I took one last look at Schoolville.

  The town that had been my home—the place I had bled for, fought for—was behind me now. There was no going back. Even if I wanted to, even if I tried, the past had already shut its doors. The people had made their choice. I wasn’t angry anymore. I wasn’t even bitter. Just… tired.

  Thor and Loki padded along beside me, their steady presence keeping me grounded. Thor moved like a shadow, his dark fur blending into the shifting morning light, while Loki’s silver coat carried the last traces of frost from the night before. My hands found their way to the fur at their necks, ruffling them briefly. They didn’t need the reassurance, but I did.

  The others—the people I had fought beside, the ones I had called allies—stayed inside the Dimensional Shard. Safe. Sheltered. I could still feel the place like a heartbeat thrumming in my mind, a tether I could pull on at any moment. If I needed to, I could vanish into that sanctuary, pull my entire existence away from the world and just… stay.

  But I wasn’t ready to retreat yet.

  I adjusted the straps of my pack and pulled my cloak tighter against the cold. I had supplies, weapons, magic—but most importantly, I had a reason to keep going. I wasn’t going to let one town’s fear dictate my future. There were others out there who needed help, people who hadn’t been as lucky, people who didn’t know how to survive in this new world.

  And I wasn’t done.

  I exhaled, watching my breath curl in the frigid air. The road ahead stretched north, winding into the wilderness, untamed and uncertain. Somewhere beyond that, someone needed me.

  I glanced at Thor and Loki. “Let’s go.”

  With them at my side, I took the first step forward.

  The past was behind me. The future was mine to carve.

  And I was ready.

  We moved north quickly, covering as much ground as we could each day. The days blurred together—hunting, setting camp, pushing forward. With just me, Thor, and Loki, travel was fast, efficient. I wasn’t dragging a group of survivors, wasn’t babysitting people who didn’t understand the system. It was just us, moving like we were meant to, free from everything that had weighed me down in Schoolville.

  By the end of the week, the landscape started to shift. The thick forests began to thin into fields, the undergrowth giving way to stretches of farmland. It was the first real sign of civilization I had seen since leaving.

  I slowed my pace, scanning the area. No movement at first—just empty fields and silent roads. But I could feel it. The subtle energy of people nearby, life still clinging on in this new world.

  Then I saw them.

  A lone figure, moving along a dirt path between two fields.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  I raised a hand and called out, “Ho there!”

  The person stopped, their head snapping up in my direction. For a moment, they just stared. I could tell they were wary, their posture tense. Then, after a beat, they called back—

  “G’day, mate.”

  I blinked. That was… unexpected.

  An Australian accent.

  Out here?

  Well, this was going to be interesting.

  I kept my stance relaxed, making sure I didn’t look like a threat. Thor and Loki stayed at my sides, their ears perked but their posture calm. The man eyed me for a long moment, then adjusted the pack slung over his shoulder.

  I decided to speak first. “Just wandering,” I said, keeping my voice even. “Seeing what’s up with the world. Maybe help out along the way.”

  He studied me for another second before nodding. “Fair enough. Name’s Callum.”

  His accent made it clear he wasn’t from around here—Australia, maybe. The fact that he had survived this long meant he probably had some kind of system abilities or was just damn good at staying alive.

  “You?” Callum asked. “What can you do?”

  I considered my words before answering. No need to give away everything right off the bat.

  “Plant and earth manipulation. Some light healing.” I glanced past him toward the open fields. “Anything I can help with?”

  Callum scratched at his chin, looking me over like he was deciding if I was worth his time. “Depends. We got crops to tend, land to clear, and people that could use patching up.” His lips quirked slightly. “You’re not just spinning some bull, are ya?”

  I smirked. “You want a demo?”

  He shrugged. “Wouldn’t hurt.”

  I stepped forward, brushing my fingers through the dry soil at my feet. Energy pulsed through me, the familiar hum of earth magic responding to my touch. With a thought, the soil loosened and softened, breaking apart the hardened clumps. A flick of my wrist, and small green sprouts pushed through the dirt, stretching toward the sun.

  Callum let out a low whistle. “Well, shit. Ain’t seen that before.”

  I dusted my hands off. “So, you got work or not?”

  He grinned. “Mate, I think we might just have a use for you.”

  “Sure thing, Callum,” I said, giving him a nod.

  He studied me for a second longer, then seemed to make up his mind. “Alright, mate. Come on, I’ll bring you to town. You can meet the others, see if you’re a good fit.”

  I fell into step beside him, keeping my movements easy and non-threatening. I could tell he was still wary, but he wasn’t outright hostile. That was a good sign.

  “Just a heads-up,” Callum added as we walked. “Don’t do anything violent, yeah? People here don’t trust strangers much. Not after what we’ve seen.”

  That got my attention. “Seen what, exactly?”

  He scoffed. “You know how it is. The world goes to hell, and some people decide they’re kings now. Bunch of crazy Americans somewhere west of here started going full Mad Max. Raiders. Bastards been probing our defenses, making attacks. Nothing big yet, but we know they’re gearing up for something.”

  That wasn’t exactly surprising. If I had learned anything since the world changed, it was that people could be worse than monsters.

  “And it’s not just them,” Callum continued. “The wildlife’s gone feral. Way worse than before.”

  I glanced around at the open fields. “You mean the usual mutated animals? Had to deal with a lot of those myself.”

  “Nah, not just that.” Callum shook his head. “We used to be set up along the coast, y’know? But the sea… it’s different now. Too many things coming out of it, things that shouldn’t exist. The ocean turned against us, so we moved inland. Thought it’d be safer.”

  He let out a dry chuckle. “Joke’s on us, though. Land ain’t much better.”

  I frowned. “So, raiders on one side, nature going crazy on the other. You guys holding up okay?”

  Callum gave a half-shrug. “We manage. For now.”

  I could tell there was more to it, but he wasn’t saying just yet. That was fine. I’d learn soon enough.

  Ahead, I saw the first real signs of civilization—a cluster of buildings nestled against the tree line, smoke rising from chimneys, distant figures moving between structures. A new town, new people, and probably a whole new set of problems.

  And, just maybe, a place where I could make a difference.