Hektor learned a few things about his minion that day, one was that it ate humans. Treating it as just another kind of meat and two was the fact that after eating enough meat the so called terrestrial predator could recover from its wounds.
Hektor won due to a few factors, the first being the advantage of aura. Martial Arts is necessary to draw out aura and commoners are forced into the military or into working as mercenaries if they gain access to it, the only few exceptions are the disciples at large dojos or nobles themselves. The second factor that contributed greatly was the fact that they underestimated him.
He fed the corpses to his pet while he took whatever he could find from the hut as the spoils of his battle. There were rations and supplies in the hut, enough to feed a small family. He looked through the rest of their equipment finding nothing of use.
"Will they think I'm a deserter when I head to town too?" He asked himself.
"That is very likely Hektor." He answered his own question.
He decided that it was a good idea to find some regular clothes, luckily there was enough of that in the hut for him to at least not look like a soldier.
While he was still injured and his wounds have reopened, he knew that staying at the cabin of the people he just killed was not a good idea. "I'll spend one night here and head for the town."
He luckily managed to find a map of the area in the hut. "They had around 112 coins… I hope this is enough."
He slept on a bed for the first time in weeks.
---
He meditated enough that morning to regain most of his mana back. Something that he couldn't do before due to fear of enemies nearby, with the black lizard at his side he felt comfortable enough to finally meditate.
"If I summon the second one now, I won't have mana for the journey to the town." He deliberated.
"But another companion to help me fight whatever comes my way seems like a good thing too!" He reasoned to himself as he waited for his mana to finally fully recuperate once again.
"Another companion doesn't seem too bad."
He felt the mana he just recovered drain back for his ability. "Hopefully I won't need the barrier for the journey." He gagged as the energy dissipated into thin air.
"I don't think that I could get used to that."
The options presented themselves to him once again.
[Three presets are available: Terrestrial Predator, Avian Scout, Insect Soldier]
"I'll need another soldier with me. So this seems like the right choice."
Hektor could only gasp as he saw the creature that he just manifested from his ability.
Standing at just a few inches taller than the short teen, the insect soldier had four arms and was equipped with both a sword and a shield. The black carapace on its body made it seem like armor. In the eyes of Hektor this was the kind of help that he was looking for. A sturdy companion that seemed to be built for combat.
"While I don't know if I can take you to town with me, I'm sure that you'll be a great addition to our fighting force." He smiled as he said this, it was now time to head south.
"South is where the town should be, I'll try to register at the Mercenary's Den to find some work."
With a mount and a rather fast runner in the insect soldier, they moved quickly across the forest towards the town. With the town on the horizon he was forced to the leave the soldier behind as he and the lizard went inside.
The Town of Fernthur was one that Hektor already visited, the soldiers taken by Commander Wallace had a short stay here. The fortified walls of the town have enough space for archers to stay on top of them and a large percentage of the populace are either retired soldiers or mercenaries. Goblins, Gnolls and the occasional stray bear or two pose little to no threat to the town. They are built to survive a larger scale attack from swarms of these kinds of monsters.
Hektor knew that to register as a mercenary, it would net him somewhere between 50 and 70 coins. Though this would also be a fine investment for his future. 'The lost capital would be worth it in the end.' Hektor thought to himself while on his way to the large building.
Leaving his mount tied to the front of the Mercenary's den, Hektor headed in hastily.
"What can I do for ye sonny?" An old man with a scarred face welcomed him.
"I'd like to register as a Mercenary." Hektor responded.
"Haha, aren't you a bit young? You look like you're around 10 or 11 years old." The man at the counter questioned.
"I'm fourteen sir, I can show you my status screen if my skills are being questioned sir." He emphasized the second mention of the word "sir."
"Well all right then, show me your status screen and I'll see what I can do."
"Status"
Name: Hektor
Title(s): Young Soldier
Aura: 2,240 /2,300
Personal Skill: [Unlocked]
Skill(s): Markluzian Spear Art
A person can pick and choose as to what they can show from their status screens when sharing it with others. Showing that his personal skill is unlocked along with a spear art related to their military, it is clear to the clerk that the teen was some sort of child soldier.
"More than 2,000 in Aura, hoho impressive for someone your age." Saying it out loud to keep the others aware that while capturing the boy could fetch a bounty, it would be a bounty that would not leave them unscathed.
"I can't just give you a wooden tag, that is something that you'll have to earn, Markluzian Spear Art is the most common form of spearmanship in our kingdom. I'd like to test your mettle kid."
Hektor nodded in response and they were off to the back of the building.
A few of the other mercenaries followed to watch, they were now in a small open field. A training grounds of sorts with wooden weaponry and target dummies for people to practice with.
"Go on then, try."
Just from the stance of the swordsman before him, Hektor could tell that he was in another level. Unlike the untrained hunters from the forest who didn't manifest their aura through techniques, this was the kind of proper adult that Hektor is used to seeing.
'Just like the instructor.' He thought to himself as he eyed the swordsman's form.
The Markluzian spear art is a simple technique that requires only a few years of training to use, to manifest one's aura. There are only three moves in this spear art which is why the training time is perfect for raising young soldiers to send to the frontlines. The basic Markluzian techniques in general are the most commonly used form of basic martial arts in the kingdom, created by the original King Markluzian.
The purplish-tip of his spear would be deflected. "Aura-enhanced spear thrust, good." The old man commented.
Upon realizing that the veteran deflected his blow he immediately spun, sweeping at the swordsman's torso. The old swordsman was forced to step back and dodge. "The Sweeping Slash, now show me the last one."
The two strikes that he showed the old man were the fundamental techniques of the Spear Art, with the third technique simply being an add-on to make it something that is recognized by the Status Screens.
Chucking his aura-enhanced spear in the air, the boy managed to graze the veteran's cheek. A Markluzian Spearman can only use aura in these three movements, the thrust, the sweeping slash and the throw. Showing proficiency in the use of all three made it easy for the clerk to reach his conclusion.
"Well then lad, I've seen enough. I'll be needing a fee of about 50 coins."
And just like that he was registered as a mercenary. The rest of his remaining funds would be used on buying up supplies and having his spear maintained. By nightfall he was headed back into the forest.
The insect soldier guarded the rest of their supplies while he was away, while also making sure to steer clear of people. Because to anyone that saw the creature a likely conclusion would be that it's a monster.
"We can't stay here, it's too risky. This is where the Commander hired mercenaries last time." He thought out loud. "Which is why we're headed to anywhere but here."
He had enough supplies to last him for at least 2 weeks out in the wild. He was also confident that he could survive the forests all on his own. "But what do I even want to do from now on?"
Newfound freedom would often leave people to wonder about their new purpose.