Tsugi No Level

Chapter 3: Ten is careful

It's a beautiful sunny morning. The hiking path is empty as Ten makes his way up.

"Mai, remind me again, why I am doing this instead of just staying home?"

The Digital Watch Pad on the back of his hand lights up.

"Well based on your current budget and debt, this is about all you can afford."

"I know that, but why make me go outside ... I finally took a day off, and you won't even let me rest."

"Research shows that a walk in nature has calming effects. Plus this is the same place you used to visit when you were young. Memories of happy times and the nice view of the forest surrounded by nature, is what's best for you right now."

"I don't remember it being this steep though."

Ten eventually makes his way to the top. His city behind him and a beautiful sea of trees in front of him. As the clouds clear a bit, the sun shines through and hits him right in the face. The sudden touch of warmth triggers a memory Ten hadn't thought about for awhile.

He and his mother both stand at the very same peak looking down at the forest. They both look at a flock of birds flying through the sky making their way. His mother's face blocks the sun but her smile is more radiant than any sun could ever be. She looks at him with her smile and tells him she loves him. She then lowers down to give him a kiss on the forehead. The moment her head lowered the sun was able to reach him and shun right on his face. His mother's kiss and the sun's embrace were for Ten a moment of love he somehow forgot.

Tears start to flow down his cheek.

"What's wrong?"

Ten lowers his head and wipes the tears.

"Nothing, I just remembered me and Mom being here, she loved this place ... its nothing."

Suddenly the sky changes colors. Several streaks of light fill the sky. As if a set of falling meteors tried to make their way to this planet. Ten is mesmerized by the beauty of the chaos in front of him. Each streak seems to burn out before it can touch the ground. But then one single streak seems to be headed for the forest. It doesn't burn out, and actually hits the ground creating a massive crater.

Ten stands in shock.

"Time to go home."

Ten quickly turns around as if he didn't see anything.

"Ten, no wait. WAIT!."

"What? Did you not just see what I saw? Nah uh ... clearly an alien race just landed to take all our blood and brain juice. They ain't getting my juice. I'm out."

"Ten, wait. If that is a meteor it will count as a precious metal. If you sell it, you can clear your debt and have enough money to retire immediately."

Ten stops.

"Think about it Ten, no more boss nagging you"

"But it could be a crazy alien that will eat me."

"Or it could mean no more days that are just like the ones before it."

"It could be a new viral disease that will eat my skin and put me into a state of eternal pain as it kills and brings me back eternally."

"Or it could be freedom from bills that never end."

This pattern continued for about 10 minutes. But eventually, Mai was able to make Ten see the logic in her reasoning.

"Ok, I'll go, but I'm going to need to prepare myself first."

Ten looks around him until a big rock with sharp edges catches his eyes. He walks towards it and grabs the rock from the ground. He closes his eyes and imagines a world of numbers with the rock at its center. The numbers start swirling around the rock and Ten then starts a slow rhythmic chant that increases gradually in speed.