Almost three months have passed since Nyaka Ell Zord joined Dragon Horn academy and haven't heard much from Lan. Nyaka was busy with her studies and training, although she insisted the dorm grandmaster let her visit her family, Lan Gwen Ethren. The grandmaster didn't allow such mingling with 'central court students', they used it to refer to the average students of the academy. The eastern premise of the academy was only accessible to hunter class students plus grandmaster quarters were all inside eastern premise of the campus, it was a big area with their own schooling system and training fields. However, she was allowed to send letters.
Soon a word spread out that Gira Bren, one of the Master slayers son was thrashed by someone in the class, the news reached even in the eastern court. Najaki, the senior who volunteered in the test was a hunter class student, he was later contacted by one of the teachers to learn about the incident. He confronted both of them and Gira Bren admitted he started the fight and they only got away with a light punishment. Fighting among students was strictly prohibited in the academy. " Slayers are supposed to fight varaes not amongst yourselves, you fools ! " Najaki scolded them.
In the first year Hunter class, Nyaka, Werem and Jeral were sitting in the class waiting for the grandmaster to arrive.
" I heard Master Cas Bren's son was beaten to a pulp by someone in his class, " Werem said.
" You know anything about it? Jeral, " asked Nyaka, suspecting something.
" Why would I know? " Jeral replied.
" I mean you are close with senior Najaki and he was the one who took care of it, " said Werem.
" He hasn't mentioned a word so far, " Jeral said while casually laying back on the chair.
" I heard we are going out again today for a hunt with grandmaster Arilyne, " added Werem.
" ughh, that old hag ! I can't handle her, " Jeral replied with a scorn.
" She is not that bad just a little strict, " Nyaka smiled at him.
" Little strict? She made me run for an hour as a punishment, " Jeral argued.
" hahahaha- that time when you talked back at her, " Werem won't stop laughing.
" I just said what I meant, " Jeral said.
" She is the youngest grandmaster after all in our school, " Werem added.
" How old is she though?, " asked Werem.
" I heard she is just twenty seven years old, " replied Nyaka.
" Wow, she must be a prodigy to be acknowledged as a grandmaster at such a young age " Werem was gaping in wonder.
" Crazy witch !, " Jeral commented spitefully.
" No wonder people call her Blood Empress, " added Werem. " I have a belief that you'll become someone like her, Nyaka "
" hahaha- that's an understatement, " Nyaka replied with a humble laugh.
" No, look at you. It's just three months in and you have already mastered everything about lower tier magic spells, almost all of them. even, I have trouble perfecting them. '' Werem said. It looks like Nyaka was in fact much more talented than even the reincarnation of Kalaz himself.
" You jest, Werem. It's just magic for me. Look at you and Jeral, you two can already kill a Drasentra. That varae is one of the most difficult varaes of lower division, yet you two can pull it off easily. " Nyaka said.
" ha! it's just a low level monster, nothing to be proud of ! " added Jeral.
" Still, we are just three months into becoming slayers, " said Nyaka. " you should give yourself some credit, "
" I heard that senior Najaki can just slice through the scales of Drasentra without even any enhancement spell. " said Werem.
" He is a prodigy, he is a third year but the dorm grandmaster once said to me that our senior Najaki is already as strong as a Junior Master slayer." Jeral added, Jeral even with his arrogant personality respected Najaki and looked up to him as his role model.
" He is a prodigy, " Werem said quietly.
" Is grandmaster Arilyne not coming or what? " Jeral interrupted, he was getting restless.
" I don't know, she should be here any minute, " said Nyaka.
Soon, after a couple of minutes Najaki came instead of Grandmaster Arilyne and he said from the door. " Hello, kids ! " he greeted them with a smile.
" Senior Najaki , " said Werem.
They stood up and greeted him.
" So follow me guys, " He said and started walking away. Quickly, they followed him.
" Where are we going ? " asked Nyaka.
" Grandmaster Arilyne has asked me to bring you guys at the gate, she is waiting. "
" Are we going out for a hunt?, " asked Jeral.
" It seems so and this time it's actually a quest rather than a mock test. " said Najaki.
" What do you mean? " asked Nyaka.
" There is a village in the northern forest near Mt Jehhu, they have asked for a favor, it seems Red hounds are attacking the settlement quite frequently and their guards can't hold them back hence they are in a pinch, " Najaki explained the circumstances.
" But why us? We are not even proper slayers. Shouldn't they post the request at the Slayer guild? " said Werem.
" Coincidence, I just happened to be around that area tracking some varaes but then I stumbled in the village for some food and water. That's how I got the request, so I thought it would be a great chance for you guys to go outside and you get to hunt monsters, awesome, no? '' Najaki was laughing and praising himself.
" You are something, Senior Najaki. I mean how did you even convince Grandmaster Arilyne to permit something like this?, " Jeral said.
" I just suggested it and she seemed to like my idea plus she is going with us, " said Nakaki.
" Eh?? she is going with us but why?, " Jeral was in shock. " a Grandmaster going for Red hounds? "
" She is just here to observe as a teacher of the academy, you fool, she won't be hunting any of the Red Hounds, it's your job, plus you don't have to worry about the bodies, I brought some people for that, " Najaki was smiling when he said that. It was suspicious.
" Really? that's strange, " Werem commented.
The next day after my fight with Gira Bren in class. Najaki and some other seniors came to our dorm while I was about to go practice my archery and called both of us, Gira and me, outside the dorm and said what we did defied the code of the academy. Fighting amongst ourselves is forbidden and hereby, we were subjected to punishment. To my surprise, Gira Bren confessed the truth but we were not let off easily. " You two come with me, " said Najaki. " I have some work for both of you and you'll do so without complain, "
" Najaki, you are using these two as your henchmen? " said Yori.
" Shut up! Yori, It's a deserving punishment, " Najaki slapped a response back annoyingly.
" You are even more troublesome than these two fools, ahahaha " Yori was laughing his ass off and ran away before Najaki chased after him.
We quietly followed him till he led us to the main gate and there was a grandmaster waiting at the gate with her arms folded. Tall and beautiful, her presence screamed strength. I never saw her before in the academy and from her robe I could tell she was a grandmaster and perhaps the youngest one of all.
" Grandmaster Arilyne, I will be bringing them along as my handyman, " Najaki said.
We bowed quickly and said nothing.
" Fine by me but why does he have a bow on his back?, " Grandmaster Arilyne said with her voice so powerful and intimidating that Gira Bren felt fear.
" I was just about to go practice my archery when Senior Najaki brought me here, " I said.
She stared at me like I was a fool and said to Gira Bren, " And why do you have your face looking like that ? "
" Haha- Grandmaster Arilyne, These two were fighting among themselves and as a punishment I brought them along, " Najaki interrupted before Gira could say anything.
" Hmmmm,,, fine, It's better you two learn something from today's mission. As central court students, it's a rare opportunity to witness Hunter class students in field, "
" We are on a mission?, " Gira said.
" Yes, Najaki go bring them, we need to head out soon. " Arilyne instructed.
" Yes, Grandmaster " Najaki said and left.
Leaving the punishment, I couldn't believe we were about to go on a mission with hunter class students and I hoped Nyaka would come too. Plus there was the grandmaster Arilyne, one who was known as Blood Empress. Gira and I haven't talked a word ever since and he seemed to avoid me at all cost, I didn't have a problem getting along with him but I didn't regret what I did and nor would I apologise for any of that.
" Both of you, first year?. " asked Arilyne.
" Yes, " I said and we both nodded.
" Which class?, " she said.
" Fighter Class, " I replied.
" Magic-Fighter Class, " Gira responded.
" How is Master Senx Class?, " She asked.
" It's okay, " I said.
" Okay? I heard Master Senx gives tough training most of the time, " she said.
" Yeah, our training has gotten much more intense lately, " I replied.
" As expected of Master Senx, He is a true teacher. " she praised Master Senx as if she knew him well.
" He teaches us well, " I remarked.
" So has he brought you guys outside for hunts?, " she inquired further.
" We have, one time, to hunt hounds, " I responded.
" So were you able to hunt one?, " she said.
" Yes, our group hunted five hounds and his group got the first place with six hounds, " I explained what happened.
" Ohoo, Impressive ! even central court students are very talented this year. " she said while letting out a slight chuckle.
After waiting for ten to fifteen minutes, Najaki came back with some students and I was surprised all of them were here. Nyaka, Werem and Jeral. Nyaka seemed extremely excited and she couldn't hold her happiness when she saw me but in front of Grandmaster Arilyne, she just looked at me and smiled and so did I. It was enough, we understood each other. She has gotten more elegant and more established with all the new elements of her life and environment, her presence even radiated that of a rich daughter. Jeral gave me a cold stare and didn't say anything, Werem on the other hand greeted me.
" So these two were the ones fighting in the class?, " said Jeral out of nowhere adding more salt to Gira's wounds.
" Yes, they were the people I was talking about, they will be our handyman. " Najaki replied.
" Alright, students. We must complete this today so lets head out, " declared Arilyne.
Then without delay, we headed out for Mt Jehhu on a horse carriage, last time we walked all the way. Hunter class was privileged like I thought. Me and Gira sat beside the rider and they sat inside the carriage. I heard them talking, to be honest my senses are really good, all of my senses. Jeral was asking the details about what happened between me and Gira. Najaki explained, " It was just a silly truce, Gira Bren was a bully in the class that's what others students told me, until he smacked Lan head who was sitting silently, then Lan retaliated, from what others described it was a totally one sided fight, Lan was thrashing him until he was unconscious, "
" Hahaha- he must be regretting it now, " Jeral said. " Your brother is quite dangerous, Nyaka "
" He is your brother?, " said Arilyne.
" Yes, Grandmaster. He is a good person, he just doesn't like to be provoked, " said Nyaka with a rather sad voice. She seemed to be bothered that I let out my bloodlust which she didn't like.
" He is good with fighting, I saw him at the entrance test. Morever, his fighting style was very strange, " added Werem.
" Hmmmm, sounds like he is talented, " said Arilyne.
Their chattering continued all the way till to the northern forest, however Gira heard none of their conversation as the sounds of the rattling wheels was enough to overwhelm their conversation sounds. I was just simply good with my senses, there is also another story for this.
After ten minutes, the carriage stopped near the river where we fought with hounds earlier. We were told from here we were to carry on foot as the village lies further ahead near the Mt Jehhu slope. We got off from the carriage and sent the carriage back. Then we crossed the river and continued venturing ahead.
" Alright kids, be alert of your surroundings. There could be other varaes around here since we are approaching the slope, " said Grandmaster Arilyne.
Me and Gira carried a huge bag each filled with camping equipment and provision, this was what he meant by being a handyman. I hung my bow sideway and the quiver on my right waist belt. The bag wasn't that heavy but it was big. I carried it without complaining.
" So how many hounds are we talking about?, " asked Jeral.
" Couple of packs I think, " replied Najaki. " The village elder said they heard multiple howlings at night and they were quite enough to encircle the whole village, "
" That's a lot, huh " said Jeral.
As we wandered deep in the forest, the canopies became thick and the sun lights were struggling to penetrate the surrounding. The air was moist and humid, there were moss on trees and ground. We were near the swamp part of the forest and I heard that's where Savrocs are commonly found. A reptilian four limb creature with the ability to blend in the surroundings and shoot poisonous thorns from its mouth.
Just as I thought, we were near a swamp and I began to pick up multiple scents, moss, algae, water, tree bark and a strong muddy scent from above the branches. I looked up and observed around carefully, I knew there were Savrocs camouflaging on the tree branches looking like branches, however it won't fool me, I could tell from their subtle bodily movements, the breathing inflammation of the body. I looked around more. There were at least four of them above on the branches and others could be nearby. Savrocs were only dangerous if it catches you off guard, it's poisonous although not very much life threatening could give you a paralytic effect. It appeared no one has noticed so far and we could be walking into an ambush, although they could deal easily even if they were caught off guard. I thought I was obliged to alert them since I saw first but I also noticed Grandmaster Arilyne was also looking up and she seemed to have sensed them, as expected of a grandmaster but she ignored it and didn't alert them.
I put down my bag and took out my bow and loaded an arrow. " Stop " I said and as they looked around with confusion, I sent the arrow to my first victim. It pierced directly on it's neck and it wiggled and fell on the ground, others scattered off.
" Savrocs, get ready !, " Shouted Najaki and everyone took out their swords except for Grandmaster Arilyne.
" Activate magic senser " Casted Najaki and he looked around with a sword in his hand.
" It seems they have scattered off, " said Arilyne softly.
Then everyone dismissed their battle stance and sheathed their swords, They were all looking at me with curiosity. " How did you even notice?, " said Grandmaster Arilyne to me.
" Yeah, how did you know?, " Werem also joined.
" I learnt that Savrocs generally live around swampy areas so I was just being cautious and happened to spot them as I was scanning the surroundings, " I said.
" Hmmmm.. and that bow served quite well for you, " said Grandmaster Arilyne. " It's such a shame that a central court student is ahead of you hunter class students, be ashamed. "
Nyaka smiled at me and she seemed happy for some reason and I picked up the bag on my back and followed them. They were talking among themselves how they didn't notice it because they were busy talking and Grandmaster Arilyne condemned them by saying, " You people fail as a hunter, " Najaki laughed off and Jeral fumed at Grandmaster Arilyne.
Unexpectedly Gira Bren said to me, " That's quite impressive, Lan "
I just stared at him for a second and replied, " Thanks, "