Micah’s Perspective

Micah jolted awake from his sleep and then wiped the sweat from his forehead. He was thankful it had been the usual nightmare of his time in the north battling the Graymin and not one of the more creative dreams.

He took a peek out of the window. As expected it was well before First Father’s rise. He quietly got dressed in the dark, being careful not to wake Niya.

He trudged through four feet of fresh snow, proof that winter had truly arrived.

Micah stood still in concentration, he focused on the mana channels he had formed when first advancing to Tier three. He felt the channels fill with his mana as he created the image of a raging inferno. The channels smoothly converted to the element of fire, allowing the flowing energy inside his body to take on a red hue.

A smile spread across his lips at how much he had improved over the last three years. When he first gained the channeling skill, he could barely push mana through the channels, let alone convert them to a specific element. Even a single stray thought could ruin the entire channeling.

Once all of the mana he wanted to use had been converted, he expelled it from his body toward the roads around him. He was careful to limit the amount of mana that was released every second, the intent was to melt the snow, not blow up a nearby house.

With his tongue poking out of his mouth in concentration, Micah activated his Tier four skill.

The fire mana that had already been released from his body swelled and grew. It gathered Density from the air and converted it into more fire. The small wave of heat, which he spent his own mana to release, tripled in size.

Micah resumed the walk to his shop, going just slow enough to allow the melted snow to enter the drain channels on the sides of the road.

Micah hoped the road crew would appreciate his help this morning. The previous night's party had been a doozy. He remembered seeing the snow sweepers in particular drinking far more than their fill. They would be miserable when their still-drunk bodies would need to rise and begin the day.

Micah appreciated the weekly town-wide parties during winter. It was important to keep morale high during this time of year. Like every other citizen in the empire, he embraced the distractions of the cold season, doing his best to not think about what comes next.

Well after he had begun the morning prep, Niya arrived at the shop. First Father’s light had barely chased away the morning's darkness as she groggily arrived and began to work.

“Good morning, papa.”

Micah loved the nickname she used when the two of them were alone. He could hear the first signs of puberty change her voice to be ever closer to her mother’s.

Niya was already the spitting image of the woman he had loved with all his heart. Tall for her age, with wiry limbs covered with thin muscles. She looked like a tiny tree limb had fallen to the ground, only to sprout into a skinny little goddess. Just like her mother.

“Good morning, nightlight.”

He knew Niya hated the nickname, which only added to his smile as she grumpily glared at him.

With a light grin stuck to his face, Micah’s thoughts drifted back to the decision he had been avoiding. As he looked at his rapidly growing daughter, he decided she was old enough to at least contribute to the conversation.

“Niya, what would you think if I sold the business to Darius and we retired somewhere else?”

Her body stiffened in response to his question. She turned her head and gazed at him intently. He could see the gears turning behind her eyes, his clever girl would no doubt have strong opinions on the matter.

“You’re serious, papa?”

“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it since the end of stormer. The money we made from Lord Feylon’s contract is already enough to live comfortably for the rest of our lives. I planned to make one more delivery run after spawning season, then be done”

“Yes!”

“Yes, what?” Micah responded, confused by her sudden leap into the air. He was surprised to see how happy she looked. A tiny sliver of suspicion wormed into his gut.

“We’re going to Cruex! I knew it, Yes! I’m so excited!” She jumped and danced all around the shop, nearly knocking over several carefully stacked piles of crates.

“What? Cruex, why would we go to the capital? You really want to be surrounded by millions of people rather than have our own relaxing plot of land somewhere nice and beautiful?”

“Of course, we’re going to Cruex, we both know how much you miss Jiran. He’s mentioned in his letters how he’ll be attending the royal academy there in Calm. Besides, I’ve seen you fingering that pouch of coins you forgot to give him when he left.

“He’s going to need a sturdy sack once all the girls realize how amazing he is,” The grin that split her face was a perfect match for Micah’s guffaw.

“Where did my precious daughter learn such filthy words!?” Micah roared, as he chased after the giggling girl.

Cameron’s Perspective

Cameron poked at the tiny mound of snow hiding in a tree’s shadow. Possibly the last vestiges of winter. Green grass had begun to bud in the nearby meadow. The suns’ light was warm enough to make him uncomfortable in his light half-plate armor.

He waited patiently for the others to arrive from the nearby town of Seelix. At his father's recommendation, he had joined a party of scouts for the spawning. The group he found was only one of a dozen similar bands that would be spread out several kilometers from Seelix.

They didn't make him wait long. The other four members showed up together. They were part of a long-term party so showing up in unison was nothing abnormal.

Derek waved to him as they approached. “Yo, mornin' Cam.”

Cameron merely nodded in greeting to the party. Talking to anyone other than Olive had always been difficult. He also doubted these four would be friends with him after their mission was over. So why bother with pleasantries?

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“We’ve been designated to range out twenty klicks north and return by sundown tomorrow. Formation two, let’s keep communication to a minimum. Move slowly and remember to keep eyes on at least two members at all times.”

“Cameron, you’ve been out with us twice already, but I’m going to remind you anyway. Do not engage any unknown beasts. Tier two’s can be killed at your discretion. All members must be allowed to land a hit on any Tier three’s. If an unknown, or a Tier four is spotted, we retreat. Understood?”

“I understand,” It was important they knew he could be trusted to follow the most basic tenets of a party.

“Every one of us is anxious to get our Tier three kills so we can advance, but that is no excuse for being reckless. Stay in formation, back each other up, and we will all come out of this alive. Hopefully one or two kills closer to tiering.”

After finishing his usual pre-mission speech, Derek led them into the woods north of Seelix.

Cameron’s expensive leather boots barely made a sound as he crept through the sparse underbrush. He applied a minimal amount of mana through a detection charm on his wrist. Something his mother had demanded he take with him. It would alert him if any Tier four or higher beast came within a kilometer.

He had attempted to deny her wishes, wanting to experience true danger like any other scout without his family's wealth to protect them. Now, he was glad she had been so insistent. There was something about knowing the talisman would not only protect himself, but his entire team as well, that filled him with pride.

Their first sign of beasts was a group of three mercats. The tracks started at a small creek where a single monster had come for a drink. By the time they closed in on the beast, two more had spawned. Now the group huddled on the far side of a nearby hill, where they could strategize without being spotted.

“We need to either retreat and report or try to take out all three before more spawn in. The tracks we followed were only from this morning. For there to already be three of them, this is likely a C-class spawn. If we choose to head back, there could be a thousand of them at Seelix within two days.”

The group blanched at Derek’s words. They all knew this exact situation is why so many scout teams were sent out from each village, town, and city during spawning season. The choice they made in the next few minutes could determine the fate of every citizen in Seelix.

After a moment of silence from the group, Cameron decided to speak his thoughts.

“I think we should attack. There is an entire Company of troops camped less than a day east of Seelix. In the worst-case scenario, those soldiers will be able to support the town.

“I’m confident I can hold two of them for a minute while you four kill the third.”

The four looked between themselves. When it was clear there would be no objections, a look of resolution covered their features.

“Okay, let’s do this. Mila, set your traps at the base of the hill over there,” Derek said while pointing.

“If we need to retreat, head to the traps. If we get separated, the regroup point will be that big tree we found near the creek. Cameron, you head in first to get their attention, I’ll pull whichever one is in the rear and we’ll focus it down.

“Don’t hold anything back, people. I want that first beast dead within thirty seconds.” Mila scoffed at Derek’s absurd request but quickly covered it up after looking at Cameron. After seeing him, and being reminded he would be holding off two of them alone, she clenched her fists, determined to do her part.

The four of them split up and waited while the traps were prepared. They then spread out in a loose formation and stealthily approached the group of huge green cats.

On all fours, the beasts could look Derek straight in the eyes, yet they only came up to Cameron’s shoulders. They had thick green fur that covered tough brown bark-like skin. If the beasts didn't move, it was almost impossible to spot them in the thick forest.

With powerful back legs perfect for launching through the air, they made for impressive ambush predators.

Cameron’s heart raced as he approached the unaware monsters. They were tearing into the corpse of some animal, allowing the team to get far closer than normal without being detected.

As he reached to pull the giant sword from his back, a glint of light reflected off his armor. One of the beasts noticed the light zooming across the ground, and its head jerked toward the movement.

Knowing his cover would be blown in seconds, Cameron leaped from his crouched position.

As he soared through the air, he brought his hands down in front of him. The massive blade that had been strapped to his back sliced through the air and a beast's leg with equal ease.

Mana flowed through his body as he slammed a shoulder into the wounded cat. It sailed through the air from the impact, legs and tail flailing as all cats do when they find themselves suddenly airborne.

Trusting his team to finish the injured monster, Cameron set his attention on the other two. The first of which was already sailing through the air.

The beast's mouth was open wide, teeth set in a path straight for his neck. Its large green eyes glared at him with hunger and malevolence.

Since his sword's tip was in the ground, Cameron held the pommel above his head and ducked below the wide flat blade.

The beast impacted the sword, sending a massive amount of physical force through the weapon and into Cameron.

Using the push to accelerate his spin, he came out of his crouch swinging. The monster's own force was sent straight back to it. Except it came in the form of a sharp blade that cut deeply into its stomach, spilling gore across the ground.

With mana and adrenaline flooding his body, he prepared to swing again. Before he could, a huge weight blasted into him from behind.

Paws double the size of his hands wrapped around his chest as he was slammed into the ground. The last beast atop him.

His armor proved it was forged by an exceptional smith as it held fast against the powerful jaws that bit down on his shoulder.

At thirteen seasons old, Cameron was already an ideal male specimen. Huge compared to his peers, and even a head taller than the adult Derek.

Despite his considerable strength and above-average molding technique, he was no match for the beast's strength. The giant cat proved exactly why hunting beasts of your own tier, while alone, was suicide.

Cameron was not alone.

The monster went from growling in his ear, metal crunching under the weight of its bite, to yowling in pain. A blast of lightning struck it in the side leaving a gaping wound and disabling one of its legs.

Sensing the slackened limb, Cameron spun in the grip of its good arm. Three-centimeter-long claws left nasty lacerations across his chest and back as he tore himself free.

Turning and kicking the feline in the jaw, he used the force of the blow to launch himself toward his sword.

Weapon in hand he dove back into the melee excitement coursing through his veins.

With two heavily wounded and one dead, the coordinated movements of his team made short work of the beasts.

Cameron sat in the blood-soaked dirt after the fight. The same thoughts he always had after a battle played through his mind.

How did he compare to that specter of his past?

With closed eyes, he prodded the mana infused throughout his body in preparation for his eventual ascension to Tier four.

It was the same as always, completely full to bursting, yet without that final spark needed to begin the transition. He estimated another thirty kills should be enough.

For the average citizen, reaching Tier four was a pipe dream. Who would be crazy enough to go fight hundreds of life-and-death battles just to Tier up?

Only to then be hunted for the rest of your life by Tier four beasts who would always find you, no matter how far you fled.

For Madra abhors stagnation.

Cameron got back to his feet, wounds already healed. He flexed his muscles experimentally, making sure everything felt normal.

After a quick meal, the five once more set off to the north.

Cameron clenched his fists, the thrill of battle still coursed through his veins.

Spawning season had just begun, and he was loving every minute of it.