February 13, 3108
I continued to progress:
Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ☆)
1st Stage: Territory Formation – 6m without armor, 10m with armor
Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4 ☆)
1st Stage: Guided Arrow – The time required to charge the arrow with aether: 3 seconds without armor, 1 second with armor
Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4 ☆)
2nd Stage: Wind Acceleration – I can easily maintain this for 30 minutes
Daily exercises have become a routine that I now manage effortlessly. I complete one full route circuit in an hour, and my technique training has become entirely self-directed. My meditations can last for several hours, and I only stop if the pain from pore overload becomes too intense or if Master tells me to. I estimate that in 2–3 months, I will unlock the armor for my right shoulder.
Impromptu hunts have become far more engaging, though I still haven't managed to land a single hit on Master.
November 30, 3107
Improvised Hunting Day
I briefly detected Master's wind current and immediately started running in its direction.
As I closed in on Master, I drew a deep inhale.
Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4 ☆)
1st Stage: Wind Circulation
Mana Armis: Left Foot + Hand – 1st Form Appearance
Both my hand and foot were enveloped in small tornados.
Next:
2nd Stage: Wind Acceleration
Mana Armis: Left Foot + Hand – 2nd Form Condensation
My hand and foot became visible again, now covered in armor.
The moment my left foot touched the ground:
Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ☆)
1st Stage: Territory Formation – 9m radius
The distance between us closed rapidly, as Master still refrained from using any techniques. The hunt continued like this for hours.
To an untrained observer, it would seem as though two silhouettes were vanishing and reappearing across the terrain—on the ground, in trees, or even atop stones. Amazingly, this rapid pursuit caused no disruption to the environment.
Occasionally, we passed by animals, but they paid us no mind, likely unaware of our presence due to the sheer speed at which this hunt was taking place.
Even though I never lost sight of Master, I couldn't even manage to fire a single arrow. The direction we moved in kept changing constantly, and whenever an opportunity arose where I could potentially take a shot, Master would vanish—behind a tree, higher up in the branches, or down on the ground—but never in a position where he could be hit.
How can he have such insane control?
Mr. Evans didn't rely on any component of Mana Armis. With only Wind Circulation and Territory Formation, he achieved such results purely through masterful body control and an unparalleled sense of timing.
February 13, 3108
Today, I decided it was time to begin practicing the next stages of my techniques.
Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ☆)
Stage 2: Illusionary Redirection
Upon activation, the technique forms a clone that appears directly from your body, misleading the opponent about your direction. The better the technique is executed, the greater the number of clones that can be created.
The major limitation of Territory Formation was that, no matter how fast you moved, the moment it was activated, your movement was constrained to a straight line from the starting point to the edge of the windward hemisphere.
The 2nd stage offers a solution to this problem. However, it's not without flaws: the clone vanishes as soon as it comes into contact with anything. Additionally, if the opponent is highly sensitive to aether—such as a ManaDomain user—they will immediately recognize it as a mana-based illusion.
Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4 ☆)
Stage 2: Wind Slash
This technique surrounds the arrow with wind blades that activate and expand upon hitting the target. With greater mastery, more blades can be summoned, and their reach can be extended.
As I read the techniques from the hologram embedded in the coin Master had given me, he approached and spoke.
"You go to do missions."
"What missions?" I asked.
"You'll see," he replied curtly.
"Where will I see? I'm in the middle of the forest."
"From Collins."
"Master, I have no contact with him, and he already has plenty of staff for various missions."
"I have contact."
With those words, Master handed me a letter.
This time, not a folded piece of paper.
"As you probably know, all the equipment we use comes from him."
"Yeees?"
What does this have to do with missions?
"I promised him that you would carry out missions for his guild until his debt is repaid."
"Master?! At the very least, you could have asked me about this before offering such a proposal."
"And what difference would that have made? Were you planning to stop me?"
"No, but I would have liked to at least know about it."
"Calm down. This was a form of insurance. At the time, I wasn't sure about your origins."
Great insurance method—putting a child in debt.
"Well, as compensation, you'll go to Henry at the guild. He'll give you a 3☆ bow and all the necessary equipment."
"For free?"
"Yes, but he'll probably mention that if you break something, you'll have to pay for it."
There are no generous people on this earth.
"When do I need to leave for the missions? And where am I supposed to go?"
"Within the next three days. He won't assign you anything extraordinary at first. As for the location, I don't know, but you can ask Henry—he'll know for sure."
"And where can I find him?"
"In Eryndor, at the central branch of the Iron Spark Guild. Tell them you're from the Vaylith family, and he'll find you himself."
Okay. I'll leave tomorrow, then.
February 14, 3108
In the morning, I instinctively got up, washed my face, and started getting ready for my usual run.
"Kail, you're leaving today. There's no need to run."
"Oh… right, there's that."
I packed only the bag I had arrived with—now much lighter without all the camping equipment—and started to leave the house.
"Goodbye, Kail,"
Master said casually, not even glancing up from the book he was reading in his rocking chair.
"Goodbye, Master,"
I replied.
And so, I left the Elderwood Forest for the first time in four years. But I wasn't the same person who had entered.
Kail Cindercrest, the outcast of his clan, had entered the forest.
Now, Kail Vaylith, the descendant of Cyclone's Embrace Martial Arts, was walking out.
"And now that descendant doesn't even know which direction to go, because the first time he was brought here by car."
I heard the sound of cars in the distance and started walking toward it. After climbing a hill, I saw a highway about 2 kilometers away. I headed in that direction.
When I reached the highway and tried to find transportation by signaling to passing cars, nothing worked. Not wanting to waste more time, I decided to rely on myself.
Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4☆)
2nd Stage: Wind Acceleration
Mana Armis: Left Foot + Hand – 2nd Form Condensation
I began running at a speed that allowed me to keep up with some cars, even forcing the slower ones to maneuver around me.
After about 20 minutes, I saw a smaller town in the distance, which I reached in just 5 minutes.
Good training.
From there, I headed straight for the public transport station.
As I entered the station, a bus arrived from the very direction I had just come.
Are you kidding me?
I purchased a ticket to Eryndor, boarded the bus, and waited for it to depart.
Just as the driver was about to close the doors, someone called out for him to wait.
Moments later, a strikingly beautiful girl with long black hair and violet eyes stepped onto the bus.
I've seen her before.
After presenting her ticket to the driver, she turned to look for a seat. Her gaze lingered on me for a moment before she sat a few rows ahead.
The bus finally started moving and didn't stop until we arrived in Eryndor.
Eryndor—the capital of human territories and the city where I was born and spent much of my life. Well, to be precise, I grew up in the territories of the Cindercrest clan, located in the suburbs, but they are still part of Eryndor.
Now, I need to find the Iron Spark Guild branch. Where exactly is it? Maybe I should ask someone.
As I considered my options, I noticed the girl from the bus standing nearby, seemingly waiting for someone. Without overthinking it, I approached her and asked:
"Excuse me, can you tell me where the central branch of the Iron Spark Guild is located?"
She gave me a strange look before replying.
"Why not just check your smartwatch?"
"I don't have one."
That wasn't entirely true. I had one, but it was useless in the forest with no signal, so I got rid of it. Besides, it had become too small for me anyway.
After another questioning glance, she finally answered.
"From here, it's about 10 kilometers to the southeast. You can take public transport from the adjacent station. It'll take you straight there."
"Thank you very much."
Eventually, I found myself standing in front of a multi-story building adorned with a hammer-and-gear logo.
Everyone entering was dressed sharply, wearing suits and formal attire fit for a parade. That's when it hit me—this was the day of the weekly auction for specialized equipment.
That explains why she looked at me like that earlier.
In contrast, I was clad in black and dark green hunting clothes. If you showed up to this kind of event dressed like me, not only would you not be taken seriously, but someone might even suggest you see a doctor.
Not that it matters. I'm not here for the auction.
Ignoring the puzzled stares directed my way, I entered the lobby and approached the reception desk.
"Hello, how can I help you?"
"Hello, I'm here to meet Mr. Henry."
The receptionist raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Excuse me, but which Mr. Henry are you referring to?"
"The former head of the guild."
Her welcoming expression didn't falter, but I noticed a brief pause before she responded.
"Ah, you mean Mr. Stoneforge?"
"Yes."
"And who might you be, and what is your business with Mr. Stoneforge?"
"I'm from the Vaylith family. Mr. Henry knows why I'm here. Just let him know I've arrived."
"One moment, please."
She touched her earpiece, relaying my message. After a brief pause, she nodded to the response she received. Turning her attention back to me, she gestured politely.
"Follow me, please."
After those words, every person in the hall turned their gaze toward me. It was obvious why—very few individuals received such special treatment from one of the largest guilds. Typically, this level of service was reserved for members of state leadership, the Twelve Major Classes, or representatives of guilds as prominent as Iron Spark.
For me, however, it held little significance. I'd once received similar honors as the most talented representative of the Cindercrest clan, though that was a lifetime ago.
The receptionist guided me down to the basement, where the auctions were held. We bypassed the main area and made our way to the VIP section, stopping at the entrance to the central balcony.
"Mr. Stoneforge is waiting for you here."
"Thank you."