In the next day, Cain went to the Marel Forest. He was training there, honing his techniques and magic.

After his battle with Bartega, he realized, the world was vast. Strong people could be anywhere. Even though he already tasted the power of Valfikr’s strongest, still, he wanted to be prepared. He believed, there would be more someone like Bartega, or something, that would cross path with him.

He didn’t even know how strong the infamous Silvers were. He only heard they had many great accomplishments. Some even said Bagulv Caral could be the next ruler of Arozora when King Illigo was too old to fight. Maybe for a few decades later.

Igo took the throne when he was 35 years old, had been ruling Arozora since. Countless of challengers had challenged him on the Ruler’s Truth and failed. Now he was 59 years old, he still had half of his lifespan.

People from Valfikr had a long lifespan among other races from other continents. Valfikr’s average was 120 to 150 years. Except Hodu Tribe, that tribe was gifted with the longest human lifespan in Nazula that ever recorded. Up to 400 years.

Thinking about all of that, made Cain couldn't wait for his next destination, Krevias.

He also had gotten more eager to see what was beyond the Valfikr Continent.

...

In the forest, Cain felt something or someone was watching him. But he always ignored it, because he felt no evil intent from his stalker.

Cain also tested his poison immunity. He used some poisonous mushrooms around the forest. From mild to lethal doses, consumed and put into a wound, sliced by himself.

Gomara’s way to acquire the absolute poison resistant body had been proven successful. Cain only felt a little tingling sensation for a sec on his wound even from a lethal dose. Poison wouldn't worry him now. Except corrosive-type poison.

He saved the remaining Hineru stems. Because of the blood catalyst, it made Cain’s Hineru stems deadly outside his use.

The stem could last long because it was dried up. He saved them for future use, if needed. It had a taste like, earthy. Cain also thought about using it for an emergency ration, again, if needed.

He also used the herbs in the forest to heal the wounds on his right hand. The Book of Gomara taught him about alchemy, but Cain still only understood a little of it. Between practicing techniques, learning magic, and studying about creatures and lost knowledges, he hardly had times for it. Besides, because Igo wasn't proficient at alchemy, he only taught the Trio the basic of alchemy.

But even with only basic alchemy formula, Cain’s right hand was already fully healed just within 3 days. He couldn’t imagine what Gomara’s complex formula could do if he learnt it. But that’s for another time he thought.

Cain’s goal before the two weeks wait over was to acquire the Abyss Lurker technique. To do that, he went to the pitch black cave where the Terrapede dwelled.

He spent an entire week there. After he learnt it, he challanged the Terrapede to test and master the Abyss Lurker. He won easy because even the Terrapede was dangerous, Abyss Lurker helped him greatly as it also detected hidden Terrapede’s presence.

However, He did not kill it. Even though materials from a rare monster was fetch a high price in the market, he wasn't greedy with it. Igo taught him to only take what he needed from the nature and conserved it.

Cain decided to go back to Haneama after he mastered the Abyss Lurker.

When he came out of the cave, he felt something was eyeing him from the bushes.

“Hmm… the same one from the forest. It has been waiting for me to come out from the cave?”

Cain decided to confront his stalker. He was walking towards the bushes when something came out of the bushes.

“Huh?”

“Meip!”

It was an otter. A small otter.

“Meip! Meip!” it was happily circling around Cain.

“An otter? Huh? Wait! Are you the one from before!?”

“Meip!” It stopped like it was agreeing to what Cain said.

Cain squatted and petted the otter. It enjoyed Cain’s touch.

“Good to see you’re recovered.” said Cain. (Gomara’s formula is amazing indeed!) thought he.

“All right then, I should go.” Cain stood up.

“Meip? Meip! Meip!”

“Hmm? What?”

The otter scratched Cain’s pants.

“Hmmm… are you hungry?”

The otter shook its head.

“Err… you want me to follow you?”

It shook its head again.

“... You want to come with me?”

“Meip!” The otter seemed to agree.

“… but wait… you understood what I’m saying!?”

“Meip!”

“That means yes?”

“Meip! Meip!”

Cain scratched his head.

“Oh well, as long as you understand what I’m saying. Let's go!”

“Meip!”

The otter happily followed Cain through the forest.

…

Cain arrived in Haneama City when the sun was almost set. He did not have problem at the gate because the otter wasn't a dangerous animal.

If it were a dangerous animal or a beast, he could always register it as a pet or a guard beast. Otter could be viewed just like cat, because they were just harmless.

It was 3 days left to the Coronation Day. The city was being decorated to celebrate the day and to welcome the guest Kingdoms.

Cain went to the Palace to check up on Calbot. The repair was almost done, just needed a bit polishing here and there.

“Cain? Where have you been?” asked Calbot when he saw Cain. He looked busy with papers on his hand. He stood near the throne. Meira and Jared were nowhere to be found.

“Been training in the forest for the past week.” said Cain.

“Eehh… I thought you were having fun or something.”

Cain laughed. “Don’t worry, I will.”

“Oh, Cain?” Meira appeared from behind him.

“Hi Meira.” Cain replied.

“Hmm? What’s that?” Meira looked at the otter.

“This? Oh, it’s been following me. Well, short story I saved its life.” said Cain.

“Meip!” it sounded to agree to what Cain said.

“It’s so cute! Can I hold it?” said Meira.

“Sure.”

Meira picked up the otter and she turned around the otter, right and left.

“It’s a young Barferr Otter.” said Meira.

“Barferr?” Cain was curious.

“Yes, it’s a mix from river otter and southern red otter. It won't grow much, but it lives longer than any other kind of otter. ” she held it on her chest and stroked it. It enjoyed being stroked.

“Oh, I see. Didn't know you are so knowledgeable about animals, Meira.” said Cain. The Book of Gomara only taught him about dangerous beasts and rare creatures. Not animals in the wild as it was a common knowledge.

“I have lived a nomad life before, often stayed on wilderness,” Meira smiled. “But even though otter is known friendly to human, it’s my first time seeing an otter actually following a human, not in a cage.” said Meila.

“Maybe it just got bored in the forest.” Calbot shrugged.

“Or, it attached to Cain after he saved it. Have you give it a name, Cain? It’s a male by the way.” said Meira.

“Huh? Name? No, not yet. Should I?” Cain scratched his head.

“Of course, do you plan to call it “Otter” forever?” Calbot shrugged again.

“Err… okay… hmm… do you happen to know what’s Farferis local tongue of stalker?” asked Cain to Calbot and Meira.

Common language of Valfikr Continent was called Vikr Tongue, it had been used as the standard language in the continent when the continent was unified and ruled by a prosperous Kingdom for a long time thousands years ago. When the Kingdom crumbled, Vikr Tongue remained as the standard language. But many Kingdoms were still using their local language sometimes.

“It’s ‘Beil’. Why?” said Calbot.

“Well, he stalked me before, and he’s from Farferis. So...”

“Ooh! That’s a good one, Cain!” Calbot snapped his finger.

“How is it, little one? Beil?” Meira gently rubbed the otter in the head, still holding him on her chest.

“Mee~eip”

“I think he likes it.” said Meira.

“Yep, agree.” Cain nodded.

...

After that, they had dinner together. Calbot told Cain that some Kingdoms would attend the Coronation Day, including Arozora.

“(Will I see the old man? Well, I’ll see in a few days.)” thought Cain.

Cain asked for information about artefact or magic item expert in Farferis to them. He specifically asked someone with a real knowledge.

As he knew, the Azure Bone Gauntlet came from an unknown age. So he couldn't rely on an ordinary item appraisal services in Haneama.

Calbot said there was such an expert in Harnow, a town next to Haneama. There was an academy that studied about artefact and some kind. It was quite close to Haneama. Only three hours long by carriage.

Cain had not used the Azure Bone Gauntlet since his battle against Bartega. He worried that the gauntlet might actually used his own bones to energize itself. He couldn't let his bones sucked dry by the bracelet. That’s why he needed an expert on this matter.