“How would you two like to join the hunt?”

The words hung in the air for a moment, and Wyn found himself unable to respond. Join the hunt? What would that even look like, after the thrashing they’d received, he honestly wasn’t sure they’d be too much help with Tor’s involvement. Still, did it matter if they were getting training?

Corrin didn’t seem to have such reservations though, “Are you kidding? That’s not even a question!”

Tor laughed. “I take it you’re interested then?”

“If you’ll help us learn, then of course!” Corrin nodded.

“And what about your friend?” Tor asked, looking over at Wyn.

Wyn mulled it over, in his head. If the hunt was taking place in two weeks, then they’d lose a bit of time by staying, but not much. Still, Tor, a spirit knight, was offering them instruction. There wasn’t anything more valuable than that. And Wyn had seen the look in Corrin’s eyes when he started seeing mana in the world, he needed to know what that was like. He craved it like a starving man craved food. But… if he wasn’t the responsible one, then who would be?

“There’s one thing I need to know,” Wyn held up a hand. “How much danger are we going to be in? If this thing is a threat to you, then isn’t it basically suicide for us? I don’t even see how we can be of help.”

Tor gave him a strange look. “To be honest, I won’t be fighting the colossus head on much either. It’s just not practical, I doubt I could bring it down even if I gave my life trying, and this one’s only a baby. When you’re hunting a monster as big as a colossus, you have to bring the right weapons for the job. My ship is equipped with a ballista that can penetrate its shell, and every strider we can bring with us is going to be packing something similar. It’ll mostly be them and the mages doing the heavy lifting.”

Wyn tapped his finger on the counter. “I see, so then why do we need so many people in the first place?”

“To wipe out the small fry,” Tor said. “Colossi, especially young ones like this, attract smaller monsters and spirit beasts like moths to a flame. They’ve always got a veritable horde kicking around nearby them. The ballista aren’t good at handling them, and the mages won’t be able to cast larger spells if they have to defend themselves.”

“Ah so that’s where we come in,” Wyn finished, nodding. “We keep the mages and ballista's safe while they bring it down. It’s a simple plan all things considered.”

“Wait, I wanted to fight the colossus…” Corrin complained.

Tor laughed. “Come back in ten years and then maybe, maybe you can actually attempt it. Don’t worry though Corrin, it’s going to be one hell of a brawl, even if you’re not fighting the big guy directly. Colossus swarms easily get into the tens, or even hundreds of thousands.”

Wyn’s stomach tightened at the thought. He imagined the sky blotted out by wings, and the ground shaking under the advance of countless monsters. It would make the dungeon flood seem like a small scuffle in comparison.

“What about The Colossus of the South?”

Tor’s eyes darkened. “They say when it was first rampaging, the swarm was so thick it was impossible to tell night from day, and thousands of people died from the mana poisoning it induced alone.”

Oh lovely, so my nightmare thought wasn’t even wrong.

Tor continued. “The number I’ve heard recently was just over ten thousand high-threat monsters, and millions of weaker ones covering an area fifty miles wide. If you count swarm monsters, that number probably gets into the hundreds of millions. There’s a reason that thing is still there after all these years. Even just getting to it would require the largest expedition since the war.”

The more Wyn heard about this thing, the less he wanted to see it. But at the same time, it did pique his curiosity. The leviathan in Straetum was something they'd barely been able to kill, even with help. But having fought Tor, he was fairly confident it would be no threat to the spirit knight. Hearing he wasn't confident in taking on even a young colossus made Wyn wonder how that was even possible. Could something like that really exist?

He made up his mind. He was certain now, more than ever. He and Corrin weren’t strong enough–not nearly. This training was an opportunity that was too good to pass up. He’d have to talk to Ven and Kei… but he’d make them understand.

“I'll do it.” He held out his hand. “But I want you to teach me how to control mana, that's my only condition.”

Tor looked at him out of the corner of his eye, “I don't think you understand the value of what you're asking for,” his intense gaze morphed to a smile, “but I'll see what I can do.”

He held out a rough, calloused hand and grabbed Wyn’s, shaking it firmly.

“When can we start?”

Tor laughed. “Eager aren’t we? I’ve had a few too many to get into it tonight, and since we’re starting at the basics, it’s probably best if I make a few preparations. Meet me tomorrow morning on my ship, I expect you there before sunrise.”

“Sounds great,” Wyn said, meeting the knight’s eyes.

“Perfect, now that’s enough of that. Why don’t we have a drink to celebrate?” He called over the bartender. “What do you two like?”

Corrin smiled uncomfortably. “Something sweet?”

Wyn shrugged. “Pick something good for me.”

Tor nodded and signaled for the bartender. A moment later, they each had a drink in hand, Corrin’s a rosy red, while Wyn and Tor’s were both a deep amber.

“To the hunt, and of course, to your training.” Tor raised his glass, joined by the two of them as they clinked their mugs together with a dull wooden thud. Wyn thought he saw Tor whisper something else before he drank, but he couldn’t make it out.

For a moment, the dimly lit tavern seemed to fade into the background, leaving behind the smell of aged wood and the faint tang of liquor. A faint hum of laughter mixed with the sound of clinking glasses and soldiers relaxing after a long day. The warmth of the ale trickled through Wyn’s body, though spirit fire kept him sober as always. Then he breathed out, and the moment ended.

Corrin looked at his drink with a slight frown, but took another sip anyway before he spoke, excitement still plain on his face. “I wanted to ask, how many colossi have you fought before?”

Tor set his mug down, wiping his upper lip with the back of his hand. He let out a low chuckle. “I’ve fought a lot of battles since I joined up with the army,” he said, “but colossi? Only twice. First time I was still a fresh recruit, we were sent down to the desert ‘ta kill it. Almost lost my arm.” He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a long, jagged scar that ran from just above his elbow down to his wrist. “Second time was just before I became a spirit knight… let’s just say I’d learned my lesson. If ya bring the right tools against a monster, you’ll be just fine.”

Corrin leaned in and stared at the scar with wide-eyed interest, and Wyn listened intently as well. The rest of the night was easy. Corrin asked all sorts of questions of Tor about battles he’d fought, things he’d seen, and what the war had been like. Tor seemed all too happy to answer, and through his stories Wyn learned a good bit about the knight.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

He’d grown up in a small town in Edria, but joined the war when he turned sixteen. From then, he fought in minor skirmishes for the next four years. When he was twenty he got stationed at an outpost in Northern Nladia where he’d remained for almost the entire rest of the war, fighting to hold the foothold that Edria had gained on the other continent. From what Wyn understood, they still held some of that land even after the treaty, and Nladia held territory on the southern tip Aeora in exchange. Why they hadn't just exchanged the lands back, he didn't know.

Perhaps he could've asked, and perhaps Tor would've known, but he had a different question on his mind. “So, when did you become a spirit knight exactly? What's the process like?”

“It’s not really that interesting.” Tor upended his mug, then glanced at it disappointedly as only a drop or two ran out. He’d drunk two more while telling them stories, but it seemed he was finally done. “The long and short of it is, I eventually got strong enough to be one, and I killed an important enemy, so they promoted me to third class spirit knight. Students at most academies—those that make it through at least—graduate as third class spirit knights. The royal academy sends half its graduates straight into second class.”

He leaned back, glancing out over the bar. He didn’t seem drunk despite how much he’d consumed. The only indication of alcohol was the red on his face. “But I can get into the details another time, it’s too damn late. I’m going to make sure my men get back alright, you two should get going as well. I’m going to be working you hard tomorrow so you should rest.”

Wyn and Corrin exchanged a glance, understanding passing silently between them. He could work them to the bone, and they’d thank him for it. This was the chance they’d been searching for, a way forward after so long.

“Sir, if you can teach us like you say, we’ll work harder than anyone.”

Tor gave a slow, approving nod. “Good, that’s the kind of iron you need. I’ll see you boys before first light.” With that, he stood and dropped several gold pieces onto the bar. He gave a half-salute, then turned and strode towards the exit. His footsteps echoed heavily through the dimly lit bar as he barked at his men to clear out. Most did so, if a bit slowly, and they carried out those who wouldn't wake up. Tor himself grabbed two that were passed out on a table and threw them over his shoulders like they weighed nothing at all.

Wyn and Corrin watched him go, not moving until the door swung closed behind him. When it finally did, Wyn stood up and stretched, a huge smile on his face. “Well, ready to go?”

Corrin did the same beside him. “Might as well, sounds like we’re gonna have a busy day tomorrow... Shit, we forgot to book an inn. Are we sleeping on the strider?”

“We couldn’t get one anyways,” Wyn said. “They’re all full, Kei paid an arm and a leg for her room.”

“Damn rich girl,” Corrin grinned. “It’s not fair.”

“You like sleeping outside anyways, don’t lie.”

“It just makes it seem like a real adventure you know?”

“I suppose so,” Wyn chuckled.

As they headed for the door themselves, Wyn felt anticipation humming beneath his skin, a pull he hadn’t felt in years. And somehow, he felt he wouldn’t get much sleep that night.

***

It was quiet, but not enough that Corrin was alone with only his thoughts. The night was still full of life and sound. Faint chirps and clicks whispered through the air, accompanied by the soft hum of a few light spirits as grass rustled in the breeze. It was peaceful, soothing even. Usually he would have been put right to sleep, but that night was different.

Though he was sore and tired from the earlier battle, Corrin’s mind was a different story. No matter what he tried, he was unable to get comfortable on his bedroll, he tossed and turned, thoughts abuzz with the events of the day and excitement for the next.

Even without sleep though, the aura coursing through his body licked at his wounds, slowly relieving aching muscles and bruised flesh. In spite of the hours that had passed since the fight though, his channels felt a bit strained, and his natural aura was still replenishing itself.

Ash aura. He knew it now, the strength that he’d claimed. It was his most powerful weapon, more useful than any sword. The power of spirit knights.

He wasn’t just excited for himself either. Some of the excitement was for Wyn, who would be able to share in what Corrin had learned. He just hoped that the advantage of a channeling technique granted by a demon would offset the boost spirit fire would give Wyn once he caught up in terms of channeling.

With his eyes closed, Corrin lay there and watched the aura in his body. It flowed naturally through the paths the demon had set. The pattern was difficult to describe, as it was too complex to understand at a glance.

In the center of his chest, just lower than where his heart would be, was a dense, spiraling mass of channels. There, his aura swirled and gathered in greater volume than anywhere else. From the center stretched a variety of thick, primary channels which carried aura to or from his core. There were a few of these thick channels for each of his limbs, one traveling the length of each foot or arm, as well as a slightly thinner one that went up towards his head. Branching out from the channels, and in some cases even bridging the two, were much thinner veins. There were thousands of these, sometimes forming further spirals, sometimes looping once, creeping into almost every inch of his body.

There was a natural flow to his aura, speeding up and slowing down with his breath, even when he wasn’t channeling. Flowing out of the core, into his limbs, through the smaller channels, and then back up into the core again where he could no longer keep track of it. The stream was hypnotic to watch, and though it didn’t put him to sleep, it did help to calm his thoughts just a bit.

His aura flowed. Corrin watched.

He heard a sound from beside him, a ruffling of cloth, breaking him out of his trance. He rolled over to look and saw Wyn’s silhouette, faintly visible against the night sky. Wyn rose out of bed and stretched.

“You can’t sleep either huh?” Corrin whispered, careful not to wake Ven.

Wyn started, then he broke into a soft chuckle. His eyes were glowing purple, more visible than ever in the dark before dawn.. It should’ve been unsettling the way they burned, but somehow it seemed almost comforting. “Shit, you scared me. I got maybe an hour or two? Eia says the sun’s going to rise soon.”

Corrin sat up and looked over at the horizon, it hadn’t begun to lighten. Had it really been so long?

He glanced into the empty air above Wyn’s shoulder, trying to guess her location. “How does she know?”

Wyn shrugged.

“I guess a spirit would know better than we would.” Corrin sighed, shaking the blanket from his body and getting to his feet.

They got dressed quickly and in silence, no words were needed before they headed out, eating handfuls of roasted nuts they took from the food supplies. The air had been fairly warm around the suntrap, but as he moved to the edge of the saddle, Corrin felt the nip of cold on his skin. It wouldn’t be much longer before they’d need to start dressing heavier.

The town wasn’t deserted in the morning, in fact there were a few people mulling through the streets and across the bridges. They weren't alone either, several of the townsfolk were up early to set up stalls, shops, and sweep the streets, but Corrin ignored them as he headed straight for his destination.

The ship was empty by the time they arrived, and it seemed the wood had already been repaired from their battle, as the smashed boards where Corrin had hit the deck were gone. No one else was there yet, and for a moment he was unsure what they should do. He had assumed the knight would be there before them.

Wyn elbowed his side gently. “Warmup?”

Corrin smiled and drew the wooden sword he’d brought for such a purpose. He set his pack down and stood across from Wyn on the deck, then they began.

It, like many of their duels as of late, was a bit lopsided, as Wyn had to fight to keep up with Corrin’s superior speed and power. But still, there was something different about it too. Corrin felt his focus increase, pushing himself more than he usually would, and Wyn was the same. While his usual attacks were somewhat predictable to Corrin by now, Wyn seemed to be experimenting. He weaved together one-handed and two-handed strikes to throw Corrin off rhythm, preventing him from attacking full force. It was unlike the swordsman who preferred to take Corrin’s assaults as they came and counter.

Wood clacked loudly against wood as their battle grew more frenzied, back and forth along the ship. It wasn’t as intense as their spar after their argument in Precipice, but it was far more inspired. Corrin’s sword struck light lightning, forcing Wyn to twist his body just in time. Sweat beaded at his brow despite the chill as the pace picked up further.

Experiencing Tor’s swordsmanship had sparked something in them. In mana, only Corrin could relate to what he had been doing, but skill with the blade was something they both shared, and so Corrin let his mana stay even, trying to defeat Wyn through ability alone.

He couldn’t though, and a moment later, Wyn’s blade struck his side—a clean blow. Corrin dropped his blade and fell to the ground, feigning death. That earned a snicker from them both.

“Not bad.” A voice, smooth and resonant, sounded from the docks. Corrin recognized it, but not from the tone or pitch. He recognized it from the authority it carried, like it was above all others. The spirit knight had arrived.

Wyn pulled him to his feet and they both stood straight as Corrin cleared the laughter from his throat.

“Good morning sir,” Wyn bowed slightly.

“At ease,” Tor said with a practiced wave of his hand. “You’re only temporarily under my command during the hunt anyways. There’s someone I’d like you two to meet.”

Only then did Corrin notice someone standing to Tor’s left. Dressed in robes was another man in his thirties, a bit older than the spirit knight, with well-kept dark hair. He was wearing glasses and carrying a decorated wooden staff. He reminded Corrin a bit of his mentor Irym back home, if a good bit younger.

“This is Nereus. He's the head of our mage team for this operation, and he’s going to be helping us out for a bit before his duties begin.”

The mage yawned, looking irritated. He didn't bother to wave, and instead just looked at the two of them with mild disinterest as he leaned on his staff.

“We’ll have a few more joining us in a few hours, but I’ll introduce them when they arrive. With that said, let’s not waste anymore time. By the time the sun rises, I'd like to have made Wyn into a channeler.”