Avenger From Another World

It was another hot blazing day, the daily drill was dreadful as always, the 37th platoon was running aimlessly in l.a.p.s, with sweat dripping like they just took a bath.

Same goes for private Owen, who always a penalty of running extra l.a.p.s than the other privates.

What made today different was that the private Jake was not here with them, as he was ordered by lieutenant Carl to attended some briefing for him.

As for lieutenant Carl, he was with the platoon at first on the start of the day, and he is gone now, 10 minutes after the start of the daily drill.

Seems like no one notice lieutenant Carl's absence, no one except Xiao.

Xiao kind of know where lieutenant Carl was at, either the women platoon training ground or his bed, sleeping like a log from his hangover, rumour says that lieutenant Carl usually hangs out with his friends till late at some shady tavern, drinking ale and messing around with the hostess.

But that is none of Xiao's business, for he is a free man now, temporary at least.

(Woohoo! Time to slip away from the training!)

Xiao slips out from the training as soon as he saw lieutenant Carl was not around, after spending some time in this platoon, he knew that lieutenant Carl won't be back until the end of the daily drill, that means no one is going to monitor the training throughout the end of the day.

Xiao did try to call Owen to join him, but Owen declined, saying that he needs more training to be strong, for the sake of his goal, which is to be the strongest swordsmen in Julian Empire.

(Don't know if he is a diligent hard worker on working towards his dream or purely an idiot.)

Xiao was now casually strolling in some fancy garden, thinking about Owen's tendency on becoming the strongest swordsmen in Julian Empire.

Xiao never did ask Owen about the reason for his goal as Owen never told him, and Xiao was a guy who will not force people to talk something they did not wish to talk unless the person is willing to tell him.

(Enough with Owen, where should I go next? Maybe I should just lay down on somewhere and catch a nap.)

This was actually not the first time for Xiao to slip out of training, although Xiao only slips out from training not more than 10 times, he had already explored all the places he can go, and he had learned how to hide from the soldiers patrolling the area.

Though the castle was huge and there are more places Xiao can go, he can't get through the guards that are station at the entrance of the military ground, for all the soldier under private rank is restricted to be out from here, which is the most west side of the castle.

(So where should I go? The weapon storage room? That's a good place to nap since there won't be people around there, I did remember there are a few cushions inside there.)

Xiao has already made up his mind and was on the way to the weapon storage room until something catches his attention.

"Hmm? What's that?"

Xiao saw something at the far end from where he was, there was a forest not far from where Xiao was, behind the forest stands a tall tower, from what Xiao can see, the tower was built with bricks, its grey colour appearance gave out a lonely atmosphere to Xiao.

(That's strange, why didn't I notice this tower before? It looks pretty mysterious to me, let's just take a closer look, I will just head back if it is a restricted area.)

Seeing as there was nothing else to do, and Xiao's curiosity gets the better of him, he walks towards the forest and enters it, heading towards the direction of the tall tower.

The forest may seem pack with trees and tall grasses, but there was a visible path for people to walk on it, it was as if people were going in and out the forest using this path.

On the way to the tower, Xiao heard the crips of the birds and the galloping sound of a deer, surprisingly, it was a quite a long walk, the tower may appear near to Xiao, but it was because it was pretty tall up to the sky.

Thanks to Xiao's daily training, at least the pointless running has now served its purpose, for Xiao haven't broken a sweat from the long walking.

(Looking at how this tower was built so far away from the other building, I would say that the tower must be hiding something, could it be a dungeon? or a high-level prison?)

And after the long walk, Xiao finally exits the forest.

The next scenery entered Xiao's eye was something that Xiao never expected to be.

There was a small garden that appeared to be maintained in a good condition, a small fountain, few chairs and table with luxury design and other expensive looking stuff.

"What...what the hell is this place?"

Xiao was shocked, he never expects that he would find something like this, it was the scenery of any children storybook.

"Could it be...some royal member live here? a princess, maybe?" Xiao murmured to himself as he starts to look around the place while completely forgotten the fact that someone at here might be alerted by his presence.

And it didn't take long before Xiao's carelessness got him caught by someone else.

"Umm...Hello...Xiao."

A person had called on Xiao while Xiao was looking at the design of a wooden chair.

(Shit! I've been caught, I should have been more careful and check for any people around me first, and they even know my name, guess I will get drag back to the training ground and receive punishment.)

Thinking about the punishment Xiao will receive, he lets out a sigh as he slowly turns around and faces the one who called him, but as he was turning, he notices something about the voice of that person.

(But wait, this voice, don't tell me...)

Xiao recognizes this voice, it was a sweet and soft voice that used to bring comfort to him ever since he first arrived in this world.

"Lily?!"

Shocked by the appearance of long silky scarlet red hair, blue sapphire eyes and a model-like figure girl standing in front of Xiao. It was Lily, the red hair merchant who helped Xiao and become his first friend in this world.

Though Lily was wearing the same clothes as the first Xiao meet him, her hoody was off this time, showing her face clearly.

"Wh....what are you doing here?!" Xiao expresses shocked as he asked Lily.

"Well...I was...business, yes, I have some business at here," Lily answered, showing hesitation while answering.

"What were you doing here?" Lily asked Xiao back.

"Oh! I was...you know, run...I mean, taking a stroll, yes, I am taking a stroll," Xiao replied, also showing hesitation as he answers because he was lying about slipping out from his daily drill.

"Ahem, so business, eh? how's the business so far?" Xiao quickly changes the topic, he tried to ask something that can continue the conversation.

"It was....good? Hahaha..." and again, Lily gave out a confusing answer, her eyes were looking left and right as she answers.

And then, silent, things become awkward as both of them were shuttering their words while speaking, Xiao knew Lily was not telling the truth from the way she answers, for Lily, she was looking troubled after giving out her answer.

"Hahahaha!" Xiao laughs out loud suddenly, which caught Lily off guard.

"Xiao?" Lily called out Xiao curiously, wonder why did he laugh all the sudden.

"We REALLY need to chill out now, I think because it's been so long since we last said goodbye, and meeting again at here is just so unexpected that it caught us both off guard, that's why we are speaking in such a funny way," Xiao explained, his tense expression has now softened, for he was glad that it was Lily who found him.

"Hehe! You are right, I never knew that I can meet you again, and sorry that I startled you earlier because I was too excited already when I saw you," Lily smile bashfully as she answered, looking straight into Xiao's eye.

"Nah, it's fine," Xiao look away almost instantly while answering.

(Damn she's cute!)

Looking at how Lily was confused upon Xiao's reaction, he quickly put up a smile and says:

"Anyway, let's do this right this time."

Xiao clears his throat before continuing his next statement.

"Nice to meet you again, Lily," said Xiao politely.

"Me too, I'm so happy I can meet you again, it was as if a miracle is happening right now," Lily said it happily, she can't contain her excitement anymore as her expression was sparkling with joy.

"Miracle? Hahaha! Now you are exaggerating..." Xiao was laughing lightly from Lily's answer, but before he finishes his sentences, he got cut off.

"It's true! I'm truly happy we can talk to each other again!" Lily immediately cut off Xiao's words with her hype replied as she leans forward to Xiao.

Lily didn't realize this, but she was already holding Xiao's hand tightly while replying to him, smiling beautifully as if she was the luckiest person in the world.

Looking at how glad Lily was able to meet him through her innocent smile, Xiao felt touch by her straight-forward and genuine feeling, for it has been too long since the last time he experience something so genuine and beautiful.

With Lily's honest replied, for the first time after so long, Xiao smile genuinely from the bottom of his heart and answer:

"Yeah, me too!"