Aizo's POV:
The day after I'd asked Lisa if she needed saving—she was about to answer when that moronic couple interrupted. But I already knew her reply; she was desperate for help.
We entered the forest. The trees, taller than I'd imagined, loomed like ancient sentinels. Wet moss, slick and cool to the touch, clung to the rocks and gnarled wood. Strangely horned rabbits, their eyes wide with fright, scattered before the rhythmic thud of our horses' hooves. The air, thick and chilling, tasted of damp earth and carried the pungent aroma of freshly turned soil and wet grass. Sunlight, fractured by the dense canopy, dappled the forest floor in fleeting pools of warmth.
I dismounted, the urge to explore overriding all else. The carriage proceeded at a snail's pace, Sasha and Mord oblivious, while Lisa watched me with a worried frown, her lips parted as if to speak. I ignored her. My own amusement, my own thrill, came first. Saving her could wait.
I explored the forest with the boundless curiosity of, well, an autistic child—though I wouldn't call myself that. I didn't stray far from the carriage, captivated by the details. I found colorful crystals embedded in the earth between tree roots, their facets catching the dim light. I discovered strange plants that emitted a foul odor, a noxious skunk-like stench, upon the slightest touch. I examined the nests of those horned rabbits, marveling at their intricate construction, and glimpsed other creatures: a vibrant, two-legged snake, its scales shimmering like jewels, and a bird with what appeared to be wicked claws on its wings.
I paused, inhaling deeply, the crisp, earthy air filling my lungs. Never had I imagined I'd find myself in my own world, a fantasy I'd conjured myself. It was the first time in this world that my mind felt truly relaxed, truly free. One moment I was living a boring, predictable life, and the next, I'm in my own novel, an unknown character going on about his own life. Making what he craved come true. How utterly insane, and yet, how exhilarating! I'd adapted so quickly, already facing monsters, already tasting the thrill of survival.
If I hadn't transmigrated... what would have happened? What were my goals back on Earth? I had no idea I'd end up here. Would I have started a family? Highly doubtful. Ah, well, the past is the past. What about my parents and siblings? They'd manage without me; they had plenty of money. They'd find a way.
My thoughts drifted to memories—the hardships, the carefree moments, the good times with friends, the drudgery of school. I was just your average poor kid back then. Why had I become this… thrill-seeking, danger-loving version of myself? Why did I crave the adrenaline rush over stability?
It was the purpose I'd created for myself. The real me. It was simply what I wanted. Everyone is born without a pre-ordained purpose. And when I realized that, I created my own. Even if you believe in a god, don't let that define your purpose. Forge your own path.
You have freedom. Ask yourself what you truly want. What makes your heart pound? What ignites your soul? Is it stability? Immense wealth? Love? Power? Then chase it. If you desire something, go get it. These words might make me sound hypocritical later, but hey, I'm just being me.
We emerged from the forest and returned to the carriage. Lisa's face registered a palpable relief, when I got back. As if she'd just expelled a particularly stubborn bowel movement. We rattled along a rocky road, eventually reaching a field of grass again, this time with mountains looming in the distance. The scene was breathtakingly beautiful, a serene contrast to the dark forest. Mord and Sasha chatted, their voices chasing the air of silence. Sasha sat hugging her knees, her head bowed. I simply drank in the scenery, letting the beauty wash over me, silencing my thoughts.
We journeyed until the horses grew weary in the afternoon. We found a village nearby, but opted to camp beside the road, planning to depart at sunrise. I decided to take a nap in the carriage, intending to sleep until evening. But my slumber was rudely interrupted by the clash of steel and Mord's enraged shouts.
"Aizo! Wake up, damn it!"
"Bastard, why the hell were you taking a nap?" Sasha barked, her voice sharp as a shard of glass.
What? Couldn't I even nap in peace? Apparently not. We were ambushed by bandits—five to ten of them, nothing Mord couldn't handle alone. But I had a different plan. I needed to study. I needed to learn. These guys are planning to kill me, so I might as well use this opportunity to study them.
Mord drew his sword, its polished surface gleaming in the fading light. He adopted a fighting stance, a fluid grace that spoke of extensive training. He moved with the precision of a seasoned soldier, not some clumsy adventurer. Sasha, too, was an anomaly. She wielded advanced buff spells, the kind usually cast only by fourth-circle mages, yet she claimed to be only a second-circle mage. How very odd indeed.
Back to Mord. He swiftly dispatched the bandit in front of him, a clean, efficient kill. He engaged two others in hand-to-hand combat, subduing them with brutal efficiency. These were common bandits, likely just petty thieves, so it made sense he could handle them easily.
Then, he was stabbed? A feigned injury, I realized with a smirk.
"Aizo! Sasha's buff has faded! Take them on until I'm healed!" Mord shouted, his voice strained but laced with amusement.
What? Seriously? This guy had top tier acting back then, why does it seem like he had lost that skill now?
"Alright!" I grinned, leaping to my feet.
I charged towards the bandits, but I didn't use magic. I wanted to enjoy this, to feel the raw thrill of unarmed combat. My body wasn't particularly strong, but these bandits were visibly muscular. I'd have to endure some beating from them I guess. This was training. Real-world, life-or-death training. I'd practiced martial arts back on earth, but never in a fight to the death. Those guys from the subway can't be compared to this, it wasn't a really real life-or-death kinda fighting.
"Keke! Kid, you're very foolish. Taking us all—"
Before the bandit in front could finish his sentence, I drove my palm into his cheek, forcing his head to the side, then drove my shin into his groin. He yelped, clutching himself, but I twisted his head, snapping his neck. Next, I landed a sucker punch to the face of the next bandit, sending his nose gushing blood. He retaliated, a powerful blow that slammed into my shoulder. Pain shot through me, but the adrenaline kept me going. As he pulled back his arm, I countered with an uppercut, knocking him unconscious.
Two more bandits charged, knives glinting in the twilight. I dodged one, but the other sliced my left side, just below my chest. I retaliated with a sideward fist, then closed the distance, kicking the second bandit's feet out from under him. He dropped his knife. I picked it up and plunged it into his heart.
The other bandit leaped at my back, but I reacted instantly, kicking him in the stomach. I followed with a knee to the face, knocking him out cold. Before I could catch my breath, another, larger bandit, charged, wielding a sword. He slashed and slashed, but I managed to block a stab with my palms.
"Mord, the buff's gone! You're up!" I yelled, my voice ringing with exhilaration. I lied, Sasha didn't cast a buff on me just to see if mord was really acting or not, and it proved to be true. They hadn't realized it also so that's good.
Luckily, Mord was healed and jumped back into the fray. He fought with a ferocity I hadn't seen before, quickly dispatching the remaining bandits. It was a brutal scene. I'd seen death before, but this was different. It didn't make my heart flutter, but it didn't sadden me either. I'd killed human beings, people like me. But somehow, I felt detached. We were all just trying to survive, weren't we?
During the fight, I noticed something interesting. Mord was faking it. He was far stronger than he let on. The earlier stabbing? A calculated act, perhaps to gain my trust. But he couldn't deceive me. He could have taken on all those bandits without breaking a sweat. I confirmed it by fighting them myself. And why didn't they suspect anything? My risky move, claiming Sasha had buffed me, went unnoticed. Good. Whatever challenges you have for me, bring them on. I'm ready for more.
Lisa healed my wounds.
"Thank you!" I smiled, genuine appreciation in my eyes.
Lisa blushed, averting her gaze, her heart fluttering. It must have been the first time anyone had thanked her for her healing. Mord and Sasha never seemed to appreciate her efforts. Hehe. This was an investment. A good investment in my personal healer. Keke.