When the professors crossed the threshold of the base, the crowd instinctively stirred. Among the tired, tense faces, the first signs of relief appeared—some people straightened up, someone clapped quietly, and a few students peeking from behind the mattresses looked hopefully at the bags the two men carried.
Grzywacz and Kosman stopped just inside the entrance. They wore worn jackets and makeshift armor, and their dust-covered, exhausted faces retained a certain stern calm. A canvas sack filled with cans hung from Grzywacz's shoulder, while two loaves of bread stuck out from Kosman's backpack.
Layra approached them quickly. "I'm glad you're back," she said with relief. "Put the food in storage and join us. We need to call a meeting."
Grzywacz raised an eyebrow. "Did something happen?"
Kosman sighed quietly, as if already guessing what he was about to hear. "Ternwald stirred things up again, didn't he?" he asked with a note of tired amusement.
Layra nodded. "That too. But we have something far more important to discuss. I'll explain everything at the meeting."
The professors exchanged a brief glance, then silently headed down the hallway to store the supplies. Meanwhile, Layra, Sareth, Nira, Brann, and Adam moved to one of the smaller, empty dorm rooms—a modest space with peeling walls, a few chairs, and crates arranged in a semicircle.
When Grzywacz and Kosman entered, their eyes immediately scanned the room. When they didn't see Kael, their expressions darkened for a moment.
"Where..." Kosman began, but Layra cut in quickly.
"Kael is okay. He fainted from exhaustion. He's being taken care of and is resting now."
The men exhaled softly and nodded. Only then did their gaze settle on the unfamiliar face—Adam.
Grzywacz furrowed his brow, then raised his head slightly. "If I recall correctly... you were one of my students. Intro to Economics, second year?"
Adam gave a faint smile and nodded. "That's right."
"Hm." Grzywacz sat heavily on a makeshift chair made from stacked crates. "The world really has changed."
Once everyone had taken their seats, Kosman spoke first:
"Alright, we're here. What exactly happened?"
Grzywacz looked at Layra. "Judging from your tone, this isn't just another squabble with Ternwald."
Layra nodded slowly. "You're right. The situation is much more serious. Let me start from the beginning."
She explained everything: the fight, the attempt to return, the confrontation with Ternwald. Her words were straightforward, without excessive drama—which somehow made them even more impactful. When she finished, silence filled the room.
Grzywacz leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and looked directly at Adam.
"Thank you. On behalf of all of us." He nodded. "If not for you, all five of them would've died. And then everyone in this base would be as good as dead."
"I couldn't just leave them," Adam replied quietly.
Kosman smiled faintly.
Grzywacz crossed his arms and looked around the room. "If your group returned empty-handed, that means we have a very serious problem. Our supplies are running out, and the easy sources of food have dried up. We need to talk about this now, before we all start starving."
Sareth spoke up. "That's why we need to decide today what comes next. Five people can't feed a hundred. Not even ten can. We need more people willing to act."
"But most are afraid," said Brann, arms crossed. "You saw their faces. They won't go outside, even holding a stick."
Adam stood slowly. His voice was calm but firm:
"People won't move unless they have a reason. Fear paralyzes them, but maybe motivation can break through that. If we start rewarding those who act—who go out, take risks, help—we'll give others a reason to follow."
"Reward system?" Grzywacz repeated, leaning back. "That could make sense."
Kosman nodded. "But we need to think it through carefully. It's bound to create divisions and jealousy. We'll need clear rules and full transparency, or it'll lead to chaos instead of motivation."
"Maybe something like a point system," Adam suggested. "For each run, for helping, for treating the wounded. Those who contribute get better rations, fewer chores, additional privileges."
"A crisis-mode internal currency system," Grzywacz muttered, glancing sideways at Adam.
"We'd need clearly defined rules," added Kosman. "And strict enforcement. So it doesn't become a tool for pressure or manipulation."
Grzywacz walked to the wall, grabbed a piece of chalk from the windowsill, and wrote three large words: RESOURCES – DUTIES – REWARDS.
"We also need to establish some duties," Nira said. "We can't afford to keep people who do nothing but expect to be treated like those risking their lives every day."
"I agree," added Sareth. "Let's keep the tasks simple: help in the kitchen, guard shifts, care for the wounded. But if someone refuses to contribute, they shouldn't get the same food as the rest. Everyone must help ensure survival."
Kosman looked conflicted, as if hesitant to accept forcing people to work. But Grzywacz simply nodded and said calmly:
"If someone doesn't like the rules, they can leave. No one's keeping them here. But if they stay, they follow the system."
"Let's figure out what other issues we face," Layra said, scanning the group. "What do we need to solve before night falls?"
"Medicine," said Nira. "There's barely any left, and with this many people, it won't last even for minor wounds."
"Guard shifts," Brann added. "No one's watching the entrance overnight. If something sneaks in... we wouldn't even get a chance to scream."
"Tension among people," Kosman said with a sigh. "Arguments are going to become more common. Those without abilities will feel useless. Or start blaming others for their situation."
"Weapons," Sareth added. "We've got a few sticks and knives. But if something stronger than rats shows up, we won't stand a chance."
Grzywacz took notes with chalk, listing problems and suggestions. He listened closely without interrupting, and the list kept growing, filling more and more of the blank wall space.
The headings and bullet points appeared:
-Food shortage.
-Medicine shortage.
-No consistent guard system.
-Rising social tension and conflicts.
-Lack of a clear duty and accountability system.
-Inadequate weapons.
-Need for a reward and motivation system.
The list was simple but expressed everything that could either doom them—or save them, if handled right.
"Alright," Layra said, turning to the group. "Now we need to decide how to solve these problems."
"Food," Brann said. "We might check side storage buildings on campus. Or get into the supermarket basement through the underground parking."
"Medicine..." Nira began. "We can search pharmacies on backstreets—places that weren't looted immediately. Best to go in a small, quiet group."
"What about guard shifts?" asked Sareth. "We can make a schedule, change shifts every four hours. Everyone who can hold a weapon should be included."
"Social conflict might ease with what Adam mentioned," Kosman added. "If people see the reward system works fairly, they'll be more willing to cooperate."
"Weapons..." Grzywacz frowned. "Ideally, we find a police station. If we can get inside, we might find firearms, batons, maybe even vests."
"We can also get weapons from the monsters. Sometimes they drop something like loot boxes," said Adam.
"If we find creatures with tough hides or similar traits," Layra added, eyes gleaming, "maybe we could do more than just make trophies. Weapons, armor... use their mutations as material. That could give us an edge."
Grzywacz kept writing, adding new ideas and suggestions to the earlier list. The wall was almost completely covered in chalk. When he finished, he stepped back and looked at it with thoughtful eyes.
"We have a list of problems and the beginnings of solutions. Some are better than others, and many need refinement... but it's a foundation. Now, there's one last, hardest topic left—the reward system. That might be the one thing that determines whether this base survives... or tears itself apart."