Chapter 230: Ever Wondered Why?

The next day.

"For you to become a hunter," Roy said to Ned. Finger pointing high, trying to make a point. "First, is to finish an Academy. Second, gain the trust of other Hunters. Gaining trust usually happens if: you are a Companion and gain your team's trust. Or, your House is famous enough to be easily recognized. But even if you belong to a Great House, Lords usually sent their heirs to an Academy. Having been enlisted in an Academy and finished it is a sure way to have a rank of Silver."

Ned and Roy used a secluded chamber for training. They were close to the border of the Kruthiks, but the chamber they were in wasn't used often. Roy suggested training here as the chamber was once used as a supply room. But since supplies were getting low for the past years, the chamber was left vacant.

The center of the chamber was divided by flowing water that almost looked like a stream if there were trees that surround it.

The stream came from a crack at the wall that leaks spontaneous water. The water was clear, and clean, and taste sweetly unnatural.

The ground was black, like coal-black, but powdery. Must be from the remains of lavas that dried a long time ago, perhaps some unknown creature's feces.

Ned felt that as they went deeper into the Hive, the mana gets thicker. Some parts were thin but flowing as if someone or something was sucking it.

"Now." Roy continued. His hands were crossed behind him. "Hunter exam is different from the last—as always it has been. It is to avoid mastery of the exam. Imagine doing the same exam for decades. Humans could have hunters of the same expertise."

Ned nodded, he stood like the military with his hands mimicking Roy. He could stand for days without having to feel fatigued.

Ned could feel Roy's urge to teach. Maybe for Roy, teaching Ned was humane, despite his appearance.

"But," he said. "As a Hunter, your main goal is to serve the kingdom as an adventurer. You go slay magical beasts for their parts. Sell them, craft them, eat them—it's all up to you—doesn't matter. The process repeats the same. Kill a beast, improve your weapon, slay a stronger beast, craft a weapon, and so on. Until you felt that you've done enough, buy land, be a noble, and die—you listening, Ned?"

"I am, Master Roy," Ned said. Knowledge is a virtue. So It's only proper to call him master as Ned was gaining knowledge. "But I am not after fame nor resources. I just want—"

"I know," Roy noted. "The Mark, the lore, the myth. I don't care. It's all the same. You'll become a hunter. So let's learn the basics. To start your training, you will master weapons. As all hunters were dependable on weapons. Even your body will become a weapon. Your head, your fist, your legs, everything you can use to defeat your opponents is a weapon."

"That also includes spells?"

"That and many other more," Roy said. "But save it. You'll train without having to use your spells. That's how we start. Imagine using all your spells and your enemy is still standing. You just need one little push, but you can't, 'cause you've been dumb enough not to master at least one weapon type—you die."

"Along with weapons training are your stances."

Roy's eyes darted Ned's chest, and legs, and feet.

"You've got the body for a kid," he said. "I give you that. Now we'll use it for stances. And you'll learn different types that will depend on your enemies. I see you learned already two stances. Good."

The stance he was talking was the stance Ned had been using against brute beasts and the stance that he copied from Cas'a—which, old man Loti almost mastered. The Water Moon Stance.

"But it wasn't enough," Roy said. "You can retain your current stance and improve it, or pick a new one and learn its varieties. Now, after that."

This time, Roy walked back and forth in front of Ned.

"Is the use of your mana," he said after a long pause.

"Mana?" Ned asked. What did I miss? And thought.

"I know, I know," Roy said as he waved a hand across his face. "Mana is for spells, use them to conjure magic, use them to summon contracted beasts, or use them to heal—if you're lucky enough to be blessed by Isashil's light. But... Have you met Weres?"

Ned nodded.

Twali he met; Werewolf he was. Jerra the Werecat. Even the thugs: George, Greg, and Grant from an island called Bohrum, he met from O'rriadt before the Selection.

Roy paced once more and stopped across Ned. The underground stream flowed behind him. Blue light from the dimming mana stones veiled his face.

"What have you noticed from the Weres you've met?"

"What have I?" Ned asked. After a long moment, Ned shook his head.

"Weres couldn't conjure spells."

Silence on both sides.

"But they have manas."

"Indeed they have," Roy said. "But, they can't use them even if they master the gesture or learn the spells. Instead... "

He paused as if wanting Ned to continue.

Ned pondered for a moment. "They can't conjure spells, but they have mana." Ned rubbed his chin. And thought of Twali. Twali was well built in human form, tall, and agile. But after he transformed—

"Transformed?" Ned said, meeting the human-o-beast's eyes. "They use mana to transform."

Clap-clap the sound of Roy's palm. "Indeed they are," Roy said. "Correct. But, we humans can't do it. We were not born with mixed blood. That is why nothing is blocking our mana. But imagine if we can transform, and use spells at the same time. We could use fireball after a quick dash. But we're not Weres. Instead."

Roy paused. He then unsheathed the blade on his waist and brandished it. The blade was slick, and curved like an unwinding river. It was silver in color, and leather wrapped in the hilt.

The blade created steam after Roy injected his mana. Followed by it turning red like an iron ingot heated by blazing coals, then sparks flew, and a flame was produced starting from the neck of the blade.

"Mana Manipulation," Roy muttered.