The Arcane Hunter

'The Rising...'

"Whoa! So this is a city?" Athena asked with wide eyes.

"Uh... Yeah?" Davi shrugged. "I mean on Wasteland Island they aren't common but I at least know what they are. Are you saying you don't?"

"No." Athena shook her head looking at the many towers, and strange metal machines being pulled by invisible horses. "Every Kingdom has different styles of advancements. In Wormelow we all still live in trees."

"T... Trees?"

"Yeah. It was supposed to be how the elves lived before they went extinct 400 years ago during the war with King Arthur."

Davi hummed scratching at his chin. "A lot of races went extinct back then though... All the dwarves' fled under ground, the giants went back to paradise, and the elves were all killed by the Traitor. At least that's what my older sister told me. She's kind of a History nerd and loves learning about that kind of stuff. I've made it one of my missions to map out the world so I can send it to her since she can't leave the island-" Davi stopped suddenly when he noticed something. "...What's that up ahead?" He asked.

Athena stared ahead and frowned. "It's a crowd." She said unhelpfully making Davi sigh.

"Right... How did I not realize that..."

In front of the two, a large crowd of cheering girls could be seen all staring excitedly at something. They all seemed to have surrounded someone and were all cheering at them excitedly. They yelled louder and louder surrounding this person who was impossible to make out from all the bodies that covered them.

"What's with that?" Davi questioned. "A famous guy in town?"

"How should I know?" Athena shrugged.

"I mean you have amazing senses right?"

"Not that good. You'll have to ask one of these... Fan... Girls?"

"Yo," Davi asked tapping a girl on the shoulder. The girl turned to him slightly in annoyance from being dragged away from what ever it was that she was doing. "Hey what's up with this crowd?" Davi asked curiously.

The girl shot him a look for a moment. "You don't know? What did you guys just get here?"

Davi and Athena looked at each other for a moment. "Yeah. Is whoever in the crowd a big deal?" Athena asked.

"Are they a big deal! They're Master Grimval! What do you think?"

"...We don't know who that is." Athena said flatly. "It sounds familiar though?"

"You don't know who Master Grimval is!" The woman looked horrified and disgusted with them for a moment. "The Master Grimval. As in one of the strongest Light Magic-Users in the world! A powerful Noble who is serving our Country while the King is sick! He has taken the royal family under his wing vowing to protect our Country until the King gets better! He is the leader of the greatest and coolest Guild around protecting all manner of people! The Shinning Sentinels made up of only the best of the best! He's the strongest Knight in the Country, and the most skilled Arcane Hunter taking on any Quest, slaying monsters and dragons alike! He'll kill an Oddity Beast! He's the greatest and coolest Arcane Hunter ever!"

"I thought he was one of those rich boys who wouldn't go to these backwater dumps of cities?"

"Yeah? If he's as great as you're trying to claim he is, I really don't think Grimval would be caught dead in this place?" Athena said cocking her head to the side. "I've met Nobles before. Most are jerks."

"Well you're both wrong!" The woman announced. "It's the one and only Master Grimval! One of the greatest people in the world! He's so kind and cool, and strong-"

"Yeah, whatever," Davi said placing his hand on her face and forcefully turning her around much to her anger. "You want to check this out? I think Grimval is strong right? Maybe he knows where your monster is? Or at the very least he might know about those Devil Stones I'm looking for. He might even let us just join his Guild if we can ask him?"

"Sure." Athena shrugged. "But how are we gonna get through this crowd?" She pulled her lion toy off of her head and held it out in front of her. "Should I slice everyone in half? Just give the word-"

"Yeah no! That would be a bit messy..." Davi hummed before reaching for the guitar that hung on his back. He held it in both his hands about to play it. "...Explosions?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"I see no way this plan can fail."

"Me either! Get on my back!" Davi announced drawing his guitar as it began to glow.

***

Oliver walked out of the store Cath, the weird cat riding on his head. In his arms he held the wrapped up golden sword as he gave a small smile. "We made out with a good deal right Cath!" He asked.

'Bark!' The cat barked it's tail wagging.

"Hey. Don't go making dog sounds... People are gonna think you're an Oddity Beast..." Oliver chuckled. He slightly moved the covers allowing him to see the blade looking down at his reflection. "This sword is..." He gave a small smile as he ran his hand over it. "I'm gonna use it to become a famous Knight... I'll be the best Arcane Hunter and draw the sword in the stone... I'll save Camelot... And I'll show them... I'll show them anyone can be a hero."

Oliver was cut off midsentence when he saw a large crowd that had formed in front of him.

"Huh? What's that?"

The crowd seemed to be made up entirely of women who all seemed to be freaking out about someone. All of them were cheering and calling out to the person who was at the center of the crowd.

"Notice me Master Grimval!" One girl cheered making Oliver's eyes go wide.

"D... Did she say... M... Master Grimval! As in leader of the Shinning Sentinels Guild! The man who is running the Country alongside Master Venefectus, and Lady Abigal the leader of the Umbra Mortis, and the Mourning Stars guild! That Grimval!"

"Yeah!" A woman said excitedly. "Isn't it great!"

"What is someone as famous as him doing in a dump of a city like this?"

"He says he's here to recruit one lucky individual for his Guild! He claims the King saw a vision of a powerful Wizard, who he wants to recruit as an Arcane Hunter for one of the ten guilds! He's going to personally take this person to Oleander and make sure they get a spot on one of the ten great Guilds... I'm so jealous. I wish I had Arcane Energy but only 30% of the worlds population can use it..."

Oliver's eyes lit up with stars for a moment and he tapped his fingers together in embarrassment. "W... Well... I'm not really that strong... I still have a lot to learn to but..." He reached to his wrist and pulled out a small wooden wand. "I can at least show him what I can do!" He announced pointing his wand forward as it lit up. For a moment an aura began to surround him as he took a deep breath. "Okay... You can cast this spell and not throw up... Just focus Oliver! Row Time Slug!" He announced loudly as a burst of gray light exploded out of his wand.

All around the boy a large dome of energy formed. It covered a single block taking up most of the crowd. Everyone in the crowd seemed to turn black and white as the movement was brought down to a slow speed. They were still moving however it was as if they were in slow motion.

Oliver still had color and moved normally. His face however became a bit green and he looked as if he would throw up as he marched towards the crowd as fast as he could. His stomach began to growl and his cheeks were puffed out sweat pouring down his body.

He jumped up landing on the head of several of the woman and used them to jump from girl to girl all of which were still in slow motion before he suddenly crashed down into the ground letting out a dull hiss of pain as he landed in the center. The grey light around him suddenly vanished as everyone began to move in normal speed once more.

"T... T... T... Tadah!" Oliver bent over and threw up all over the shoes of some poor girl who shrieked and kicked him in the face making him stumble back and clutch his nose which began to bleed. "Oww..." He groaned.

Everyone in the crowd let out a shriek and backed away from the puking, and bleeding boy. All except one figure who stood above Oliver staring down at him.

"That was some powerful Magic... Time Magic huh... And is that a familiar riding on your head? My, my you even managed to tame an Oddity Beast huh... I'm impressed. Those are rare. Magic is a thing that is within all of us. However very few can use it. Even fewer bother to hone it. But those of us that do... We're special. We few who bind our emotions to our magic showing off our souls. We few who practice daily to keep everyone safe." A voice muttered making Oliver's eyes go wide when he heard it. He recognized that voice. The voice of a hero. The voice of a powerful and Noble man. The voice of... "Stand up kid. And tell me your name young man."

Oliver felt a smile cross onto his face as Cath the cat began to twitch on his head. He brought his head up seeing who had spoken ready to meet the man who he admired so much.

A man stood in front of him with a smile on his face. The man had long black hair, as well as some manly facial hair around his chin. He had a kind smile, and electric blue eyes that shined with power. He wore red armor and had a sword that rested on his belt. He looked like the main character in a fantasy novel.

All the girls cheered as he held his hand out to Oliver in an attempt to help the boy up.

"Our King has foreseen you in a vision!" The man announced. "He told me that a powerful Wizard was in this city. I came here to recruit you for our Countries strongest Guild, Shinning Sentinels! It is your birthright to join and fight for this-"

"Who are you?" Oliver asked blinking a few times.

The man, as well as all the girls, fell back for a moment not expecting that answer.

The man let out a small laugh. "Why... I am the one and only Grimval! You might have heard of me?" He announced going back to his heroic speech. "Master of the-"

"No, you're not."

A silence seemed to pass over the crowd for a moment as everyone slowly stared at Oliver in silence.

Oliver stood up and began to dust himself off in a very casual manner. "You're not Master Grimval, and don't even dare to pretend to be him. You're obviously an imposter. Even a child could see through your miserable excuse of a disguise."

'What the hell's up with this kid...' Grimval thought recoiling back slightly. 'He's acting different. From a glance I thought he would be a nervous brat but the look on his face is so serious... He's looking down on me now? It's like he knows he's better than me?' He shook his head and cleared his throat. "W... What? That's preposterous! I'm-"

"A faker!" Oliver cut him off reaching into his bag and pulling out a large poster. On the front of the poster it showed a man, that looked exactly like the one in front of him. "That's Grimval!" Oliver announced.

"That guy looks exactly like me though!"

"Does not!" Oliver pointed towards the poster's hair. "Your hair is black! Master Grimval actually has dark, dark, dark, dark, dark, brown hair! And his eyes aren't electric blue! They are sapphire blue, with a bit of an electric pop, in them! And his armor isn't red! It's a light maroon color! The real Grimval is also six foot one, but you're only six feet exactly! And finally the most damning evidence of all! The real Grimval doesn't carry around a sword! He summons his with his magic! You're nothing more than a dirty fake! What a crappy disguise! As if someone would believe you were the real Grimval!"

"I wondered why Grimval would be at a dump like this..." Someone muttered.

"Yeah... Grimval's a Noble. He'd never visit a town like ours."

More mutters broke out as everyone all stared at Grimval with disapproval now. "I bet he was pretending to be someone famous to get us to sleep with him." A few of the girls announced. "I wouldn't be surprised if he was using love potions on us!"

The fake Grimval let out a small growl as he stepped back. Everyone was looking at him now trying to judge what to do with him as he began to panic.

"You're busted." Oliver announced. "This is what you get for pretending to be someone as great as The Master Grimval!"

"You damn brat..." He growled raising his hand up. Blue lighting began to crackle off of it as he smirked and Oliver and the girls all stepped back not expecting him to turn hostile.

"See! I knew you were a fake. Master Grimval isn't a lightning mage he's a- Oh you're gonna kill me aren't you. That's a lot of magic... You uh... You're not seriously going to unleash that all on me right?" Oliver asked letting out a nervous chuckle as he stepped back.

"Time Magic is rare you know... I didn't think anyone in this damn place was worth a damn but after seeing you... I'll have that magic one way or another! Vil Thunder Ball!" He yelled throwing a ball of lighting towards Oliver as hard as he could. The ball scattered forward splitting into a massive ball of lightning.

'I don't have time to block it!' Oliver realized as it soared towards him. 'Am I gonna... Die-'

"This is the greatest plan!" A massive sonic boom went off followed by two bodies that flew forward right as the lighting was about to hit Oliver.

The lighting hit the two bodies, causing Davi, and Athena, to drop out of the sky and crash into the ground lighting covering them both...

"Oww..." They both groaned.

"What the hell!" Oliver and the Fake Grimval said in shock.

'Davi!' Cath the cat announced letting out a bark and jumping off of Oliver's head to land on Davi.

"C... Cath?" Davi asked with wide eyes.

"No seriously what the hell!" Oliver asked.