Otherworld Avatar

The moss-covered forest floor was pleasant to walk on, so Lily felt confident she could make good progress, especially since the underbrush wasn't as bad as she had feared. Only rarely did she have to use her own sword to clear a path, to be able to stick close to the stream. It was a strange feeling, knowing how to swing a sword despite never wielding one before. She suspected it would take some time getting used to it, but it felt empowering. Swinging a weapon for the first time, like the heroes she red about, even if the opponent was only a bush, made Lily happy. She had always been a dreamer, like many of the other orphans she knew, and being able to act out a part of her fantasies was great, and she just hoped she would not disappoint her goddess. There's a strange thought, thinking about her as MY goddess, when just yesterday I was sure gods and magic were not real. Just another thing I better get used to, she thought. As she made her way forward, Lily realized she was noticing thing she never would have previously. Her eyesight was better, able to make out details in the distance like never before. Her hearing had improved too, she could differentiate between various insect noises, for example. Even the wind felt more intense on her exposed skin. I wonder if this is normal on this world, something every human can do, or if it is a part of the gifts Dalia gave me.

The stream she was following had steadily grown wider, absorbing water from two springs it had passed by. Lily took that as a good sign that it would not disappear into the underground water system, leaving her directionless. Another good sign was the fact that the forest wasn't getting denser, so she hoped she was moving toward the edge of the forest, and not stumbling into its depths. Despite hours of walking, she didn't feel tired, and only took a break to eat another one of her sandwiches for lunch. The sun was past its zenith, and she was beginning to think about finding shelter for the coming night, when she noticed a gradual opening in the treeline ahead. She picked up her pace, and quickly realized there was a clearing ahead. The stream bent and flowed gently down the slope from there, but what caught her eye was the hill next to it. It offered an excellent vantage point, so she hoped she could spot signs of civilization from there. She climbed up swiftly, and took a look around the area. Her hopes were rewarded, and her heart soared, as she spotted a dirt road winding its way through the underbrush, some two hundred yards below. The stream she had been following flowed on, parallel to it. She was about to scream from joy when she noticed movement in the distance. She spotted a horse-drawn carriage making its way around the bend. Lily was still getting used to her improved eyesight, and she was amazed that she could make out details from such a large distance. There were two people sitting in front of the carriage, a woman and a man who was the driver. They were moving slowly, and Lily noticed they were armed. Not too strange if you are traveling through the wilds in a world of monsters, I suppose, Lily thought as she checked the carriage out. The two humans were dressed in plain clothes, with no armor. The horse looked old and a bit thin, and she noticed that there was space for another animal in front of the carriage.

That might be why they are moving so slow. But why set out on a journey in a two-horse carriage with just one animal? Maybe the other was injured on the way here? She was about to leave her vantage point on the hill, and make her way down to the road, where she would wait for the carriage as it slowly advanced, when she saw something that horrified her. The woman leaned to the side to tell something to the man, letting Lily take a peek into the covered inside of the vehicle. She was shocked when she spotted another young woman sitting inside, with her hands tied behind her back, and her feet bound. Her clothes were torn and ragged, and it looked like her face was bruised. Lily couldn't tell if she was awake or not, but before she could make out more details, her brief look inside ended as the woman outside returned to her previous position. Lily was at a loss of what to do. The carriage and the couple were the best shot she had at reaching civilization, but they could be dangerous. If she approached them openly, they could attack and capture her, and she certainly didn't want to start her new life as someone's prisoner, or even worse, a slave. She shuddered at the thought, and decided to take a more cautious approach. The carriage was traveling slowly, so she felt confident she could follow them at a distance. It could give her time to learn more about the situation. The girl inside could be some sort of a criminal the pair was transporting, but Lily doubted that. It was far more likely that she was captured by the pair of brigands, and was being taken somewhere. If she followed the carriage, she could look for an opportunity to free the girl, or alert the authorities once they reached civilization. She didn't like the thought of fighting or killing actual humans on her first day in a new world, but she remembered the oath she made, and steeled herself.

If I am to be a champion of a goddess, I will try and act like it. I am not gonna leave an innocent person in a desperate situation. I should not rush, though. I have no idea how strong I am, or how powerful the opponents could be. Best to follow them silently, and only strike if an opportunity presents itself, Lily decided. Before doing anything, she took out her armor and put it on. It was light enough not to hinder her movement, and she wanted to be as prepared as possible if she was spotted. She kept her shield stored, since it was more unwieldy, and she feared its brighter color would make her easier to spot. That done, she made her way down the slope, using the brush to keep out of view.