A Meeting of Destinies

After Vermilion caught sight of the woman, fear gripped her heart, and she quickly grabbed Lyon's hand, pulling him away from the scene. Memories flooded her mind of the train incident, where she believed she had narrowly escaped death at the hands of this woman.

Lyon, bewildered by Vermilion's urgency, asked, "Wait a second, where are we going?"

"Anywhere is fine. We must leave here immediately!" Vermilion replied, her voice filled with anxiety.

"Why are you sweating so much?" Lyon noticed the beads of perspiration on her forehead.

Ignoring the question, Vermilion anxiously scanned their surroundings.

"Is she following us?"

Lyon turned to look back but saw no one in pursuit.

"Nope, I don't see anyone following us," he assured her.

"Phew, what a relief..."

By the way, who is she? Why are you escaping from her?"

"Do you remember when I mentioned I've encountered many strange things? Well, she is one of them."

"She did look strange, especially with the way she was staring at the square earlier. But why are you so afraid of her?"

"She was on the train I rode yesterday. I witnessed her kill a group of soldiers before jumping off the moving train," Vermilion's voice filled with a mix of fear and disbelief.

"Did she see you on the train?"

"I'm not sure, but I don't think so."

"In that case, I think you should be fine. Besides, she's not following us now."

"Hopefully..." Vermilion murmured.

Her mind racing with thoughts. "So, she's still alive after jumping off the train? It's just so unbelievable... Does she possess superhuman strength?"

"Regardless, we must avoid her if we encounter her again."

"Roger that," Lyon affirmed, his voice tinged with concern.

Breaking the tension, Vermilion's excitement returned as she remembered their original plan.

"Oh, by the way, you mentioned showing me around the city. Are we still doing that?"

Lyon couldn't help but be amazed at Vermilion's rapid change in demeanor.

"You were sweating and shivering just moments ago, and now you're suddenly eager to explore the city?"

"Am I?"

Lyon chuckled softly to himself. "Yes, you are. What a capricious girl..."

"Alright then! Starting from now, you'll be my city tour guide.

"My pleasure. But before we go, aren't you hungry at all?"

"Hungry? Let me think..." Vermilion paused for a moment, contemplating her hunger.

"Think? What a peculiar girl you are!"

"Yeah, I guess I am hungry..."

"Just wait at here for a moment, I'll get you my favorite dish."

"Alright! I can't wait!"

After ten minutes, Lyon returns.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting."

"Do you forget your promise?"

"Just give me some time, and I'll keep my word."

"So, what did you buy for our lunch?"

With a mischievous grin, Lyon revealed, "Currywurst! It's my all-time favorite."

The aroma of the dish filled the air, making Vermilion's mouth water.

"It smells delicious!"

As they sat down to enjoy their meal, they engaged in pleasant conversation, deepening their understanding of each other. Lyon then proceeded to show Vermilion around the city, taking her to popular landmarks and sharing interesting stories. Time flew by, and before they knew it, three hours had passed.

"Alright, that concludes our tour for today. How did you like the city?"

"I really like this city! It's so lively and beautiful, but..." Vermilion hesitated, a hint of concern in her voice.

"But what?"

"I couldn't help but notice the presence of many soldiers along the way. It makes people nervous. It feels like the war could start here at any moment."

"I guess you're right. The presence of soldiers doesn't exactly make us feel safe and peaceful. Instead, it serves as a reminder of the ongoing wars."

"When I was touring the city, I couldn't fully enjoy it because the sight of soldiers reminded me of the hardships I've endured."

Moved by her words, Lyon remarked, "That's why I want to change this situation. I want to be like the heroes."

Curiosity piqued, Vermilion questioned Lyon's admiration for the heroes.

"Why do you admire them so much? There must be a special reason behind it."

Lyon hesitated for a moment, his eyes reflecting a mix of determination and memories.

"It's a long story... They saved me once. I thought I was going to die that day, but then they came. They fought back against the enemies and saved me. The scene is still vivid in my mind. Their fighting styles were so elegant, and the enemies stood no chance against them."

Listening intently, Vermilion could sense the passion and gratitude in Lyon's voice.

"I see... It's a dream to change the world, isn't it? But do you plan to do it all by yourself?"

"I hope to find someone willing to join me in this endeavor. But every time I've shared my aspirations with others, they've laughed at me. I've grown numb to their laughter, but I won't give up."

"How could they laugh at you? This isn't something to joke about. And as for me, I've always been honest with you."

"Thank you for that."

"Did you ever share these thoughts with Carmella?"

"Yes, I did. But even she laughed at me."

"That surprises me. Carmella seems like the type of person who would understand others well."

"Don't misunderstand her. She is genuinely a kind and caring person. She simply wishes for me to face the reality that I've been avoiding. That's why she rarely speaks to me," Lyon explained, a hint of sadness in his voice.

Realizing their connection and shared aspirations, Lyon mustered the courage to ask, "Well then, do you have any interest in changing the world together?"

Surprised by his question, Vermilion hesitated for a moment before responding.

"Change the ...? Wait, are you inviting me to fight against the world?"

Lyon nodded, determination evident in her eyes.

"Exactly! But even if you're not a fighter, it doesn't matter. You can be a supporter if you're determined to change the world."

"It's so sudden, and I'm not prepared for it."

"I won't force you to join, and you don't have to accept my invitation right away. Take your time to think about it, and when you're ready, give me your answer."

"Thank you. I'll give it some serious thought, I promise. I'll answer your invitation."

With a warm smile, Lyon said, "Sure, take as much time as you need. I'll wait for your reply, even if it takes years."

Vermilion chuckled, "Years? I doubt it will take that long."

Before they could delve further into their conversation, Lyon shared an important piece of news, "There's one thing I haven't told you yet."

"What is it?"

"I'll be joining the Kothern army starting next Monday. So, I'll be departing for the training camp tomorrow," Lyon revealed.

"That means you're leaving us? We just met this morning and started to get to know each other..."

Lyon nodded, a touch of sadness in his eyes.

"Yes, I didn't expect to meet someone like you who understands my thoughts. Perhaps it's fate? I'm glad I met you before I left."

"So, we won't meet again?"

"In the short term, it's highly unlikely. The next time we meet may be years from now."

"I hope that when we meet again, you'll have become the hero you aspire to be and changed the world."

"I will do my best to become stronger, like the heroes. But it will take time. Let's head home before evening."

Vermilion nodded.

As they made their way back to the ghetto, unaware of the impending danger, they walked along the streets. Suddenly, Lyon felt a tap on his shoulder. When he turned around, he saw the soldiers he had encountered earlier that morning.

"Hello, we meet again, exiled one," the senior officer taunted, wearing an evil smile.

Surprised, Lyon exclaimed, "Soldiers?! I thought they only patrolled in the morning."

Sensing danger, Vermilion urgently warned, "Lyon, let's run!"

But before they could escape, the soldiers swiftly aimed their guns at them, preventing any chance of escape.

"Don't you dare try to run away from us again! I know you're skilled at escaping, but this time, it's different. I'll kill both of you immediately," the senior officer declared, his voice filled with malice.

Despair washed over Lyon as he realized the gravity of the situation. He sank to his knees, trembling with fear.

Seeing Lyon's reaction, Vermilion refused to give up.

"Lyon! Come on! We have to do something!"

But Lyon's hope had all but vanished after being surrounded by the soldiers. "There's no way we can run... We're going to die..."

However, just as all seemed lost, a dagger suddenly flew through the air, piercing the back of the senior officer's head. The soldiers turned their heads in shock, witnessing their commanding officer's head covered in blood, which was swiftly severed by a mysterious woman who appeared out of nowhere.

The woman swiftly dispatched the soldiers, killing them one by one with remarkable precision. Vermilion watched in awe as the woman's fluid movements demonstrated her expertise in combat.

Standing there, she wore a black dress with a red jacket, her short hair dyed a striking violet color. But it was her piercing eyes that captured Vermilion's attention the most.

As the last of the soldiers fell, the woman slowly turned her head, fixing her intense gaze upon Vermilion.

A sense of unease washed over Vermilion as she recognized the familiar face. It was the same woman she had encountered on the train, the one who had killed a group of soldiers with ease. The encounter had left an indelible mark on her memory, and now, here she stood, a lone figure of mystery and danger.