Chapter 17 – Preparing To Hunt

The crisp scent of pine needles filled the air as Dion and a boy ventured deeper into a forest, their footsteps crunching on the carpet of fallen leaves.

Deep howls and roars echoed from the depths of the forest, sending chills down Dion's spine.

"So what was your name again?" Dion asked the tall and robust boy with messy brown hair walking in front of him.

"Rowan Baarhut. I'm eighteen this year," he replied while flashing Dion a bright smile.

However, the age made Dion's cheek twitch. Rowan was the definition of an 'overgrown baby elephant'. He was standing approximately 1.9 meters tall with a robust build. If he was older, it wouldn't faze Dion, but he is only eighteen. When Rowan becomes twenty-five, Dion can't visualize his size.

Rowan's rough, animal hide attire clung to his skin, providing warmth and protection against the biting wind that whipped through the trees.

"So, my mother said I should take you to hunt?" Rowan asked, his grasp tightening around the sharp, metallic spear.

"Yes. She said if I wanted to stay in her house, I would have to do a job. I can never see myself washing dishes and clothes, or farming. Being an errand boy isn't on my list. Hunting is something I can do with a clear and noble conscience," Dion said with a shrug.

Rowan turned and patted his shoulder. "You are a man. I like that. So, you said you just awakened your bloodline and it's sanguine?"

"Yes."

"Okay, let's go hunt wild beasts. It's not too difficult if they don't run away. They are good at running with their sharp Instinct if they notice we are stronger. They only stand and fight when they feel they are stronger than you. Have you hunted before?" Rowan asked.

"No. This is my first time–"

SNAP–!

Rowan abruptly halted and slowly turned his head to face Dion. He said with a surprised expression, "That's the fifteenth branch you stamped to pieces. And your footprints are too deep and loud like a heavy beast. You should learn to control your strength or you can't sneak up on beasts."

That's another reason Dion chose to hunt. He felt his body was getting too powerful to control. He damaged the handle of his wardrobe because he applied too much force. He broke his comb. One of his clothes got ripped. It became worse in Aeon as he was just damaging things and his body seemed more powerful than Earth.

So, Dion had been awkwardly handling everything like they were glassware since he awakened his bloodline. The feeling is maddening and hunting is the perfect job to give him quick control.

Rowan continued carving the path. "Don't worry. You are safe with me. I have unlocked nine of my runes with three left. I possess a 12-rune body. So, most wild animals aren't much of a threat except a few. In thirty-three days, I will be leaving for the Blood Magic Academy."

Dion, who had been listening with a stoic expression, felt his gaze drift away, his eyes losing focus as he recalled Karen's words. When she asked him to leave with her, his response had been hesitant, "Let me think about it."

Karen's reply had been firm, "When that day arrives, I won't wait for you. The academy entrance exam only comes once a year."

Dion couldn't feel that thirst for power after he arrived in Navean. All the energy vanished after he got to the peaceful environment like a deflated balloon. His drive disappeared.

Maybe his body finally succumbed to the accumulated fatigue after the days of unending torture.

"Sorry," Rowan interjected, his voice filled with genuine remorse. He nervously scratched his tousled brown hair. "I never thought I would touch upon something sad."

"It's nothing really sad." Dion shook his head. "Tell me about beasts."

Rowan nodded and continued clearing the path ahead. "Okay. Just like humans, beasts also have rankings. I only know two beast ranks: Runeless beasts commonly known as Wild beasts and Rune Mortals commonly called Awakened beasts. Wild beasts are just super strong regular beasts with eye intent. Being classified as regular beasts doesn't mean they are weak and mindless animals. Some of them are grown and have little intelligence, so they develop complex hunting habits. I nearly died because of a trap from a wild beast.

Just like when we awaken our bloodline, wild beasts are born with their heightened physique. As they gradually grow and their body develops their power increases. They are like beings with inherited abilities who just need to mature to fully embrace them. That's how my mother explained it to me."

Dion arched an eyebrow. "You're giving me what your mother gave you? Your head receives and instantly stores things well," he said sarcastically.

Rowan, oblivious to Dion's sarcasm, couldn't help but boast enthusiastically, "Of course, everybody praises my retentive memory. Besides, my mother is the dark sorcerer in Navean, so her explanation is the best. The second rank which is the Rune Mortal, commonly known as Awakened beast, has a 1-Runic core in their body. The core functions as a human bloodline used in Aura Flare. You should know how Aura Flare works, right? Everybody knows that."

"No, I don't," Dion answered proudly without shame.

"You don't?!" Rowan exclaimed with wide eyes.

Rowan, unable to hide his exasperation, couldn't help but palm his forehead in disbelief. "Aura Flare is one of the simplest concepts to comprehend," he explained, a mix of frustration and amusement in his voice. "When your runes are complete, whether it's 3, 6, 9, or 12 runes, you absorb multiple red crystals to heighten the activity of your bloodline. Once your blood activity reaches a certain threshold, it stops accepting additional red crystals. This signifies that you have achieved Aura Flare. In battle, you can merge your blood with your body runes, causing an explosive ignition of the runes which multiplies your physique prowess. That's how my mother explained it."

Dion chose to ignore the 'mother part' and thought deeply, 'So, the blood acts as gasoline while the runes act as the flame. Gasoline plus fire… this is pretty easy.'

Dion suddenly realized why nobody explained this part.

Rowan continued, his voice filled with a mix of fascination and caution. "You see, Rune Mortals possess a unique ability to channel their power through a 1-Runic core, acting as a conduit to ignite their blood like Aura Flare humans. I still remember the day I encountered one of them face-to-face. It was a fox, of all creatures. I had to fight for my life, knowing that the slightest mistake could be my downfall."

He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts, before continuing. "According to my mother, 'wild beasts,' in comparison to humans, can possess a strength comparable to 'bloodline awakened' and 'runic body' individuals, depending on their age. On the other hand, Rune Mortals themselves are said to possess strength akin to Aura Flare humans."

Rowan's eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and trepidation as he spoke, his words painting a vivid picture of the dangerous yet captivating world of Rune Mortals. Dion listened intently, his mind swirling with images of these extraordinary beings and the challenges they must face.

Suddenly, a rustling sound and rhythmic footsteps made Dion alert. He halted his steps.

"You heard that?" Rowan asked Dion with wide eyes before narrowing his eyes and gazing ahead.

A whistling sound from the distance made Rowan relax.

"Mountain wolf, you've got a student?" A girl dressed in an animal hide attire like Rowan with ash hair appeared in their vision. Her brown eyes regarded them playfully.

Her eyes focused on Dion as she checked him out. Dion did the same. She had wavy ash hair and brown eyes that looked mischievous to Dion. She was a head taller than Dion with a wild, feral aura around her.

"Zeni, he's not my student. My mother wants me to teach him how to hunt," Rowan explained.

Without her eyes leaving, Zeni asked, "Doesn't that make him your student? Also, is he mute?"

"He talks," Rowan replied.

"But he isn't talking," Zeni replied without taking her eyes off Dion's face.

Rowan scratched his head, not knowing how to prove that Dion could speak. He could only blurt, "But… he talks."

"I only believe what I see and he can't talk," Zeni replied as she and Dion continued their staring contest.

After some seconds of silent staring, Zeni gave up and turned to Rowan. "Mountain wolf, don't go to that fox's cave because of the red crystals in it. Previously, that fox nearly toyed you to death if not for my timely arrival and rescue. Quietly sell your wild beasts and get money to buy red crystals from merchants. If you run east, you will see a wild beast. It should be okay since you guys are two. Don't forget, we will leave in thirty-three days."

Rowan nodded and scratched his head in embarrassment because she just exposed his boasting of fighting with his life on the line against the fox instead of a humiliating beating. He eyed Dion with side eyes.

Zeni smiles at Dion. "We will meet again."

She continued her whistling and left behind a flowery scent in her trail.

When Rowan was sure she had gone far, he asked Dion, "Why did you not talk? Her name is Zeni, and she's at the Aura Flare level. She's also beautiful."

"I don't talk with strangers for no reason. Besides, she's trying to influence me into speaking using her conversation with you. I talk when I want to talk." Dion's eyes narrowed.

Rowan scratched his head in another bout of confusion.

"Let's go hunt. I need to go back before nightfall," Dion said.

Rowan nodded and sprinted towards the east. Dion didn't fall behind and raced behind Rowan.