Upon arriving at the designated clearing where a herd of the deer-like beasts had been just yesterday, a voice called out to Melchior.
"You're late."
He turned to meet his father's blank face and returned with a similar deadpan statement.
"You said I should show up after my shift at the mines ended," he stated, looking the man straight in the eyes. "And that's exactly what I did here, nothing less."
Zale snorted, "You take me for a fool. You ought to have finished at least ten to fifteen minutes ago,"
Mel's eyes widened for a split second. 'How does he- well, whatever.'
It wasn't as though Melchior cared, anyway. He was sure Zale would find a way to complain, regardless. He turned his attention to the two figures that lumbered just behind his father's back the entire time. They were hard to ignore for long because of their larger statures.
Melchior swept his eyes past his father's back and spotted two familiar figures.
All three boys simultaneously froze in their tracks, unsure of what to do with the other party in front of them. Melchior recovered quickly.
"Nice to meet you here again," he stretched a hand outward.
Andy took a step forward, burly figure crashing against the thick earth with a loud thump. The boy more and more resembled Elias the more Melchior compared their features. Both of them moved with pompous gaits that constantly tried to exert superiority.
And of everything they were — arrogant, crass, rude — stupid was most definitely not one of them.
There would be undeniable consequences should the town find out that he and Clyde had tried to kill Melchior. Which put Melchior at a great advantage in this situation.
An advantage that made him incredibly gladdened.
"Melchior." Andy met the hand and shook it firmly.
They let go of each other's hands quickly, as if it was poison the other was touching.
"What was the reason for calling us here together?" he asked as he turned back to Zale.
If he called Clyde and Andy, it could mean multiple things, including that he had already discovered what had happened that day. Melchior wasn't inclined to believe that option, though.
A large silence erupted after his question.
Minutes later, an answer finally came from the man.
"How long ago has it been since you hunted?" Zale asked.
Confusion set in initially, but Melchior answered the question before he could even react.
"A month ago. Before the bonding ceremony,"
"What about you two?" Zale said, looking towards Clyde and Andy.
Andy answered for both of them, "Just under two weeks. We haven't been able to do much more in between our Spirit Energy practice."
The youth said the last part with a mocking tone that was directed straight at Melchior.
"Good. You're all a little rusty, then," Zale continued, pointing into the distance. "About half a kilometre straight away from here, there's a pack of an invasive species of Spirit Beast known as Lesser Flame Hounds."
"What's the issue with them?" Clyde bobbed.
"They've recently been coming a bit too close toward our farms. So, we've received orders to get rid of them before anything preventable happens."
Mel frowned, connecting the dots quickly.
"In other words, you want us to help get rid of them? Okay, fair. But have you forgotten that I can't deal with Spirit Beasts, right? I'd die."
Zale paused to think about it for several seconds before shaking his head.
"You'll be fine. Don't worry about it."
The boy resisted the urge to nod his head in agreement. Of course, he would be fine. He had access to the innate abilities of two spirits and was multiple times stronger than the average Bonded of his layer. Some beasts wouldn't be able to pose much of a threat to him.
But he was part worried and irritated that Zale didn't even show the slightest reaction or worry for his well-being. Either he knew that Melchior would be okay, or he didn't care at all.
"And the catch?" Clyde grinned, stretching his body a bit too excited. "There's always a catch."
His father paused, yellow eyes sweeping across them. A small glint of emotion that wasn't irritation appeared on his face.
"Let's do this a little like a game," he said.
"Gather as many heads as possible without using manifestations, or spirit energy innate abilities. This is to level the playing field. I'll be able to tell if you broke this rule quite easily as well."
That made the mood a bit better.
"So it's like a game then," Andy noted. "What do I get in return for winning?"
He spoke certainly. Like It wasn't even a feasible idea that Melchior could put up a fight.
Zale shook his head. "That's a secret for now, but I'd advise you to take it seriously." His eyes narrowed on Melchior as he said that.
'What does he know…'
There was no doubt about it now. His father most definitely knew something. However, there was nothing he could do but remain extra cautious with anything he wanted to do from here on out. Especially with this little hunting game.
"When do we start?" he asked.
"Now."
As soon as he spoke, Clyde and Andy bolted forward from where they were into the deeper forest. They were really fast. As hard as it was to admit, they currently had much greater control over their own abilities than he did.
He stared on, stunned at the faint trail of dust that had formed up.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Zale asked as he raised an eyebrow.
Mel turned to his father. "Are weapons allowed?"
"Normal weapons? Yes, of course."
That was good.
"May I have one? A bow and a quiver of arrows, if you may."
Zale grunted and then reached into the air. A small dark vortex formed instantly, allowing his entire arm to pass through it. When he pulled back his arm, he held the items Melchior requested.
The boy struggled to hide the surprise in his eyes as he noticed it was Tirun's aura seeping from the portal.
'Tirun can do that as well?! That's useful. When will I be able to obtain that ability-'
A voice cut him short though, "You're running late,"
"Right."
Mel slung the bow and quiver over his shoulders and bolted forward, trying his best to use his speed as inconspicuously as possible. Nothing that would give him away as a Bonded.
He sped between the trees, running fast enough to practically float instead of running.
Soon the distance between himself and the two others was closed, and even sooner, their target location came into sight.
Large menacing caverns glowing with a faint orange and red layer, stacked on each other. As they got closer, a massive wave of heat crashed into them instantly, forcing them to halt in speed.
And at the very front of these caverns, multiple garish dogs with coarse red fur like that of stone, growling and guarding their home.
Upon a single glance, he quickly determined one thing.
'This isn't going to be quite as easy as I expected.'