In the wake of the day's events Maury and Dracon trudged, all be it briskly, toward Green Castle. Green Castle was the largest city in what Dracon knew to be the small country he and his family lived in. Dracon's mother tried to give him a well-rounded general knowledge of the world. He had studied the world map his mother had from her days of traveling. However, since it was her travel map she had been the one to fill it in. So anywhere she hadn't been or didn't know about wasn't on the map and was blank.
There were many islands and territories on the map that Dracon never learned the names of. He did know that he lived on the major continent of the planet. Well adjacent to it. The largest continent has a peninsula that kind of looks like it broke off. As the story goes an epic battle nearly destroyed the entire peninsula and the three islands are all that are left. The three islands are referred to as the Broken Peninsula. Dracon lived on the southernmost island of the peninsula archipelago. Green Castle was the island's capital and was situated right on the southern tip. A huge mountaintop chateau, covered in a rich deep green almost like its spires were massive trees, overlooking a city and harbor that lay down the mountainside tucked away behind the cliff from harsh weather. A massive property lay just off the path between the city and its namesake. This property was both the Green Castle branch of the Adventurers' Guild and the Adventurers' Academy.
Maury and Dracon made it as far as they could before nightfall in the aftermath of losing Dracon's father, whether dead or alive neither of them knew. No reason to turn back to what seemed to be a smoldering pile that was his home. They made camp and slept as well as they could, Maury keeping his senses fully extended on high alert throughout the night. Morning came without further event. Maury woke Dracon and made them some breakfast with rations they had hurriedly packed.
"So we are heading to Green Castle. Have you ever been?" Maury asked Dracon as he dished up and passed him a plate. Still groggy rubbing crust from his eyes, Dracon yawned "N-naaaahhh. I haven't left the homestead, save for the few trips to a couple of townships nearby. Mom mentioned eventually we would go there to get me registered with the Guild."
"I am assuming that is what your dad had in mind too. Besides us obviously informing them of what we saw, there is also an Academy there." Maury said eyeing the young man.
"Oh Yea!" Dracon exclaimed through a mouthful of food before covering his mouth and swallowing. "Excuse me, sorry about that. Mom would have tail-thwacked me for that."
Maury nodded his excusal "You seem a little intrigued." he said grinning. "Yes, I am. Mom also said she considered enrolling me in the academy but for some reason never did it nor mentioned why she hadn't. Do you think I should enroll?" he asked Maury earnestly.
"I definitely think we should enroll you and register you as an Adventure Academy Student and Adventurer Guild Member. I think your mom held you away because your progress and skill attainment outdo most of your age. I think your mom wanted to keep you under her tutelage as long as possible to better gauge your growth. You might not realize it Draco but you are far stronger than most 13-year-olds of any race save maybe Spirits or Dragons." He smiled and gently slugged the young man, Dracon didn't even budge. Dracon blushed. "Wait seriously? You think I'm that strong?" "Oh, yea kid! That's why your mom held off. You'll see when we get there. I've only taken a couple of strolls through the academy but I got the gist of how it works. You are going to stir the pot for sure." he laughed heartily, and Dracon almost felt it was maniacal, as he cleaned up the campsite.
They started off shortly after, at a more brisk pace than the previous day's "brisk" trudge. Dracon and Maury had talked over breakfast and had steeled themselves on having faith that Dracon's dad somehow survived and he would find them or they would have to find him. In the meantime, they would focus on their mission of getting to Green Castle.
Maury also decided that since they were out in the wilderness they should train. This was the perfect opportunity to get Dracon some real-world combat experience rather than just training body and mind. Fighting monsters and beasts was also very different than fighting sapient races. Dracon had started figuring this out the hard way when basic physical attacks that normally crushed average beasts did not affect slimes and other monsters he had never faced before. After each battle, Maury would critique and then they would meditate on what transpired. Dracon was used to this as it is how his mother always trained him. Dracon always felt stronger after his meditations and usually received progress notifications when he came out of it after hard training sessions.
DING* You have reached Level 18.
DING* You have raised the Mastery Level of General Skill: Martial Arts from rank 1 to rank 2. Skill update Martial Arts (Advanced)
"Woot!" Dracon let out a little cheer as he read the notification of reaching a new level. Maury looked up from his meditation. "What's up?" "New level and mastery level advancement!" Dracon said excitedly. " Do you know why my Martial Arts skill mastery has moved to advanced? I don't feel like I learned anything new per se" Maury chuckled "Knowledge of the skills and movements is the primary experience needed to progress skills at low levels. Once that knowledge is obtained you won't gain more experience from that knowledge. The experience you gain moving forward is from how you use that knowledge. Fighting these different foes and consolidating the experience you learned from fighting them has advanced your skill rather than learning new techniques or moves. The system has recognized your understanding and reflected it in your skill display. Honestly, while we sparred I was curious why the skill hadn't advanced already. You have been fighting at what I would consider a rank 2 mastery level of combat since I met you. Seems the experience of fighting new enemies was all you needed to push the threshold. Congrats kid."
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The two men finished their meditation and continued toward Green Castle. "Hey Maury, how many days till we get to Green Castle?" Maury thought for a moment as they walked. " Well if we don't drag our feet or get held up training it shouldn't take us more than a week from your place. We have made ok progress all considering. So maybe 5-6 more days." The men continued on their path, Maury encouraging Dracon to fight any creature that came within their aura senses. Maury could extend his aura senses out in a 20-meter radius around him. This allowed him to sense the presence of anything within his aura even if he couldn't see or sense it with other natural senses.
After stopping a little after noon that day for lunch, they continued until Maury sensed something. "Hey, Draco how are you feeling bud?" Dracon looked at Maury one eyebrow raised. "Ummm, fine?" Maury had a curious look on his face that Dracon didn't recognize. "I am sensing something strange on the edge of my perception. Ready your self we are going to close in slowly and see if I can get a better read on the situation." Dracon fell in behind Maury and the two progressed in the direction that Muary felt the disturbance. As they got closer Dracon looked in the direction not able to see anything. His aura senses weren't as developed as Maury's but he could extend his senses about 2-3 meters in a radius around himself and 10 meters in one direction at a time. He could feel the presence before he could see it. "I think I sense it. What is it?" he asked Maury. "Keep observing as we move closer. I think it should be safe but we will proceed with caution." Maury said quietly.
As they moved closer Dracon could sense a large beast-shaped aura mass that's power was fading almost non-existent. "Coast is clear," Maury said "What do you sense?" Dracon extended his senses "The beast is dying or may even be dead and I am just feeling its residual aura as it dissipates. But I do feel something else. A smaller fainter aura." Maury cracked a grin and walked toward the large black mound that came into view. The mound looked like a giant boulder with flaming cracks running through it. Maury pulled away from it with something wrapped in his arms the flaming cracks faded out. Maury walked over to Dracon and held out his arms showing Dracon what he had picked up. "It's a smolder panther cub," Maury said calmly Dracon's eyes grew wide in wonder. The little creature looked like a little ball of coal with hot glowing embers inside. It opened its big eyes glowing like little fireballs and looked at Dracon before making a big yawn and curling back up into Maury's arms. "Have you ever heard of Beast Tamers?" Maury asked with an excited grin.
The men set up camp, well Maury set up camp. He wanted Dracon to make the little smolder panther cub as his familiar. Maury knew of a couple of ways to achieve this, one of which was making a physical connection with the desired familiar. With this in mind, Maury insisted that Dracon hold the little cub while he set up the camp. Dracon didn't argue as he wanted the little kitten to be his familiar too. He carried the small creature around in his arms petting down its spine, which would sometimes flare up tickling Dracon's fingers while scratching between its ears.
After getting camp set and enjoying a nice meal, shared with their new companion, Dracon and Maury talked about what next. "So about our little friend there. If we want you to bind with it soon which of course we do! Then there are a couple of other things we might be able to do to help expedite the process." Dracon looked at his uncle wide-eyed, intrigued, and petting the little smolder panther. "I mentioned before the physical connection, Yea?" Dracon nodded "Well if you already have aura control then you can also use your aura to try and make the bond faster." Dracon's eyebrows raised. Muary smiled "We both know you have very good aura control. So the next step is for you to reach out gently and allow your aura to mingle with the cub's. From what I can see I think you have already been doing that. Were you aware?" Maury asked curiously eyeing Dracon. "Umm kinda? When his spine flares up my body reflexively flares my own aura to protect myself. I noticed the two would intertwine and so I have just let it play with his."
DING* The Smolder Panther cub you hold needs your help to survive. It has found you worthy and would like to make a pact with you. Do you accept Bond of Companions with the unnamed Smolder Panther cub? Yes No
"Whoa!" Dracon looked at the notification with bulging bug eyes. Maury looked at him with a grin from ear hole to ear hole. "I take it you just got your notification to bond with it?" Maury asked. "Yea! But I don't get it what changed between me petting him and you talking to me about him?" Dracon asked curiously trying to get a better grip on the system. "Well Bud, I would assume it's that you have created enough of a bond with it to know its gender, I didn't, and the beast, or in this case, monstrous beast, has shown will, at least to the system, that it would like to bond with you. I am not sure about the details on the monsters' end when they are young. When the creatures are an intelligent species like dragons or fairies then it is similar to an Oath Bond that you would make with any sapient race. What you may be looking at is either a Companion Bond or a Dominance Bond. Knowing you I doubt you enforced your will on the little guy so is it the former?"
"Yes!" Dracon almost shouted as his uncle asked and he shared the notification with his uncle with a flick of his wrist. Maury looked at it briefly and then said "Well what are you waiting for?!" Dracon flinched at the volume and mentally acknowledged Yes.