Currently, I found myself in a carriage surrounded by a few knights, the rhythmic clatter of hooves against the cobblestone road providing a steady backdrop to my thoughts. The wind tugged at my hair, and the occasional trees that lined the road blurred past.
After bidding farewell to my parents, I was on my way to the Hero Academy, a journey that filled me with a mix of excitement and trepidation. It wasn't that I was nervous about what lay ahead—I was more concerned with the people I'd meet, the challenges, and whether I'd prove myself worthy of the academy.
"Now, let's see my system stats," I murmured to myself, eager to see how far I'd come since the last time I checked.
[System Status]
Basic Stats:
Strength: E-
Agility: E
Endurance: E
Intelligence: C+
Charm: S+
Mana: E
Not bad, right? I was technically at E rank now. I had also acquired Basic Swordsmanship (E) skill, making my training feel worthwhile. I knew I still had a long way to go, but each little improvement was a step in the right direction.
As I glanced at my student ID, I noted the details:
[Hero Academy]
Name: Noah von Augustus
Age: 16
Potential: B Rank
Class: A
Rank: 1000
Seeing my rank made me pause. A mix of pride and frustration tugged at me. Being in Class A meant I was among the elite, but being ranked 1000 out of 1000 students? That hit a sore spot. Each class had 200 students, and I was at the very bottom. I could already imagine the whispers and glances that would follow me around. But did I care? Hell no. I'd just shut them up with results.
"Hah! Hell yeah!" I muttered, grinning to myself. Let them talk. I would prove them wrong.
Then, just as I was about to relax, a loud scream pierced the air—sharp, desperate, unmistakably the voice of a girl in distress.
"Stop the carriage! Search for the source of that scream!" I ordered urgently, heart racing. Without waiting for a response, I leapt from the carriage, activating my Mana Sense. I quickly pinpointed the source of the commotion.
Sure enough, I saw her—a girl surrounded by four monsters. Her appearance was striking, with fiery red hair and intense, crimson eyes, but her clothes were torn and her body marred by cuts. She was holding two short daggers, the blades slick with blood, but despite her valiant efforts, she was on the brink of collapse. Two of the monsters were already down, and she had managed to injure the third. But the fourth one was closing in, and it was clear she had no strength left to fight.
"Impressive," I thought, admiring her determination. But the wound on her hand was severe, and with each labored breath, it was clear she wouldn't last much longer.
Scarlett (POV)
I had been abandoned by my parents when I was just five years old, left to fend for myself in the unforgiving slums. Surviving was a constant battle—pickpocketing, stealing, dodging brutal beatings when I was caught. My demon-like eyes made me an outcast among the other children.
Eventually, an orphanage took me in, offering me some semblance of safety. But it was never enough. I studied hard, trained relentlessly with daggers, and dreamed of a better life. And when the acceptance letter to the Hero Academy arrived, I thought my dreams had finally come true.
But on my way to the academy, I was ambushed by four monsters. I fought with everything I had, taking down three of them. But my body was giving out, and my vision was starting to blur. I fell to my knees, defeated. The final monster approached, and I closed my eyes, ready to accept my fate.
But when I opened them again, there he was. A tall, handsome figure with white hair and a long sword, standing between me and the monster. His eyes were calm, confident, like he was used to dealing with things like this. Without a word, he dispatched the remaining monster in a fluid motion.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle but filled with concern.
Noah (POV)
I crouched down beside her, placing my hand gently on her cheek. Her breathing was shallow, her eyes glassy with pain. "Hey, are you okay? Can you speak?"
She broke down then, collapsing against me. Her body trembled as she sobbed uncontrollably, her hands clutching at my shirt. I was momentarily taken aback, but I couldn't leave her like this.
"Damn it, these bastards are ruining my moment," I thought irritably as I scooped her up in a princess carry, my knights quickly falling in behind me.
Once inside the carriage, I instructed one of the knights to heal her wounds. I handed her a healing potion and a fresh set of clothes, giving her some privacy. As I stood outside the carriage, I couldn't help but let my mind wander. The image of her, weak and vulnerable, somehow stayed with me. What kind of person was she? What was her story?
When she finally emerged, my breath caught in my throat. She looked… beautiful. Her red hair framed her face perfectly, and the simple new clothes fit her like a second skin.
"Thank you so much for your help, sir," she said, her voice soft, almost reverent, as she looked at me with wide eyes.
I quickly stopped her when I saw her about to kneel. "You don't have to do that. You can call me Noah."
Her eyes flickered with hesitation, but she lowered her head slightly. "Hello, sir. My name is Scarlett."
"Hello, and I told you, don't call me sir," I said, trying to lighten the mood.
"But how can I? You are noble," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
"If you don't, I'll be angry," I teased, trying to be playful, though I knew I might be pushing it.
She looked genuinely frightened and began apologizing profusely, and I instantly felt a pang of regret. Maybe I went a little too far with the joke.
Once she calmed down, I asked, "What were you doing out there, Scarlett?"
Her gaze softened, a mixture of vulnerability and gratitude in her eyes as she recounted her story. She had been on her way to the academy when the monsters attacked. She fought bravely but was nearly overwhelmed, and that's when I had found her.
"So, would you like to travel together?" I asked, my voice steady but with an underlying sincerity. "It's a long road to the academy."
She hesitated, her eyes searching mine. There was a flicker of something there—uncertainty, perhaps, or doubt—but after a moment, she nodded.
"I…" she began, then stopped herself, her voice soft but resolute. "I'd like that."
The journey ahead would be full of surprises, and something about the way she looked at me told me that this encounter would be more significant than either of us could imagine.