Viral - And moving on to the question, how do you know about injections?

Fi, Feli - ?

They didn't know what to answer, as if they didn't understand the question.

Viral - I think I phrased the question wrong.... So maybe differently, do you know what effect injections cause? I'm talking about the ones you have to take every week.

Fi - Em... It probably saved from dust....

Feli - Well, that they were getting rid of poison or something....

Viral - ?

It wasn't the answer she expected, but she continued.

Viral - Do you believe it?

Fi - ...I guess so...

Feli- Uhm, me too.

Viral - Do you take these injections yourself?

Fi - No.

Feli - Kind of.

Viral - Kind of?

Feli - Well, kind of, Because I have an artificial arm and I give this artificial arm to give this injection, and I don't take it myself.

Viral - I noticed you don't have a right arm... but let's leave that for another time. You say neither of you took an injection into your own body, right?

Fi, Feli - Yes.

Viral - Then why are you still alive? Why aren't you sick, even though nothing protects you from dust poison?

Fi - We are lucky?

Feli - I know because we are strong!

Fi - Yeah, we're stronger than the rest, that's probably why.

Viral - Hah... All in all, you're not too far wrong. Indeed, you are stronger than others, but that does not protect you from the poison.

Feli - No? But there's nothing wrong with us.

Viral - This is because this poison does not exist.

Fi and Feli were stunned to learn that the poison for which the entire population had to take weekly injections did not exist. However, they didn't speak, so Viral continued.

Viral - Apart from clogging the airways, dust does no more damage when inhaled. Although it gives opportunities. Above-average opportunities. Are you keeping up?

Feli - Yes, but if this dust is not poisonous, why does everyone take injections?

Viral - That's what I was about to come to. Injections don't block the poison, which doesn't exist anyway, they block physical development. It is not known how, but with the appearance of dust, the races became much stronger. Physical fitness has been taken to a whole new level. However, those in power feared that developing power in common people would make them harder to control. As a result, injections were created to inhibit the growth of strength so that everyone would remain weak.

Fi - So... we're strong because we don't take the shot?

Viral - Exactly.

Feli - Ooooh...that makes sense...So if we tell everyone not to take the injection, will they all be so strong?

Raily - No, it won't work.

A short girl joined the conversation.

Raily - In addition to the serum that inhibits the growth of strength, there is also an addictive elixir in the injections. The moment someone goes off an injection for more than a week, they will start to feel the lack of it and the desire to get it. It's commonly said that it's because of the poison. The body feels it's being attacked and it's dying, so it wants the drug, but that's just a hoax made up by those at the top. Coming to the point, the moment everyone stops taking the "drug" they start to run out of it. Everyone will suffer, and those mentally weaker will most likely not be able to withstand the lack of it and there would be mass suicides. Once someone takes it, there's no stopping it.

Fi - .....let's say I understood...

Feli - Uhm...

The minds of these two are not used to working in high gear, but they more or less understood what Raily meant.

Viral - Knowing this, I will ask you another question, why don't you take injections.

Fi - Mom said they were bad.

Feli - Yes, that's what she said.

Viral - Mom? Who is she?

Fi - Mom.

Viral - What else?

Fi - Em.... She has black hair and wings and horns-

Viral - It wasn't the looks I meant-

Liroy - Sorry to interrupt, but I'm just curious. What race are you from? I've never heard of anyone who could turn their body part black.

Viral-!? Turn your body part black!? Can you do it?

The woman looked shocked at this information, as if she knew something about it.

Fi - Yes.

He stretched his hand up and showed in front of everyone how his hand turned charcoal black. Suddenly, Viral grabbed his hand and pulled him to her. She examined it closely and looked at Fi again.

Viral - Who are your parents?

She asked with great seriousness, as if it was something very important.

Feli - And mine too! We are siblings!

Viral - Can you do the same as him?

Feli - No. Filiś probably took it from his dad, and we have different dads.

Fi - Yes, our mom is the same mom, but we have different dads, but we don't know them.

Feli - Uhm - She nodded - We've never met them.

Viral - You don't know your fathers, but could your mother do such a thing?

Fi - I don't think so, or at least I've never seen her do it.

Feli - I don't think so either.

Viral - And where is she now?

Feli - She's gone.

Viral - Where?

Fi - We don't know. Garef said mom went for a very long drive and probably wouldn't be coming back, but she said maybe we'd meet her again sometime.

Viral - ......Tell me... how old were you when this "Garef" told you about it?

Fi - 7

Feli - 6

Viral - Em... How can I tell you this.... If a close family member dies, most often young children are told that they went on a long trip or something to gently tell the child about the death.

Feli - Mom is dead?

Viral - Yes, that's what I'm saying.

Fi - Mom is dead....

Their expressions instantly turned sad.

Fi, Feli - Mom is dead! Whah!!!

They started crying like little children.

Raily - I'm supposed to be sorry but... how could you not understand that your mother is dead!? When you were kids it was ok, but now!?

Fi - Well, because....... because...... Wwah!!!!

He couldn't say anything.

Feli - It's... it's because....Waah!!...Wwaaa!!...

She too was busy crying.

And they cried like that for a good few minutes until they slowly calmed down.

Fi - But... but it's... In the end... it won't change anything anyway. Because if she's not there, she just won't be.

He stopped crying and just looked at the ground thinking.

Feli - Well... there will be no difference....

She followed her brother and, like him, began to wonder if this was really a reason to cry. After all, they've been gone for ten years anyway, so it's not really going to change.

Viral - Can we continue?

She asked after noticing that they both calmed down and stopped crying.

Fi, Feli - Yes.

Viral - I'm sorry for your loss, but can you tell me who she was? Did she have any connections? What kind of job did she have?

Fi - I don't know anything about her friends, but I do know she was a prostitute.

Viral - A prostitute... I get it, it more or less makes sense. If that's true, then I have no reason to suspect you.

She looked at Fi as if trying to confirm what she had just said.

Viral - Fi, don't show anyone that you can turn your skin black.

Fi - What? Why?

Viral - The reason is not important, don't use it unless you have no choice, understand?

Fi - No, why should I listen to you- [DUM!]

He was startled by the sudden noise. Viral just hit the table very hard. Her eye looked as menacing as never before, and she had a terrifying aura around her.

Viral - Don't show this to anyone, okay?

Fi- Okay.

Frightened by the terrible lady, he immediately agreed.

Viral - So then, don't you know why your mother told you not to take injections?

Fi, Feli - No.

Viral - I see, so let's get to the last thing. Aren't you curious who we are?

Fi- Very!

Feli - Are you some kind of super heroes who fight evil?

Viral - We are far from it, but you can really say that we are fighting evil. We are rebels fighting those who rule this world, or at least a large part of it. And there are many more of us than you think. There are many cities that belong to the rebels and there are many thousands of races who know everything. Your strength is not exceptional by comparison. There are many who are at your level, so if you feel special because of your abilities, know that they are not. Don't expect everything to be easy for you.

Raily - Not nice.

Viral - But that's the truth. You are not unique in your strength... yet.

Fi - Yet?

Viral - I have suggestions for you. How about joining us?

Raily - Viral?! But we can't drag them into these things! We just had to check if we could trust them and if they wouldn't talk about us!

Viral - Oh, shut up! I'm the division leader and I've decided I want them in the group.

Raily - Do you think the bosses will allow it?

Viral - They'll let me do anything, now shut up and let me talk!

The girl fell silent, but she was clearly dissatisfied with such an idea.

Viral - We call those who take the injections untouched because they have not been touched by the effects of the dust. They are easy to distinguish from those who have been endowed with extraordinary strength. Especially if they themselves show their extraordinary strength. What you did today may have attracted the attention of undesirable people. If they find out that you didn't take the injections, they will want to eliminate you so that you don't start any rumors and rebellion as a result. I'm not saying it will happen, but it's highly possible. That's why I have a proposition for you. What if you join us? I say right away, it will be just as dangerous, no, go back, it will be even more dangerous than staying here. We are the C-43 division codename "mask", our tasks include operating in the field, where we constantly expose ourselves to danger. We can die at any moment. Would you still consider joining us?

Fi - Will they shoot at us?

Viral - Yes.

Feli - Will it be dangerous?

Viral - Yes

They looked at each other as if they wordlessly wanted to agree between themselves.

Viral - If you want more time-

Fi, Feli - Of course! WE ARE INTO IT!!!

They jumped up from their chairs, holding up their hands with clenched fists.

Arc 1

THE END