The group had been traveling for five days, stopping here and there to rest, eat, and most importantly bathe. With each night, their once-harsh journey had turned into something to look forward to. They had become so accustomed to Valerius' hot baths that they expected one every time they camped.
Now, just a day away from Vulan, they stopped before nightfall to rest their horses.
Finding a shaded spot with a cool breeze, everyone settled in.
"I can't wait to find the next campsite and get a nice, steamy bath," Serephina sighed, stretching her arms.
"Right?" Draven leaned back against a tree. "Now I have something to look forward to every day."
Grimwald, who had been staring at Valerius for a while, suddenly spoke up.
"Brother, I have a question."
Valerius, half-lying on the grass, cracked one eye open. "What?"
Grimwald kept a straight face. "If you're thirsty, can't you just… generate water with your mana and drink it?"
Silence.
A deep, unsettling silence.
Valerius sat up, staring at Grimwald as if he had just asked if sky was made of cheese.
"…What?"
"I mean, think about it," Grimwald continued, oblivious to everyone's horrified expressions. "It makes sense, doesn't it? You use water magic, you create water. So why not "
Valerius immediately held up a hand. "I understand the question. My question is why did you even think of this?"
Grimwald shrugged. "I was just thinking."
Valerius sighed.
"What?" Grimwald frowned. "I thought it was a great idea."
Serephina turned to him, her face twisted in absolute disgust.
"You moron," she said. "If you were dying of thirst, would you drink your own pee?"
Grimwald recoiled. "Ew! No! Why the hell would I do that?!"
"Exactly," Serephina crossed her arms. "Then why are you expecting him to drink water that he produced from his own mana?"
Grimwald's expression shifted to pure horror. "…Wait. Wait. Does that mean " His eyes widened. "Does that mean we've been bathing in his pee this whole time?!"
Serephina slapped her forehead. "Oh, for god sakes of course not! That's just what it would feel like for the person who created it."
She sighed, shaking her head. "Do you think you're the first idiot to have this thought? Trust me, so many morons before you have asked the exact same question."
She paused.
"…Of course, I was one of those morons," she added meekly.
Grimwald looked down, ashamed. "Ah… sorry, sorry. Didn't mean to make things weird."
The group let out an exasperated sigh before relaxing again.
Coleen stood and stretched, pacing around to shake off the stiffness in her legs. Valerius lay back on a small earth platform he had shaped beneath him, enjoying the cool breeze. Draven and Grimwald sat on a large rock, and Serephina leaned against a tree, eyes half-closed.
For a moment, everything was peaceful.
Then
Valerius froze.
His body tensed, his instincts flaring like a wildfire.
Danger.
He sat up, eyes narrowing.
"Guys."
His tone was sharp immediate. The others snapped to attention.
"I sense monsters nearby. Predator-class. Multiple of them."
Draven immediately unsheathed his sword. "Which direction?"
"East. About a hundred meters away."
Draven and Grimwald exchanged glances.
"Oh, along with the direction, you can also tell the distance?" Grimwald muttered. "You really are something else. Unlike me, who can barely "
"Now is not the time for flattery," Valerius cut him off, already moving toward his horse. He reached for his saddle and pulled out a dagger.
The moment he did, Grimwald whistled. "Ohhh, that's a beautiful blade. Masterful craftsmanship. Don't tell me you made that yourself?"
"No," Valerius said simply, flipping the dagger between his fingers. "Now let's go."
The group fell into formation, following his lead.
The moment they started moving
A bloodcurdling scream pierced the air.
It wasn't just any scream. It was a scream of pure, primal terror.
The type that only came from someone who had just seen death itself.
Serephina's breath hitched. "That… didn't sound like a monster."
"Ahh… Help me… Get away, you filthy beasts! I don't want to die!"
A man's voice rang out, desperate and panicked.
The group, already moving cautiously, froze for a split second before exchanging glances.
Then they sprinted.
By the time they arrived, the scene was already grim.
A lone man had been backed into a tree, dragging himself backward on the dirt as a pack of monsters closed in on him. The creatures moved in a coordinated formation, cutting off every possible escape route. Their sleek black bodies blended into the dimming forest light, their glowing green eyes locked onto their prey.
"Shit," Draven cursed, tightening his grip on his sword. "They're smart. They practically locked him in place. What are those things?"
"They're called Reapers," Grimwald answered, his voice steady but serious. "They have a wind attribute, and their compressed wind attacks are deadly. They don't usually use them unless they feel threatened but if they do, we're in trouble. Oh, and their skins are completely fire-resistant."
Draven clicked his tongue. "So I can't use fire. Great."
Before they could move, Draven turned to Valerius.
"Valerius, stand down this time. These are predator-class monsters. Let us handle them. It's been too long since we've fought anything serious. We don't want our skills getting rusty."
Valerius raised an eyebrow but smirked, flipping his dagger in his fingers before sliding it back into its sheath. "If that's what you want, I won't stop you." He leaned against a tree, crossing his arms. "But do put on a show for me."
Draven nodded, then barked out orders.
"Grimwald, Serephina you're with me. Coleen, you said you could use a bow, right?"
"Yes," Coleen replied, already nocking an arrow.
"Good. Cover us from behind. If those bastards try to flank us, take them out."
Coleen gave a sharp nod.
The man under the tree saw them. "Oh thank god there's people! Please, save me!"
"Don't move!" Draven called back before turning to Serephina. "Hit their feet with a fire spell! Kick up enough dust to blind them for a few seconds. That'll give us an opening to rush in before they pounce."
Serephina grinned. "Now that I can do."
She raised her hands, a burst of fire striking the ground near the Reapers.
FWOOM!
The impact sent dirt and dust flying everywhere, momentarily shrouding the monsters in a thick, swirling cloud.
"Move!"
Draven and Grimwald launched forward.
Both of them activated their mana, boosting their speed.
Grimwald's wind attribute made him light on his feet, while Draven, unable to use his fire, relied on raw mana reinforcement instead. They split up Draven took the left, Grimwald took the right.
The Reapers had no time to react.
STAB!
SLASH!
Two fell instantly one from Grimwald's sword, the other from Draven's clean cut across the throat.
They turned and struck again two more down.
But the remaining three had already regained their senses.
They were fast.
The moment Draven and Grimwald landed from their attacks, the remaining Reapers leaped behind them, cutting off their escape.
"Damn it," Draven muttered, spinning on his heel.
"Their stance watch out!" Grimwald shouted. "They're about to use Compressed Wind! If that hits, we're losing a limb! And we don't even have high-grade Vitalis!"
The Reapers' bodies tensed.
Then
THWACK!
An arrow whistled through the air, embedding itself directly into one of the Reapers' skulls.
The monster collapsed instantly.
"Nice cover, Coleen!" Draven called out.
"Don't mention it," Coleen replied, already nocking another arrow.
Draven turned back to Serephina. "Another fire spell now! The last two are grouped together!"
"On it!"
Serephina fired, but the Reapers were smarter now.
They dodged narrowly avoiding the blast.
"Uselessly smart bastards," Grimwald groaned, gripping his axes tightly as the Reapers changed tactics.
Now realizing that their compressed wind attacks left them vulnerable to Coleen's arrows, the remaining two Reapers abandoned magic entirely. Instead, they used wind-enhanced leap attacks, their bodies launching forward at speeds faster than before.
"Shit, I can't dodge this," Draven gritted his teeth. Without his fire attribute rendered useless against these monsters he had to rely on raw mana reinforcement, which wasn't nearly as effective for agility.
One of the Reapers closed in, claws outstretched, inches away
SHING!
A flash of black metal.
A dagger cut through the air, slicing the Reaper clean in half before it reached Draven.
The two halves of the monster thudded to the ground, its lifeless body twitching.
Draven hit the dirt, gasping. "Hah hah I was saved. Again. Damn it "
Valerius stood several feet away, lowering his hand after throwing the dagger. His face was calm, almost bored.
Meanwhile, Grimwald had managed to dodge his own attacker, using his wind attribute to enhance his movements. While the Reaper was still midair, he twisted around and buried his axe deep into the monster's neck.
With a wet crunch, the beast collapsed.
"Hah… hah… I did it!" Grimwald shouted in triumph.
With that, all seven Reapers lay dead bleeding and covered in dust from Serephina's earlier attack.
A slow clapping sound echoed.
Valerius.
He stood up, watching the group with a smirk. "Not bad. Not bad at all." He stopped clapping and crossed his arms. "You messed up at the end, though."
Draven groaned, pushing himself to his feet. "Yeah, yeah, I get it."
"But overall," Valerius continued, "I'm actually surprised. You guys have some great teamwork. And Coleen? You fit in faster than I expected."
Coleen lowered her bow, raising an eyebrow. "You think so?"
Valerius nodded. "Sure, you're rough around the edges, but that's just a lack of experience. The way Draven devised a strategy on the spot by quickly analyzing the monsters was impressive." He gestured at Draven. "You just need to learn how to use your resources more effectively. That'll come with time."
Draven exhaled, rubbing the back of his head. "Tch… imagine getting complimented by a younger guy and actually feeling happy about it." He sighed, then smirked. "Well, thanks for the feedback. You are the senior when it comes to monster hunting, after all."
He turned to Coleen. "And thank you for covering us at the end. I thought we were done for."
Coleen gave a small smile. "It was nothing. Your fight was impressive."
Grimwald let out a huff, grinning. "Brother, I won't lie that meant a lot coming from you."
"And Serephina," Valerius added, "your accuracy in hitting their legs while they were moving? That's not easy." He looked around at all of them. "You all have potential."
Serephina pouted, crossing her arms. "Hmph. Stop acting like you're our master."
Grimwald chuckled, then blinked. "Wait aren't we forgetting something?"
He turned and pointed to the shaking man still huddled beneath the tree.
"…Oh. Right."
Valerius stepped forward, crouching slightly. "Hey, mister. You alright?"
The man snapped out of his terrified daze. "Huh? Oh. Y-Yeah, I'm fine. Totally fine." His voice trembled.
Valerius frowned. "You don't seem fine."
He extended a hand to help him up.
The man hesitated before grabbing Valerius' arm, standing on wobbly legs. "Thank you for saving me," he said, finally composing himself. "I thought I was dead."
"No problem," Valerius replied. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
The man checked himself over. "Just a few scratches from running. Nothing serious."
Valerius nodded. "Good. Be careful from now on, alright?"
The man sighed in relief. But then
His eyes widened.
He had noticed something.
"Wait!!" he suddenly yelled.
Valerius tensed. "What is it?"
The man pointed. "That dagger where did you get it?"
Valerius glanced at the weapon in his hand. "This?" He held it up. "It was given to me by my master a few years ago. Why?"
The man stepped forward, staring at it intently. "Can I… see it?"
Valerius hesitated before handing it over. "Uh, sure."
The moment the man held the dagger, his eyes lit up. The fear and anxiety from earlier vanished, replaced by genuine excitement.
"I knew it!" he exclaimed. "This is definitely the work of my grandfather!"
Valerius blinked. "What?"
The man quickly pulled out his own dagger and held it next to Valerius'. "See? Even though they look different, the craftsmanship is the same."
Valerius studied them side by side. "You're right… they do have the same fundamental design." His eyes flicked up. "You said your grandfather made this?"
The man nodded. "Yes. This was the last weapon we made together, three years ago before he passed away." His expression darkened.
"…I see," Valerius said quietly. "I've had this dagger for about five years. It's one of my favorites I take good care of it."
The man took a deep breath, looking down at the blade. "…My name's Hakon. Hakon Bloodaxe. I'm an aspiring blacksmith and inventor."
Valerius paused.
Bloodaxe.
Suddenly, he remembered.
His master's voice, long ago
"This dagger is made by the Bloodaxe family. Treasure it carefully."
Valerius looked at Hakon. "…Bloodaxe. Yeah, I remember now. My master told me this dagger was made by your family."
Hakon's eyes softened. "That's right. The Bloodaxe family is well-known in Caelumir for our craftsmanship. I'm glad to see my grandfather's work still being used."
Valerius smirked. "Not just this dagger. I have another one, and a longsword. The longsword is my favorite."
Hakon perked up. "Oh? Is it okay if I see it?"
Valerius shrugged. "I don't see why not. But our horses are tied up a bit far from here. You'll have to follow us."
"I'll do that, then."
Valerius turned to the others. "Almost forgot this is Draven, swordsman. Over there's Grimwald, twin axes. That's Serephina, a mage. And Coleen she's an archer and from a blacksmith family too. You might know them."
Hakon's eyes lit up. "Oh? Coleen, what's your family name? I might've heard of you."
Coleen stiffened. "W-Well, uh…" She hesitated, then forced a smile. "We're the Kanners. But we mostly operate in Vornheim, so you probably haven't heard of us."
Valerius narrowed his eyes slightly.
Another lie.
What are you hiding, Coleen?
Hakon furrowed his brows, thinking. "Kanners… Hmm. Nope, don't think I've heard of you. Sorry about that."
Coleen's forced smile relaxed into a real one. "Please, don't worry about it. The world's huge it'd be selfish to expect everyone to know us."
Hakon froze.
Her smile so warm, so genuine
His heart skipped a beat.
He quickly turned away, rubbing the back of his neck. "W-Well… that's true…"
Serephina sighed.
"…Let's go already." Hakon said hiding his blush.
The group laughed and led Hakon back to their horses. While heading back, Valerius asked each member to carry a Reaper corpse so they could cook it for dinner.