The Taste of Survival

[So what are you going to do next?]

Luke heard a pleasant voice in his head.

Now he and the nameless girl were walking through the forest. Sunlight occasionally filtered through the ceiling of leaves and warmed the travelers. Birds were chirping, and the rustle of leaves made the guy sometimes look around.

'We'll find a settlement, and then we'll see.Luke thought, stepping over a protruding root.

[What are you going to do with her?]

The white-haired girl promised to show Luke the way to the village, but he did not know her motives. When he asked her why she was helping him, she answered the same way. Only because Luke needs help and she can't leave him.

[Don't be fooled.Eri said in Luke's head.

He still wasn't quite used to this method of communication, but he was lucky that his companion was Eri. She was very pleasant to talk to and didn't lecture him much.

'What do you mean?"

[I have never met people who did something without any hidden goals. I believe that the concept of "free help" does not exist in this world.]

One part of Luke's mind was in favor of Eri's opinion, but the other thought otherwise.

'Maybe this is an exception? The nameless one has already helped me several times and has not mentioned a word about any reward.'

Luke almost stepped into the mud and, wincing, walked around her.

[You've already fallen into her net."By the way, I've noticed that you call her nameless. Do you know her name?]

Luke stopped for a second and thought. Indeed, after the first attempt to find out the name of his savior, he did not try again. Last time, it was impossible because the white-haired girl had no tongue. However, things were different now.

[Maybe she's not telling you her name on purpose? Suddenly, she's a famous maniac?]

'Shouldn't you know that? It's not my hobby to keep an eye on people.'

Luke felt Eri pouting and pointedly turning away. He couldn't see her directly, but sometimes he could participate in what she was doing in his head.

[I can't keep track of all the people at once. Even you, I only noticed when you tasted the dark mother.]

Nameless apparently noticed that Luke stopped and turned to him. She was still wearing the cloak Luke had given her. The hood of the cloak covered the girl's head and her hair, like two waterfalls falling down on her chest.

"Is everything okay?"Nameless asked. Her bloody eyes sparkled and made the guy a little tense.

Luke came to his senses and nodded meekly at the girl.

—Yes... it's okay. Listen, what's your name?

The girl did not immediately answer this question. Her gaze did not change, but her face remained emotionless.

"I don't have a name."— The girl said and turned away, after which she continued walking.

[She's definitely a maniac! Luke, leave before it's too late!Eri shouted in the guy's head.

However, Luke was calmer than his astral. He was also surprised by the girl's response, but outwardly remained calm.

"What do you mean, there's no name?" Did your parents call you anything?Luke asked, catching up with the girl.

Nameless replied as she continued walking. Her voice was cold and devoid of emotion. However, there was no threat or anger in it.

"My father used to call me... however, I don't remember what. My memory is fading.

"How much?"Luke asked in surprise.

— I woke up in the forest a year ago. I don't remember what happened before that, but sometimes fragments of my past memory pop up in my head.

Luke did not continue this dialogue. He felt a little uncomfortable, because this topic could be very difficult for her.

The feeling of uncertainty creates fear in people's hearts. Luke could tell that he partly understood nameless's feelings. When he woke up in the carriage a couple of days ago, he was scared. The fear of the unknown is truly overwhelming and terrifying. However, nameless helped Luke and he wanted to repay her, even though she doesn't ask for anything in return. But what could he do?

[Can you think of a name for her?Eri said in a bored tone.

Luke sighed and squeezed between two trees.

'Wouldn't that be too audacious? What if she doesn't like it?'

So ask her. What is the problem? Moreover, I'm already getting annoyed by her nickname.]

Luke was a little surprised by Eri's directness, but he also wanted to get rid of the nickname "nameless".

He cleared his throat and caught up with the girl. When he reached her, he asked.

—How about I give you a name?" And you will choose the one that you like.

The girl's face didn't change at all from this sentence. Her gait remained firm and confident, and the hem of her cloak fluttered a little.

— As you wish.— The girl answered shortly.

Luke turned away from her and thought deeply. It was necessary to choose a beautiful and memorable name at the same time.

[Maybe Dolly?]—Eri suggested.

"No, why do you want to give her the sheep's name?Luke asked.

[Because I'm annoyed by her lack of emotion! I could have forced a smile just once! Such a beautiful face, but it walks all the time like a sculpture. Such waste...]

Luke sighed heavily and shook his head. It turns out that coming up with a good name for someone is a very difficult task.

'Hmm... maybe Elsbeth?' Luke suggested.

[Not bad, but as if that's the name of an innocent girl who hasn't experienced any bitterness or sadness in this life. You can choose something better]

"By the way, why am I asking you? That's her name after all.

Eri pouted again and waved her hand.

[Ask her, but know that she will answer exactly the same as me.]

Luke and nameless stepped over a fallen tree and continued walking. The forest didn't want to end, even though they had been on the road for a long time. The nameless one had previously said that the settlement they were going to was not very far away.

— How do you like Elsbeth?Luke asked the nameless one.

The white-haired girl did not change her face and did not say anything. She continued walking, ignoring Luke's suggestion.

'I think... that means no.

'How about… Alice?

Zero reaction from the nameless one.

"Maybe… Emma?

The same result.

"Hmm... Ariana?"

[It's going to take a long time...]

They continued walking through the forest. Clean air filled Luke's chest and he kept suggesting names for the nameless girl.

Eri sometimes offered her own options, but they were also rejected.

They walked like that for another ten minutes, and the forest continued. The occasional crunch of branches diluted the slightly tense atmosphere, and the chirping of birds sounded pleasantly in the air.

"Maybe… Cecilia?

Luke was already thinking about a new name, but at that moment, a white-haired girl stopped him.

— Okay, we're here.— Said the girl.

Luke was surprised and a slight smile appeared on his face.

"I hope you didn't choose that name to get me off your back."

Luke looked ahead and saw a large settlement. It was more of a town than a village, but it still wasn't too big.

Thick walls about ten meters high were erected around the city. They were made of gray stone and were supposed to protect the city.

However, apparently something went wrong. After all, the right half of the city was on fire and clouds of smoke rose into the sky, covering it.

Luke surveyed the city in silence for a few seconds, then turned to Cecilia.

The white-haired girl looked at the city without emotion. There was nothing in her eyes. No fear or pity. Nothing.

"What happened here?"Luke asked.

His voice was cold, and his eyes reflected the smoke rising from the city.

— I do not know.— Said the girl.— When I left here, the city was still intact.

At this moment, her gaze became a little sharper. It was as if she had just realized something.

— The Church of True Life…

Surprise flashed in Luke's eyes.

"What kind of church?"

The girl did not answer in any way and headed towards the city. Luke made her laugh, but his question still remained unanswered.

'Eri, what kind of church is this?'

Astral was silent for a few seconds before answering. This alerted Luke.

[I do not know of such a church. The

guy frowned and followed the white-haired girl. The two of them walked across the field directly to one of the city walls. He could already smell the burning.

'You can keep an eye on this world. It was possible to remember any church. Especially the one that burns down entire cities!'

Luke was both annoyed and a little scared.

He was annoyed that Cecilia had brought him to some dilapidated city.

He was scared because he didn't know what was going to happen next. Are the members of this church still in the city or not? What should he do if there is no one in this city at all? Should he even risk entering the city? These three questions were running through his head, and he was counting on Eri. After all, she could clarify what kind of church it is in general.

"So why don't you know?Luke asked.

[Don't blame me for this.] —Said Eri. Her tone was angry and cold.- [The life of the astral is a little more complicated than you think. We are really able to observe the world when we have no contracts with anyone. However, when the astral makes a contract with a person, his memories that he acquired during his time in the astral dimension are erased.]

After that, she fell silent and said nothing.

Eri's tone made Luke a little wary, but now he understood the astral more.

An unpleasant thought popped into Luke's head, but he decided to keep quiet.

Meanwhile, they had already reached the city walls.

They towered several meters high and blocked the way.

Luke turned to Cecilia and asked:

"There aren't any other settlements nearby?"

The girl shook her head. She was looking at the wall and frowning a little.

'I think... it's worth going to the city anyway. If this is the only settlement nearby, then this is probably the only option. I definitely don't want to spend the night in this forest anymore. Moreover, I'm already pretty hungry. Maybe there will be food and water in the city.'

Luke decided that checking out the city would be a very good option. Despite all the risks, he had to eat and drink something. He could try his luck by catching something in the woods. However, in all these couple of days, Luke had never seen any game. And even if he had, he didn't know which ones were edible and which ones could be poisonous.

However, one question remained open.

— How are we going to climb over this wall?Luke asked.

The wall was completely smooth and there was nothing to grab onto. Carnell Halloween's body was already far from athletic, and there was also a wall several meters high, with no visible protrusions.

At that moment, Cecilia looked at Luke and then at the wall. After a few seconds of thought, she put her palms together and lowered down a little.

Luke looked at her folded hands and realized what the girl wanted to do.

Cecilia wanted to use her hands to create a foothold for Luke so that he could get over. However, the distance would still be too great and he would not be able to climb over.

— Put your foot on my hands and when I say jump up.Cecilia said.

Luke frowned a little, but did as the girl said.

He was skeptical, but he prepared to jump.

— One, two…

Luke's body tensed, and his eyes darted upward. He had to try to grab onto the edge of the wall.

"Three!"

Luke jumped, and at that moment he felt Cecilia begin to push him from below.

His feet left the ground and she flew up. He was getting higher and higher, and the edge of the wall was getting closer.

Luke was surprised by the girl's strength and held out his hand.

He was climbing further and further at a fairly high speed. He was flying too fast!

After a moment, the hatch appeared on the wall for a couple of meters and flew through it.

He saw a part of the city that wasn't on fire. They specifically approached the whole part, because it was pointless to go to the destroyed one.

Luke's heart sank into his boots, and his breathing hitched. The guy's eyes narrowed to the size of needles.

After a moment, the energy from the jump disappeared and he flew down.

Despite his shock, Luke wrapped his arms around his head, trying to protect her.

He landed on the ground with a bang, but something cushioned his fall.

Luke, I was lying on the ground and moaning in pain. His back hurt a lot, but he was generally healthy.

Eri whistled in his head.

[She has a lot of strength. If you get married, then I know which of you two will wash the dishes at home.Eri said and giggled.

Grunting and cursing Eri's jokes, Luke sat down on the cold ground and looked around.

At that moment, a gun barrel was put to his face.

"Don't move!"A woman's voice shouted.— Just one move and your brains will be on the wall!

Luke instinctively raised his hands and mumbled.

—W... wait.

At that moment, several women ran screaming out of the alleys. They all had the same guns as the women who had threatened Luke.

Several guns were pointed at Luke and the women were shouting at him and asking questions.

Luke was trembling and didn't understand anything. His brain shut down due to fear. His teeth were chattering and cold sweat stood out on his forehead. His eyes darted from side to side.

The woman holding the gun's hands were shaking, but her eyes shone with desperate determination. Her voice was trembling, but she didn't lower her weapon. The other women looked no better: some were nervously gnawing their lips, some were looking around, as if fearing an attack.

However, at that moment, he noticed something.

Luke took another look at the women who pointed guns at him and was stunned.

Fluffy ears of various sizes, colors and shapes could be seen on their heads! Also, he noticed that in the lower back area, they had a tail coming out!

There can be no mistake. They were beastmen!

The ones Luke hadn't expected to see anymore. The ones that people from his home world are fans of.

If the situation had been more peaceful, Luke might have shed a tear from such happiness.

However, this did not help Luke and he continued to tremble with fear.

He and a few armed beastmen were in some backyard. Two-storey buildings towered over them and stood tightly together.

The women were dressed in old jackets and long skirts. From their faces, it could be seen that they were malnourished and also exhausted. Despite this, their eyes were sharp and piercing.

The only thought crossed Luke's mind at that moment.

'Damn rebirth!'