~1 year later~
I finish cooking a piece of cow meat.
(I think a year has passed since I've left the Orc base. I stopped counting the days a while ago but it's felt like a year. Ever since I left that place, I've trained and trained to get stronger so I wouldn't be in that situation again. I grab the piece of cow meat and a piece of bread that I've gotten from a farm. I had took some of the silver pieces the Orcs had and used it to pay for some food across different towns. I had never realized that it would take me a year to actually get to the academy on foot. But I'm almost there.)
I finish eating the cow meat and lie down on my bags. I close my eyes and head to sleep.
(I hope I'll get there by next month. I'm so tired of walking.)
I'm about to fall asleep when I feel a presence.
(Not an animal. They have different auras so it's a human.)
I jump up in an instant but it's dark and I can only see a figure. It looks like a man but I can barely make out his face. I grab my sword and prepare for a fight.
"Show yourself."
The figure steps out of the darkness and into the campfire. It's a slightly old man. He's probably in his mid 40's from the looks of it. He's wearing some light brown top that I can't recognize the material for and his pants are black but seem to be roughed up. Maybe from hunting and fighting or long term use. His face is a little wrinkly but not as much. He has dark brown eyes and a muscular build.
"Hey hey now, I'm friendly! I just wanted to see who was camping here.", the man says with his arms raised.
I lower my weapon down cautiously.
"The names Jincheng. Nice to meet ya kid."
(Is that a Chinese name? Sounds like one.)
He walks over and holds out his hand to shake. I stand there cautiously before eventually shaking his hand.
"Ryuki."
"So what are doing here all by yourself?", he asks while sitting down on a log.
"I'm headed somewhere."
"Where are you headed?"
"It's an academy I was invited to. It's called Gratsudale Academy."
"I've heard of it. It's supposed to be the best in the kingdom apparently."
(The best in the kingdom?)
"I saw you had that sword there. That stance. Where did you learn it?"
"I made it up?"
"Hahaha! Made it up? You know what how about I teach ya something? I'm pretty skilled. I've been at it for 40 years."
I stare at him for a small while thinking about his offer.
(Hmm. Why would this guy want to train me? There's gotta be a catch right?)
"You want to train me…?"
"Yeah sure why not. You have a lot of potential and power that you have stored. I can sense it."
"And how do I know you don't have any ulterior motive or you're lying to me?"
"Hmm? That's for you to decide."
"Seriously?"
(This may be my only chance to get stronger than I currently am. I must take it. Although this guy is still a bit sketchy. I'm confident I can kill him if he tried something. To save this world from whatever is going to happen, maybe then will I return to my world. That damn goddess not even telling me what I'm supposed to be saving this world from. I was going to head to Gratsudale Academy to find clues but I think I can hold that off for a bit longer.)
"Fine, I'll take up your offer."
"Great! Haha! I can tell you will definitely be a fine swordsman, but before we start, get some rest. Tomorrow we can start your training. I'll head back over to my camp. But be warned, it will take a year so you'll probably be at that academy by then. Are you sure you want me to train you?", he asks.
"Of course. This will most likely be worth it.", I answer.
"Well then. You're my first student. You're quite lucky, aren't ya. I'd never thought I'd teach someone but you got some good potential that I can't just ignore. But anyways I'll see ya tomorrow. Get some good rest because you'll need it."
"Alright."
I lie back down and head to sleep.