This girl who had just caught Alex was Lyra, a girl the same age as Alex. Although young she had also been leading the group from the shadows.
Alex's fright was obvious, yet he also knew he could hide his intentions. This was because from the outside dot just looked like Alex was a weirdo touching the man's feet.
"What are you doing?"
Lyra asked a question, intending to gaze into Alex's thoughts. With almost any answer Alex gave revealing his true intentions.
Alex knew that if he blamed it on being weird she would get the opposite instinct. So Alex had to pretend that he had just been caught in his weird acts.
Alex then started slowly looking around, never looking at the girl. While he stumbled to get up.
Of course this was all just an act put on by Alex. He wanted to make it obvious but not tell her that he was a weirdo.
Then Alex took as long as he could to answer her question, wanting to make him seem embarrassed.
"Well, umm, well I was just, umm, he needed a foot massage to fall back asleep."
Alex made up a story, as the man had never woken up. While Alex had not even known the man, just trying to lure Lyra's thoughts to one answer.
This was a battle of wits between the two, as Alex would much rather be caught being a freak, then caught robbing ruins.
This was because if Alex got caught stealing the ruin, he would first be kicked out of the plane, and second everyone else would learn how to steal ruins.
So Alex had no choice but to ensure that he was thought to be a weirdo. This was his only option, although it'd be hard to deal with the embarrassment it's better to survive.
Goddammit why the hell did she have to appear right now.
Lyra was not at all convinced by Alex's words, as she thought him to be a weirdo. Yet his reaction seemed a bit too protective.
Although this was only a gut feeling as she then threw the thought away.
What a weirdo, what else could he be doing other than indulging in his weird tastes.
Lyra did not know why he would even do something so weird. She was especially confused as their situation should cause fear not… eccentrics.
Then she realized that he could just be doing this out of fear. Indulging himself just to calm himself from their wretched situation.
Yet she still had the lingering feeling that this was not the case. As though she was missing a piece of the puzzle.
So she decided to probe him further.
"What a benevolent leader you are, yet why do you snoop to lying."
Alex knew something along those lines would come from her. Yet he also noticed that she or the other acknowledged him as their leader.
It also made sense, he had been leading the group this whole time. Yet he didn't even realize it, he was just doing it out of instinct.
Then Alex went back to thinking he needed to get out of the situation. He also wanted to do it quickly before the girl could gain any suspicions.
"Well he's asleep so I should probably go to sleep now."
Alex had now almost assured his leaving. Yet there were still many ways the girl could keep him in her grasp.
"Just leaving so fast without even asking my name?"
Lyra was already fine with letting the boy go, as he had already helped the plane out a lot. Yet she also wanted to make sure he had manners.
Alex was confused by the girl's question, or rather demand. As after Alex's parents had died Alex was left alone without parental teachers.
This led to Alex not developing lots of mannerisms. So Alex had not assumed it proper to ask for her name.
"Then what's your name?"
Right as Alex said this he realized his mistake. As he had totally disregarded his acting of being embarrassed and paranoid.
Lyra's suspicion suddenly grew stronger, as she had subconsciously noticed the flaw in Alex's action. Yet she did not plan on pressing him any further without knowing his motives.
"My name is Lyra, and what is yours."
Alex was excited that she had not pressed him. Yet he was still very weary after his costly mistake.
"My name is umm Alex."
This time Alex went back to his acting, not wanting any more suspicion to be raised. Yet this was going to take a lot of concentration, especially now that they were on a name basis.
Then both Alex and Lyra started walking in opposite directions. Both walking back to their seats, pondering about the other.
Once Alex had finally gotten away he started thinking. As this encounter had really shaken his opportunity to manipulate the plane.
Yet Alex still believed he was in the clear to go on with his plans. As he didn't think his mistake was too costly.
While Lyra was also thinking about their conversation. As now she had a high suspicion that Alex had been acting the whole time.
Yet she still didn't have his motive, as why would he touch a random man's feat. Her only explanation for his weird acts was him being a pervert.
Except she could not forget Alex's slip of his actions. As his emotions gave total contrast with his previous and afterward emotions.
When Lyra had asked Alex about his manners indirectly it had caused Alex to forget about their conversation and truly think to himself about why he didn't ask.
This slight mishap had caused Alex to forget about his acting, and create a mistake. While Lyra's question was purely curiosity, it had led Alex's secret to get closer to being unraveled.
With the little time they had been on the unknown continent it had led to Alex not having time to make safety nets for his plans. Especially due to his plans being made too late into their arrival.
Alex had truly acted on impulse. Overcome with greed Alex had not thought out his plans, instead going along with them without thought of mishaps.
This was his greatest mistake, as now it could cost him dearly if Lyra figured it out. Yet Alex had not figured this out.
Instead Alex was thinking about how he would perfectly manipulate the people tomorrow. Except the problem was that Alex had already broken that perfect image.
With Lyra now being a being to step outside of his plans if she learned of them. When she would step out of his system this would lead others to step out and join her.
This would eventually lead to Alex being left alone once again. Separated from the group of survivors, greatly losing any rewards he would gain.
Yet Alex was now deciding to go to sleep, after his stressful encounter with Lyra he needed to rest. Especially if he was going to carry forward with his plans the next day.
…
The sun began to rise over the mountain. As the birds screamed vile sounds waking up the survivors to their cruel truth.
No matter what they had dreamed of they were back in the wretched grasps of reality. While they were back to fending for their survival.
Once everyone woke up they craved breakfast, wanting to subdue their growling stomachs. Yet there was no food, none served by Alex, none served by the flight attendants.
Instead the survivors were left on empty stomachs. As they all wondered where their food could be.
As time went by the group got more and more hangry. With the unknowing lack of food, people began getting up in outrage.
As Alex had woken up, he started to notice the frantic behavior of the group. This was according to his plan.
He knew that they were all craving food at the moment. Now all he had to do was lure them on a stick when they were most vulnerable.
He was going to propose hunting to the group, with its many upsides and their situation they'd be forced to say yes.
Yet the harder part was going to be the part of his speech where he would have to introduce merit points.
As if he said it wrong, or led them in the wrong direction his plans would fail. So his convincing would have to be spot on.
Yet Alex was not nervous because of this, as he had already prepared most of his speech.
All he had to do now was execute this stage of his plan. If it succeeded his plan was almost all but assured.
As Alex now started standing up, prepared to give his convincing proposal. As people's gazes landed on Alex he prepared to set his plans in motion.
"I know everyone must be starving right now."
The group of survivors nodded, while Lyra looked at Alex with a weary expression.
"Yet we have ran out of rations, and the only way to get food now is to hunt the wretched abominations that plague this continent. This will not only benefit us with a food source but also a way to train. As without our fighting skills we will be crushed under this continent's immense pressure. Yet this hunting will almost ensure our progress."
Alex's words were logical and convincing, as even though the people were uncomfortable by the thought, they felt excited by his words.
As people were convinced by Alex's speech. While they all assumed it to be over, yet Alex had not sat down, as he prepared his second part.
Yet right before giving his second part of his speech his mind changed, as he then changed his plans.
"While I also propose a new currency, as here we are devoid of normal currency on this unknown continent. This currency's medium will be the hides of the animals we hunt. After hunting the rewards will be exchanged evenly, while the hides can be exchanged for other items, like ruins or other necessities."
Although Alex's words were logical the people were still hesitant. As the thought of poverty from not hunting arrived in their minds.
While others also realized they could make hides without hunting. This led to arguments between people.
Yet eventually the group of survivors agreed on the addition of currency to their primitive life.
While Lyra had just then made a breakthrough. As she had suddenly realized Alex's intentions the previous night.
As she too was also a huge fan of magic and systems. Even greater than Alex was, this had caused her to know of many more ways the system could be used then what Alex knew.
As she suddenly realized that the previous night Alex was touching the man not because of a weird obsession but instead to trade ruins.
Yet she also realized the man was asleep and Alex's actions were obviously trying to cover up his intent.
This meant that Alex was not trying to trade with the man, but instead forcefully steal one of his ruins.
This breakthrough had been made the moment Lyra heard Alex talk about exchanging hides for ruins.
As if one could secretly and untraceably steal ruins they would have an infinite source of income.
This meant that Alex was purposely trying to create a capitalistic system to get the most gains out of the whole group.
Lyra had finally seen through Alex's true intentions.