[The first clue.
Client: ???
Have the raccoon go back to the forest of beginnings to prevent me from creating more trouble.]
'Huh, why did the request appear this way, it also doesn't say who the client is... Isn't it a Wells request?' Blake was immersed in thinking about the reason for that, but after not knowing what it meant, and when he was about to continue on his way, he felt a hand begin to squeeze his shoulder while an icy gaze went to his back.
Despite the feeling behind him, Blake only turned to see who was responsible for this, but once he managed to see the figure on his back, he knew he could no longer escape.
"Are you going somewhere, Blake? Maybe to the hot springs? Ufufu…" That small laugh didn't match the judging look that was on Blake, but he didn't have time to think about that when he answered subconsciously.
"Shi... I mean... Good morning, master!"
"Oh, do you think that using your position as a disciple will save you from the consequences?"
"Eh, yes?" Blake knew that nothing he did was going to save him, but he still had hope that it would work, although the next words that came out of Shino shattered all that hope.
"I wonder how your screams are heard, hehe." Once those words reached his ears, Blake felt a shiver run through his entire body, but he didn't even pay attention to it because the next moment his gaze was completely clouded by a cloth behind him at the same time that he felt like he was lifted into the air without being able to move.
He wasn't really sure, but it seemed that he was taking him somewhere, obviously, he was being kidnapped, but he knew that it was useless to resist in the position he was in. In the end, he accepted his bitter fate and stopped moving until he felt how they lowered him and removed a blindfold from his eyes so that the next moment he could see where he was.
The place was, to say the least unique, you could see a small bright river flowing to one side of a wide space of vegetation, the trees created a perfect layer of shade throughout the place and the aroma of nature flooded the nose of anyone who was there.
As he carefully looked around him, both Shino's and Sakuya's figures entered his area of vision making him realize who his kidnappers were. Blake didn't really know what was going to happen, he supposed he was going to receive a punishment for acting as he did, but even if he was flogged ten thousand times, he didn't regret anything. So, he closed his eyes again and waited for the pain to reach him.
"Why do you keep your eyes closed?" Sakuya asked not understanding Blake's action.
"Well, you brought me here to punish me, right?"
"What punishment are you talking about?" But before Blake could say anything else, Shino began to speak.
"You don't need to ask anymore, Sakuya. It's something that only Blake and I know, but to answer his question, no, we didn't bring you here to be punished."
"Then?" Blake couldn't deny that he sighed unconsciously, but he was still just as confused.
"You already realized the problem that the town has right now, that raccoon was elusive enough to escape, plus I can't focus on going everywhere to look for it and leaving the inn in the hands of two girls who easily can scare away all the guests."
"Hey!" Sakuya noticed that her mother stared at her when she said those words and she couldn't help but complain about her.
"Besides the fact that I had promised that I would become your master and train you so that you could enter the runic path, the situation is perfect to carry out all that." That caught Blake's attention, so he continued following in silence. "The goal is for you to be strong enough to deal with that monster, and while I don't know how strong it is, it shouldn't be too difficult once you finish basic training."
"Oh, I get it, but I have to say that raccoon looks strong."
"Why do you say that?" Sakuya asked as she made a confused face.
"Because I faced it last night." Blake didn't have to lie, and after those words, Shino's voice was heard again.
"So, you already had your first confrontation, and how did it go? Is it that strong?"
"Well, the strength of its claws seemed to be enough to break a tree, plus it knew how to hide really well, maybe it hadn't been too much of a problem, but once it started throwing blades of wind everywhere, I had to get serious."
"Wait! Are you saying that it used magic?" Sakuya had also heard his explanation, but that surprised her a bit.
"Yes. Is there something strange with that?" Blake was also a little confused at her reaction, but Shino was quick to explain a bit.
"There's nothing strange really, but if you say it could use magic, then it's not a common raccoon, it should be a special variant, although I'm not sure." Blake could only watch as both remained submerged in thought, even he wondered what was really so special about that raccoon, it could be really strong, but it seemed that as soon as it got hurt a little it would run away and hide.
"Well, it's a bit different than what I expected, but it shouldn't be a problem, I'll just have to double the training I had in mind for you." Things seemed a little different, but that didn't stop Shino from expressing the same intention that she had since the beginning.
Blake didn't know what to say, he didn't even know what kind of training he was about to undergo, he had said that he would work twice as hard compared to the others, but that was very literal.
"So, what kind of training will it be?"
"I see there is enthusiasm in you, that's good. First, I need to see what level you are at, so the best way is to have a little showdown."
"Showdown? With whom?" Blake asked that since he had no idea what his master had in mind for him, but the next shout was enough for his question to be answered.
"Of course, with me, or what, are you scared?!" And that same voice belonged to Sakuya as a strong enthusiasm was felt coming out of it.
"If you were wondering why Sakuya was here, well there you have it, she will be your opponent this time, do you have any doubts?"
"Not really, but I don't recall ever fighting another person, I've fought some orcs and Pomme Pomme a lot, so I don't know how it will turn out." Blake had no problem-fighting Sakuya, but he still wasn't sure what to do.
"Don't worry about it, if I see something getting out of hand, I will interfere at that moment. Now, do you have a weapon that you relate to the best?"
"Well, I have this saber that Gaius gave me." Blake took out the short sword from behind his back so they wouldn't see that it appeared out of nowhere, both didn't feel anything strange, they thought that Blake had a dimensional sack, so they didn't question and nodded as a sign that the preparations were almost finished.