Chapter 4: An Alliance Forged in Blood

The night breeze caressed the clearing as Alex and Lyria inspected the remnants of the bandits' camp. The skirmish had been more chaotic than anticipated, but in the end, they were both alive. And that was all that mattered.

Lyria, still unsteady, sat on a nearby rock as she inspected her broken sword. "This blade won't hold much longer."

"Neither will you if we keep this up," Alex replied while rummaging through the bandits' corpses with some discomfort. He wasn't a natural scavenger, but they needed supplies, and the bandits wouldn't be using them anymore.

As he worked, Alex activated his Advanced Analysis skill to examine the weapons and items he found:

Recovered Inventory:

Chipped Greatsword: Heavy but functional. Effective against lightly armored foes. Light Dagger: Durable and easy to handle. Ideal for quick skirmishes. Coin Pouch: Contains 35 silver coins. Minor Healing Potion: Restores minor wounds when applied or consumed.

"This seems useful," Alex remarked, approaching Lyria with the potion. "Here, drink this. It's not much, but it'll help."

She eyed him warily before accepting the potion. After drinking it, she let out a relieved sigh as color slowly returned to her face. "Thanks. I feel a bit better."

Alex stood and offered her the light dagger. "Maybe this will come in handy until we find something better."

Lyria took the dagger and inspected it. "Better than nothing."

When they finished inspecting the camp, Lyria turned to Alex, her expression more serious.

"You have talent," she said suddenly.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "For almost dying?"

"For adapting," she corrected. "You could've run, but you faced the situation. That says a lot."

Alex chuckled, scratching his neck. "Well, thanks… I guess."

"I have a proposal," Lyria continued. "I'm headed to a nearby city called Valtheris. I need time to recover, and you… clearly have no idea how to survive here. We could help each other."

"You want me to stick with you?" Alex asked, surprised.

"More like work together. I don't know where you come from, but you have a unique power. With training, you could be a valuable ally."

Alex thought about it. The idea of teaming up with someone who knew what they were doing wasn't bad, considering how unprepared he was for this world. Besides, Lyria seemed trustworthy—at least partially.

"Alright," he finally said. "Let's work together. But don't expect me to become a warrior overnight."

"I'm not expecting miracles," Lyria replied with a faint smile. "Just don't make me regret this decision."

The next morning, after burying the bandits and gathering what they could carry, Alex and Lyria began their journey to Valtheris.

The path was long and winding, cutting through green hills and clear streams. Along the way, Alex tried to familiarize himself with his skill, using Advanced Analysis on everything he saw:

Object: Fire Oak Tree

Exceptionally durable wood. Ideal for crafting weapons and armor.

Creature: Golden Hawk

Level: 3 Non-hostile. Its feathers are valuable in markets.

Though harmless, Alex realized that every discovery could be crucial for his future survival.

Lyria, for her part, watched silently as he murmured to himself every time he activated his skill. Finally, she broke the silence. "That skill of yours… does it always work like that?"

"Yeah, more or less," Alex replied. "It's like I can read the essence of things. But I'm still learning how to use it."

"Interesting," she remarked. "If you improve it, you could become an invaluable strategist."

Alex laughed. "A strategist? I barely know how to wield a dagger."

"That comes with time," Lyria said. "And practice."

As the sun began to set, they reached a crossroads where a small merchant stall was set up. A group of travelers chatted cheerfully, exchanging goods and provisions.

"We should see if they have anything useful," Lyria suggested.

Alex nodded, though he wasn't sure how transactions worked in this world. As they approached, a figure caught his attention.

It was a young woman with blonde hair tied in a braid and bright green eyes. She wore simple clothes but carried a bow on her shoulder and a quiver full of arrows. She looked like a hunter.

"Hello!" the girl greeted them with a friendly smile. "Looking for something in particular?"

"Food and supplies," Lyria replied.

"We've got some fresh bread and dried meat," the hunter said, gesturing to a nearby table. "I can also offer information if you need guidance."

Alex instinctively activated his skill:

Name: Elia Moonvale

Occupation: Wandering Hunter Level: 9 State: Curious, No hostile intent.

"What brings you here?" Elia asked, observing them with interest.

"We're headed to Valtheris," Lyria responded, her tone neutral.

"Valtheris? Well, watch out on the roads. There have been reports of wolves and more bandits in the area," Elia warned.

"Thanks for the heads-up," Alex said, feeling oddly reassured by the girl's friendly demeanor.

Though Elia wasn't part of their group, Alex noticed something different about her: her genuine kindness. While buying supplies, they exchanged a few stories, and she didn't miss the chance to tease him about his obvious lack of experience.

"If you need help with that knife, I could teach you how to use it," she offered with a playful smile.

"Thanks, but I think I'll survive… maybe," Alex replied, feeling his cheeks flush.

Lyria observed silently, though a slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips.