A beautiful woman with sharp eyes and beautiful straight white hair. Her eyes were silver and flowing, reflecting confusion.
She woke up on her bed, clutching a sword. She got up from the bed and found her armor had been replaced by a nightgown. She found bowls of water tainted with blood and a league of female servants who did their best to clean their Lord's body.
She wiped the sweat off one of the servants.
'I'm… back home?' she said as her attention suddenly turned due east. She could make a sound, a faint booming sound, compact and perfect. She grew curious because this had not happened before. She carried the sword with caution; she took a deep breath and stepped outside.
She was ready to fight, but all she saw was a shirtless man. He was human, and his body seemed to have reached optimal masculinity. His muscles looked like perfectly chiseled masterpieces, yet they didn't make him look bulky.
'Who… is he?' she asked herself, drawing a blank. If he was a town citizen, she would know, but she drew blank. To say the least, to see such a strange man in her own garden was baffling. But, she did not kick him out or break his concentration.
'I'll confirm everything once he finishes his routine.'
The man was slowly extending his arm. He moved so slowly that two birds were sleeping on his head. On his knuckles, a butterfly was resting.
Other than his absurdly slow speed, steam was coming out of him. The haze was red; was it blood or the manifestation of his concentration? She was unsure.
The man was weak at level 161. If he tries anything, she could kill him with one move. She was not afraid. But, that was not why she did not stop or kill him; she was simply mesmerized.
She did not understand if she was entranced by his movement or the man himself. In the end, she chose to sit by the tree nearby.
Her injuries may have been treated, but they have not healed.
Resting her sword on her side, she watched the man's training in silence, 'This feels… calming.'
As if she was brought to a time when the only thing she heard was the sound of her father training. She only sought out power and responsibility to fulfill her role for the longest time. She had not been able to rest for so many years, yet she found little solace in the company of a stranger.
"Hmm? What are you doing here?" The man finished his routine and saw her.
From her dimming sight, she saw the man approach. "Father." she gently whispered, but as her eyesight slowly returned, her reaction took a complete hundred and eighty.
"Sorry, I'm not your father. My name's Isaac; it's good to finally meet you, Lady Yulia."
Isaac smiled, and Yulia's face turned bright red as she just turned to the side," Ehem… um… forgive me… you reminded me of someone just now. Isaac, was it? Were you perhaps the one who saved me from the Dreadwolves?" Yulia recovered as fast as she flustered.
Isaac shrugged his shoulders as he chose to ignore her earlier words and offered her hand, "I did. I was under-leveled, but I managed to kill them. Also, I carried you back here cradled in my arms. I made sure to avoid anything sensitive. I know Knights hold pride to high degrees, so I apologize if you're offended by what I did. Please don't hit me. I'll die."
Ignoring his jab to Knights, Yulia shook her head, "No, just that I am alive is enough. Pride means when you're dead."
Yulia lowered her head, "Sir Isaac had not helped me back then, who knows what could have happened." her eyes then glided to his right arm, "For you to lose your arm saving a stranger, I cannot thank you enough."
"Losing an arm? Oh, this!? That was long gone before I came to you. Lost it in a different fight a month ago. Besides, I got free lodging and access to your library free of charge! Hahahaha, for someone broke, getting to eat for free is something I greatly appreciate! But, regarding the Dreadnaught. I tried cutting its heart. I got it and gave it to your chef, but something else caught my attention below its diaphragm."
Isaac threw Yulia a leather pouch. When she opened it, she saw a fist-sized stone with a glowing symbol at its center, "This… you're actually giving me back a Skill Rune?"
"Skill Rune?"
His reaction made Yulia understand how easily Isaac could return it to her, "Are you an Outworlder?"
"Outworlder? Oh, do you mean Outsiders who came from different worlds? If so, then yes, I am. Just arrived about two months back." Isaac announced.
'Two Months? And he has increased his level so much already?' It was a shock to see someone like Isaac reaching levels beyond 150 after such little time.
There was only one way to gain level monsters was the only way to get them. Even for Outworlders who have achieved Limit Break and gained more experience points than Originators, it was still absurd that Isaac was at his level after so little time.
'Does that mean he acclimated that fast?'
"Lady Yulia? What did you mean by Skill Runes? Is it some kind of powerful magic rune? From its name, does it have something to do with Skills? If so, what does it do? Grant Skills? Class Skills? Improve them?"
Yulia was overwhelmed with his questions. She did not expect to be bombarded with questions from someone who looked like someone who had no interest in books.
But, more importantly, "You are too close, Sir Isaac; please, mind your distance."
"Ah! Sorry about that, but when I take an interest in something, I suddenly desire to learn more. I've gone to places I shouldn't for answers and got into trouble for it. Call it the curse of a Scholar. Being obsessed with knowledge is something of a problem, hahaha!" Isaac laughed, embarrassed.
'A Scholar?' It was then that she realized her previous words. Immediately, Yulian stabbed the sword in front of her and again lowered her head, "Please, accept my apologies. For judging you based on your appearance!"
Isaac waved her off and didn't want to further get into the matter, "Many people mistake me for a berserker, so you're not the first, Lady Yulian."
"But, I must make amends for what I have done. It is an unacceptable act for a Knight of the Sun Wing to be so narrow-minded. Ask me anything you desire, and I will do it to my best abilities!"
"Really, it's fine. I don't want to impose any more than I do." Isaac told her he did not mind.
"I must insist." Yulia did not back down.
"Dammit, woman, I said it's okay; just let it go!"
"No! I must make amends!"
That morning, before sunrise, there echoed two voices.
One belonged to a woman wanting to be punished.
The other belonged to a man who did not want anything to do with her absurdity.
"Punish me!"
"Don't phrase it that way, you Holy Woman!"