Awakening Of The New Emperor

POV: Recruit 79

I woke up to the sound of loud banging on my door, assaulting my eardrums, a very unpleasant way to shoot up from a dead sleep.

Out of pure instinct, I jumped out of bed and stumbled around, quickly trying to hold my composure and take a tight stance as to not get hit or verbally assaulted. However, that wasn't the case.

Once I finally came to my senses, I realize where I was.

I wasn't at the base anymore.

The airtight stance I held was finally released with a sigh, grateful of course.

I slacked to the door, the lack of urgency holding me from really caring all that much about my physical appearance or timely manner. Making it to the door, I swing it open, just for it to be Oswin, as I could have guessed on my way over.

"You look like total... shit," he exclaimed, almost excited to see me in such a sad state. My hair was messy, dancing around in all directions, and eyebags sat comfortably on my face.

'I really was a mess, I should clean up...' I thought to myself.

"Did you come here to insult me? Or do you actually have something worth my time?" I spat, slightly pissed off.

"Gee, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed," he chuckled.

'Yeah I did, thanks to you...' I thought to myself. "Yeah yeah, what are you here for? If it's just a social visit, I'd like to clean up now," I asked.

"I'd just like to let you know I prepared our date for departure, we'll head out in a few hours. I even took the liberty of checking you out of your room! Although..." he began rearing off. "You only had one more night cycle anyway. You weren't lying. You were broke."

I kicked Oswin in the chest, making him fly back into the hallway and knocking against the wall, even him not expecting it.

"I'll be out in a minute," I smacked my lips out of enjoyment for watching Oswin lay on the floor, bewildered. It was even better when I slammed the door as he watched.

'Didn't think it was possible to hate someone this fast,' I thought.

Looking back, that wasn't true. I forgot about the recruits in the torture room, dungeon? Whatever you want to call it, it didn't matter.

"What the hell am I doing..."

I made it over to the bathroom, taking off my shirt. Slight heat marks still remained despite the time that had passed. My muscles were a lot more refined than usual, thanks to me being more physical as of lately. Not by choice though, but I guess it found a way to spark some benefit.

It was clear that I still needed to eat better, as I was a bit thin still at some parts, however I was just grateful enough to survive. "I guess the idiot's right. I do look like shit."

I opened the cubbard resting just to my right near the wall, grabbing some of the bandages that rested gently inside.

With it, I began wrapping around some of the more sensitive skin spots to help provide a bit more relief in the long term, the constant strike of pain becoming a nuisance over these past few days in some of the more persistent spots.

"That's a bit better," a sense of relief washed over me.

***

I walk around the crowded streets, as it appeared most casual work shifts had come to an end this day cycle. I wore my cloak, of course, but without the hood on this time, due to my more presentable attributes after taking the time to attend to myself.

'How the hell am I supposed to find this guy?' I thought. I told Oswin I would come and find him, but a bit of clue as to where he might loiter would have been nice...

However, I didn't need to worry, as sounds of glass breaking and a table flipping almost rung in my ears, directing me over to the bar from my last night.

Walking—no, running over, I quickly push myself through the crowd.

The tension released as I saw two drunken dudes having a cat fight on the floor.

Neither of them we're Oswin.

Despite that, I still manage to spot him sitting by himself, trying to get drunk just before we left it appears. How stupid of him.

I walk on over before giving him a nudge in the back, sitting down on the seat beside him, gesturing the bartender away. I wasn't exactly looking to drink away right now, as it was time to go. After all, this was his planned time.

It had been a few hours, maybe a few more than I had thought.

"Well, I won't exactly act surprised, but I definitely wasn't expecting this," I spoke as I gave him another nudge to tease him, cheeks painted red like ripe tomatoes.

"Y-You're one to talk," he stuttered.

I smiled. "I'm not one to get drunk every time I get the chance you know."

"Tsk."

"Well, let's go then."

"After you sir," I teased him, clearly a futile attempt to make him mad.

We left pretty quickly after that, taking a moment to stop by the crowd, the two drunk people still fighting. It doesn't seem like there's anybody around here to discipline them. I wonder where all The Hidden Lotus guards could be? Don't they station a few out in bigger villages like this to keep some order?

Ah, well, it's not my place to pry.

If anything, it's good to see. Seems like we're definitely more in order than they are as a militia, the path to the throne almost seems easy at this point.

"Not as easy as you think," Oswin retorted.

"What? I wasn't even saying anything," my body shook.

"Come on, it's not rocket science to figure someone like you out," he began explaining. "You look over at two drunk dudes having a fist fight for 10 minutes straight and think, where are the guards? Wow, this region must be so disorganized."

I sighed.

"I really am an open book, aren't I?"

"Really are," he snaps.

He's right, I guess. "Well, let's get going then," I finish.