After having delicious stew and sleeping, Arin found himself awake just before the sun rose. He made his way over to the waterfall and pulled his clothes off and neatly set them off to its usual side before taking a dip.
He cleaned himself before committing to a couple hours under the waterfall. The intense training had slowly become his routine in the sanctuary.
A couple hours had netted him +2 Focus, +1 Endurance and +.5 Strength raising these three stats to 20.5 Focus (25.5), 14.5 Endurance and 14.5 (19.5) Strength.
He swam out from underneath the waterfall and pulled himself out of it. As if out of some sort of instinct, he shook the water off and put his new clothes on.
"Oh, Mr. Arin, we are about to leave!" The Merchant waved as soon as Arin walked across the bridge. The camp they had made had been dissembled, leaving the remnants of a campfire behind. "I can't express how thankful I am you allowed us to rest in your home!"
"You're leaving soon?" Arin raised an eyebrow. It would take about a half's day journey on foot. With the wagon and horses, it might be slightly faster. "Are you sure you don't want to stay for breakfast?"
"We will eat on the way when the sun is much higher. Thank you, again, for allowing us to stay here." The Merchant smiled. The two shook hands before the Merchant excused himself to double-check everything was in order.
Lira lingered at the edge of Arin's peripheral vision. It seemed like she had something to say, but turned away as if she was deliberately ignoring him.
"Master," Nocturnis trotted over to Arin's side. "Are they leaving already?"
"Mmm." Arin answered. "We should try to find that Wolf again."
"You're already searching for more danger after one barely passed? We almost lost to that thing if it weren't for your reckless behavior." Nocturnis was right. They barely got out of that alive. Nocturnis had barely healed yet Arin found himself craving more interactions with that Beast.
"I understand. Maybe we should completely let you heal before we find it, again." Arin sighed. "In the mean time, maybe I should find some monsters to fight?"
"You're really not going back with us?" Lira asked. Arin turned to watch the archer fold her arms as she came to a stop a couple feet away from him. "Do you know what's coming up soon?"
Arin thought for a moment and realized Lira wouldn't have come back for anything else. It was another year since the tragedy thirteen years ago.
"Ah, right." Arin nodded. "That."
"Aren't you going to ever attend one of those? Since you are the one who—"
"It's about the dead not me. Why would I attend and hog all the attention?" Arin responded arrogantly. He raised an eyebrow to Lira, knowing exactly what he was saying would piss her off more. "I don't think you'd even want me near since I was the one who apparently caused all of that. It's not like a Beast wave was coming or anything, oh nooo~"
"You're such an asshole." Lira stomped off.
'She wouldn't listen to me even if I told her the full truth.' Arin thought. The rememberance for the lost lives thirteen years ago was held to remember those who fought to protect and those who lost their lives because of the Beast wave.
The skewed perception of Arin causing all of it had twisted somewhere early on and it was something he didn't really know about. 'Should I go? It's been thirteen years. It's not like their words hurt any more than they do now. Maybe it'll do me good to finally pay the others who risked their life that night rather than pay respects in private…'
He let out a groan of frustration and turned to cross the bridge. Nocturnis followed his Master, watching as his Master collapsed onto his makeshift bed face first and not move.
Time passed at a snail's pace as Arin thought about what he should do. The Merchant and his family including Lira had long left and he was stuck thinking about whether or not he should go.
From what he knew, they held it near the ancient Eldergrove Tree. It was the holiest place for Thornwood and the place where everyone would gather because the ancestors were rested there.
'Fine,' Arin rose from his makeshift bed and grabbed his spear. He turned and started towards the bridge with Nocturnis lifting himself and following. 'It's better late than never.'
- - -
Arin and Nocturnis shadow stepped their way to the village. When they got there Arin turned to tell Nocturnis to wait, but the large cat had shown a strange trick.
"You can shrink yourself?" Arin asked Nocturnis. He looked like small black cat version of himself with the split tail and yellow eyes.
"Everyone seems worried about my size, so I thought I would shrink myself to alleviate their fear of me." Nocturnis responded. "This way they won't be so afraid of me and take me as one of the domesticated Beasts."
"If I knew you could do this, I would've asked for you to do this sooner." Arin turned and stepped out from the comfort of the forests shadows and onto the main dirt road path. He followed with the butt of his spear hitting the ground with each step.
The guards recognized Arin instantly and stuck their hands out. "Arin, you're returning, again? How long are you staying this time?"
"For tonight, maybe." Arin shrugged. The guards narrowed their eyes and he lifted both of his hands up into the air. "I only come to pay respects since it is that day."
"You pay respects?" The first guard scoffed. "I don't think I've seen you at one of these since we started doing them. Why would you pay respects?"
"Hey, it's not our place to judge him." The second guard put a hand on the first guard's shoulder and pulled him back. "A lot of people lost someone that day. We all mourn and come to remember together as a village. He is one of us."
"Is he?" The first guard raised an eyebrow. "The way he acts it's as if he isn't." The guard stepped away back to his spot while the second sighed and shook his head.
"Where's your the Shadow Panther? Isn't it always with you?" The second guard looked around for the large cat but found nothing but a small cat sitting net to Arin.
"Here's with me." Arin pointed at the small cat.
"It can shapeshift?"
"It's better for everyone if it's small, right? It's harmless and this shape imitates that harmlessness." They both knew that statement was wrong but the second guard could only nod and allow them in.
"Oh," the second guard turned to Arin. "The Hunter Leader is leading midday training for the young Hunters. You should report that you're back. It seems like Hunter Leader has been worried ever since you left the way you did last time."
Arin waved his hand, understanding what the second guard meant. Father did chase him all the way to the sacred tree. He would've never step foot in the sacred area without the Spiritualist around.
He made his way to the training courtyard and listened to the training spears hit against each other. Grunts and shouts moved together in harmony, creating a rhythmic song as Hunter Leader Aloe stood in front of the young Hunters with his watchful eye.
"Good, you may rest for a couple minutes before next set." Aloe said. The young Hunters including Vee and Goriath saluted before breaking off into their respective little groups to sit and chit-chat.
"Father, I'm home." Arin spoke as he stepped into the courtyard. Everyone seemed to notice him as soon as he spoke. It must've been the effects of Shadow Cloak.
Aloe's eyes stared long and hard at his son. Arin wondered if he would get yelled at and told to do his punishment regimen for running away for the third time in a row.
Aloe's eyes glanced at the blue spear. "Did you break another spear? Where did you get that one?"
"I fear I'm unlucky when it comes to keeping a spear. I'm hoping this one I got from saving a Merchant lasts." Arin answered.
"Is it one of the many merchants that have been pooling in for the remembrance? It turned into a festival of sorts." Aloe sighed before muttering about how the dead must be rolling in their graves for a tragic event to be turned into a festival.
"Mmm, they wanted to trade wares and information from what I heard." Arin took a step closer to his Father. He turned to look at the courtyard where most were trying to not make it look like they were paying attention to their conversation. "I saw Lira, too. She came with them. Should be on their way anytime now."
"Lira's back?" Vee perked up. She grew red hot realizing she was the first who basically confessed she was easedropping on the Father and son duo.
"Mm, she'll be here soon." Arin answered loudly across the courtyard.
"I can't wait to see her, again! She's told me so many stories, I—" Vee stopped and slowly sat down. "Sorry, I didn't mean to."
"Quite alright." Aloe shook his head. He turned to his son. "Why don't we spar, son, hm? Let's see if spending time in the wild has heightened your senses and sharpened your moves."
"Alright." Arin nodded, nonchalantly. He lifted Energizing Rune and made his way over to the courtyard battlefield.