Chapter 431 - Day MDCCCLXV, Part I

The night spent on thinking led me to few conclusions. There were no reasons for me to run around and bash my head against the walls. I needed to trust my friends more.

In the meantime, since I brought a person here, it was a good idea to take care of her, and prepare her for the life here. She needed to be trained, and I actually wasn't the best to do it. The difference in physical capabilities, experience, and skills was too big. She needed somebody closer to her level, and I quickly found such a person.

I just needed to wait until the hunters will assemble at the city center. I waited and witnessed how things have changed. Since there were access points by the gates, not as many people showed up. Some of them went straight to the gates, leading outside of the city since there were access points placed there.

Fortunately, I realized this quickly enough, and splinting on the roofs I found what I was looking for. A bunch of Xuzards walking down the alley as they owned it. Everybody carrying a weapon and a backpack, with their leader at the very front - Ki'rai.

I passed by them silently, abusing shadow walk, and then jumped down blocking their path, sticking a superhero landing. They immediately assumed defensive stances. All except her.

- Hi! - I waved at my little lizard as soon as I stretched my back. 

- Peter? - she turned her head to the side. - You returned?

- Yes, and I have to ask you for a big favor. Can we talk?

- But we are going hunting.

The Xuzards responded by stomping with their feet or hitting their equipment together, like cheering soldiers would.

- Can't they go without you? I'll make it up to you.

She looked over her shoulder, at her brethren, then back at me.

- Ok, Peter - she said and smiled. Then she turned back to face them - Kri, you are in charge.

A female-looking lizard nodded. She had two scars on her face, that looked like claw marks, right beneath her right eye.

- Advance! - shouted Kri, and the Xuzards passed by us.

Spreading to the sides, to make a way around us. They soon vanished in the alleys ahead.

- What do you want, Peter? - asked Ki'rai.

- I brought a person here from the earth, and I want you to train her.

Her eyes narrowed in an ominous manner, as she leaned a bit forward.

- I'll do it - she said confidently.

Chills went down my spine when I heard that.

- Just remember, train, not hunt down.

- Is there a difference? - she asked, without changing her posture.

- Yes, there is a very...

- It was a joke, Peter - she said interrupting me, and relaxed.

- Oh... Haha...  A joke... 

- Show me the human.

- Ok. Follow me - I said, and then started walking towards the barracks.

It took us few minutes, and we caught up a bit with the stuff going on with our lives. I told her everything about what happened on earth, and she told me about her and her new family. There was even a lizard that she liked to spend her time with. His name was Tuku. Although the relationship was still forming, there was a potential there.

I didn't tell her that, though. This was something she had to uncover on her own.

When we finally got to the barracks, I just went straight to my room, and entered it without knocking, then turned the lights on.

Tihana was dead asleap.

- Wake up soldier! - I shouted.

She sat on the bed immediately, clearly scared, but the view of Ki'rai picked her attention even more.

- This is your new instructor. Her name is Ki'rai, and she is a deadly hunter. She will teach you everything.

- Can't we wait with this for a bit? - she responded, rubbing her eyes - I'm jet-lagged. I need more sleep.

I extended my hand, and just showered her with cold water using my water magic.

She screamed, trying to cover herself with whatever she could grab.

- Stop! Stop!

So I did.

- Get up. Change your clothes, and meet with us outside. You have five minutes - I said, turned on my heel, and left, with KI'rai following me.

- Why did you do that, Peter? - she asked me, as we were walking down the corridor.

- She doesn't understand this place. She thinks she is tough, because she lived on the streets back on earth, but this place is different. She needs to learn that. Monsters won't show her mercy, so she needs to stop expecting it, and start realizing that in this place people die.

- I don't understand, but ok - she said.

We waited for a bit, and eventually, Tihana came out wearing jeans and an oversized hoodie.

- Don't you have anything else to wear? How the hell do you want to train in this?

- Seriously? Are you judging my clothes?

- Ki'rai attack, her. No weapons and don't hurt her.

My little lizard looked at me for a second, confused, and then her eyes narrowed, and she switched her attention to the girl. The second later she ran at her on all fours, leaped through the air, and knocked her down.

Then she jumped off her, and slowly walked towards me.

- What the hell! Ah... My back...

- You couldn't even react to that? - I asked.

- She jumped at me like a tiger! - Tihana complained while picking herself up from the ground.

She had to hit her left elbow baldy because she was grabbing it with the other hand, while her face was contorted by pain.

I got closer to heal her.

- Everything here will be coming at you like that. You need to learn how to survive if you want to be a hunter. We will start by getting you a pair of appropriate clothes for training.

- Ok. Where do I get the clothes?

- Follow me - I said and led her to one of the access points, where the line of people was short. - Wait for your turn. I'll be right back.

- Where are you...

I didn't let hef finish, and shadow walked to the vicinity of the ogre cave. There were two guards there, and I quickly snapped their necks and returned with two crystals.

- Take those. You will sell them, buy yourself all the shit you need. Clothes and whatever else girls use. Then you will go change, and Ki'rai here will take you to training grounds, and teach you how to fight. You will be training with her for a while.

She was surprised by my sudden reappearance, just like a bunch of other people around us.

- What about you? What are you going to do? - she asked while taking the stones from me.

- I need to organize a school for you, and weaponize my chicken - I said, with a totally serious face, and then walked away.