Layla

The distance between the town of Nabarie and the military academy was about a 4 day journey on horse back. Due to the fact that he is already late for more than a week for the start of the Academy,Liam decided to make haste and rest only occasionally for food and drinks and he travel even during the night.

On one such night,when the moon was still calmly enveloping the world in it's smoothing light and dawn was still far far away.Liam quietly survey his surroundings while traveling on his horse's back.

Although the chance are low but there are occasionally some bandit or goblins that lay traps on the road that will injure a Traver or their mount to the extent that stop them from moving.If that happen and the attackers ambush or came back to check on their prey,there is a high risk of being surrounded while stranded.

While his gaze cross a distance part near a small Grove,a group of humanoid silhouette enter his view.Liam curiously watch the situation and slowly halt his horse to a stop closer to the scene.

It was a group of poorly dressed men holding a few spear or small sword,one person in their group who is better dressed seems to be their leader as he shouts order to others to surround their prey.

Under the brilliance of moonlight,a suit of silvery plate armor glints sharply as if to boast its sturdy and powerful defense.The wearer's long white hair fluttered in the mild breeze,instilling a certain aura of authority and mystery.

In the mist of the approaching bandits,the silver haired girl who is a head shorter than the them seems should seem helpless and pitiful.But with her calm and indifferent expression,a long staff that ended with a mace bludgeon.She looks much more in control and powerful than what one should assume at first glance.

"Don't hurt the merchandise too badly,she is a rare beauty with that hair color that will fetch a good price!"The leader in the group ordered the team of bandits

Liam expression darken considerablely when he heard their words a few hundred meter away with the help of his heighten senses spell.He swiftly pulled out his bow from his back and readily nock a arrow.

Since the group is too close to the girl,he decide to just shoot them down normally without his destructive spell.But as he was about let lose his string,he paused at the unbelievable scene that unravel in his sight.

The silver hair girl suddenly rush into the group and immediately bash in the skull of her closest target with her staff.Brain matter and blood gush out as the rest of the bandit stare in shock for a moment.But that moment of hesitation was paid with a few of their head and limbs getting crushed as the girl dance and swung her staff in their group.

When a bandit manages to barely block the wide swing ,they would immediately get flung away from the tremendous power behind the strike from her staff.The leader watched as he desperately try to find a opening from her unapproachable combination of wide swing and sharp pokes.

At last,it was all for naught as the girl expertly block and counter with a powerful strike right away.Caving the leader's chest in with a swift thrust of her staff,she watch as he coughed out blood and repeatedly gasp for air with an indifferent expression.

She turn away when the leader layed motionless on the ground and breath his last,or so she thought.

Grin

The leader immediately pull out a small pre-loaded crossbow hidden underneath his cloak,using the last of his energy he sharply aims at the back of the girl's head.

Swoosh!!

The girl immediately turn around in a defensive position when she heard the commotion behind her and prepare to block the incoming surprise attack.But all she saw was the same man that she thought was a goner a moment ago with an arrow sticking into his skull,an expression of crazed still remain on his face in death.

The girl swiftly searched for the potential danger by judging the positioning of the arrow.In the distance of her north-west about 300 Meter away from her,a boy who with brown hair can be seen standing with his bow lowered.

Liam slowly approached the distance figure as he was curious about her identity,but of course he isn't so gullible as to put away his weapon after the her display of power and brutality.If any thing goes south ,he would immediately shot a flame arrow near her to distract her while he run away.

The girl stared at the approaching figure with great caution,as she was not completely sure what his motives were.Although she admit that she couldn't have block both surprise attack at the same time without some possibility for injury if he had decided to attack her earlier,she is also not gullible enough to trust a stranger posing as a prince in shining armor.

"Hmm…hi,are you okay?"Liam decided to break the ice that is freezing his spine from awkwardness first.She seems to be fine and uninjured but in case she needed medical attention,he can spare a few bandage and minor potion for her which is all he packed with him before departure.At this distance,he can see that the girl's eye's were of a peculiar ruby red color which were quite beautiful in his opinion.

"...What do you want?"The girl with white hair ask indifferently at him.Liam was sure that he didn't do anything to made the girl so upset that she would be this unfriendly to him at first"Was she angry I suddenly fire that arrow?"Liam thought in confusion.

"I don't want anything,but if it is okay may I ask for a basic introduction of you?I am Liam Massoutré, just call me Liam is okay."Liam smiles at the cold and odd girl infront of him at a distance.He decides to put his bow back to show that he mean no harm to her as well.

"…It's Layla Albrecht,but if you have no business here how about we go our separate way ?I need to head to the military academy you see and I am already quite late."Liam cringe at the cold and somewhat rude attitude he received for unknown reason but his eye sparkles as he heard that last piece of information.

"I am also heading to the Academy as well!!But… where is your horse?"Liam tilt his head,he don't understand why did she came all the way here without a mount for traveling and luggage.

Blush

"It's non of your concern.There was an accident and I lost my mount from it"Layla cheeks were slighly redden in obvious embarrassment,she would never tell the boy that she lost the horse because the mount left her while she was resting in a cave and thought that the mount would be obedient so she didn't tie him in tightly.It was a issue that she never had back in her home.

"oh…I see.well it will be quite a long journey if you decided to walk there though.If you need I can take you there as well,since we are on the same path."Liam was excited to meet another trainnee so soon and so accidentally as well.The journey alone was truly boring and full of longing for his family,so it would be wonderful to have someone to chat with.Even if their attitude was as bad as Layla.

"I don't nee-"

Growl

Before she can finish her retorts,her stomach betray her at the most crucial time.Her face was beat red as she stare at liam's smug expression surfacing.She sighs and let go of her own stubbornness,it was fruitless to keep turning down the beneficial offer as if she decided to walk there.She will definitely be raising a lot of attention with how late she is compare to the rest of the batch of trainee and there is no way she can go back so pathetically like this.

She couldn't sense any malice from him and if he does anything out of bound,then she can just smash his face in like the rest of the corpses under her feet.

_______

Half an hour later,they have set up a bonfire and was eating some of liam ration and freshly cooked spiced stew made by him with the local edible mushroom and small games meat.

"..."Although her face showed indifference like usual,her mind was in awe at the flavoring of this incredibly simple meal and she was also embarrassed at not helping with anything other than setting up the bonfire and logs for seating because she definitely can't cook anything edible like this.

"Is it to your liking?"Layla was immediately startled and thought her expression might have betrayed her along with her stomach.But looking at the innocent and curious look at boy's face,she understood that he was just asking out of curiosity.

sighs

"Yes,it is quite good and...thanks for the help."Layla gave the boy his compliment and her gratitude.She does not understand why he showed these kind act to a random stranger that might bash his head in at any given moment ,it doesn't seem much like it was because he felt attracted to her look either.As his curious face and innocent expression scream that he was more consumed by curiosity than anything..

The truth is Liam does think her look is attractive but it was much more so that he wanted to make a friend with a fellow trainnee that can accompany him in the Academy,maybe this place won't be like his hometown.

"I see,that's good to hear.I have never cooked for anyone other than my family either,so I didn't know how it will taste for the others."Liam smiles as he thought of his far away and scattered family.He was joyful that his cooking was not a comforting lie from his family as well.

"...…Aren't you afraid of going to the war at all?You seem quite relaxed as if nothing will go wrong."Layla asked as she put her empty bowl down and stare intently at the boy who seem even younger than her.

"Well,of course I hate going to the war.I have to leave my family behind and face so many danger that I may never be able to come back from but...I need to do this for my family.We would run away if we could but there was no choice.…"

Liam lament at their situation,it is not as if he have no care for his country but he was much more worried about his family which is scattered because of the war.

"...…"She stared at Liam with a complicated expression that seems to hide layers of thoughts and emotions.

Afterwards they chatted lightly as they got to know each other a bit more and decided to sleep in two mat and a tent that Liam brought out of his storage bracelet.He noticed how awe-stroken layla was when he performed the item extraction and smiles as he thought it must be very rare for anyone in the kingdom to see this item with such a convient function.