Survival to Godhood 10 Moving Forward

That next morning, the settlement of Independence was in chaos. Defense members and warriors were running around clearing up the dead bodies. Mostly they were dragging them to the edge of the settlement and burning them. Luckily, Independence was upwind of the fire. That evening they held a memorial for Austin and many others and carved their names on a single wall left standing in the middle of the settlement.

Anna and Samantha visited Joe and Leo in the infirmary. Seeing the both bandaged up and one in a splint and another missing their legs. Anna personally apologized, failing them in protecting them and this settlement. Leo didn't need an apology and told her to leave them be. Leo felt that people should mostly depend on themselves anyway.

All over the settlement, people were refortifying the place. Leo stayed in the infirmary two days till Joe awoke. With the help of Sprite, Leo built a chair with wheels on it so Joe would be able to get around. Leo gathered up their things and headed to their gas station.

When they got to their home, Leo was surprised to see the place cleaned up and looking better than when they ran out a couple of nights ago. Samantha walked out and looked at Leo with a smile. "You don't have to thank me, Leo. I felt it was the only way we here at the settlement could apologize."

"Come on Leo, thank the girl already." Looking up from his wheelchair, Joe just laughed.

"Oh…thank you."

"No problem Leo. I will be on my way then." Samantha walked away smiling and blushing.

"Well let's get inside and see the place."

After going inside and getting settled, Joe grabbed Leo and looked him in the face. "Leo, you see this chair. You did not put me in it. That giant beast did. I don't want you to blame yourself." Leo was trying to process everything Joe just said. Joe let go of Leo's arm and patted him on the back. "What you can do for me is to help me learn to control mana. I want to heal soon. "

Understanding what Joe wanted to do was just move forward, "Sure Joe, Sprite and I will help you every day."

Helping Joe lay down in the makeshift bed, Leo went out and got on the roof. He started to absorb yin mana from the moon. While meditating Leo passed out and woke the next morning with dew settling in on him.

Samantha walked up. "Good morning, Leo."

Leo looked down and greeted her too. She told him Anna, Jack, and Lycan want to see him. Samantha said she would wait with Joe and push him around if he wants to move around. Leo changed clothes and walked to the building marked as 'Town Hall.' Once inside Anna asked Leo to come into a large conference room with a large round table.

"Sit down Leo, the three us have a few questions?"

Leo sat down and the other three followed suits. Lycan nodded at him. Jack started to size up the boy. Anna just smiled and then said, "we are here to discuss where you want to be placed."

This caught Leo off guard, "I thought you decide the best place for us."

Jack spoke up for once. "Yes, young lad, but you have that, and you're strong as a beastman."

Lycan stood up and looked at Jack and Anna. "I want the human boy."

Startled, Anna chuckled from Lycan's directness and responded, "I thought we agreed on letting him choose Lycan."

Feeling like he was turned down, Lycan sat down. "Aw cheer up. The boy might choose you."

"So, Leo we would like you to join our engineer team, defense team, or the warriors."

Waiting for the answer, Lycan tried to put on his best smile. His razor-sharp teeth looked eerie, but friendly at the same time. Thinking it over, he proposed the question to Sprite. "What do you think I should do Sprite?"

"Sir, strength means survival."

When the watch responded, it caught the three by surprise. Up till now, they didn't know it had a mind of its own. After the shock, the three of them thought about the watch's answer and agreed with it. After mulling it over, Leo did too.

"I'll join the warriors."

"Yes, I win. Ha, the human is mine Jack," bragged Lycan. Jack was one of the few people Lycan didn't call human. He felt that Jack was a brave mortal was worth respect.

"Be quiet. You're a big furry idiot," Jack remarked.

"Hahaha, Leader Anna please continue." Leo was surprised the two of them could poke fun at each other as they did.

"So, with that decision. Leo goes to tell Joe, we decided he will be a trainer and a teacher. He will help the younger people and the men in the defense team. He will train riflemen in the morning and teach after lunch."

"I think he would like that very much."

"Human Leo, you will start training with us tomorrow morning. See you on the north side of the settlement." Lycan said what he wanted to, nodded at Anna and Jack, and left the room. Jack told Leo, he wants to talk about teaching mana control to some of his men in the future. He said that then got up and left too.

Anna looked at this rugged tan-skinned man and only saw the boy he really was. She lost her son a few years ago and always holds a soft spot for the younger generation. "Well, then I'll let you be off then. Take care of my Samantha if you see her." Anna winked at her and left the room. With only Leo still in the place, he walked out and headed home.

Arriving back at the gas station, he saw Samantha pushing Joe around. Leo walked up and switched places with her. "Thank you for dragging him around." Leo slightly smiled.

"It was no big deal. Joe is really easy to talk to." Samantha started to leave but turned around and said, "next time we should go on a walk, Leo." After that, she turned the corner and was gone.

"Hey Leo, I heard there is a herd of bison to the west in the field. Let go watch them until the sun sets."

Agreeing, Leo and Joe went to watch the sunset. At the edge of the field was a high home. Leo carried Joe to the top of an old building so they both could see. They looked out and saw many majestic bison grazing without a care to the world. They had their own families and just seemed at peace with their life.

"Leo what is that over there." Joe was pointing at something in the shadows coming out from behind a bush.

"Coyotes," Leo responded angerly.

Chapter end