Upon returning to the tavern and turning in the bounty, Ferrum noticed his rank had changed from Adventurer 5th Class to Adventurer 4th Class. Since it was such a high ranking bounty, Ferrum was given an automatic rank up as a result. Though it wasn't quite a good or bad thing.
Somehow word got out and some adventurers began complaining. They almost even began protesting though they were quickly shut down by Mairi.
After that hunt, Mairi began assigning one of her friends to aid him on hunts that he wanted to partake in. Due to her schedule, she could only spare an hour everyday to teach Ferrum some techniques. Fortunately, Ferrum was a very fast learner.
Mythics can manifest what is called a Mythic Amplifier. It is a sort of sub element that boosts or changes the possessor's strength and powers. An Elemental Mythic possessing the Flame element may receive an Amplifier like Magma which allows that Mythic to access Magma, a flame sub element. For those who would possess a more complicated Myth like Mairi, her Amplifier is Distortion, a result of being a Mythic for the Monarch of the Distorted Realm. With this Amplifier she can cause disruptions with the fabric of space. The only limitations she had was her own stamina.
Ferrum had figured out what his Amplifier was though its name he could not uncover.
"The name of your Amplifier will come to you and provided by your Myth. Though, that is if your Myth wishes to comply."
That was the part he was stuck on. He could not communicate with his Myth whatsoever. The only time he ever talked to it was in his dream.
Mairi taught Ferrum other ways to communicate with his Myth though all ways would fail. She even started talking about manifesting it with forceful ways though Ferrum didn't want it that way.
His only way was to master the power given to him.
"Wish to know my name? Know how to wield my power first."
He could still remember those words in his head, though it was slightly vague, those were the words the dragon told him.
One day, Ferrum was unable to sleep even though he had done many hunts with Eranheart earlier. His body was… restless.
Just right after he finished his hunt with Eranheart, he went to pick up his newly crafted weapon from Garan. It was forged just how he wanted it and expressed his gratitude. However, along the way back to his room that Mairi had rented for him in a tavern, he suffered another chest ache and this time it was getting worse. Fortunately, the pain managed to suppress its effect.
He placed his hand over his heart, gripping his hand.
"This pain… is it your doing, dragon?"
He had started to suspect this not long ago. He never had suffered pain like this after his father had died or even before his brother had awakened his Myth. Then when his brother awakened, the pain appeared.
This wasn't the same sickness that killed his father. If it was, he would've been dead days ago. It was something else but he couldn't wrap his head around it.
"Speak to me, dragon. I know you have a saying in this."
There was only silence that filled the room. Not even the slightest breath. Ferrum rolled to his side and stared at his sword.
Suddenly he got up, donning his gear heading out. He walked to the tavern and took an A-rank bounty from the board, registering only himself.
He began walking into the deep forest. The air was beginning to become colder as winter was slowly approaching. Halfway to his destination, he spotted a pack of wolves in the distance surrounding a group of adventurers in the distance. There were three of them. One was injured while the other two tried to fight back against the wolves.
Ferrum stared at them as they continued to struggle and after some pondering, he decided to walk away.
Suddenly the pain hit once more.
"You wretch! How dare you leave those in peril!? Do you wish to suffer!?"
The dragon's voice shouted in his mind. The pain in his chest started to worsen and then he got a headache. Ferrum quickly bashed his head into a tree, letting out a painful and furious cry.
The pack of wolves that surrounded the adventurers heard this and they quickly left the vicinity. The adventurers, not knowing what was going on, quickly fled.
Eventually the pain died down and Ferrum was normal again. He coughed as he slowly picked himself up.
"So you speak to me." Ferrum muttered. He continued to walk forward, consuming his medicine as he walked.
As he traveled, the dragon didn't speak and Ferrum was getting furious. He knew what he had done wasn't right but his head was not in the right place.
"Look, I'm sorry!" Ferrum shouted. "My head just… wasn't in the right place."
There was no response. Ferrum felt like he was just talking to himself at that point.
"Why won't you talk to me?" He muttered under his breath as he pressed on.
Soon, he stumbled upon a vast plain and spotted a creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.
"There you are, Griffin."
The Griffin turned towards Ferrum as the latter drew his blade, wreathing it in flames.
The Griffin let out what was a screech and a roar combined. It flew towards Ferrum, wrapping itself in lightning.
Ferrum darted forward, dodging the Griffin and swung his blade. The blade managed to slice off one of the Griffin's wings. The Griffin crashed into a tree and began screeching in pain.
Ferrum ran forward and delivered a downward slash, cutting the Griffin's stomach open. As it roared in pain, Ferrum formed an flaming orb in his hand and plunged it into the Griffin's innards.
When he crushed the orb, the Griffin burned from within and in seconds it was nothing but ash.
Ferrum sheathed his sword before walking towards the wing that had been cut off. He picked it up and began heading back.
Along the way, he took his medicine once again, however he swallowed three medicine balls this time.