Chapter 8: Rust Wolves

Abigail nodded to herself in a low voice not speaking to anyone, “just shy of twenty yards out, acceptable but still pitiful that the mage didn’t notice I wonder.”

Thomas got the feeling he wasn’t supposed to hear that. So, he quickened his pace and closed the distance between him and Dawns Horizon, Abigail matching him. They all stepped into the small clearing.

Forming a lose circle, everyone looked out waiting for something to happen. Thomas drew his sword and got into a ready stance. As he was standing there waiting for the monsters to appear he felt a tap on his shin, then his thighs just above the knee. Bewildered, he looked and saw Abigail standing there.

“Slide that foot back more, bend your knees more.” Abigail was looking at him and was tapping the mentioned areas with a random stick she was holding. Confused but deciding to play along to see if it helped.

“Better, that should help with your balance, next loosen your shoulders a bit.” With an accompanying poke as she said so. Thomas just compiled to see how it helps.

“Yes better. Now try fighting like that, you should notice a difference.” She told him as she evaluated his corrected form.

Free advice is always welcome, since he has never received any formal training. The self-taught style he had picked up from watching others had worked so far but he knew he needed actual training.

A rustling of undergrowth was all that was heard before two red colored wolves jumped out. Rust wolves got their color from the iron mines they live near, they are classified as mana beasts. Which isn’t entirely true, since only the alpha of a pack can normally use mana. To him they were just oversized wolves for the most part.

Now that they are here the fight kicked off.

Doing a quick glance around the small clearing they were in. Unlike the two that were in front of him, seven where focus on the members of the Dawns Horizon. One was prowling up to Abigail who still hadn’t drawn her sword, only holding onto her stick. He only had a second to wonder why there weren’t more coming towards him and Abigail.

That was all he saw before the first wolf was closing in on him, with a small, rushing step forward Thomas swung aiming for the front leg for the beast. It jumped back avoiding his strike, the second one that was trying to flank him lunged.

Leaping back, it missed, while it was in the air he struck. Being slightly off balance as he did so only a shallow cut appeared down its side.

Thomas pulled mana from his core and spread it throughout his mana channels. Taking his time to do it properly without wasting mana. It took only a second to picture the mana seeping from his mana channels. Like roots of a tree, the mana branching throughout his body. Into his muscles, tendons, and ligaments strengthening him. The whole process took less than a few seconds.

Faster and stronger than before he took a quick step forward towards the first wolf who had recovered from its dodge. As it watched his movements it tried to dodge the strike aimed at its side, but it was too slow, not expecting his increased speed. This time the blade sunk deep. Splitting muscle and bone easily, leaving the wolf on death’s door.

Keeping an eye on the one he had already injured; it was backing away trying to escape already. Using all the strength his mana reinforced body could put out he blitzed towards it. With a quick and accurate stab his blade pierced its heart.

That was all it took for his fight to end, both rust wolves lay dead.

Turning towards where everyone else was fighting, the first thing he noticed was Abigail watching him even more intently than before. There was a dead wolf with a missing eye laying at her feet, she was still only holding the stick. Tearing his eyes away from whatever Abigail did he turned and looked at the others.

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The Dawns Horizon team looked to be finishing up as well. Only four wolves lay dead, but the others looked injured and retreating. They didn’t pursue them either, letting them run away. The fight was over just as fast as it started, it didn’t look like anyone got hurt either.

Realizing the fight was over he stopped strengthening himself, it didn’t use a lot of mana, but it still was a steady drain. After canceling the technique and pulling the mana back to his core and went back to scanning his surroundings. Now sure it was actually clear he cleaned his blade and sheathed it. making sure to keep his guard up just to be sure.

Tristan rushed over to Abigail and said “Abigail are you hurt? There were more of them than I was expecting.” He had a look of worry etched on his face.

Turning to see how the person in question took it, Thomas saw her eyes closed and pinching the bridge of her nose. She was taking deep breaths, clearly trying to calm herself. When she didn’t respond Tristan reached out to grab her shoulder. Before Tristan could touch her, her eyes snapped open.

In a move almost too fast for him to see, Abigail grabbed his wrist yanking it upwards. At the same time kicking him in the shin with so much force his leg went out from under him. Making him land on his knee, now towering over him Abigail spoke, “For one I have told you already address me as Ms. Thorn. Two never touch a woman without their permission, if you try again, I will take the limb. Three, do you not see how I am dressed; I can clearly take care of myself. Or were you to busy trying to seduce me to notice that I am an adventurer as well.” With that she dropped his wrist and marched off in the direction we were heading. Tristen knelt there stunned, his face pure shock and embarrassment.

Tristan noticed he was staring and clearly holding in a laugh. Tristan’s face contorted into a vicious sneer, and he growled out. “You think this is funny street rat?” Standing up to his feet and started advancing towards Thomas but Tristan was intercepted by his team and dragged a short distance away. He could hear a whispered argument break out between the group.

Shaking his head in amusement, Thomas set off after Abigail not wanting to be caught up in whatever was happening with Dawns Horizon. Seeing the corpses of the rust wolves being left without harvesting them for materials was painful. The furs are worth a few silvers, and you can even sell the meat. Just leaving behind perfectly good money hurt. He knew it wasn’t his place to say anything, if Dawns Horizon or Abigail didn’t say anything then he sure as Nine Hells wasn’t his.

Quickly catching up to Abigail she spoke when he got close. “Would you like my opinion on how you handled that fight?”

Caught off guard by her apparent mood change but still curious about what she saw he nodded. This was a good opportunity to possibly see how skilled she really is.

“Your movements were sloppy but nothing that can’t be fixed with some training. You had decent instincts during the whole fight, which is more important in my opinion. Your use of a strengthening technique and when you used it showed proper judgement of the situation. I can’t really say much when it comes to mana use from one quick battle like that though.” When she finished, she shrugged. Nodding at her succinct judgement of his ability, he wasn’t offended at all. It was clear she had better training and was more skilled than him just by how she carried herself or so he believed.

They kept a slower pace waiting until Tristan and his team caught up and took the lead again. Once there was distance between them, Thomas spoke. “Well, I never received any formal training, just tips like you gave me. The little tip you gave did help, it made me feel more solid and balanced so thanks for that. I will need to practice making it feel normal but now that a felt the difference I will try.” he paused and made a gesture towards Dawns Horizon. “Are you sure that’s going to be alright? He seemed rather pissed and he is a C-ranked. Maybe I am wrong but if I had to guess you are stronger and probably higher ranked. I am not though, so please keep that in mind.”

Like a few times before it appeared as if she was evaluating him before replying. “I am, you won’t have to deal with any repercussions or fall out from any of this. That’s all you are getting out me right now.”

The group walked on in silence, Thomas was getting more and more suspicious of what Abigail’s actual motives were. From the start she seemed friendly, and attentive when they talked. Completely opposite of how she talks to Dawns Horizon. A group that no matter how you looked at it was better than him. Maybe not in personality but in skill they were all high-grade C-ranked.

She said that she was conducting an investigation. Thinking about the questions she asked before the meeting made him wonder. Was she investigating the movements of the monsters and mana beast? But why? And why ask him to join? A fresh D-rank with minimal experience under his belt.

The whole situation was confusing, and Thomas once again had to wonder just what he got himself into. Hopefully it will be over by this afternoon, and he can put this mess behind him.