Two more weeks passed as swiftly as they had arrived, marking Aldrich's stay in Countess Anita Marguerite's home at nearly a month.
Life in the mansion had settled into a blissful routine.
The grandeur of the place no longer felt overwhelming, and Aldrich had adjusted well.
He'd earned the respect of the knights and the staff, especially after his remarkable performance during the duel with Jacob.
Since that day, several knights had approached him, asking questions about his training.
Where had he learned to wield the bow with such precision? Who had taught him?
His responses were always polite, but evasive.
It's not like he could tell them he got the natural talent from his father who also handed him the intricate techniques involving bow-wielding, shattering the norms of limitations placed on bow art.
The county, however, was not without its dangers.
To the west lay a forest teeming with Deamans—terrifying creatures that had undergone Ki transformation, evolving into more aggressive and powerful forms.
Faster and stronger, they were a constant threat to the county.
Every month, as their numbers grew, the knights of Countess Marguerite would rally and purge them, ensuring the safety of the land.
The Deamans reproduced at an alarming rate, with their breeding cycle occurring every two to three months.
If left unchecked, their numbers would swell beyond control, and it wouldn't be long before they overran the county.
Worse still, they would continue their assault across the land, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
That's why, each month, the knights ventured into the forest-Veridon's Maw, under the leadership of Knight Captain Duncan.
The forest was a notorious breeding ground for these beasts, and the knights' mission was simple: cull the Deamans before they posed a greater threat.
Two goals were achieved from this regular purge: the safety of the nation, and the sharpening of the knights' skills.
Aldrich had requested to join the next expedition, seeking a more dangerous training ground, courtesy of Knight Captain Duncan who had promised him a place on the upcoming hunt.
In the meantime, Aldrich turned his focus to mastering his Ki beyond the current base level.
He had recently begun to regulate his Ki circulation to achieve higher Ki refinement.
Even though his Aldaman blood gifted him a naturally potent core, he chose to undergo the refinement process, a technique typically reserved for those with weaker Ki reserves.
His choice would puzzle some when all he had to do was awaken his bloodline art and constantly train it.
Doing that alone was a guarantee of strength on a noticeable level.
But Aldrich knew the stakes.
While the Aldamans were blessed with abundant Ki, there were individuals, monstrous in power who could rival entire cities with the amount of Ki reserves they have in their core.
And then there were the Lords the highest ranking in the mystic order whose Ki reserves dwarfed nations.
Those beasts aside, Aldrich with his ki reserve and exclusive Aldaman art would one day be a force to be weary of.
However for the sake of the future threats lurking around, he would need more than just natural talents, Aldaman's massive Ki reserve and especially the Aldaman's unique art.
He would need every advantage he could muster.
For now, his Ki refinement was in the early stages, but with diligent training and the techniques he had gleaned from the novels, he was confident he could make significant progress within six months.
His bow skills had already improved, and his control over his Ki was growing with each passing day.
Time flowed swiftly, and soon, the day of departure arrived.
"Is Miss Anita still unavailable, as she has been the last dozen times I've asked about her?"
Aldrich asked as he walked down the corridor, Selina at his side.
The maid had taken it upon herself to accompany him as a form of courtesy.
"She's locked herself up in the library," Selina replied, her voice soft but matter-of-fact.
Aldrich couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
The idea of locking oneself in a library seemed foreign to him.
Who would willingly spend hours surrounded by books, especially when they weren't under any affliction?
"I guess I'll never understand her," Aldrich muttered with a slight chuckle.
"Good luck to her and whatever knowledge she's planning to amass."
He was genuinely hoping he could get a glimpse of her before they left, perhaps a goodbye from either one of them.
"Don't let it trouble you," Selina said.
"The Countess isn't one for farewells, and she doesn't make a habit of seeing off the knights before their expeditions."
Aldrich nodded, unsurprised.
He'd only met the Countess a few times, but it was enough to form a clear picture of her reserved nature.
Outside, the knights were already gathered, awaiting his arrival.
As Aldrich stepped out, the cool morning air greeted him.
"You're late, kid!" Captain Duncan called out, his voice booming as he spotted Aldrich.
"Apologies, Captain. I was held up trying to get my hair in order."
Aldrich smiled as he gestured to his long silver hair, tied neatly in a ponytail to keep it out of his way.
One of the knights scoffed, shaking his head. "Pretty boys like you are always a pain."
"If you're jealous of my hair, just say so," Aldrich shot back, smirking.
"No need to hold a grudge—especially when you've got that bald head of yours to deal with." he added.
The other knights burst into laughter, much to the bald knight's chagrin.
"All right, all right," Captain Duncan interjected, a smile tugging at his lips.
"Enough jokes. We're about to head into dangerous territory, so let's stay focused."
The laughter died down, replaced by the sombre realization of what lay ahead.
Duncan turned to Aldrich, his eyes narrowing slightly. "So, are you ready for your first hunt?"
Aldrich's grip tightened around his bow. His voice was steady as he replied, "Never been more ready."
Captain Duncan gave him a curt nod, satisfied with the answer.
He then turned to address the rest of the group, his tone becoming more serious.
"This isn't just another hunt," he began.
"The Deamans have been growing in number, and reports suggest they're becoming more aggressive. We need to be sharp. Stay close, follow my lead, and we'll come back in one piece."
The knights responded with a unified, confident murmur.
The mission was clear in their expressions.
Aldrich took a deep breath, steadying himself.
This was the moment he had been waiting for. His first real test.