don't want to wake up.

Lucien: I've forgotten what it feels like to wake up… without sirens or alarms blaring.

Tiber: (holding a warm cup) It feels… too peaceful. But I don't mind.

Siro: This is the first time I've felt safe… just by looking out a window.

Cashew: (smiling faintly) Maybe… this is what people call home.

—

In a foreign world they barely knew, that morning felt almost too quiet. Not because there was no danger, but because for the first time, they weren't suspected, weren't hunted, and weren't forced to be something they were not. A new day began — and for the first time, they were actually living.

Emrik: Heii, turns out you're all awake already.

Dario: Has Mr. Franz left yet?

Remi: Yeah, he already left. He also told us to go out and try to adapt with the others.

Dario: Heii. What's that drink on the table??

Dario: Why is it white?

S: Ohh, you probably don't know yet. This is cow's milk.

S: I just learned about it too.

Cashew: Try this, Dario. (hands a glass to Dario)

Dario: (takes the glass of milk)

Dario: Are you sure about this?

Lucien: Just try it.

Dario: (takes the first sip)

Dario: (eyes widen in surprise) HEII WHAT IS THIS DRINK!!

Dario: It's delicious!!

Siro: Hahaha, I knew he'd react like that.

Dario: Pour me another glass!

Remi: Guys, let's go outside and play after this.

Tiber: Play? Where?

Remi: Didn't I say Mr. Franz told us to go out and adapt to this village?

S: Let's go now!

Lucien: Calm down, you idiot.

Lucien: You're always in a rush. That's exactly why we can't go home — you keep rushing into things.

S: Lucien. What's wrong with you?

Lucien: Are you blind? Look, the others are still having breakfast, and you want us to head out?

Remi: Heii heii. Chill out, don't cause a scene.

Cashew: Remember, we're far from home. Don't start trouble.

S: (goes silent)

S: I guess this really is all my fault.

-S walks out of Franz's house.

Siro: S. Where are you going?

S: Helping Franz at the farm.

Emrik: Lucien. You can't keep blaming S for everything.

Emrik: We're here because of a group decision.

Lucien: (annoyed) Let him go. Let's finish our breakfast.

—Meanwhile, S.

S: I really messed up.

S: They probably hate me now. I'd better go help Mr. Franz at the farm.

—Hey you. Are you part of the group Mr. Franz brought here?

S: Me?

—Yeah, you. Come here.

S: What is it? And who are you?

—Name's Tomas Riedel. And you are?

S: I'm S. Just S.

Tomas: I heard from the villagers that you and your group came from the north?

S: Y-yeah. That's right.

Tomas: (extends his hand)

S: What's this?

Tomas: We're friends now.

S: (silent for a moment)

S: F-friends?

Tomas: Yeah. Don't you want to?

S: (reaches for Tomas's hand)

—I haven't heard someone ask to be my friend in so long, aside from the seven of them. Maybe it's time to step out of my comfort zone. —S

S: We're friends now.

Tomas: (smiling) Nice to meet you.

Tomas: So, where were you headed? And why alone?

S: Ohh, that… I was going to Mr. Franz's farm to help him out. And why alone… I don't really have an answer for that.

Tomas: Come on, I'll go with you.

S: Really?

Tomas: I even know a shortcut. Let's go!

S: Alright, let's go!!

—Meanwhile, the other seven who just finished breakfast.

Lucien: That idiot. Always making things harder.

Remi: Lucien. Chill, we talked about this, remember?

Lucien: (sighs) Hufff, fine. Let's go find him.

Emrik: But we don't even know where Mr. Franz's farm is.

Tiber: Oh crap, that's right!

Dario: Don't worry. I've got a solution…

Siro: What's your solution?

Dario: (squints) We ask the locals.

Cashew: Exactly! And didn't you guys remember what Franz told us?

Cashew: We're supposed to communicate with the people here, right?

Remi: Right. So let's find someone to ask.

—They keep walking through the village.

Emrik: How long are we gonna keep wandering aimlessly?

Emrik: We've passed a bunch of people already, but you're all too shy to ask.

Tiber: I'll ask. You guys just watch.

—Tiber approaches a merchant by the roadside.

Tiber: Excuse me, sir. I wanted to ask, do you know where Mr. Franz Adler's farm is?

Foreign merchant: Sorry, friend. I'm just a traveling merchant, and I'm from the Middle East.

Foreign merchant: Seems like you asked the wrong guy. I don't even know my way around this village. (smiles faintly)

Tiber: Ehh. Sorry, sir, I really had no idea.

Siro: Embarrassing.

Siro: Let's just keep walking.

Foreign merchant: Take this. (hands over a strange item)

Tiber: Is this… a bottle? (examines the item)

Foreign merchant: That's snake oil. A specialty from the Middle East.

Tiber: Are you selling this to me?

Foreign merchant: Just take it, friend. Consider it a gift from our random meeting.

Foreign merchant: Use it for sore muscles or dry skin.

Tiber: Thank you so much, sir. I really appreciate it.

Tiber: By the way, what's your name?

Foreign merchant: My name doesn't matter. I'll be on my way now. Safe travels, friend.

Tiber: A-alright. Take care out there. (confused)

Remi: (from a distance) Looks like he just got a freebie, haha.

Dario: Let him have it.

Tiber: HEII WAIT UP! (runs after the group)

Emrik: This time, I'll handle the talking.

Emrik: Look over there, a group of teens like us.

Siro: Emrik. Are you sure?

Siro: They don't exactly look friendly.

Cashew: Let him be.

Tiber: Heii guys, I got snake oil! (panting from running)

Tiber: They say it's a specialty from somewhere in the Middle East.

Tiber: I don't even know where that is, haha.

Tiber: Heii, what's Emrik doing?

Lucien: Trying to do what you did — talk to people.

Remi: Relax, it'll work this time.

Emrik: Do you know where Mr. Franz Adler's farm is?

Siro: Oh god, he didn't even say excuse me.

—Are you guys friends with S?

Emrik: Heii, how do you two know S?

—We were just hanging out with him here. He's heading to Mr. Franz's farm with one of our friends.

Lucien: By the way, what are your names?

—I'm Viktor Petrovic. And this one's my friend, Daniel Koenig.

Daniel: H-hi, nice to meet you. (shy)

Viktor: He's a little shy, so bear with him.

Remi: I'm Remi. Nice to meet you guys.

Viktor: Nice to meet you too, Remi.

Daniel: Let's head to Mr. Adler's farm.

Viktor: Right, we've wasted enough time already.

Let's go. We can get to know each other along the way.

—They walk toward Mr. Adler's farm. Along the way, they get to know each other.

A while later.

Remi: Ouhh, so that's how you ended up here.

Siro: Daniel. Why don't you try going back home?

Daniel: I… don't think my parents are still alive.

Daniel: That's why I chose to stay here. With Viktor and Tomas.

Viktor: So we're all acquainted now, right? (faint smile)

Emrik: Yupp. Are we friends too?

Lucien: (shocked) That's sudden. You're asking people to be friends now, Emrik?

Dario: Lucien. We agreed, didn't we? No more fighting with S.

Lucien: I'll try.

Lucien: But if he makes another dumb decision, I'm roasting him on the spot.

Viktor: You should probably sort that out privately.

Daniel: T-that's the farm, up ahead. (points forward quietly)

Viktor: We're here!

Cashew: Finally!

Emrik: There's S.

Cashew: And next to him… is that Tomas, the one you talked about?

Viktor: (squinting) Yup, that's him.

Siro: Lucien. You really should talk things out with him one-on-one.

Lucien: Yeah, alright. I'll give it a shot.

S: Heiii guys!

Franz: Looks like they found us, hahaha.

Tomas: Heii, Viktor. Daniel. You guys came too?

Viktor: We brought them here.

Lucien: S. Come here, I want to talk.

S: Uhh… okay.

Cashew: Let them be.

Franz: You all came just in time — we're about to feast on some smoked meat!

Siro: S-smoked meat?

Siro: (thinking) That used to be my favorite in Cryverra…

Franz: Come on, everyone, line up for your servings!

Dario: I'm in!!

Remi: (smiles)

Viktor: Heii bro, why're you just smiling? Come eat!

Lucien: We're back!

Tiber: How'd it go?

S: All good. We're fine now.

Franz: Heii, hurry over — the meat's gonna get cold!

Lucien: A-alright!!

Viktor: Tomas. We finally have new friends!

Tomas: (small smile) I'm happy too.

Franz: Tomorrow we'll be doing something even more exciting.

Siro: What kind of activity?

Franz: You'll find out tomorrow. For now, focus on this delicious meat!

Everyone: Let's eat!

Remi: (smiles faintly)

I've started to forget what happened that day. I feel truly alive here. —Remi