The sunrise just over the horizon.

I walk along the marbled path, looking ahead.

'Well, I'm not sure, but the good thing is the signs are all written in English, so I can easily read them and get around.'

'But, walking wearing a skirt is... It's hard to explain it, but as a man who has been only worn a plant for over a decade, It feels off, really off.'

'Well, there is a good thing about wearing a skirt too...'

I cross my hands behind my back as I playfully skip along the path.

My long hair flow along with the wind, dancing to the song of the bird's chirping and the creaking tree, the song of nature.

'Ah, a cold, fresh breeze of the morning. How wonderful.'

I exhale the goodies into my lung before releasing with a satisfying, "Ah~"

Right now, I'm making my way into the town of Madri, using both the map and the sign to navigate.

'I wish this map could enlarge and mark a waypoint. It will be convenient.'

That is what's going on in my head, thinking about how good it would be if the map can function like Lune's.

The area I'm currently in is surrounded by a thick row of trees and bush. It's like I'm walking in the forest.

But when I look to my right, I can see the sight of the bustling city filled with an enormous amount of building both short and tall.

Roads from all over direction descending down to connect at the center.

If I remember It right from yesterday night, the footprint of the area I was in is circular, like a plaza.

And when compared to the visual information, I guess it was somewhere around the center.

'I-I wonder that far?!'

I sweat from the thought.

Yesterday, after being teleported, I found myself in an isolated basement of an abandoned building.

That time I'm too hungry to memorize anything, really.

"Oh, more signs."

I stop at the Intersection which one leads me up to the northern side, and another is leading down to the east when looking at the map.

"Cillevere garden, Highway to Letain, and Homelian fortress."

I read the iron sign on the top, Its arrow pointing to the north.

I glance down slightly, reading the second sign below.

"To the Madri commercial plaza."

I read, nodding my head as It seems I found the way to my destination.

'Well, gotta remember the way back to the hotel.'

I look behind my back before proceeding down to the east.

***

On the way, there's nothing much until I pass a metal arch, then the path is becoming steeper and steeper, descending down.

I made out of the wood, and greet with row and row of buildings on both sides of the path.

Peoples are busying doing their business, washing, farming, wood chopping, and cooking.

"W-Woah, It suddenly becomes so lively!"

My eyes widen as I gasp at the sight.

I just noticed something and look over my back, seeing a giant sign hanged over the metal arch.

"Rover den..."

'So that place is called Rover den.'

'I'll keep that In mind.'

I continue walking on the path as It's gradually turning into a concrete path.

"Haha, last night It was a blast!"

"Yeah! The beer is tasty and the girls are quite the sight!"

"Hahaha, Well, I heard the princess is coming soon, I'm so excited!"

The group of men, hitting their hammer on the anvil talks to each other with a big smile on their faces.

'So lively~! I wonde-'

*Thud!*

"Ack!"

I feel something collided with me, something small, and soft.

I stumble back a little before looking at the cause.

"S-Sorry, sister! I don't mean to run into you."

A young boy with blonde hair and azure blue eyes look at me, tearing up.

"Uhnn..."

Words stuck in my throat as I try to find a suitable reply.

"I-It's okay, I'm fine."

I said, stuttering a little.

The boy wipes his eyes and takes twos to step back.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"R-Really? You're not going to hit me like another girl?"

I look at him, confused.

'I'm not gonna hit you for such a trivial accident like this, boy.'

I observe the boy from head to toe and found something that surprises me.

His body is filled with purple bruises and small cuts on his arms and legs.

He's also wearing a torn rag as clothing, standing bare feet.

'This boy is abused, but...'

I couch down, align my eyes with his azure orbs.

At this moment, I feel like some strange energy is envelope me, making my body act on my own.

I reach my hand and pat on his messy blonde hair.

"I will not hurt you for such trivial matter, I promise."

My voice comes out unconsciously, a soothing, soft voice.

The boy loosens a little, still, look at me with caution.

"Un... Really?"

He asks, his voice is shaking."

I nod, taking my hand off his head, smiling.

"Of course, I'm a kind sister and will not hit a good boy like you."

This sentence makes him smile, looking down on his feet, fidgeting.

"Anywa-"

"Bastard! I see you're running off from your work again!"

A screaming man angrily strides from behind the boy, holding a thin wooden rod in his hand.

Peoples turn their heads and look at him, looking at him with disgust and scorn before continuing their business.

I look around in surprise, not because of the angry man, but to the peoples around that completely ignore the ongoing scene, not doing anything.

"Here you are! I'm going to break your arm for what I've told you to not do!"

Something, an unknown instinct drives me, forcing me into standing and push the boy behind me protectively.

The man stops, scratching his head, and looks at me with his black eyes.

"W-Well, sorry, but could you hand over that boy to me, girl?"

His voice fills with mock and arrogance as he holds the rod and swings it around.

"No."

I simply said as the boy tighten his grip on the hem of my skirt.

"S-Sister..."

"Hah? I want to be polite since you're a girl, but I guess I have to beat you up too since you don't heed my words!"

The angry man approach, stomping his bare feet on the cold concrete floor.

"Sister, just go away..."

The boy cries, pleading.

I glance at the shaking boy, pinching his cheek, not saying a word.

'Alright, time for an excercise~!'

The man swings the rod aim at my left arm.

'I trust you, my strength!'

I raise my right hand and grab the oncoming attack, stopping it with a whip sound.

'Och! It's sting!'

I could feel my hand stung from the impact, but It's not unbearable.

*Crunch!*

"W-What are you?!"

The man stumbles backward and falls on his but as he witnesses, his rod crumbles within my grip.

I look at my hand, seeing a red mark made by the rod, and click my tongue.

'Well, my poor hand.'

The man stands with some struggle and points his finger at me.

"I'll teach you a lesson for messing with me!"

"Hahaha, with those trembling legs?"

I laugh, smirking at the man.

People's attention is slowly gathered, forming a ring of spectators around us.

"It's him again. He never stops."

"I pity the boy, and who is that heroine?"

"He hurt the girl? Look at her hand. It's bleeding."

"I don't want to see anything anymore..."

Peoples are voicing their concerns and thought in a loud whisper but never tried to do anything.

"Agh!"

The man lung forward, balling his fist for a punch.

"Tsk, I don't want to hurt an old man but, I don't think you fit for the excuse."

I ball my right hand and use my left arm to swat away his attack.

"Hayah!"

My hand sinks into his abdomen, sending down on his knee, then lying on the ground, hands crutching his belly.

"Ack!"

He spats his salivas all over the ground and struggles to take a breath.

"S-She knock that man out in a single punch?"

"Strong..."

Peoples gasp in awe and fear as they witness the event escalate to an end.

I look at my own fist.

'I think I controlled it, but oh well, the outcome is no different.'

"G-Girl... You just get yourself in big trouble for this boy?"

A voice of an old woman, said by the one who's walking out from the crowd.

She slowly walks as she holds the staff tight before stop next to the lying man and wave her hand to the crowd, ordering two men from the crowd as they come and take the troublemaker away.

I look at her.

"W-Well, It's would be better if we talk this out in my house."

The old woman offers.

***

After a while, she led us to the big building, the biggest in this village.

Right now, the three of us are sitting in the room, with the boy sitting beside me.

"Girl, I can't express my gratitude for protecting Abbi."

She said, looking at the blonde boy with guilt.

'This boy's name is Abbi? That's a cute name for ya.'

I thought as I look at the boy beside me with a smile before answering the woman.

"It's nothing, madame. It's my instinct, I act on my own."

"You have such a kind and good heart, young girl."

She sighs.

"Abbi, properly introduces yourself to this lady, would you?"

She smiles as she gesturing for the boy to introduce himself.

"A-Ah, sorry, sister!"

He jumps from his seats and bows his head at me two times.

"Haha, go on, go on."

I smile and wave my hand.

"M-My name is Abbi! Thank you for saving me, sister!"

He looks at me with a slight red on his face.

"Hello, Abbi! It's nice to know you! My name is Shelby."

I introduce myself to the Abbi and the woman.

"So, Shelby-chan. I, Nala, this village chief, would like to give you these as a token of gratitude for protecting Abbi and as compensation for your hurt hand."

Nala hands me two flasks of white liquid and four Bis.

Nala looks at me for a moment before standing up.

"I would like to have a moment with you, do you mind, young lady?"

'Well, I could feel the sudden shift in mood, and It's telling me that she has something important to tell me.'

"I'll be back, boy."

I look at Abbi and pat his hair before leaving to another room with Nala.

"This is about Abbi, his past."

Nala stands, her back face me while she's speaking.

"Abbi, he's once a noble, a maquis's sencond son."

'A-A noble? B-But why he's in such a state?'

Nala turns around and walking to my side.

"On that night, ten years ago..."

***

"Sh*t! He's close, right behind us!"

On a rainy night, a man wearing a black cloak, driving a carriage through the dark wood, yells as he sees the red light is chasing after the carriage.

"Damn! Come on! Come on!"

He whips the horse, accelerating the carriage.

*Swoosh!*

Something flew over his head, taking his hat with it while leaving a trail of red particles behind.

The man ducks his head and curses under his breath.

*Shhwing!*

"Ekkkk!"

Something struck the horses, making them struggling onto the ground along with the carriage.

"Ackg!"

He falls face-first onto the ground but quickly gets on his feet and rushes to the overturned carriage.

"Young master! Are you alright?"

He kicks the carriage widows, breaking it.

"Cough, cough! I-I'm alright."

The young man crawls out from the window, holding a young boy in his embrace.

*Swish Swish!*

The sound of something move through bushes alerts the man in black as he snaps his head behind and looks around, panicking.

"He's close. I'll go and buy some time, young master!"

The man in black takes off his black cloak and head into the dark wood, alone before his footstep is drowned in rainfall.

"I-I must... S-Save you.."

The blonde boy gets on his feet and slowly makes his way away from the carriage.

"I'm over here, you monster!"

The man's voice echos through the forest.

"Gwar!"

*Splash!*

"Aghh!"

The man groans in agony before his voice muffled by the rain.

"Ruk!"

Terrified, the boy keeps walking, even though his leg is hurt.

Something is driving him, breaking his limit.

"I-I can see it! The light!"

His pace becomes more and more quickly as he makes his way out of the wood.

*Swoosh!*

As the boy almost reaches the nearest house, a bloodied sword pierce through his leg, making him fall to the ground.

"Arg!"

They hold the little boy tight in his embrace, shielding him from the impact.

"J-Just a little more! And you'll be safe!"

He crawls to the nearest house, and leans on the wall, looking at the unconscious kid.

"It's been a short time we meet, but I'm glad that I can save you."

With the last of his remaining strength, he ignores the pain and stands on his feet, placing the kid on the front of the door.

"If the god heeds my word, I wish you could find a happy life, brother."

He knocks on the door loudly four times and dashing into the forest, leaving a trail of blood as he goes.

*Cleak!*

"Who's knocking on my door such late at night?"

A man opens the door and looks around before his feet touch something.

"A-A kid?"

His eyes widen as he couching down and take a look at the boy.

"He's alive, but who leave you here?"

He takes the boy and holds him, looking around.

"Gawr!"

The mysterious sound scares the man, making him flinch.

"Damn, the wolves!"

He looks at the boy and sighs, then retreats back into the house.

In the distance, someone is looking at them, their eyes are red, and are shining through the darkness.

"Hnn..."

Then they vanish into thick rain, dragging something, someone's body.