Chapter 5
As he goes deeper into the forest, he s.h.i.+vered as the wind blew a cold breeze of air in his skin that signals for impending rain.
He saw moss and tiny ferns covering at the roots of the trees, seemingly beautiful patterns appeared one to another.
They only can live in damp places of the forest that lacks sunlight and has a favorable temperature and humidity.
He heard wolf cries located in the riverside so he looked without any intention of appearing to whatever it is.
He sneaked carefully, minding his steps not to step on fallen branches of trees or dried leaves.
As he heard the river stream, He saw a wolf that is on death's door because it has bite marks on its legs.
The wolf currently can't stand and is laying down on a rock beside the river, whimpering on the riverside while its blood is slowly flowing out of its wound-dripping in the water.
It has a golden-colored fur mixed with streaks of white with blue-green eyes.
It has white fur on its legs and neck.
He then heard the growl of unknown origin, as he hears it, there was a wolf that appeared in the forest sniffing the surroundings and then found the other wolf.
After it found the other, it is licking the wound of the wounded wolf that is laying down.
It happens to be her mother.
Stephen stayed for several minutes then the rain began to pour out when he saw someone walking in a zigzag manner.
Its clothes are tattered and it appears to be a man.
He is accompanied also by many more walking persons that are dizzy or something.
The wolf barked at them and they are alerted.
The staggering persons become like a wild animal as they run towards the wolf and is pointing their hands to the direction of the wolf.
The wolf defended her child with her life as she was eaten alive by these beings!
The cold raindrops poured out more and the surroundings are hazy.
Stephen watched as he was holding his breath while he readied his dagger on his waist.
He stepped backward and turn around and was surprisedly attacked by a man with a rotten face!
It wanted to bite him but Stephen blocked it with his dagger!
Stephen nearly shouted as he wakes up but he saw that he is in his room.
"Hatchu!", Stephen sneezed after he wakes up in the morning.
He kicked his blanket while having nightmares and is sneezing because of the cold night.
He sat at his bed and freaked out that it was a dream! he didn't know the meaning so he hurriedly talked with his mother.
At the kitchen, there was a lamp that was lit and is illuminating the darkness.
In this vivid light, his mother stood with an ap.r.o.n on her waist and is preparing for breakfast while breaking eggs.
"Mom! Mom! I have a nightmare!", Stephen said exorbitantly.
"Oh, my poor son is having nightmares again?", Isabella said with sympathy.
He told her the sequence of the story and Stephen then felt awkward as he realized that he is being childish.
He is wondering if that dream has a meaning or not but deep within himself he knows it has.
"I don't know what is the meaning yet, I'm gonna ask your father about it", She said joyfully as she patted his head.
It was still dark when he went outside, the chilly icy wind strikes his skin as he takes off his s.h.i.+rt.
As for his usual morning routine, he takes a bath at the well and take off his wet clothes outside and changed to his morning clothes upstairs.
As he went downstairs he watched his father and mother casually talking and laughing at their stories of who-knows-when-it-happened.
He went outside and he stretches his arms and legs for several minutes then he jogs for thirty minutes.
He then began his push-ups and curl-ups followed by sit-ups.
As he becomes weary, he cast [minor heal] again.
Stephen put on the weights first on his hands and feet.
He jabs several times with a combination of uppercuts and hooks.
He simulated kicks in the air, higher than his head and followed by few roundhouse kicks and sweeps with front kick higher than his belly.
It was thought by his father which is a fighter but his father only thought the basics.
His father said that "You have to know the basics of a fighter, you will never know the time when you needed it the most. You will then learn the hard parts as you begin your journey."
Stephen then rests as he cast [minor heal] to his self.
To him, the most useful skill he has is his skill [minor heal].
It restores stamina and heals light injuries, even torn muscles.
[Minor heal] revitalizes the muscles so the fatigue will gradually fade.
After training his fighting skills, he then remembered to improve his pa.s.sive [heavy lifting], he first lifted two-handed hammers swinging to both sides and swinging it downwards.
After he felt that he becomes weary, he cast [minor heal] one after another for some time.
He then felt that he is improving! the hammer swings are now faster and have more power behind it.
He put his two-handed mallets at his father's cabin.
In this dark cabin, he lighted the lamps and then he saw the tools in blacksmithing given by his uncles.
He never forgets his uncle's technique to have a stronger one-handed hammer style, it's just by thumping the anvil!
He dual wields his two one-handed hammers given by his uncle and smashes the anvil with his left and right hands.
One! two! one! two! One! two! Minor heal! repeat!
One! two! one! two! One! two! Minor heal! repeat!
He repeats the process for minutes and then rests.
His two uncles thought him these exercises and when he lifted his dad's one-handed sword, he was shocked that it was lighter than before!
This training is only allowed by his uncles for just short periods of time daily because you don't need to waste your time to practice the whole day, it will also cause mental fatigue if you're over practicing.
It was seven thirteen when he finished resting.
He hurriedly goes inside the house and climbed the stairs as he takes off his drenched-in-sweat s.h.i.+rt.
He removed the weights on his hands but forgot the weights on his feet. He changed his clothes to his school uniform and while he is taking on his socks, her mother shouted
"You're gonna be late Stephen Burg, finish dressing up and eat your breakfast now! hurry!"
Stephen hurriedly climbed down the stairs as he saw his dad on the table eating pancakes with honey and coffee.
Stephen sat beside his father then he hurriedly ate the pancake and take several sips of coffee.
Her mother put the launch on his backpack then he kissed her cheeks and say goodbye.
He opened the door and said "Dad let's have a soup tonight"
"Okay son let's try it tonight.", his dad said to him
Stephen went outside and opened the gate.
Creak!
"The gate always sounds every time it was opened. Let's try to fix it sometime.", his father said to his wife.
He hurriedly runs to the road and he realized that he has heavy feet.
"Do have I a short term memory problem or what?", Stephen sighed as he cast minor heal on his self again and again and again.
He totally forgot about the weights in his legs.
Meanwhile, in the school grounds, he saw Patrick with her friend Hanna, She always excels In oral recitation, quizzes, and exams.
A girl that can take on any boys in the schools using her kendo skills to beat them up one-sidedly, she sparred with her masters and are on equal footing with them.
She almost beat them all except her grandpa and her father.
She's still going to practice more and according to her growth, she can surpa.s.s her father thirty years from now.
That's just the difference between experience, but still, she is still considered a prodigy of her age.
She walked to the hall and the males all turned at her a said in a low voice
"What a beauty!"
Her uniform blends with her beauty as she gives off mild fragrance of sweet smell.
"h.e.l.lo Stephen this is Hanna, Hanna this is Stephen", Patrick introduced them with each other
They shake hands together and Hanna felt Stephen's firm hands, she guessed that Stephen is a son of a farmer and a hard worker.
Hanna is in
Patrick said that she lost to a bet that if he wins with a duel with her and she will accept him to be his fiance.
Their parents made an agreement that they will wed their sons and daughters one day to make a strong household, the kendo of Hanna's family and the rich n.o.ble family of Patrick.
Stephen was amazed at Patrick because he defeated her at their own dojo.
Stephen has a crush on Hanna but it was too late for him now.
The cla.s.ses started and they were thought by sir Windhelm the basics of magic, it's the foundation and the techniques to expand and to improve Mana regeneration.
They meditate for the entire cla.s.s session and the students felt lighter than before.
According to the teacher, the realms of mana well as well as mana regeneration is: first is on the earth realm, second is the sky realm, third is the s.p.a.ce realm, fourth is the stars realm, the fifth is galaxy, and the last or the peak is the universe realm.
Every realm has stages often and they are currently on the first stage.
Their Mana well expanded exponentially after they meditate and Stephen who is sitting silently on the right most of the room, stare at on the outside of the window and saw crows flying in the sky.
He didn't mind it for now because the next subject will start.
Their next teacher brought them to the field and introduced himself. When they arrived at the field, it has wooden poles arranged in a line. Without further ado, their teacher introduced himself.
"I am Sir Belmond, an a.s.sa.s.sin and I will teach you all the basics of the basics of my skills."
"When you are disarmed and your main weapon is thrown away, you just have to summon another one", he said as he flicked his hands and then appeared a throwing knife.
He throws it to the wood pole and said, "Okay I'm gonna teach you the basic throwing weapon conjuration technique of the a.s.sa.s.sins and then let's have a contest!"
Sir Belmond said cheerfully to the students.
He distributed the books about a.s.sa.s.sins' conjuration of weapons.
The first chapter of the book, it tells about the throwing knives. You must have strong willpower to give the weapon high durability and Mana because the weapons are made of Mana.
Your imagination is the key to summoning the appearance of the weapon.
It emits an icy cold aura but is warm to the hands.
There are many throwing weapons, throwing knives shurikens, large shurikens, and boomerangs.
Stephen conjured one throwing knife and practiced diligently. He chooses his own pole and practiced throwing knives. He has a good grasp of how to conjure but is slow in casting speed. He needs to practice more at his home after school.
After they practiced, Patrick is the leading winner and Stephen is on the top ten of the contest.
Patrick is the prodigy of their cla.s.s and Stephen promised to beat him one day.
When he walks home, he is practicing his conjuration leaving his conjured knives to the ground.
Conjured weapons will disappear after a half a minute when it is not supplied by Mana by the caster leaving only the damage it dealt after it is used.
Stephen remembered that he has weights in his legs and is getting used to it.
"I will always put it on my legs starting tomorrow", he said to himself
He stopped casting conjuration with a minute-interval and then casting again until his Mana well is drained.
He waited for several minutes to replenish his Mana loss as he runs towards home.
When he opened the gate, he didn't hear the creaking sound of it.
He walked to the backdoor where he is practicing, he saw a tall man covered with a fur coat and has a wolf cap on his head.
He is talking with his father and his mom is preparing their snacks of biscuits and orange juice.
Stephen blessed with his mother and hurriedly went upstairs but he is told by his mother to go bless with his uncle Mark and his father.
So he goes down from the stairs and blessed with them.
"So this is your son Stephen now? he is now a tall and a big boy", his uncle said as he offered his hands to him
"The last time I visited was when he is still a baby!", he said
"Stephen go to your room and change your wet clothes", Isabella said hurriedly
When they are having snacks Isabella prepared for their dinner, she sliced the pork to make soup then boiled it with onions and spices with cabbage.
After they finished their snacks, they went outside to the backyard while they are enjoying the breeze of the cold air.
Mark told Douglas that he is sent by his father to train up the child to be a great lycan. It was the only thing his grandfather can do for now because he is busy with the affairs in the town.
The village expanded for many years as time goes by and is now a small town. His grandfather promised that he will meet his grandchild one month from today.
As for his message to Stephen, it was a letter sealed by the crest of the Lycans-an image of a wolf
Dear Grandson,
Become strong one month from now for I will visit you. At that time if you can improve in due time you can visit our home, the home of Lycans-Bahandurr. The village is named after it became a Town recently under the King's announcement. Your skills must be acknowledged by your uncle in one month's time. You will be thought by him so be diligent in improving your skills.
I know we're far away but your grandma and grandpa are praying for you.
Your loving grandpa,
Fang
Stephen was touched by his grandfather's message but he doesn't know the exact reason behind this training.
He guessed that there will be compet.i.tion in their small town village.
In one month's time, there will be a festival that is called the coming of age ceremony, a ceremony that trains their young ones to become a fully grown Lycan by testing their skills if they can execute the basic skills of the tribe.
"Stephen you need to train every night with me to pa.s.s the ceremony."
Mark said while firmly holding Stephen's shoulders.
"Without delay let me teach you first the beast aura."
"To stir out the dormant beast inside you, you need to find it first inside your head."
"Imagine the beast inside you to rampage, feel the rage and let it out."
As Stephen meditate, he can feel that the surroundings felt warmer.
He is perspiring and when he opened up his eyes he can feel that he is letting out steam.
His eyes glowed in the dark, his sense of smell and his hearing is heightened.
Mark was amazed at the result of Stephen's first try.
"He is a fast learner indeed", Mark said with amazement.
Stephen knows the gist of it and letting out a furious aura.
It is the fundamental aspect needed when you will transform into a beast.
"Now don't stop letting out your aura and call out the beast within yourself", Mark added
Stephen shouted and transformed into a werewolf, he has white fur and stood with his two legs.
He can see in the dark and has a sensitive sense of smell.
He can hear the noises in the forest as he observes the surroundings.
Turning around as he sensed every creature In the surroundings.
After a while, he returned In his human form and is in pain while reverting to his human body.
Stephen gasped the air and is crawling to the ground.
Mark helped him stood up and said, "Well how does your first time feel?"
Stephen is still in shock and then he replied "Horrifying! that was the most horrifying experience I've ever encountered".
Mark and Douglas laughed. "Well, that's expected!"
"And for the last lesson for today"
"Clean yourself first",
Stephen removed the dirt in his clothes and then listened.
"I will show you another skill of Lycans, It is their skill "[Beast call]"
"Being a beast caller has it's benefits, you can talk telepathically with animals with a certain area and when you tamed them you can summon them to fight by your side anywhere."
"As for your first test, You need to call out a crow to do your command.", Mark instructed Stephen
Without a hint of doubt, Stephen then closed his eyes and scanned his surroundings by using his beast aura.
"Crow come here!" Then he called forth his first crow that flew to his shoulders.
"Wack! wack! kwack!" the crow said to his mind "what do you want? I'm busy finding my prey to eat!" Stephen laughed as he said "nothing just stay for the meantime"
Marvin was impressed by his nephew.
"Now make a contract with him! Stephen said to the crow that "If you wanted to have a meal I will prepare ground meat for you In return, you will be my pet.
"Okay agreed!" the crow replied with a "Wack!"
"Okay you're free to go", Stephen said to the crow.
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The crow left with noise.
"Very good! now that you established a contract with it you can summon it anytime anywhere."
"Congratulations Stephen but we're not finished yet."
"For the second and the last test you have to make a contract with a spirit wolf in their spirit world."
Stephen was confused as he scratched his head and asked: "how?"
Mark expected his initial reaction and explained it to him. "The first thing you need to do is to calm yourself and meditate."
"Let out the beast aura but don't transform."
"You need to abandon your body by sending your spirit to the spiritual plains."
"In there, Call forth the spirits of the wolves to communicate with you and make a contract with it.", Mark instructed him very carefully.
Stephen nodded and he closed his eyes and sat at the ground with his legs crossed.
He meditates and lets out the beast aura, in just a minute his consciousness gradually fading and he felt like his body is floating and then he opened his eyes.
There was a bright light whiter than the sun in the sky but purer and is not hurting the skin.
The animals are friendly and not wild.
In the spiritual realm of the spirit wolves where the dead wolves reside after their death.
He saw wolves of different colors and sizes. Some are big some are still pups. He walked to the never-ending paradise and saw different varieties of wolves. There are dire wolves, forest wolves, and even giant wolves!
To find a spirit wolf to be his companion, he needs to close his eyes and release his aura while meditating.
The wolf that likes or attracted to his aura will be willing to be his companion.
He closed his eyes to meditate and he then heard someone said: "Do you need a companion?"
Stephen opened his eyes and he saw a wolf with a golden color and a white fur on its neck and legs.
Stephen was shocked when he saw the same wolf at his dream. "I said do you need a companion", it repeated what he said and then Stephen nodded as a reply.
The wolf smiled and let out a howl, the contract then is established then Stephen realized that he is back on his word.
"Did you succeed?" Mark questioned him if it succeeded then Stephen smiled and he shouts
[Beast call!]
The wolf materialized while it was emitting an aura, not of this world and is a strong one.
Mark clapped his hands and he said "well done on your first try, I never expected it that you were [loved by animal spirits]. Your grandma is a beast caller and you probably inherited her talent."
Mark then explained that Spirit beast materialize using the casters' Mana.
They regenerate their body by constantly feeding them mana and will gradually return back to their world if your Mana runs out.
"Oh! is that it?" Stephen answered.
The wolf faced Stephen and said "I am the prideful alpha leader of our pack. I am h.e.l.ltooth! me and my wolf pack will serve you for a lifetime!"
Stephen was shocked that he will command a pack of wolves, not just one! He is extremely loved by the animal spirits! He joyfully accepted h.e.l.ltooth's proposal.
While they are talking, her mother shouted that dinner is ready.
Stephen returned h.e.l.ltooth to the spiritual realm and they walked inside the house.
Mark is extremely proud of his nephew and is boasting that he will be as great as his grandpa and grandma in the future.
Possessing a lycanthrope and beast caller skills, can he avenge h.e.l.ltooth's death? or will he suffer like h.e.l.ltooth?