Ruins Part 2

Nebula led Mizar into a new room where she stood next to a bridge. The child approached and blinked when she gently pat her head. "In this room only two switches can be activated. I have added a very slight difference to the one that is not to be flipped. Since you solved the previous puzzles so quickly, I will tell you that the first switch you encounter must be flipped."

The child smiled brightly and ran to pull it before crossing a second bridge and pausing to examine the two switches. As she looked closely she noticed that the left switch had a tiny yellow dot of paint on it. She turn and pull the right and hear the spikes lowering as nebula approaches with a pleased smile. "You have a good eye, that will serve you well in this place. Come, we must hurry."

The two entered the next room which contained a single training dummy in it. "As a human, monsters will attack you for your soul. As such, I will explain how a FIGHT will work. Approach the dummy, and attack it with this."

A small plastic knife was handed over to Mizar whom was frowning. She walked over to the dummy and instead of attacking, smiled patiently and spoke up. "Those buttons of yours make great eyes, the color's perfect for you."

She could have sworn she saw the dummy blush when she said that, making her smile even more. Nebula made a strange noise behind her, but continued trying to urge her to fight. "Though it looks like you could use some repairs. I wish I had my sewing kit on me, I'd have been more than happy to fix you up... Unless there's one nearby... I could go find one and come back!"

The dummy started to float away at that, a soft thank you seeming to come from it as it left. The goat monster let out a sigh and walked over with a concerned expression. "Kindness will not always get you out of a battle child. Sometimes you must dust your enemy in order to survive."

"Dust?" Mizar's expression had gone from worried to confused.

"Yes... this world has sadly become kill or be killed... many monsters have been struck down and turned to dust in order to gain LV and become stronger. That is the law of this society. Only towns are safe from the risk of death, remember that." Nebula's tone had become sad as she spoke, as if remembering a time when things were not like that.

Mizar placed a hand over the monster's furry one, getting a surprised look from her kindness. It seems that the action had snapped her out of whatever thoughts she was having. She moved her hand to the child's back and began to gently push them towards the next room. As they walked in the child noticed a sign. Though the guiding hand of the monster continued pushing her forward. As they stepped forward, a frog-like monster jumped out, glaring at the human.

Nebula stepped back, to observe what the child would do, but she never pulled out their weapon at all. "Hello, I really like your eyes, they're very beautiful. And you look adorable in general too!"

The goat sighed, thinking she may have to step in to save the child when she saw that the frogget was actually flattered and hesitated to attack, but it still did. Mizar continued to compliment the monster, each attack coming later and later each turn until they refused to attack entirely and chose to spare the child. Some money was left behind as the frog-like monster hopped away.

"I am surprised that they actually spared you... That option is rarely ever chosen, even in a sparring match." This child reminded her so much of the first human, but she couldn't dwell on this for now. Instead she continued towards the puzzle, stepping to the side and looking out over the spikes covering the ground.

"There is only one safe path through here. Do your best to find it and be careful as you walk." Nebula watched with some apprehension as the child took her first step out onto the now lowered first panel of spikes, now realizing she did not let her read the sign with the hint. Her fears continued to grow as The child kept moving until the sound of spikes grinding made her shout in alarm, seconds before Mizar's small body was impaled. Blood dripped as a small red soul floated up, a cry of horror escaping her at the sight of it shattering to pieces.

You can't give up…

You are the future of humans and monsters…

The first death of many, many more to come...