Stephanie groggily woke up; looking around the room she noticed a lot of the girls already up and packing their things. A few of the younger ones were crying while the older ones comforted them as they ushered them out to the main chamber.
"What's going on?" Stephanie looked at Sylvia in the flickering fire light.
"Didn't you adventurers have to meet very early? The younger children aren't looking forward to going back to the city, especially since the four are leaving for a few weeks. We're getting everyone up and packed so we can head back to town as a group before you and the boys leave." Sylvia finished helping a little girl pack her things up and ushered her towards the main chamber.
Stephanie quickly got up, changing into clean clothes after realizing Hunter's scent had seeped into the ones she had been wearing. Blushing she grabbed her bag and went out to the main chamber, finding a roaring fire as two female elves (of course its Tarenia and Asani) cooked some rabbit and dished out fruits and vegetables. She grabbed a bowl and found a spot to begin eating. Sylvia and Quixi came over and sat down beside her as they too dug into their meal.
"Where's Hunter and the others?" Stephanie asked, looking at Sylvia and seeing her smirk, which promptly caused her to blush.
"They're out in the clearing, getting our only cart set up for the children. Why, you missing him?" Sylvia giggled as she looked at Stephanie getting all flustered. With a sigh she looked longingly towards the cave entrance, "I know your feelings. I'm too weak and too young to accompany Ian when they go on the mission, I know they'll be safe because of what they are, but I still don't like the feeling of sitting there not being able to fight alongside them. You are quite lucky being able to join them on this hunt."
Stephanie looked quizzically at Sylvia, [That's definitely not what I was thinking, but what does she mean by what they are? I'll have to look into this and be cautious around them. Maybe that's why Hunter hides his face so people don't see what he is?]
After finishing their meal, the three girls walked outside looking at the forest visible in the early morning dusk. Looking around they saw the cart, still wheel-less, was propped up allowing for one of the four to crawl under and pick it up once everyone was loaded. Quixi took off running, leading the three to where the boys were standing, leaping up into Orion's arms.
"What are you doing out here baby girl?" He gently pinched her sides, causing her to shriek out happily as a blush spread across her face.
"I wanted to spend time with you before you left on your hunt," she whispered into his ear. Orion smiled as he held her close. Sylvia walked up, pulling Ian into a hug as tears began to fall down her face. "Please you guys stay safe and don't do anything stupid just because you think you can handle it."
"Don't worry, the only one who will do anything rash is Hunter. Even then, he won't be able to be easily injured." Ian laughed as he winked at Hunter, smiling while wrapping his arms around Sylvia.
Stephanie looked at the group before blushing when she glanced at Hunter. Hunter smirked, not saying anything as he waited for Spartacus to give orders. As the sun began to rise, the rest of the children, under the guidance of Asani and Tarenia, came out of the cave, clamoring up into the cart and sitting down neatly while holding their items.
Hunter looked at Stephanie who looked back at him with a blush on her cheeks while defiance was in her eyes. "Get in if you don't want to spend two hours walking back to town." Hunter said as Stephanie scowled at him, causing the blush to fade. [Damn and I thought he was going to say something sweet]. Stephanie's eyes widened in shock and she quickly slapped her cheeks. [I've only known this boy for a day and I'm already thinking these thoughts while my heart beats so fast when I look at him. What the hell is wrong with me?! Master I wish you were still here so I could ask you].
As Stephanie climbed up into the cart, Hunter caught sadness mixed into her scent. Looking at her, he spoke softly and gently, "Are you okay?"
Startled, Stephanie froze as she looked at Hunter. Looking into her watery eyes, Hunter could see a strong sense of deep grief. Gently clasping her hand he said, "Hey, I promise to keep my word, do you have anything that belonged to your master? If I have his scent I can find the wolf that killed him and leave it for you to kill. I can also find his remains so that we can give him a proper burial."
Stephanie took in a shaky breath as she looked at Hunter before nodding her head and climbing up into the cart. After making sure everyone was loaded up, Hunter crawled under the cart and began lifting it up on his shoulders. The other three helped him steady the weight so that the cart didn't tip, dropping everyone. The younger children began excitedly shrieking as they fully woke up and realized what was going on.
Stephanie and some of the older children looked about them in shock, comprehending that no human could lift all of this by themselves. With a loud crack, Hunter took off leaping up and then running along the tops of the trees until they arrived at the forest edge. He leaped down, landing solidly before swiftly taking off to the town.
As they party neared the town, they began to hear the guards calling out in shock and fear. The captain ran out when he realized it was Hunter after seeing the beast children in the cart. Arriving outside the gate the captain watched as the four boys set the cart down and then all the children began dismounting from it.
"Welcome back sirs and misses. I've set aside five of the best guards to watch over your family." The captain said as he walked up to the group, leading five guards behind him. The guards followed the party as they all headed towards the church. Nearing the church, the group saw many of the adventurers gathered as well as some of the apostles and the town bishop standing outside discussing.
The bishop walked over to the party, nodding his head in greeting to the guards before bowing towards the four boys. One of his apostles gathered the children that were staying and lead them into the church, showing them where they would be staying for a few weeks.
Stephanie and the boys gathered up with the other adventurers, waiting for the bishop to say any last words before they went to the Western Gate and headed out to the docks. Looking over the crowd the bishop stopped when he saw Stephanie, Spartacus, and Orion weren't even geared in leather armor. "Everyone, I'll be sending along ten of my priests so that they can use their healing magic on the warriors who are tanking. Also somebody take those three and get them geared in some armor at least."
Alexi looked at the three and laughed, shaking his head. He nudged Hunter as he began walking to the nearest blacksmith shop. Hunter and the others quickly walked over, knocking on the door and waking up the blacksmith upstairs. Coming downstairs, the blacksmith saw the boy in black and Alexi the dragon slayer standing at his door with a couple other children.
"What can I do for you good sirs?" He quickly woke himself up from his grogginess and smiled politely while gesturing them to enter his store.
"We need some armor for these two boys and the girl." Alexi pointed at Spartacus and Orion, then pointed at Stephanie as they entered. As the four began discussing with the blacksmith, Hunter wandered off, looking at all the items that were for sale.
The weapons were all in decent condition along with a few being in great condition. The prices for them were slightly hefty as they could only be purchased with silver pieces, however judging by the craftsmen ship it would be a while before the weapons deteriorated to a lesser condition. Hunter turned the blacksmith and asked, "Is your family from the Kingdom of Siol?"
The blacksmith jumped as he looked at Hunter. "Aye little lord, my great-grandfather was a craftsman from Siol. He moved here to chase after a woman he loved and well as you can guess, it worked out." He laughed as he looked at Ian in his full sentinel armor. "I'm quite surprised that a boy as young as you is a fully fledged sentinel. That armor you got there lad is not only rare, but it represents the best of the best from Siol."
"What do you mean good blacksmith?" Ian quizzically asked as he helped Orion try on some light weight chain mail armor designed for archers.
"Wait, your not a Siol Sentinel?!" The blacksmith was shocked as he watched Ian shake his head. "Where did you get the armor then?"
"I found it on a cart after it's owners had been slain by a horde of goblins. I went to repair the cart and stumbled across this armor which seemed to fit me perfectly so I kept it so I could help my brothers when we have to fight."
"I see, well than I guess I can tell you what they are. Siol Sentinels are the strongest warriors Siol produces. They go through five intense years of training which makes them as strong as wyverns and as quick as a wind elemental. They are fully loyal to Siol and it's people and are trained to protect the people over the king. This training has lead to many people adoring the royal family and so the people swore to protect the king in times of trouble."
"So even though the Sentinels are sworn to protect the people, if the people swear to protect the king then the Sentinels protect the king as well." Spartacus stated as he pulled on a woolen robe that appeared to be made of iron thread.
"Aye, the Sentinels protect the people, but it isn't only that. A special branch of the Sentinels, called the High Sentinels, are the one's who protect the king. Also as to why the armor fit you is because it's enchanted to fit the wearer, but before it does that it has to deem the wearer worthy by the Sentinel Code. I don't know what the code is but the fact that you could wear the armor means that you can definitely become a Sentinel." The blacksmith turned back to Ian as he spoke, giving him a smile as he bowed towards him.
"So the High Sentinels are stronger than the regular Sentinels?" Orion asked as he pulled out enough bronze pieces to pay for his new chain mail armor along with his helmet.
"I believe a few of them are, but mostly High Sentinels come from the common folk and tend to be on the older side of life. The noble families are allowed only one High Sentinel each until that Sentinel dies, the common folk High Sentinels are chosen each year in a tournament that takes only the top ten Sentinels."
Hunter, while listening, walked over to where Stephanie was standing, looking at chainmail armor and a thin iron spear. "Do you want these?"
Stephanie blushed as she looked at Hunter and then shook her head. "Even though I have the money for this stuff, it won't be useful for me right now." She turned and continued looking until she found an iron capped breastplate along with an iron threaded cloak, both in great condition. As she went up to put the items on the counter and to pull out some silver pieces, Hunter set the iron tipped thin spear she had been looking at, on the counter and pulled out several gold pieces.
Looking at the gold pieces, the blacksmith smiled at Hunter. "Young lord, you seem to know how good this spear is. This iron tipped thin spear is named Thunder Shaker and it is in legendary quality. It was made by my great-grandfather but no one could afford it or was willing to buy it since they didn't have an affinity towards it. The Thunder Shaker increases a storm mage's magic capabilities and allows them to wield all lightning magic as long as they have enough mana to at least activate the weapon. If it could be reforged with the ability to use mana from it's surroundings instead of the mage, than it could easily be a god quality weapon." The blacksmith smiled proudly as he talked about the spear, before realizing that these kids might not have enough money.
"Here, I'll give ya kids a discount since it's young lord. This spear is normally one hundred gold pieces, but I'll lower it to twenty gold pieces. How about it?" The blacksmith stuck out his hand for a shake but Hunter swat it away.
"I'll pay you ten gold pieces now and then when I return I'll give you three level six feral cores as reimbursement."
The blacksmith became shocked as he looked at Hunter upon hearing this. Alexi laughed and looked at the blacksmith. "This boy keeps his word, I vouch for him." The blacksmith nodded towards Alexi and began sorting out everything that the three wanted to buy.
Stephanie pulled Hunter aside, blushing, she looked him in the eye. "You don't need to be doing this for me. I can buy it myself when I return after getting some feral cores."
Hunter smirked as he raised his hand and caressed her cheek, causing her blush to deepen and her voice to stutter. Hunter slowly responded with a gentle whisper into her ear. "I don't need to worry about money. I'll always be able to get some, so I might as well spend it on pampering such a beautiful woman."
Stephanie looked around the room, seeing Alexi and the others holding in laughter while the blacksmith smiled while shaking his head. Blushing, she quickly grabbed her things and ran out the door, heading towards the docks on the Westernside of town. Hunter handed over the ten gold pieces and then chased after her, followed by the others as they paid and left.
Arriving at the docks just as the sun began to rise, the group saw the other adventurers all boarding a large river boat that would be heading up stream towards Dunham. Hunter smiled, ran up and rubbed Stephanie's side before he bolted up the side of the boat and found a spot on the deck along the railing. After everyone boarded, the ship took off heading northwest along the river.
Hunter took in a deep breath, smelling not only the wolves this time, but also the stench of goblins up in the mountains to the north. His face scowled as he looked at the ominous mountains, covered in white snow and grey/black rocks.