After the match was officially concluded, Dave had made the decision to retire to his quarters. He exited the ring, his footsteps steady, as he made his way toward his sleeping quarters.
However, as he turned down the hallway, he was t with an unexpected sight: the corridor was filled with people, all of them waiting to et him. The sheer number of individuals, the expressions of awe and excitent, made his stomach tighten a little. He wasn’t used to this kind of attention, and it made him uncomfortable.
A nervous chuckle escaped Dave’s lips as he stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do next. Before he could make a move though, a familiar presence appeared in front of him. It was Simbi, and without hesitation, she grabbed his hand and began leading him in a different direction.
"Hi," Dave greeted, finally recognizing who had taken hold of his hand.
"Hello," Simbi replied with a smile, her voice noticeably lighter and more cheerful than usual. "You’re quite the celebrity now, aren’t you? It seems like nearly everyone wants a piece of you."
"Yeah, I guess so," Dave said, letting out a sigh of resignation as he allowed Simbi to lead him away from the crowd.
As they walked, Dave couldn’t help but ask, "So, where are we going?"
"We have a eting," Simbi explained. "It’s about tomorrow’s expedition. So right now, we’re heading there."
Barely had she finished speaking when she added, "I must say, you were really amazing out there. I don’t think I could’ve won as quickly and easily as you did. What are those fists of yours made of?" Simbi gasped in admiration, her tone genuine, and Dave chuckled in response.
"Honestly, I’m just as surprised as you are," Dave admitted with a small shrug. "I guess sothing must have changed in after what Tyler did to ."
Simbi nodded in understanding, her expression thoughtful. "Right, it would have been aweso if you were this strong back then," she remarked. "I guess the apocalypse did have sothing to do with the change in us. I know I’m not the sa as I was before all of this. Heck, I couldn’t even use a simple knife to defend myself, but now... I carry guns like a trained soldier."
Dave gave her a sidelong glance, impressed by her growth. "I guess the apocalypse has a way of bringing out different sides of people," he said, his voice low, reflective.
"I do miss those tis," Simbi continued, her tone softening. "Even though things weren’t good back then, there was at least a bit of peace, a certain... normalcy. It wasn’t perfect, but it was sothing."
Dave nodded, his gaze drifting ahead as they moved down the corridor. He knew exactly what she ant. Things had been simpler before, even if the world hadn’t been kind. There had been stability, and while the struggles of those days were still fresh in his mind, he understood the sense of longing for a ti when life didn’t feel so unpredictable.
"I know," Dave said quietly. "Sotis I think about those days too. It may not have been easy, but at least we knew what to expect."
The two of them walked in silence for a while, the weight of their past experiences hanging in the air. Neither of them spoke of it directly, but it was there, an unspoken understanding between them. Both had seen things, lost things, but they were still moving forward together.
At that mont, Dave felt the weight of a lingering question finally bubble to the surface, and he decided it was ti to ask.
"I do have a question, though," he said, his voice breaking the brief silence between them. Simbi, who had been walking beside him, gave a small nod and a gesture that encouraged him to continue.
"Is it possible to just leave the base if there are no expeditions to go to? Like, for example, I feel like going outside the casino tonight, do you think I’d be allowed to leave and then co back later?" Dave asked, his tone casual but his curiosity evident.
Simbi’s expression shifted, considering his question carefully before responding. "Err, it kinda depends," she started. "You must have a reason for wanting to leave the casino base. And even before you can step outside, the leader, Anthony, must give his permission. You can’t just walk out without his knowing or approval."
Dave frowned, it wasn’t what he was hoping for, but he listened to Simbi anyway.
"To be honest, I haven’t seen anyone leave the base on their own. We only go out during expeditions, and even then, we always travel in groups. The smallest group size is six people. It’s for safety, you know? So everyone can support each other in case sothing goes wrong or if we get attacked."
She paused for a mont, giving him a sympathetic look before finishing, "So, I doubt you’d be allowed to leave on your own unless it’s an official expedition. It’s just not how things are done here."
Dave let out a small sigh, realizing that his plans to leave the base to complete his daily quest were now looking impossible. "Okay, I understand," he said, feeling a little deflated.
He took a glanceful look at the system ssage again.
[You have not completed your mandatory daily quest]
[Ta at least ten beasts in a day]
[You have less than four hours left to complete the quest, otherwise you’ll be penalized]
He had been hoping to sneak out, find so beasts to ta, and then return before anyone noticed. But Simbi’s explanation made it clear how unrealistic that plan was.
"Why are you asking, though?" Simbi suddenly asked, her voice laced with a hint of curiosity. "Are you planning on leaving the base tonight?"
Dave had anticipated the question, but he had already co up with an excuse that seed perfect for counter her question.
"Not really, I was just wondering if it was possible to get a bit of air outside. Being cooped up in here all day is starting to make feel a little nauseous, especially after that match and everything," he said, offering a casual shrug. "I figured so fresh air might help."
Simbi seed to buy the explanation, though a slight look of concern flickered across her face. "Oh, sorry. I didn’t really think of it that way," she said. "How about you take a shower and rest for the day? I could let the others know that you need so rest. Tomorrow morning, we can summarize everything for you, so you won’t miss anything important."
Dave shook his head firmly. "No, that won’t be necessary. I can still stay and listen," he replied, his tone steady.
Simbi gave him a questioning look. "Are you sure? You look like you could use a break."
"Yeah, I’m sure," Dave said, offering her a reassuring smile. "I’ll be fine."
As they continued walking down the corridor, they soon reached the familiar door, the sa one from earlier in the day where Dave had been selected to join the group of executives.
Several mbers of the executive team could be seen heading in for the eting. The noise in the hallway was a mixture of low voices and footsteps echoing off the walls, but as they approached the door, a sense of finality settled in the air.
"Alright, we’re here," Simbi said, pushing the door open.
Reviews
All reviews (0)