Chapter 23- Arihant's offer

Soon, Hob and Friz were in front of the training facility. Hob looked at it, trying to contain his emotions, while Friz followed after him with a concerned expression, as if afraid that he'd do something they both would regret.

"Why does it have to be like this? Friz did as much work in the hunt as I did, yet I am the only one who is hunted now. She still has to follow after me as if she is inferior to me," Hob thought, clenching his fists.

Friz looked at Hob's clenched fists and spoke, "Hob, don't do anything we'll both regret later. I still have a way to be free. We just have to work hard for it."

Hob once again concealed his anger and smiled at Friz. "Of course, don't worry about it. I won't do anything bad."

"That smile of yours is saying something else, though. Let's hope you'll stay true to your word," Friz thought to herself but didn't say it out loud, lest it aggravated Hob even more.

Soon they found themselves inside the circular hallway connected to doors on all sides, with Elder Arihant sitting in the middle of it. Arihant was busy instructing those from group 3 about what they should do now that they were "HUNTED."

Soon everyone else was gone, and only Hob and Friz stood in front of Elder Arihant.

Elder Arihant was about to speak when Hob cut him off and asked, "Why should Friz still stay my assistant instead of being hunted, even though she actually worked as hard as I did, or maybe even harder, to be here?"

Friz was taken aback by Hob's straightforward question to Arihant, and more than that by the fact that he did it for her. But Elder Arihant stayed calm and smiled, feeling nostalgic.

"It's been a long time since I heard that question, so long that I am even doubting my ears. But there's no mistake that I heard right, seeing your expression. So, for the answer, what if I say that it is because no one asks this question? Everyone just accepts their fate without ever questioning it or trying to change it. But seeing that you have indeed asked this question and for someone else's fate at that, I commend your bravery, young one. As for her being hunted, I have no problem with it, but it will come with a condition. Will you dare accept it, young man?" Elder Arihant said with interest in his eyes.

Hob and Friz were taken aback by Elder Arihant's reply. They never thought that the simple act of not questioning was keeping so many lambs from becoming hunted.

They both looked at each other, and with resolve in their eyes, nodded and said in unison, "We want to know what the condition is, Elder Arihant."

"We also want to know the condition for a lamb to become hunted." A voice sounded from behind Hob and Friz. Turning around, they saw Amy and Geld walking toward them.

Amy and Geld looked at Friz and Hob and nodded at them. "Pardon our intrusion, Elder Arihant, but we were also coming here to ask the same question. We happened to find that Hob and Friz had already asked it. We also want to know this condition you speak of, Elder Arihant," Geld said with resolve in his eyes.

"As expected, you're the ones these two teamed up with for the hunt. Very well, then I will tell you what this condition is now, but remember you should never mention it in front of someone who never asked for it and doesn't have the courage to come here and try to change their fate. Do you understand?" Elder Arihant said in a serious voice.

"Yes, Elder Arihant." Everyone in the group said in unison, their eyes even more determined than before.

"Then you shall become a member of my very own battalion. It is named after me and has only one purpose: to serve me and do what I say. But it is also possible to mobilize it for your own purpose if you have enough merits. Of course, that is if I allow it and if other members agree to be mobilized. Rather than that, if you can persuade me to agree with the mobilization, you won't have to pay anything, and all members will be forced to mobilize as well. Though it won't be that easy, you can give it a shot," Elder Arihant said, looking intently at the four.

The four of them looked at each other, looking a little hesitant. After some time had passed, Friz was the one to speak first, "If we may ask, what is this battalion used for most of the time?"

"I am glad that you asked. Other than the tasks I take them on, it is mostly the regular hunting quota according to which we have to hunt one monster per member of the battalion every month. But we do have some really dangerous missions to complete every now and then," Elder Arihant said matter-of-factly.

The group heaved a sigh of relief, realizing that it wasn't as dangerous as they had thought it to be. The four of them looked at each other and nodded.

"We accept this condition, Elder Arihant. We hope all of us can be called hunted together soon," Amy said with a smile on her face.

"Very well, then. We'll be setting off tomorrow to go to our battalion's base. Though it is a long journey, so make sure to pack properly. We won't be back here anytime soon. As for Friz and Geld, I'll fetch two badges myself and give them to you both at the start of our journey," Elder Arihant said, seemingly in thought.

"Thank you, Elder Arihant," Friz and Geld said, giving Arihant a deep bow.

"Also, since you're all hunted already, go to Dell and tell him that you're joining my battalion and pick up something suitable for you in addition to the weapons you already have. It'll come in handy during the journey. And remember to ask for some antibody injections from the reception too, but make sure not to overdose. Take them according to the dose they tell you; it can be dangerous otherwise," Elder Arihant said, remembering something.

"Yes, Elder Arihant," the group said in unison.

"Also, call me Commander from now on, not Elder. I am a Commander to you now. And you are dismissed for now. Go back and prepare for the journey," Elder Arihant said in a loud voice.

"Yes, Commander!!" The four shouted at the top of their lungs and walked out of the building with measured steps.

Once outside, the four of them let out a huge sigh as if a huge weight was lifted off their heads.

"So, you guys were also planning to ask that question?" Hob asked doubtfully.

"Sigh... No, but we were planning to ask how many merit points were needed for it. But we heard your conversation with the Commander midway. I hope you'll keep it a secret, though; otherwise, I won't be able to become a full-fledged hunted," Geld said with pleading eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, we'll keep it between us. It's good to have someone reliable in the new battalion with us. Good work, you two," Hob said, almost letting out a laugh.

"Let's go and get the stuff the Commander asked us to get before someone catches us talking about how you cheated your way in," Friz said, suppressing a laugh as well.

"Yes, yes, let's go. At least we managed to grab this chance," Geld said, finally realizing what saying it out loud could bring upon himself.

The four of them soon left and got back to the main building. As always, Hob went forward and asked, "Hey, Gordon, I was wondering where Dell is right now. I need to meet him for something."

"He should be in his armory right now, like always. Let me tell you, he's a lunatic when it comes to blacksmithing," Gordon said, pointing to the room behind him from where Dell had brought Hob and Friz's weapons.

"Can you please tell him that we want to meet him right now?" Hob said to Gordon.

"Alright, I'll go tell him if that's what you want," Gordon said and walked into the room at the back. Then he came back out with an irritated face.

"He's saying that you guys can go in if you want to meet him, but don't make too much noise as he is in the middle of something," Gordon said, regaining his professional attitude again.

"Oh, okay, we'll go and meet him in there then," Hob said hesitantly.

The four of them glanced at each other and went forward into the room behind the reception together. As soon as they entered, they were hit with a wave of heat to their faces, but they endured the heat and entered the room, walking towards Dell, who seemed to be forging something.