Arcane Innovator

Sneaking out of the Guild's building, I eagerly delved into the Ostengard's main street, which was bustling with activity despite the late hour.

I pushed through the evening crowds as there were many people who were returning from work or decided to have some fun in one of the many taverns lining the main street.

Everywhere I went, I could hear the sounds of laughter and music as people of all ages and walks of life were enjoying themselves despite having to put up with such meager living conditions.

The street was illuminated by many flickering torches, which cast a warm glow upon the lively scene. I could smell the unmistakable scent of ale and roasted meats, which permeated the whole area, making me drool.

Still, I didn't let myself be tempted by the allure of the surrounding revelry as my purposeful steps led me straight toward the market.

I desperately needed to replenish my dwindling food supplies since I realized there was no way I could survive with only the meager rations we were provided in the Guild.

Thus, I quickly rummaged through the several still-open stalls and bought some more dried meat and plenty of crackers to go with it.

After I was done, it was finally time for me to delve into the quiet, dark alleyways while dutifully mapping out the surrounding area as I needed to familiarize myself with the city.

I already learned that the local lord lived in another place, so there was no grand castle or palace in the center, just more of the identical shabby cottages.

Only a few buildings looked like they could pass as the home of someone important, and they were all centered around the main road close to the town's square. Among them, the Beast Hunter's Guild and the residence of the Mayor were the largest.

To my delight, there was also no substantial garrison, only a dozen or so watchmen to guard the gates and uphold the peace.

Still, they mostly protected only the center, adding to the sense of lawlessness throughout the town.

As soon as I left the well-lit square, I instantly noticed that the further I went from the main street, the more it reminded me of Ereneth's slums. 'No wonder the gang chose to relocate here.'

The contrast between this part of the town and the main street was stark. The dark alleyways were narrow and cramped, with long shadows dancing along the dilapidated walls. Garbage and debris littered the ground, giving off a putrid scent.

As I cautiously walked onward, I noticed that the streets were mostly empty, with only the occasional stray cat darting by, and the buildings began to grow older and more rundown, their windows boarded up or straight shattered.

Yet, so far, I haven't caught a single glimpse of anything nefarious taking place. It seemed that the gang must have been extra cautious after what happened in Ereneth.

As they not only stabbed me in the back, but they further double-crossed whoever was behind this plot and stole Theo and my elixirs for themselves.

I was hoping to set Theo free if I managed to find him. I owed him at least that much as it was partially my fault that they targeted him, as I made everyone think it was him who crafted the elixirs.

Thus, I continued prowling the streets some more, hoping to spot some suspicious-looking characters or any secret establishments like they were in Ereneth's slums.

Yet, in the end, I didn't find anything promising, and I was forced to return to the Beast Hunter's Guild with empty hands.

***

"Okay, now let's work on your footwork!" Wolf said, demonstrating a series of fluid movements. I mimicked him, my feet clumsily following his lead initially but gradually finding rhythm with each repetition.

"Nicely done," he grinned, "Now let's put it into practice!"

I gulped nervously but tried my best to hide my apprehension as I tightly grasped the now familiar wooden sword.

It was the following day, and I was once again being subjected to the "privilege" of Wolf's undivided attention as he was beating me into shape.

We slowly began circling each other. I tried to remember the basics he had taught me - keep my feet moving, watch my opponent's movements, and strike when the opportunity presented itself.

But as soon as we began, I realized I was woefully unprepared. Wolf moved with a fluid grace that I couldn't quite replicate, and his sword seemed to find every gap in my defense.

I stumbled back, feeling foolish and exposed as Wolf pressed his attack relentlessly. I could feel the sweat beading on my forehead as I tried to keep up with his vicious movements.

"Come on, boy!" Wolf taunted while grinning, "Are ya going to just let me beat ya like that?"

I gritted my teeth, determined not to give up. 'He's enjoying this a little too much...' I sighed with exasperation.

This time, I felt even more drained than yesterday as Wolf expected me not only to passively defend against him but also to actively use my footwork.

Yet, I was undeterred as I, too, had a few tricks in my sleeve. Taking a deep breath, I sent a surge of essence into my feet before exploding with rapid movement as I effortlessly matched Wolf's speed and then some.

I swung my sword in a wide arc, and with a satisfying smack, it connected with Wolf's shoulder. He grunted in pain and stepped back, his face twisted in a mixture of surprise and pride.

"Not bad, boy!" he said, shaking his head in amazement. "You're a natural."

I grinned, feeling immense satisfaction at the compliment and also as I was finally able to get back at him.

We then continued our sparring match; Wolf was pushing me to my limits while I surprised even myself with how well I was doing. Soon, the sun was at its highest, and it was finally time for lunch.

"I'm starving," I said, and Wolf chuckled in response. "Let's get something to eat then! Ya need to build those muscles!"

I simply nodded in response, immensely happy that the lesson was finally over. I took the small bowl of the mushy, disgusting gruel and sat at my usual spot in the corner of the training grounds.

Yet my pleasant respite was abruptly interrupted when one young Recruit who seemed a few years older than me came closer and tried to start a conversation.

"Hey..."

I raised my head with a guarded expression, silently wondering what he might want from me, but from the carefree smile he was giving me, it was evident that he didn't have any nefarious intentions.

Thus, I decided to be polite and returned his greeting with a nod. "Hey..."

He looked around to make sure nobody was listening, and then, with a serious expression, leaned closer and whispered, "Listen... What did you do to get Wolf to personally train you?"

At first, I tensed, seeing him acting like that, but as I listened to his weird question, I couldn't help but blink a few times. "Ehm... nothing?"

However, this answer didn't seem to satisfy him as he kept staring at me with narrowed eyes. It was evident that he didn't quite believe me, so I shrugged my shoulders as I added. "I guess he must have liked my spirit..."

This must have done the trick as the Recruit finally relaxed, and while repeatedly nodding, he mumbled something to himself.

But now, it was my turn to ask some questions. "Why are you so interested in him?"

He widened his eyes, looking at me like I was stupid. "What do you mean? It's Wolf who we're talking about!"

"And? What's so special about him?" I asked, as this was my chance to finally learn something about my burly Instructor.

He sighed as he shook his head. "You really don't know who he is?"

'Isn't it obvious? Why else would I be asking...' I thought but decided to remain polite. "I guess not... Is he famous or something?"

"Of course, he's famous! He's the most famous beast hunter in the whole of Ostengard!" He looked at me with pride in his eyes.

"Hmm, okay." I simply nodded, as in my humble opinion, being the best in such a dump like Ostengard wasn't something to write home about.

However, the young Recruit didn't seem to notice my indifference, and in his fervor, he leaned even closer and whispered. "I heard that he even single-handedly defeated a raging Warrhog!"

"Oh, really? That's impressive..." I said with a polite smile while simultaneously thinking, 'What the hell is a Warrhog?'

Still, I didn't want to show even more of my blatant ignorance about anything beast-hunter related, so I kept quiet.

An uncomfortable silence set in between us as I wasn't sure how to continue the conversation, but in the next moment, I was rescued by a loud shout, which was apparently directed at the young Recruit standing before me.

"Hey! How long are you going to laze about over there?"