“Don’t look back,” Dallion whispered as they walked away from Halburn. “Just keep walking calmly.”

Getting into a scuffle with a noble wasn’t how Dallion imagined things would go. Based on what Jiroh had told him in his dream, he had pictured it as an infiltration and rescue operation. The rescue part was there, though not from the people he expected it to be. Both the imperials and the Order seemed more interested in the city itself than anyone there. Also, the blocker ring Dallion had given to the fury also helped.

No one’s following, Gleam said.

Dallion kept on walking. Experience kept him from combat splitting to check for himself. Doing so would only attract the imperials. Similar to the empire, once a legion’s interest was piqued, it was going to be an uphill battle to convince them that they were wasting their time.

Every step Dallion felt that something would happen, triggering a massive charge. Thankfully, nothing of the sort happened. For half an hour, he kept on walking on edge, Diroh close at hand. Finally, he glanced over his shoulder. The town was too far to be seen, but more importantly, there was no sign of anyone else.

“Can I talk now?” the fury asked in her most sarcastic tone. However, Dallion’s music skills told him that she had been more than a little worried up to now as well.

“We can talk.” Dallion let out a chuckle. “We’ll even stop to eat. When was the last time you had something?”

The fury didn’t reply. After releasing Skye, though, Dallion quickly learned that it had been a few days. The pain caused by the skill gem had prevented Di from eating and drinking much. Now that it was gone, though, hunger was rearing its ugly head.

Dallion gave her all the provisions he was carrying, then—leaving the whip blade to guard the area—set off to catch something fresh. The wilderness wasn’t particularly known for its game, but if someone knew where to look there was almost always enough to get by. In this case, Dallion was lucky to stumble upon some clawsheep.

Technically, the creatures were considered part of the wilderness. Their sharp claws—hidden in their wool, not on their legs—was enough to dissuade most predators, including people. If one looked beyond that, though, there was plenty of good meat.

The herd that Dallion came upon consisted of a few dozen. Picking his targets, he used the harpsisword to get all the animals asleep, then quietly went and pierced two with a lethal blow. Leaving just enough blood to make it clear what had happened, he then moved away and woke up the creatures with another melody of his harpsisword.

I don’t understand why you keep doing this, Nil said. If you’re going to leave blood behind, why go through the trouble of putting them to sleep?

There’s no fear then. And the blood is so that the living don’t keep wondering what happened. Everyone needs an explanation, even beasts.

That’s borderline philosophical. Then again, you’re an empath.

Cooking the meat proved to be far more challenging than skinning and butchering the creature. For starters, it required a fire, which Dallion always avoided unless with a large group. A fire in the wilderness tended to attract attention, especially with Diroh wearing a traveling emblem. Since the fury’s had been confiscated by the noble in Halburn, Dallion had lent her his old one. He had always kept that close at hand for sentimental reasons, even when he no longer needed it. In his mind, he had always come up with an excuse that if he finds someone struggling in the wilderness, it would be always a good idea to have an extra emblem to help them out. Now, he could say that he was right. Even so, it was quite concerning that nobles were taking emblems from those that had them. Diroh never had any intention of leaving; her emblem had been from her traveling days, before her sister had found her. And yet, that hadn’t stopped someone from effectively locking her up in Halburn. It all sounded a bit too similar to Dallion’s home village before he had brought a change to things.

“Not eating?” Diroh asked, glancing at the meat cooking at the fire. She had already eaten the ready food Dallion had brought, as well as half of the fresh catch he had prepared.

“I’ve had enough before setting out. Have some more.”

The fury almost managed to endure a full minute before using an air current to get another slice of meat. Looking at her, one would think she had been starving all her life. Knowing what a combination of awakening hunger and a week of effective fasting would cause, Dallion could only sympathize.

“Any idea who put the gem in you?” he asked.

“Not that I can think of. All sorts of hunters went through the inn. Might have been Ji.”

“I doubt it.”

Jiroh didn’t seem like one who would endanger the life of her sister. Unless she knew that she wouldn’t be in serious danger. Next time Dallion went to sleep, he was going to ask her.

“Anything strange happen before your awakening?”

“Define strange.”

“Strange compared to everything else going on. Any frequent visitors? Anyone asking questions?”

“It’s been mostly furies since you last saw me. Hunters became scarce. The nobles didn’t like them, and that was before Walorn appeared. After that, he started chasing them out directly. They’d be allowed up to the gates, and that’s it.”

“Was that the one who tried to stop us?”

“Yep. First time I’ve seen him back down. You must’ve gotten quite strong.”

Dallion didn’t respond. As much as he wanted to claim that he had gotten stronger, it was one simple trick that had gotten the noble off guard. If it had been anyone with actual experience, things would have gone a lot worse. The same would happen if Dallion and Walron ever crossed paths again. By now, the noble had probably enquired about forced splitting and come up with a counter.

“The hunters called you a wannabe,” Di said between bites. “At least early on.”

She was lying. What they really called him was “Eury’s pup.” It was difficult to deny that his skills and level were vastly inferior, even for an apprentice. If there was one thing that hunters couldn’t stand, it was people taking shortcuts when they didn’t have the skill for it. It was funny how their opinion had changed overnight the moment he had publicly humiliated Archduke Linatol’s son.

“How exactly did you and sis meet?”

“Didn’t she tell you?”

“She never said anything about her life in the city. Liked to keep things separate, she said.”

That sounded like Jiroh. She had done well to keep her past a secret from everyone in Nerosal. It was no surprise she had kept a thing or two from her sister as well.

“What do you think that thing was?” Diroh asked all of a sudden.

“The food?” Dallion snapped out of his thoughts.

“The thing that happens in my realm. You said that it was a skill gem. What skill?”

“I’m not sure. If it were a skill, it would have appeared on the wall of your room. When we get to Nerosal, I’ll take you to someone who’ll explain it much better than me. Don’t worry, you’ll be safe there.”

“Leaving again? Typical.”

“I’ll be close by.”

That’s not the answer she wants to hear, Vihrogon said.

You told me that lying always makes it worse. Dallion countered.

Most of the time, it does.

She’s lived alone for years. This won’t be different.

It will. You also have no idea what that skill is.

I just know it isn’t a skill.

Dallion didn’t sleep the night. The hunter part of him wanted to teach Diroh how to sleep in the awakened world so that they didn’t lose time. The human path of him, though, let her enjoy a bit of normalcy. With all the changes that came with awakening, it would be a while before she got accustomed to it.

The following morning, the walking continued. Every day would pass in roughly the same fashion. Dallion would walk while the fury and they would float beside him. Now and again Dallion would catch something—mostly small critters—then cook them on a fire. He’d never eat, keeping an out for threats, animal or other. Diroh, on her part, had quickly gotten used to the concept of not wasting time. All eating was done while walking, and sleep was brief, and talking only took place when the food was cooking.

Each time a caravan or a patrol would pass by, Skye would hide in Dallion’s backpack, while Diroh didn’t say a word. It wasn’t something she was thrilled with—annoyance emanated from her almost constantly—but she was smart enough to know this was the safest thing to do.

After what seemed like an eternity, the city of Nerosal became visible on the horizon. This was a pivotal moment: Diroh would finally find a new home—hopefully, one more permanent than her last—while Dallion would get back to his usual work. Still, he had the distinct feeling that Jiroh’s sister was keeping something from him. Technically, it wasn’t his concern; he had promised Jiroh to rescue her from the city, and he had been true to her word. However, he couldn’t help but feel that something wasn’t as it should be.

You’re overthinking it as usual, Nil said.

Didn’t think you’d say that after seeing a skill that no one can recognize.

As I told you, dear boy. Putting skills gems in non-awakened had that effect. You might never learn what actually happened. In the meantime, you have made yourself a new enemy. Petty nobles, remember?

How could I forget? Dallion sighed.

Pissing off one noble is funny. Two, though, people start keeping an eye out, looking for patterns. Not to mention that the countess never particularly liked you. If you hadn’t become a hunter, things might have been very different.

That was an understatement if there ever was one. It had taken less than a year for Countess Priscord to gain complete control, getting rid of the previous lord mayor and assuming direct control. At present, she was the only noble in the province who simultaneously owned two cities. Everyone who didn’t go along with it, was either sent to a smaller town, or had their political career come to an abrupt end.

Dallion knew full well that the countess disliked him since the whole Hero of Nerosal incident. He suspected that even now she couldn’t forgive him for the new hours during which he had been the owner of the city. Dallion had, naturally, immediately relinquished that power, but it didn’t matter. The deed was done and in the eves of the countess, an unforgivable act had already been committed.

All I’m saying is that you have enough to worry about right now. Focus on reaching level eighty. When you do, you could look into this. It’ll be the best for everyone. If the Academy is somehow involved in this, you need to be at a level to be able to do something about it.

Is there anything you want to tell me, Nil?

Just general advice, dear boy, just general advice.

Apparently, some things never changed.

As Dallion approached the outer gate, he was concerned that there might be issues with Diroh. The guards, however, just glanced at her, then at Dallion’s hunter emblem, and waved him in. Furies were common in the city as either mercenaries or servants, and since none of them were awakened, they weren’t considered a danger.