Ten days passed without anything of importance happening. Occasionally, they crossed paths with other travelers heading towards Ravenspire. Depending on the group's needs, one of them sometimes bought them some extra food.
"Let's stop here; this is the only water source before we leave the main road."
"Right !"
Bonemeal Valley - A central zone, triangularly surrounded by Tornreach and Ravenspire below and Ashen Wild Forest above. Before the Hollow Frontier was established in northern Ravenspire, this was its original location. It was a crucial strategic point, providing the shortest route between the three rebel cities and allowing for a much faster defense in case of attack. Unfortunately, they encountered a problem less than three months after the project began and, for various internal reasons, abandoned it and built a main road bypassing the entire restricted area.
Shortly after the end of the morning, the group stopped on a high hill. While part of the group split up to fetch dry fuel, a few remained at the camp to look after the client, the horses, and other essential equipment.
"I still haven't had a chance to ask you. How did you find them?"
Auriel, who had been sitting in meditation, slowly opened his eyes before lifting his head and standing up. "Kind and, deeply human... I imagine. We've been stuck in this arid zone for a few days now. It's nice to finally have a spot with a bit of green grass."
Malconte hesitated for a moment before asking him something, but finally he changed his mind.
"We should start eating soon; the others have brought what we need to start the fire."
"Perfect. In that case, I would gladly join you."
Kael was coming out of turning over a large piece of meat, and Aldric was greedily guzzling it away impatiently. Lyra was preparing a side of mixed vegetables in a bowl, while Sirine, standing back, was stirring with herbs.
Seeing the chef return with a young boy at his side, Sirine gave a brief nod to the newcomer and then resumed her concentration.
Malconte paused for a moment, filled with inexplicable emotions while he discreetly turned his gaze towards Lyra.
[This scene is so peaceful...]
A great joy filled him, though it was also tinged with sadness and apprehension.
"Come now, begin to gather your strength, my friends. The next steps are likely to be much more complicated." He turned his head toward Ma'am Dolgen, who had been impassive in the background the whole time.
"Did you have a question, Sir Malconte?" said the middle-aged woman.
"Not really. I don't know why you insisted so much on taking this dangerous route rather than the main one, but your matters are none of our concern right now. As long as we are paid on time." He paused, and his expression softened a little again. "Will you join us, Ma'am? Although rather cold on the surface, Kael has a very refined palate. I am certain you would be satisfied with his cooking, regardless of your origins."
When the main course finally finished cooking, the others had already begun to eagerly devour their starter of stale wholemeal bread and vegetables.
Kael grabbed a knife he had previously washed in the nearby river and skillfully skinned the game he had bought the day before from a passing cart.
The meat was dry and salty from its long journey, but the smell didn't deter these hungry adventurers.
Soon after it was served, almost none of it remained.
With his mouth still full, Aldric eyed Auriel with slight excitement.
"Our promise still stands?"
Hearing this, the young boy sighed.
"Of course, a promise is a promise. I am a man of principle."
He picked up his blade from the ground, placed his bowl on its back, and then slowly stood up. Casting a brief glance at the human-bear beside him, he walked away from the group, who continued eating, more surprised by the behavior of the two of them.
"Are they going to fight again, those two?" Dolgen asked.
Malconte shrugged. "It would seem so."
Further on, Aldric slammed his heavy metal shield into the ground with a sharp blow, leaving it straight as an arrow. Then, he unsheathed his blade.
The behemoth displayed a firm resolve before the young boy, who, as always, wore his usual slight, calm smile.
"Even though I lost three times, you beat me with tricks, and I improved. This time you won't get me so easily, Auriel!"
Without waiting, the tank, which should have remained on the defensive, charged straight at the young man without showing any hesitation.
Auriel had anticipated this behavior.
He took two small steps back, then at the right moment raised his blade, destabilizing his opponent's trajectory. Using his own strength against him, the young boy disrupted Aldric's subsequent actions and created numerous openings to his advantage.
Without Aldric being able to do anything, the battle had ended unilaterally.
He dropped his blade and raised both hands in submission as the blade beneath his throat retracted into its sheath.
"You're truly monstrous. How can a kid have so much experience fighting other humans?"
Auriel simply smiled kindly.
"You're being too hard on yourself, Aldric. Your role is usually defense. If you'd stayed put, the fight could have lasted for hours and might even have turned in your favor. You're just trying something new, don't be too hard on yourself, okay?"
Tsss
[This brat knows how to find the right words, ahahah !]
Aldric sheathed his sword, still shaken by the defeat but with a light heart. He couldn't bring himself to blame the kid.
"And besides, I imagine I'm also used to fighting monsters by now. My teacher was a demon slayer."
Aldric seemed absent for a moment before calming down. "You're talking about the retired head of the guard?"
"Yes, it's him."
"I had heard that he had decided to train only the soldiers sent to the Hollow in groups of 10. How did you end up with him?!"
Auriel took some time to think. He hadn't expected such a strong reaction from this human.
"If you truly desire it, I could ask him to challenge you a few times. If you demonstrate sufficient potential, I'm certain he'll gladly help you as well, for the good of humankind."
Aldric was moved. He might be a bit of a fool, but he wasn't entirely naive.
He was a mercenary; he'd already killed and been deceived and betrayed. He understood the value of Auriel's gesture.
Human beings are selfish by nature. By offering him a chance to shine, he was also jeopardizing his own brilliance by needlessly creating competition. Clearly, Auriel's connection with this man was one of his greatest assets, and he was offering it to him like this !
"Are you sure? I wouldn't hold it against you even if you refused. He might take it badly if you introduced him to other people without asking his opinion and the...."
Auriel's gaze turned cold. "You're mistaken on one point. Demon hunters don't think like that. If you have potential, then what does it matter if you rise? We don't fight against other human beings, we fight for the human race."
A brief murderous pressure mentally crushed Aldric. He felt a very deep bloodlust as the teenager continued in a more playful tone. "The human race must preserve its assets. More talent only means more assets. The day the demons attack en masse, my life and the corporal's life will depend on those assets. Why hate what is meant to save my life when needed? It's the height of absurdity."
He gave a sly smile as he finished.
"And then... All your anxieties stem from the fact that you would succeed, but could you even attract his attention?"
Aldric contradicted him sharply. "If we continue like this, I should reach your level one day!"
Auriel had already turned around to rejoin the others at camp. With his back to the bear, he raised an arm in a nonchalant salute. "For your information, it takes him less than five strikes on average to defeat me. Don't overestimate me too much."
Aldric stood motionless for a few seconds, taking in what he had just heard. "Five... strikes?! Didn't they say he was crippled ?! Damn monsters!"