[Raul PoV]
Rain...
That was the atmosphere when I first met her.
It was at a city bus stop, while I was waiting for a vehicle to take me to the entrance exam for the university I hoped to attend. I was waiting alone at the stop, but before long, a woman approached the spot where I stood.
She carried an umbrella and wore a black coat over a white shirt and a tie. Is she also heading to Campus A to take the entrance exam like me? I wondered, observing her formal attire and the fact that she appeared to be the same age as me.
Upon reaching the stop, she closed her umbrella and stood beside me, preoccupied with the smartphone in her hand. A refreshing scent of perfume reached my nose. Truthfully, I am someone who dislikes the smell of perfume. However, for some reason, the scent from this woman did not make me cough or feel the need to move away. I suppose only expensive perfumes can produce such an effect.
We did not speak at all while waiting. Nearly half an hour passed, yet, unusually, not a single public transport vehicle had passed this road.
"The bus is delayed; it will arrive in about an hour."
Suddenly hearing the woman speak, I turned to the side. She was still looking at her smartphone. The black-haired woman then glanced at me, and our eyes met. Looking at her closely, I realized she was incredibly beautiful and captivating. I imagined she would be very popular on campus—perhaps even winning beauty pageants if she chose to enter them.
"You're heading to Campus A for the entrance exam, aren't you?" the woman asked, pointing to the participant ID card hanging around my neck.
"That's right," I replied. "Is there a specific reason why the bus is late?"
"The bus that was supposed to arrive a few minutes ago skidded because the road is slippery from today's rain," she answered. "The next bus won't be here for an hour, which means you'll be late if you keep waiting for public transport at this stop."
Hearing her words, I reached into my pocket and checked my wallet, only to find a few coins inside. This was not enough to hire a taxi...
What should I do? It was impossible to walk from here to Campus A in thirty minutes. Should I look for a bicycle rental? But there were no such services nearby. What was I supposed to do?
"Hey..."
Hearing her call out, I glanced back at her with a questioning look.
"If it doesn't bother you, why don't you come with me to Campus A? I've already contacted my family to pick me up here and drop me off at the exam site," the black-haired woman said.
"Really? That would be a huge help. Thank you," I said.
"Don't mention it," she replied casually.
It made me wonder: why did she bother coming here if she had a ride coming for her? I didn't know, and I figured it was better not to ask since we were still strangers.
"Oh, I almost forgot. My name is Evans Baxter. I'm applying for the Game Development and Technology major," I told her.
"Ah, Evans Baxter? My name is Liana Ro—you can just call me Liana," she replied, stopping short of mentioning her family name. "I'm applying for the Engineering Physics major."
Hmm... in that case, we would be in the same faculty if we both passed the selection. I was still curious about her family name, but that wasn't the priority. I had to pass the exam for the top campus in the country to fulfill a childhood dream—a hobby that had helped me through difficult times of loneliness, sadness, and hardship. This was a once-in-a-lifetime desire.
So... I hoped I could get through this and achieve the results I wanted.
"Don't look so tense."
I heard Liana speak again.
"You look like someone heading into a battlefield," Liana said, the corners of her lips lifting slightly into a smile. "If you've studied well, you'll surely pass this exam."
"That's exactly why I'm nervous," I countered. "I've spent all my money on tutoring, books, and even sold some of my belongings just to pass this exam."
It could be said that I would end up destitute if I failed to get into Campus A this year. I had sacrificed too much as an investment so that I could reach my dream in the future. Therefore, it was only natural to feel nervous facing this test. I looked down and clenched my fists, thinking about the possibility of failure.
"Hey, Evans..."
Raising my head, I saw Liana standing directly in front of me. Her dark eyes seemed to read my uncertain heart.
"I know... From your expression, your gaze, the tone of your voice... You have worked as hard as possible all this time."
It was true. I had fought hard to survive in this world alone. After both my parents died, I was the only one left to provide for myself and my only sister. I had almost given up when my sister passed away because I couldn't afford her medical treatment.
But her last message to me was: "Brother, you must be strong, keep living this life, and find happiness." That was why I wanted to reach this dream—to give myself a new purpose so I wouldn't give up and ignore my sister's final wish.
A warm touch brushed my right cheek; I hadn't realized that tears were flowing. Liana wiped them away, trying to calm my surging emotions. It was embarrassing to cry in front of someone I had only just met.
"Let's work hard and pass together, Evans..."
For some reason, her words made my chest feel warm. I didn't want her kindness out of mere sympathy for my situation, but it would be hypocritical to refuse when her presence made me feel so comforted. That was the first time someone truly understood me. She was the one who filled the void in my heart when I was all alone.
She was the woman I loved deeply, and I regretted it immensely when I ignored her back then, causing her to leave me—leaving me more hollow than before, even after my dreams were achieved.
Just as the ride Liana called arrived, a flash of lightning appeared, blinding me and making me instinctively close my eyes.
—CRACK-BOOM!
A deafening roar echoed shortly after the flash. The sound of rain continued, though not as heavy as before. When I opened my eyes again, I did not see a modern city, but a wooden building as if I were in a bygone era.
That's right. I was sleeping in the barracks at Fortress City Cataluna. Currently, a war was raging between the Aragon Empire and the Venetian Republic Alliance.
"A dream about her again, huh?" I muttered, sitting up on the edge of my bed.
—BOOM!
Thunder rolled again. I walked to the window; the weather was overcast with a drizzle wetting Cataluna, which had only recently recovered from an attack by demons and monsters.
—Bang!
The door swung open. Turning around, I saw a red-haired woman walking toward me.
"What is it, Scarlett? Is it our unit's turn for patrol?" I asked.
"Correct, Captain," Scarlett replied. "Marquis Fran has ordered us to check the western territory of the Cataluna Margraviate."
The 21st Reconnaissance Unit I led consisted of 50 people. We were stationed in the Cataluna Margraviate to monitor suspicious enemy movements at the border of these three nations. Although the three countries were separated by dense forests and massive mountains, there was no guarantee the enemy would ignore this area, as it was still unstable following the monster attacks months ago.
However, I was certain they would attack this region because Siena di Reginossa herself had gone undercover to gather information in Cataluna. To prepare, I had already devised a plan to counter their attempts to conquer this territory.
"Alright, Scarlett. Gather everyone; we move out as soon as possible."
"Yes, Captain."
Scarlett left the barracks. I packed my belongings and looked out the window again. The gloomy, drizzly atmosphere was exactly the same as the day I first met Liana.
"As you said, Liana... I will fight and do my absolute best."
***
[Siena PoV]
The sound of thunder woke me from my sleep. It has been three days since we abandoned Fortress City Regium after clashing with the Imperial forces. Currently, I am at the main camp of the Venetian Republic army, located 30 km south of the great city of Tusculum.
I got out of bed and took a drink to clear my head. While sleeping, I dreamed of Liana's life again—the first time since my coma. However, the dream was brief, showing only when Liana first met the former lover she loved so dearly. Was something happening, or was it just a coincidence?
"Are you awake, Lady Siena?"
Suddenly, a black-haired man entered my tent.
"You should ask for permission before entering my tent, Prince," I told him.
He smiled and walked closer. "Oh, come now, why so formal with your future husband?"
He tilted my chin up and stared into my eyes with his crimson gaze. "I am quite bored here, Lady Siena. Surely you can entertain me with that beautiful face of yours?"
His face drew closer and closer, his lips only a centimeter from mine. But before anything unwanted could happen, I pulled back and turned my face away. My anger slowly rose, and I clenched my fists.
"Enough. If you have no important business with me, I suggest you leave this tent," I said, glaring at him. "I have much to do for this war. Do not waste my time with your foolish games."
Prince Vlad's smile widened as he saw my anger. It seemed his only goal was to see my expression change for his own amusement.
"I didn't come here just to annoy you, Lady Siena," Prince Vlad said, turning his attention to the tent flap. "Come in, Adrien."
A man entered the tent. He was tall and wore the military uniform of the Draconia Kingdom.
"Prince Vlad, Lady Siena, forgive the intrusion," the man named Adrien said, bowing to us. "I am an envoy from General Malesandru, who leads the main Draconian force. I am here to request the details of the plan drafted by the Venetian Republic, as our main army is nearing your border."
So, they have arrived. In that case, it is time to execute the plan and open a new front in this war. We must prevent their reinforcements from reaching the Tusculum Front to guarantee our victory.
"Very well, I will explain the plan to you in detail," I told him. "I will also assign several members of the Intelligence Team who served in the Cataluna Margraviate with me to accompany you, should you need further information during the assault."
It is time to launch a counteroffensive against the Empire. If these two plans I've devised succeed, victory will surely be within our grasp. Once the main Draconian army devastates the Cataluna Margraviate, the Empire's central reinforcements will be forced to focus there, making it easier for me to execute my plan to encircle the Imperial forces on this front.