Arsh was dead tired. He was lying down on the bank of the river, away from the seeping blood of the hound.
"I should start questioning his training methods."
All the fatigue from his bout with the red hound, came crashing down on him. He also noticed, he was quite injured around his left arm.
It was completely silent. Just the noise of the forest, the river flowing nearby with the corpse of the giant monster. The beautiful sounds of wildlife felt mesmerizing, now that the beast was gone.
Arsh was still scarred by his previous experience. He was somehow trying to keep himself from breaking apart, in this cruel, merciless world.
The lifeless eyes of his mother stared at him. Those 5 people's faces and emblems, and every single villager who gave their lives to save him. He didn't forget any of them. He won't ever forget them.
Arsh never really liked any of them. But, their death still left a deep wound. He wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for the village chief and Edward.
Arsh still vividly remembered Edward's silhouette, running back in the direction of the village.
"I hope he is alive."
Arsh deep down knew that Edward couldn't survive against those monstrous people. Arsh was still confused by what happened after. They just gave up and ran back home?
Arsh never saw any of them searching for him in the town or forest. He was sure they were after his life. He was the reason for the fate of every single villager.
'That four-eyed monster. I am not sure what he did. But, something in me is definitely different from before.'
The relaxing and beautiful environment around him started to blur little by little, in the middle of his thoughts.
'Shit! I lost too much blood.'
As his consciousness was on the brink of collapsing. Arsh heard the sound of footsteps coming near him. He shouted in a strained voice lifting his head a little upward.
"I could've died. You maniac!"
The sound of footsteps closed on him until they stopped at his side. He heard a husky voice from behind.
"Do I know you? Kid."
Arsh turned his head in a frenzy, to see where the voice came from.
"Oh! I am sorry. I thought you were Alan."
Arsh said in a low and tired voice, spotting a man at his side, staring intently at the dead bloodhound.
The man was well-built like Alan, but he was a little bit bulkier than him. He had some princely features on his face, with pale white skin. He looked like a guy from a picture book, which ticked Arsh off.
'Fuckers! Why didn't you make me this beautiful?'
Arsh thought looking at the silent sky. Trying to have a conversation with the gods.
"Who are you, kid?"
The beautiful man asked him, his eyes glued to the red hound.
Arsh looked at him for some time, thinking of the best possible way to answer the stranger, without revealing much of anything.
"I am Alan's apprentice."
Alan was a well-connected figure in the town. Aside from the adventurers. He always tried to avoid them, every time possible for some reason.
After living for a month with Alan, he still doesn't know many people from the town. It was simply due to the fact, he had no interest or reason to talk with them.
The man went silent with a thinking pose. Arsh looked at his beautiful face with confusion.
'Come on! There is no way you won't know him.'
"Who is Alan?"
Arsh jumped up, surprised by the beautiful man's remark. He never expected it to turn out this way.
'Whaaaat? How the fuc? That guy even talks to strangers in town.'
Arsh thought for some moments and concluded.
Nobody in the town ever referred to Alan by his name. It was due to Alan never revealing his name to any person in the town. Arsh was silent, thinking of an apt description for his mentor.
"The Plain looking guy with the big mouth."
Arsh said sarcastically. He was ready for the beautiful man's confusion. But, it was still worth the joke.
But, Arsh never had expected what went down. The man seemed to get who Arsh was talking about. The beautiful man started nodding silently. Leaving Arsh a little dumbfounded.
"Your left hand has a deep wound. If it is not tended to quickly, it can be permanently damaged. Come with me. My wife is a healer, she can help you with the wound"
Arsh was surprised by the sudden offer from the man. He tried to get up analyzing the beautiful man quietly, thinking about whether to trust this man or not.
The man looked at Arsh with pity in his eyes. He commanded with a clear and confident voice.
"I am Leonard. Leonard Mark. You can call me Leo if you want. Now come with me. If you don't want to die, that is."
Arsh stared at the man, counting his options. He had already heard several times from Alan. 'People of the town are mostly good-natured people.'
He looked at the beautiful man's expression and decided to trust the man, even if just a little. He tried to stand up but he fell, letting out a pained growl.
"I can't move any of my limbs right now. Help me get up."
Leo walked toward him. He lifted Arsh in the princess' carry, running in the town's direction.
Arsh was dumbfounded by the sudden action of Leonard. But, he thought better of it and let Leo carry him back.
'I can't really move.'
Leo ran at high speed, which seemed natural to him. He was neither looking tired nor out of breath. It was enough to make Arsh realize that this "Leo" is certainly not a normal person.
"Were you there to collect the hound's body?"
Leo asked casually. Interested in what happened there. Arsh already made up his mind about trusting him a little. He said in a dark voice.
"Yes. Courtesy of my master."
"Then that big-mouthed fellow killed it? But, I didn't feel his presence there."
Leo asked, raising a brow.
"I killed it. I don't get why you are so interested in it."
Arsh replied with a sigh.
"That's impossible! It is a Primate-level monster. You can't just kill it. Not a Child like you."
Arsh looked at him irritated. He didn't want to share his credit with his master. Not after the bloody battle with the hound. But, he didn't have any choice.
"You can believe whatever you want."
Leo eyed him in his hold. Not slowing his pace down even for a little bit. Arsh was astonished by the amount of stamina the man had along with irritating curiosity.
"Jokes Aside. How were you able to pull it off? Did you lay a trap beforehand? But that wasn't the case. I am sure, that was a dagger in the throat of the beast"
'Did he just say 'Jokes aside?''
Arsh knew he wasn't powerful. Not nearly powerful enough to kill a bloodhound in a normal confrontation. Arsh let out another sigh, letting go of his bitterness.
'But, now that I think about it. It really was-'
"Newbie Luck"
The town gate was just in front of them. As they crossed the main gate, the man ran through half of the town. Stopping in front of the bladesmith shop.
A kid came forward from behind the counter greeting them cheerfully.
"Daddy, who is the kid with you?"
The little girl asked adorably, trying to copy a deep voice. Leonard ignored her question, resting Arsh on the ground.
"Elsa, ask your mother to come here quickly. This kid already had lost a lot of blood."
Leo said in a worried voice. His tone was urgent. Arsh was too tired and dizzy. He tried his best to keep himself awake. But, in the end, he gave in to the pain and fell unconscious.
Arsh woke up after god knows how much time. He stepped out of the unidentified bed. Slowly moving outside of the little room, following in the direction of Leo's voice.
"Hey kid, you are awake now."
Leo waved at him. Gesturing him to come his way.
"Oh! And meet my wife Christa. She is the one who healed you."
Leo pointed at a bulky (woman?) on the side of the shop. Arsh's mouth hung open seeing the bizarre sight in front of him.
'Wait! that thing healed me?'
Arsh never saw someone so bulky in his whole life. Let alone a woman.
'.....Aren't healers supposed to be petite and cute?'
He shook his thoughts away. Trying to not get off as rude, he gave Christa a shallow bow.
"Thank you si... Mam. I am very thankful for your help."
"TCH, you survived again."
Arsh turned around. He knew instinctively who this bastard was from the voice.
Alan was standing just outside of the shop, with his normal maniacal grin plastered all over his face.
"Come here. We still got plenty of things to do right now"
Alan turned again this time in Leo's and Christa's direction. He gave a smile, with a little wave.
"Thanks. For taking care of the kid. "
"Are you right in the head? Who leaves a normal kid in front of a bloodhound?"
Leo raised his voice, clenching his fists. He voiced his dissatisfaction standing in front of Alan.
"That was the fastest way to make him strong. See? the kid survived too. Though, It was sad my dagger didn't."
Alan moved his face to the same eye level as Leo. Giving him a careless look with a slight grin.
"If you are worried about the kid? why don't you forge him a dagger? Leo the Blackhand."
Leo scoffed at Alan with an annoyed expression.
"I need good materials for that. And It is the rule of my shop, I only forge a weapon for worthy people with good materials."
"I think the kid is worthy enough. Don't you think? After killing a Primate-level monster. A bloodhound no less. Its bone is a good enough material for a dagger. Eh? Leo"
Leo let out a sigh, taking a step back with an irritated expression on his face.
"Fine! I will forge one. If the kid tells me his preferences that is."
Now every single eye on that forgery turned on Arsh. Even Elsa, who looked barely older than 8. Copying others around her she frowned, giving Arsh a complicated look.
They all broke into a fit of laughter together. Even the ever so maniacal Alan's expression, softened looking at Elsa.
After the laughter died down. Arsh said in a confident voice with a determined face.
"A sharp dagger. Sharp enough to cut anything and everything with ease. It should be heavier than normal ones. No fancy designs on it."
Gathering surprised gazes from Leo and Christa.
"....Also, increase the numbers."