Synthetic Survivor: Machine Age

"Mama!" A joyous voice rang out. A little girl stormed out of her meager wooden hut and embraced her mother. The mother smiled at her, patting her head a few times before the two headed inside. There home was small, there were no rooms but an open space that was of a circle. There was a thin cloth on the floor, it was there bed. The little girl sat on the middle and waved her hands. Her mother was bring with her a sack full of potatoes. She unloaded everything onto the floor and the little girl lunged at the pile.

She grabbed one of the potatoes and tried to bite a chunk off it. Her jaw was too weak, her teeth too little and too few. The hard potato was like iron to her, she couldn't bite it. Her jagged and blackened teeth did not dissuade her from smiling always, she still smiled at her mother after the ordeal and waited for her to boil them.

"Now, now, mother still needs to cook, you go play outside while mother prepares your food," The mother patted her once more after noticing that her daughter pouted. Her mother showed her a smile and the little girl had no defence. She hugged her mother tightly once again and the both of them giggled. After giving her a kiss on the forehead, she ran off outside.

The day was not hot, although the sun was brimming since it was noon, it was not enough to burn skin or cause any health conditions. And so, many were outside, particularly the children. The village was big, a total of 200 people actually lived there in relative comfort. Almost everyone knew each other and this friendship and close bonds developed among them all. Most of the a.d.u.l.ts worked in the fields, fished or chopped down wood at the nearby forest. The foodstuffs they actually get from their fields or from their fishing are not sold, rather, that's their food supply. The wood, though used for the building of new houses and buildings in the village if ever the need came, were actually turned into wooden products or construction material like planks and then sold to the nearest city.

The little girl cared no less how the village fared as long as everyone she knew had smiles on their faces. The innocence of a little girl, she was full of it and proudly so. She did not know how hard it actually was to work on those fields during which the sun was at its hottest, or the horrors of fishing when fishermen catch demonic hybrids of fish, or that in the forest loomed the monsters who wanted them for breakfast.

"Heave!" The little girl heard a rough voice coming from the fishing port. She hurried there and saw the fishermen hauling their catch. Five fishing nets full of fresh fish! Normally the village would only get two fishing nets worth of fish everyday but today's haul was tremendous! Her eyes glowed as the shirtless fishermen, with their broad physiques dragged the nets inland. Many rushed in with barrels and all were gleeful with the catch.

Winter was coming, with this catch, they could allocate more food for the winter to come in just a few weeks time. Maybe, they won't need the assistance of travelers or neighbouring settlements for aid during the harsh season. The village was known for imploring the aid of their neighbors since they struggled to store enough food for themselves.

But with large fields that bore much food, why aren't they able to store enough for the winter?

A young man ran across the dirt road, shoving to the side everyone in his way until he near the fish that were caught. His eyes grew as he stared at the catch, he then shouted "Feast!"

And so, the village was subject to another feast. And thus, their food stores will dwindle once again, but not as much.

It was something they've gotten used to and just let be. They did not want to offend the young master who was the son of the current chieftain. Hell, even the current chieftain supported the lavish spending of the village food ever since they were assured of aid from the other settlements. Their over-dependence on others for their survival could lead to their downfall but none cared.

Why? Because everyone was happy.

The little girl looked on as the men placed the fishes into the barrels while the others announced the feast to the rest of the village. She, nevertheless, went and tried to find the other children who she knew were out playing. She could hear their faint laughter coming from the distance and she so followed it until she met them.

The children, though they were wearing ragged clothing, were playing on the grassy ground. Some lied on their backs staring at the sky while others chased each other while laughing. It was like a playground. She then joined in the fun, chasing other kids, took some twigs and played knight and dragon, they would spar, they would chase and they would flee, they would fake their deaths and innocently play out the horrors of war to what it actually seems to a child.

The noon went by and she was tired, her friends have already left for their families. It was time for her to go home. The torches were lit up and the village glowed a reddish hue. She walked past huts and huts, all bigger than hers. She walked through the village center where a large bonfire was about to be put ablaze for the feast that was to be held in a few hours.

She finally saw her home in the distance. It was alone, at the edge of the village and with only a single torch saying that it's there under the darkness. But, she saw that It was fine. She actually felt special to have a house at the edge of the village. It was always like this, everyday she would go out, play and comeback home with the very same sight each time. She's gotten used to it ever since.

She went and knocked on the door, waiting for her mother to open it. Then, her mother opened the door and the little girl embraced her once again.

"Mother" She exclaimed as she hugged her tightly. The mother giggled, patted her head and had her sit down on the floor. She then went to get her pot that she had heated and brought her on a wooden bowl, a boiled potato.

"You better chew it right, or else you won't have anymore teeth!" The mother reminded her daughter. The daughter nodded with excitement and grabbed it. Only to feel the heat and subsequently let go of her potato.

"Yeouuuch" She said with tears in her eyes. She was cute to look at and her mother thought so. She smiled and gave her a wooden fork.

"Don't be hasty, use this to cut the potato and eat it. Don't forget to blow it!" The little girl grabbed the fork and stabbed the potato, during this time she actually had her tongue out. She frowned at the potato that burned her hands and chopped it into smaller pieces.

She took the smallest piece, carefully blowing the heat away and placed the entire thing in her mouth. She huffed and panicked as she underestimated the hotness of the potato, much to the amus.e.m.e.nt of her mother. She just giggled as her daughter tearfully stabbed the potato repeatedly. It was a happy night and the mother and daughter duo knew this well.

The two then ate in relative peace, the sounds of fire burning the wood inside their small metal furnace was the only thing they heard that was besides the sounds of the nature in the night. Crickets would regularly sound but also become silent suddenly. They ate and got full, it was time for the mother to clean up. Her daughter had just fallen asleep on the floor, her puffy cheeks glowed red. She was a cute little girl. The mother then got a thin blanket which she used to cover her daughter from the bitter cold of the night. She cleaned the mess and placed away their things.

It was time for her to also sleep, although there was a feast, they never were invited to attend any of it. Well, they were before but her mother has refused to come again. Her reason, her secret ever since. Only two knew of her reason to stay out, she and her daughter.

The mother was a beautiful lady on her own, though she had slightly dark skin, her face could catch the heart of every man in this village, well, it had already done so. Her figure also did not help, she was a hard worker in the fields and she along with the other ladies broke their backs everyday. But amid the smiles and laughter lied the envy.

Many were envious of her beauty, many were envious of her fame among the men. Her isolation was the only thing keeping her alive for now but what if the people of the village wanted her out for good? Luckily, she never had to answer the question, or else, her daughter would be the one to suffer.

The feast has started, the wine has been brought out, the food has been prepared. The laughter and voices of the rest of the village echoed throughout the night. She paid no attention, she went to sleep with her daughter at her side.

The night felt longer than expected. It was well pass midnight but there was an eerie silence. Everyone seemed to have shut up, she could hear murmurs and whispers but nothing else. But, why the hell was she hearing murmurs at her front door?

She became scared, was there someone outside? She quickly stood and tried her best to walk without a sound. She came against the door and placed their only chair against it. She then went and grabbed the wooden pot her daughter used and readied herself.

The whispers became fainter but she knew whoever was out there, was still there. Then, her door began to budge. Her heart thumped louder and louder, she sweated profusely and her hands shivered.

Then she awoke.

She was still lying next to her daughter, the sounds of the people there at the feast was still there too. She just had a nightmare. She was relieved, she was actually sweating but she just wiped the sweat off her forehead and tried to continue her sleep.

She turned towards her daughter, she touched her black hair and gently massaged it. It was soft, her daughter was beautiful.

Many also wondered who got her pregnant with the daughter she had now, nobody took responsibility and she wanted to keep quiet too. Nobody pushed her to answer, many men then distanced themselves from her, not wanting to be blamed.

Her father and mother died one year after she was born, after her caretaker also died when she was six, she fended for herself.

Now, she had a daughter she needed to protect at all costs. Despite the hardsh.i.p.s and cruelty of the world, she knew that she was still safe inside the village. Although, there were only 140 a.d.u.l.ts, 40 of the 60 men knew how to fight with swords and bows. They could defend themselves and defended themselves they have. Against monster raids, bandits, even a rogue legion of Yuhinic Knights.

They have proven themselves to be capable warriors but also due to this, They have been considered nomads by the kingdoms, barbarians who do not fall under any rule except their own. They have thus been ignored politically and given free reign. Their loose federation of villages were referred to as the Tribal Union. But they don't have a rock-solid central government, with village meetings every once a month.

Until.

She woke up, she thought the sun had risen since it was already bright outside. But the brightness was unlike the light of the sun that they were used to, it flashed white in color and was many times brighter that the sunrise. It shined right through the cracks of hut's covered windows, its shining light piercing inside. She heard many screams from outside, then the screams died down.

The light suddenly dimmed, and the darkness of the night enveloped the land once more. She wanted to believe that whatever that was, was of no concern at all. But then, she felt a chill run down her spine. And so, she decided to walk out and check what was going on. The feast had gone silent, only frantic footsteps. She stepped out of the hut and found the entire village in a panic.

A man ran up towards her and exclaimed "Miss! The chief has ordered us to escape through the jungle, it is not safe!" The man was exhausted, sweat fell from his face. The mother did not hesitate one bit and immediately went to her daughter. Her daughter was already fast asleep by then, when her mother suddenly woke her up, she was confused.

The mother and daughter duo ran outside and were guided by the man. He led them to where the other villagers were, to the port. The port was already crowded and the fishing boats were already full of people, packed together like frightened animals. They even witnessed one of the boats capsize after a few stubborn fellows forced themselves on-board.

Then, the light came back. This time, it revealed itself to be coming from a flying metallic beast, unlike anything they've seen or known of. It shined its bright white light over the panicked villagers, the villagers covered their faces as the light was too bright for them to bear directly. It released a wind around itself, pushing the boats and capsizing a few. The villagers ran from the port and into the village.

The mother and daughter duo were among those to run first. They were followed by many more panicked villagers. The lights began to multiply, it wasn't because more metallic beasts appeared, no, but the metallic beast actually released smaller metallic humanoids onto the village. They cornered the villagers from all sides, preventing escape. The mother and daughter duo were forced to make a return to the port.

The villagers who were the defenders of the village took up arms and tried to fend off the metal men. They were all vanquished with ease, no blood was spilled. They were all chopped or shot clean. The villagers were then herded into one single group, out of 200 villagers, only 120 remained as most of the men were killed during their vain attempt to defend their home.

The mother and daughter managed to get to the port, a few souls have already drowned, including the young chieftain. He was the only magic user in the village, with him gone, they stood no chance. The light then began to circulate around the village, trying to find any strays. The mother knew she had to do something before it was too late for her daughter.

"Momma, no!" her daughter screamed. Her mother pushed her into a boat as the light shined above her. The wind from the beast pushed the boat away and the daughter could only cry out as she lacked the knowledge nor the strength to even use the rows. She then went to the side of the boat as it floated ever so slowly away. Her mother was watching her, she could make up the tears coming from her eyes and sliding on her cheeks.

Then, blue lights came about in pairs behind her. They were not under the bright light but stood behind it. The silhouettes of their human-like bodies surrounded her mother. She could feel the gazes of these monsters, but they chose to ignore her.

Her mother showed her one last smile, then the light turned off.