Chapter 313: Training All Along

There were six big cities in the region of Bogblot. Two of which were Bogmoor the capital, Bogaressi of the west ( the seat of power of Lord Sven, some claims his House was the second strongest after the Great House of Soak, but House Ventura says otherwise.) The two main cities east of Bogblot: Quagmorass and Masrhquag. Quagmorass was the location of the Royal Stable where the Great House of Soak trains horses in preparations of war and to be sent to the capital. Far north of Bogblot was the city of Gladeskeg, a city in between the Twin Lake where the twin river starts and flows that cuts the region of Bogblot to half that ended at the cliff where the waterfall was located along with the hundreds of mechanical lift, transporting passengers to the last main city of Bogblot, Sudden Plate: where the Hunter's Exam soon to be held in a few days.

Twali went to Quagmorass to assess Oreo along with other high-ranking Hunters to deal with the heating yet silent battle against the House Usser that were trying to take over House Stormcrag out of their seat. If the House Usser succeeded in taking over the House Stormcrag, this might prompt another House wars in the region. But there's more to it. House Usser was being back by the Great House of Soak on winning the silent war (for the moment). Once House Stormcrag was taken over by House Usser, it would be a great relief to the House of Soak to use the main road with less tax to pay and gain full control of the eastern Bogblot region.

Although the Great House of Soak was trusted by the Royal House to handle things in the region of Bogblot, not always it would go their ways. Especially that the House Stormcrag was under them.

Obviously, Lord Sven was trying to get what was ought to be theirs: the throne of the Kingdom. If only Lord Sven's great grandfather the Forgotten King: King Ulfgar Stormcrag, was eager enough to share his secrets before he went insane, none of this would be happening by now.

And Sasani would be staying in the region instead of going to the Capital, Ned thought after he thought things through as he listened to Loti as to why Twali wasn't in the city.

Aside from the one in the city of Bogmoor, where he went to update his house, his travels were for nothing.

Ned sighed as he touched his chin with his fingers.

"You okay there, Ned?' Jerra, who seemed to get along with the 5th team, was having a genuine concern toward Ned.

"I am, yes."

"Do not be disappointed, we at the 5th team might be just starting. But without you and your friend, Master Mond might not give an eye to us."

Loti must be talking about Swift, Ned thought as Ned listened to the old man of the team. It Seemed Twali kept Sasani's secret.

"So," Loti continued. His long white beard braided from his chin down to his chest. Yet, his movements were fluid like he was practicing the Water Moon Stance at any moment. "Whatever you need, kid. Our team might help you out."

Erarke flinched hearing Loti. It seemed that he hadn't yet to move on from his defeat with Ned and Swift.

On the other hand, Bud was now feeling closer to Ned. Who would have thought that the bulking Wood Rank hunter has a friendliness inside him?

Horn bid his goodbye to the team saying that he was needed in front of the manor. Ever since the fight with Jerra and Erarke, the team has gotten so much attention that Horn was sought after by other captains.

Loti added that the House was recruiting aspiring Hunters to join the Exam under the Stormcrag's House. That was the reason for the long line outside the manor.

But without Twali's assistance, Ned couldn't practice and test his strength in an all-out battle.

What to do? Ned thought as he crossed his arms on his chest after he playfully rubbed his chin.

[How about you spar with the Werecat?]

Ned was deep in his thoughts that he couldn't possibly understand what the team of the 5th was muttering about. Ned claimed his mind along with the silence he was creating around himself.

We already did, Ned thought. Perhaps, I might try again. But I doubt she would agree. I won—no wait. I won because Sasani was there buying me time. But what about now?

"Well..." Ned began building a silence from the 5th team. Yet the grating metals and low to high roars from the hunter on training were enough for Ned to move closer and talk. "I might have a request."

This time, Erarke listened to Ned like how he listened to Jerra beside him. It seemed that he got something inside his own as he was too focused on listening to Ned. The rest stared at Ned.

"As long as we can help, kid." Loti smiled stroking his beard. "We'll return the favor, right?" Loti looked over his shoulder while the rest nodded in unison aside from Erarke.

"I wanted to spar with Twali to test my limits." Ned raised a hand as he looks at Jerra. She flushed, unsure of what was it about. "But since he's not here. Maybe I can do it with Jerra?"

Erarke hissed from Ned's words. He forced his way between Loti and Bud and stood in front of Ned looking eye to eye.

"You mocking me, kid?"

Ned never knew Erarke that well. In fact, he never knew the 5th team well enough to be irritated by him. But even though they sparred, during that time, he never saw the farmer boy be so angry that his lips arched high almost reaching his nose.

What gotten to him that he was so angry with Ned?

"Easy." It was Bud and grinning from his voice wasn't a good idea right now.

Yet, Loti can't hold it. The old man turned red trying to hold his smile listening to Bud.

"I've been training these past months so that when I get to see this kid, I will have the chance to kick his silver mocking head. Yet, he chose the Cat over me. Tell you kid, spar with me to see how much you will regret."

Ned wasn't in the mood to argue with a kid right now—and will never be. But it seemed that the tanned kid was asking for it. He even trained to beat Ned. What more could there be?

Ned shook his head.

Making Erarke's ears, and the tip of his pointy nose turned red. Not like Jerra, but red in a way that he was furious.

Ned saw the scars under his bluish uniform, running from his shoulder to his neck. The scars he had were deep enough that sweat was forming a tiny lake inside it.

Determination is what he got, Ned thought as he looks at Erarke, not backing away, straight to his deep brown eyes like someone was owning him inside.

Ned wasn't a Hunter, yet. And it won't be good to him and his House if he already got enemies.

Erarke was like Ned, determination fuels them. Ned fully understood this. He wasn't a pessimistic person, he wants something good would come up for every decision he made and was about to make. Also, during the Hunter's Exam Ned would be encountering different opponents; speed wasn't all of them. But he sure knew; magic would be one of them.

Ned nodded. "But not here," he added, "we should spar somewhere not here."

"And I just got the place." To everyone's surprise, it was Jerra who made the offer as he fingered her yellow hair down to her shoulder.

Ned might be seeing things, but Jerra seemed to be beaming in red as she looked at Ned under her foggy glasses. The wrenching of her shoulders wasn't helping either.

This is getting weird, Ned thought but followed Jerra to the place she only knew where to spar.

They arrived under a bridge, and this time, Ned was pretty sure that what happened between him and Erarke during their fight wasn't just water under the bridge anymore.

As soon as they arrived under the bridge, where grasses stood reaching their knees, where the sun's beams were blocked by the tallest trees Ned has seen so far inside the city, Erarke got into the position with his spear he gracefully moved slashing the air.

The three positioned over a slope overlooking the bridge and overlooking the cliff over the horizon. They were as excited as Ned as to how the fight would end.

Erarke said he trained, along with Mond's resources, and along with the 5th team. The looks in their eyes show how they were excited to see Ned fight once again as though everyone was willing to pay a price just to have a spar with him.

Just like everyone else, Jerra can't contain her excitement that she threw a copper coin between Ned and Erarke.

As soon as she does, Ned knew; they both knew, that the moment the coin landed, their fight was inevitable.

Along with the copper coin's clink was Erarke's yelp, too loud it turned to roar.

Erarke zigzagged along with his spear in a smooth motion with his body. Before he could reach Ned's range, he ducked that it almost touched his chest with his knees, and in that awkward position, he let the spear on his hand in motion.

The tip was blurring as it approached Ned.

Ned simply tilted his head and was sure that he evaded the attack with so much ease, he returned the attack with a smile.

Yet, Erarke did the same, he smiled. It was a smile of victory as blood smeared out of Ned's cheeks.