JUNE 26. 3567
𝗛𝘂𝗴𝗼 𝗔𝘂𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗿
'Remember Hugo, you can never learn the true value of life until you can no longer return from it'
I open my eyes to see a woman sitting next to me, looking at me suspiciously.
She had brownish hair extending to her waist and green eyes.
After staring at her for a while she started speaking
"I have a lot of questions for you but first, how are you feeling"
"Better"
"I see...now about my questions..."
As she said that she grabs her rifle and point it to my head
"How the hell did you get this far into the forest with such low stats? did you use portal magic?"
I twitch a bit when she commented about my stats however I couldn't help but agree
"I entered the portal from the other side and next thing I knew, I'm on a cliff edge"
"Lies! if you really did come from the other side then you should have arrived at the capital"
"Look, I don't know what to tell you, this is my first time here"
"hmm..."
After a moment, she retracts her rifle and starts going into the other room.
I looked around the room and saw my coat and weapon on the table.
After a while, she came back with some food.
"Here's some food, and drink this too, its made out of 'herbs of life'"
'Herbs of life?'
While I was eating food she started questioning me again about why I'm here.
Q: Who are you?
A: Hugo Auclair.
Q: Where did you come from?
A: From the other side.
Q: What are you gonna do from now on?
A: Find my purpose.
"Why are you being so vague!?"
She said getting a little bit irritated
"You haven't even told me your name yet and you expect me to tell you everything?"
"I just thought you would be more cooperative if I fool- I mean to give you kindness"
"Woman, you're like 1 year older than me at best, Id rather not hear that from you"
"Are you telling me that I'm a kid?"
"Are YOU telling me that I'm a dumbass?"
The tension that we had moments ago disappeared quickly and we were just glaring at each other
'This goddamn woman'
"Guessing from what you said on my last question, you don't have anywhere to go right?"
"Other than forest, no"
"Then let's make a deal then"
"I'm listening"
"I'll let you come with me to the nearest city"
"And what are you getting out this?
"Cannon fodder"
"Thought so"
"Fine, it's better than being lost in the forest anyway"
"Good, we'll leave tomorrow then"
As she said that she extends her hand for a handshake.
After shaking hands, she tried to pull her hand away however I did not let go of her
"Your name?"
"It's Cynthia Galeward"
"Then nice to be working with you, Cynthia"
"I'd rather that you call me Galeward"
"No"
After that, she left the room presumably to prepare for our journey and I took my weapon and headed outside.
I closed my eyes and played back to what happened with those two Mulcurt.
Honestly, it still scares me about how strong they are.
But I'm also mad at myself for being so weak.
I opened my eyes again taking and stance and did some practice swings for minutes.
"I guess you aren't being vague huh?"
I turned around to see Cynthia by the door
"What do you mean?"
"The way you swing your sword"
"?"
"Although I don't have that much experience with swords, I can tell that you're doing it mindlessly"
"That's why I'm here"
"Word of advice, but you won't be able to improve if you're not doing it with a purpose in mind"
"Then how the hell am I suppose to have a purpose then?"
"Everyone has a purpose Hugo, even you"
"Then what's mine then?"
"If I have to say, it's that you're trying to improve so you won't die"
"You were running away from them out of fear, weren't you? then that means you wanted to survive"
"I...I see..."
I took a stance again but this time I looked at the mulcurt's image full of determination.
The determination that I will survive.
"A little better but it's progress I guess"
Then she headed back to the cabin.
By the time I finished my training, it was already evening so I also headed back into the cabin.
When I entered the room I saw her putting some weird stone into her bullets.
"How does that bullet work exactly?"
"You don't know this?"
"I'm condensing mana using a conjuring spell to create mana stones"
"Those mana stones are used to be a substitute for spell stones and its always found in reusable staffs or wands"
"I'm putting mana stones so I can use fire magic to make a small explosion so I can shoot my rifle"
"I see...in our world we just use war magic to infuse our bullets to be more lethal"
"War...magic?"
"It's a category of magic where its primary use is to harm another living being"
"I see..."
After watching her for a while, I decided to cook dinner for both of us
"You can cook?"
"A bit rude, but yes, I always invested time to learn how to make good food since I live alone"
"It's a small token of appreciation for saving my life"
"Well thanks, I guess, it looks good"
"Your welcome"
After eating dinner, we both went to sleep and prepared ourselves for our journey.