“No!” Dwindle screamed as he loaded his crossbow.
The goblin that struck the unassuming Red smiled a sharp-toothed smile as it brought its club back into the air above Red’s unconscious head to deliver another blow. A crossbow bolt lifted the monster off its small feet, piercing into its emancipated chest and outright killing it.
Dammit, the bastard must’ve gone around for a wide flank while the others came from this way, the dwarf realized.
Dwindle hastily moved over to Red’s unconscious body.
Come on champ, please be alright.
Dwindle cursed inwardly at himself for letting harm come to Red.
He really liked the kid. The young man was simple, but he wasn’t ego driven or greedy like other Hunters the dwarf met in the city of Soalde. Dwindle was actually looking forward to working with Red further into the future.
Damn me for being a fool of a dwarf. I should’ve kept count of the damnable beasts. I should’ve been more prepared!
As he got out a bandage for his companion's head, the dwarf reflected on his ineptitude. Dwindle set out with his dagger and slit each goblin's throat to ensure that each beast had actually died. There was also the life stone that everyone of them carried in their bodies, which was normally found in their chest near their hearts.
All things in this world carried with it a source of energy called mana.
But not all could use the energy. But once an animal was able to utilize the natural mana that flows within it, the life stone is formed, gaining more strength because of it. After gain a life core, these beasts typically become monsters with the propensity to kill and eat rich sources of mana in order to increase their own strength.
Even with little to no intelligence, beasts with life cores hunt for more mana by instinct. Sometimes their hunts led them to humans and other civilized races due to the amount of mana that such beings tended to have.
For more than just their value, Dwindle needed to take life stones along with a finger from each goblin as proof of completing their quest. After gathering what they would need to show the guild, Dwindle made a makeshift gurney out of rope and branches before carefully placing the unconscious Red on top of it. The dwarf then dragged Red across the hills to their camp to wait until he woke before moving to a designated area for pickup.
Red finally woke up hours later with a splitting headache. The light of a campfire pained his head further, making him close his eyes. Rolling over to his side, Red pulled the covers of his blanket onto his head.
“Red!” the Dwarf said loudly seeing the young man beginning to move.
“No, please, my head,” Red groaned.
“Oh, sorry,” the Dwarf apologized, this time more cautious with his volume.
He went back to his journal, where he had been writing down his experiences, but found that he couldn’t focus. A guilty feeling had been clutching at him, not letting the dwarf have a moment’s peace.
“I’m sorry about letting you get hit back there, champ,” Dwindle began, “I should’ve known better. I should’ve…”
“We won, didn’t we?” Red said, peeking out of the blanket at Dwindle.
“Well, yes but-”
“Then that’s that.”
“Wait a minute, champ-”
“If you feel that bad about it, Mister Dwindle, then don’t let it happen again.”
The dwarf stared at Red for a moment then looked down, smirking to himself, “Yea, you’re right. I won’t let it happen again.”
With that, the dwarf decided to take a nap himself.
Dwindle awoke to Red screaming in pain. He rushed out of his blankets and looked around fretfully. He found the young man at a nearby tree with both shins bloodied.
“What happened, champ? Who did this to you?” The dwarf asked as he pointed to the lower part of Red’s legs covered in blood.
“Myself,” Red breathed out heavily while trying to subdue the feeling of pain in his aching shins.
“Hammer and wrench! Why would you do that?”
“My training has fallen so far behind that I can no longer kick as hard as I once did.”
The dwarf nodded his head in understanding. A fighter’s weapon was as important as the fighter himself and with Red’s body being his weapon, it made sense for the young man to hone it every day.
“I tried using my Muay Thai against this tree, but I ended up inuring myself,” Red explained.
“What is a mooey tie?” Dwindle replied, confused.
“My kickboxing, Mister Dwindle, my kickboxing has become rusty because I’ve never trained it!”
The champ wasn’t making any sense.
Dwindle understood they had to get back to Soalde soon. Red needed a healer for more than just his body. Since receiving that blow to the head, the young man did not seem quite like himself.
Red's shins received first-aid, which was brought out of Dwindle's many packs, and the duo hurried to the rendezvous point agreed upon by Dwindle and the old dwarf wagon driver. Both possessed a square dwarven machine that would light up when mana was injected into either device that would produce a light on both. As soon as the old dwarf saw the light, he knew to come back and pick them up in his wagon.
After hours of waiting and Dwindle trying to keep Red from doing any unnecessary training that could injure the young man further, the old dwarf arrived. The two Hunters were headed back to Soalde.
On arrival, Dwindle rushed Red to see a healing man in the Classy Slums, but the healer did not find any complication health wise with the champ. He assured Red that he was in better shape than most people his age and that his head injury was inconsequential. Dwindle told the man to check again, but before long, the dwarf and healer got into a spat that grew more serious, and Dwindle had to walk away after being coaxed by Red.
“I’m telling you I’m fine,” Red said another time while walking through the Classy Slums alongside his short companion.
Dwindle eyed him warily. He was sure that the blow Red had received was a nasty one and wasn’t entirely convinced that Red got away scot free.
“I need to go train,” Red said with determination, “I can’t remain on top if I don’t train.”
“Just take it easy, will ya?” the dwarf begged.
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“Fine, I’ll just do some running and call it a day.”
Dwindle let out a breath, content with the compromise.
“By the by,” Dwindle spoke up after some time, “Here’s the reward for the goblin subjugation quest. I went to fetch it after leaving you at the healer’s.”
Dwindle’s hairy hands pulled out a pouch of jingling coins and placed it into Red’s palm. Red opened it and gawked at the amount of silver and copper shining under the sun.
“Dwindle,” he exclaimed, “There is too much in here. Here, take your share.” Red grabbed as much as he could to place it into the dwarf’s hands but was denied.
Dwindle shook his head and replied, “I already took my cut. You did most of the work and deserve a bigger slice of the meat pie.”
The mention of meat and pie evoked deep emotions in Red as hungry as he was, but he shook the feeling away.
“No, Dwindle. You took care of me before the quest. You deserve more,” Red said, resolute.
The dwarf once again denied him, “No, champ. I already divvied up what needs divvying and took the share that covered all my losses. Everything in there is for you.”
Red became dazed so much so that he had to stop walking.
The weight of the coin bag seemed heavier than it was. He couldn’t fathom having made such an amount from simply punching small monsters in the face. It wasn't as much as the prize money from the gypsy brawls, but he could actually see it up close, unlike the prize money from the brawls, when the only time he could see the coin was when it was scattered over the street.
Dwindle came to a halt and smiled at Red's reaction to the reward. The dwarf felt pleased to be able to assist a young man just starting out as a Hunter.
“Can you keep it for me?” Red asked after weighing thoughts in his mind.
“What? Just keep it in the guild bank. They’ll even help increase your earnings if you keep it in there long enough,” Dwindile said, offering his advice.
He was confused at the current situation. He knew that Red wasn’t so bright, but Red just offered Dwindle to keep money in safe keeping and they had just met but two weeks ago, still very much strangers to one another.
“I don’t understand any of that,” Red groaned, “If you keep it then I’ll know it will be safe.”
“Listen, champ,” Dwindle grunted, “I can’t just hang around like your personal bank all the time. I have my own life to lead.”
The thoughts of the boxer entered Red’s mind as he offered, “Then how about becoming my manager?”
Dwindle paused. A strange feeling began to bubble within him as he stared up at Red’s gangly form, the sun casting a silhouette of light around the brawling champion.
A manager? The dwarf’s thoughts echoed Red’s offer.
Dwindle had previously attempted to become an accomplished dwarf in business, inventions, and now hunting, but none of it had ignited a fire within him as when he heard Red mention the occupation of manager.
As a manager for Red, he would be in charge of his daily needs and the quests that Red would go on. It would be just like what he had done for the champ in the time before their quest. Thinking on it further, Dwindle started to realize that the last few days were actually quite fulfilling. He spent the entire time managing what Red ate and where Red slept, as well as when Red received his pay. Dwindle's ambition and motivation were at an all-time high, and it helped knowing that his investment in Red would pay off.
In fact, his time with Red had been the most successful investment he had ever made since coming to the city.
“Ninety, ten,” Dwindle said after some time.
“Those are numbers,” Red answered a question not being asked.
“No, no. I’m saying I will take ten percent of what we make and leave you with ninety percent.”
“Just take all of it, manager Dwindle,” Red said with a wide smile.
Dwindle couldn’t help himself and the same kind of smile grew on his face.
Manager, the dwarf thought to himself, I’m a manager for a champion fighter.
His thoughts were then filled with scheduling, finance management, and caretaking. He would also have to provide proper lodgings for the champ.
As Dwindle stood in the street thinking, Red began to stroll on toward the eastern gate and said, “I’m going to go train, Dwindle. I’ll see you in a bit.”
Dwindle popped out of his ruminating state and yelled toward Red’s departing figure as he ran to catch up to him, “Not without me!”
The dwarf accompanied Red in training but soon couldn’t keep up with Red’s pace when running. He disappeared after telling Red that he would be back, showing up after some time on top of a beefy goat with rather close eyes.
The dwarf had gotten into his savings and purchased a mount. There weren’t many events that he would spend so much coin on, but he had to keep up with the champ’s training in order to collect information on his investment.
Dwindle trotted alongside Red on the top of his mount for hours until they ended up at the Fruitless Forest for Red’s strength and skill training. Red went into his training without a word and tirelessly used all that was at his disposal to increase his strength. He kept it all light so as not to stir his wounds.
His companion watched on wordlessly as Red trained.
Sometimes a parchment would appear in Dwindle’s hand, where he would scribble some words down. After some time, Red had all but given everything to the training before having to sit down to meditate.
Dwindle, who was scribbling away at some parchment, looked up to see Red meditating and gawked.
“Champ, you know physical reinforcement spells?” Dwindle asked in disbelief.
“What’s that?” Red asked unsure.
“What you’re doing right now. It’s the same as knights and other physical fighters use to increase their strength through magic,” Dwindle explained in awe.
“I’m just absorbing the thick air around me,” Red responded simply, “It helps me heal a bit.”
“That’s not just thick air, champ,” Dwindle said, wide eyed, “You’re reinforcing your muscles with mana.”
“Mana…” Red echoed, “Where have I heard that…”
“Mana, champ,” Dwindle said excitedly, “It’s the natural energy that all living beings use to act in this world. Mages use it to conduct magical spells that produce elements while physical fighters like you use mana to strengthen and enhance physical attributes.”
Red scratched at his head dumbly.
Dwindle began to chuckle, “Don’t worry about it, champ. Just keep doing what you’re doing!”
The young man nodded, closed his eyes, and returned to focusing on directing more of the thick air, "mana," into his body.
Dwindle rubbed his hands together, now even more sure that his investment in the young brawling champ was well placed. It was far from common for a low-born peasant like Red to know how to use mana to reinforce the body. Seeing as Red had learned it all himself, Dwindle was exceptionally enthusiastic.
Such a talent like Red was one in a million chance of appearing amongst the destitute rung of society where Red grew up.
If Red could figure out his own physical reinforcement spell, then there was no telling how far he could go if he was properly fixed with the appropriate knowledge and means to improve his fighting capabilities.
The sun had all but gone when they made it back to the Classy Slums together. The residents there were already beginning to turn in for the night. Dwindle guided Red to his residence and sheepishly presented his humble home to the champ.
“I know it’s not much, but it’s all we’ve got for now,” Dwindle said with downcast eyes, opening the door to a multicolored home built with differing materials. He was embarrassed at showing Red such meager lodgings. He wanted to get room and board in the White Rabbit district, but they did not have the funds for that kind of place even with his savings.
Red walked into the modest abode and immediately went wide eyed at all the trimmings that it held. There was furniture that wasn’t broken down, a carpet made of wool, a fireplace with a pot of stew sending out a tasty scent into the air, and crude sage symbols etched into the walls that gave off the feeling of comfort.
“This is your home?” Red asked in a quiet voice.
Dwindle shifted from one foot to the other nervously while he tried his best to explain, “I know it isn’t much, but we need to look at the bigger picture…”
“It’s wonderful!” Red exclaimed with both his arms flailed out.
“Um,” Dwindle was taken aback, not knowing what to say.
The dwarf stood there as he watched Red wander about the small home, checking everything out for interest. Dwindle finally managed to calm Red down for supper, which was a bird stew that Red was so indulged by that he made groans of comfort and longing from the taste of it. He only ever had such well-seasoned food when his mother bought it for him on his birthdays.
After their meal, Red went over to the wool carpet, running his fingers through the fibers as he lay down flat. Such a soft carpet was going to be his bed that night, and he wanted nothing more than to spread out across the warm rug and fall into a deep slumber.
“No, no, no,” Dwindle exclaimed as he rushed over to Red.
Red shot up from the rug and reprimanded himself for thinking that he would be able to sleep on such a comfortable carpet.
"The champ sleeps on the bed," grunted the dwarf sternly, pointing to a bed covered in the furs of various animals, mostly hares. Furs from larger animals were known to be more costly.
“No, I couldn’t…” Red said while staring at the bed as if it was beyond his reach.
“No, I’ll not have the champ sleep on the floor. Not in my household.”
With some cajoling and pushing, Dwindle finally managed to get the hesitant Red into the bed before he sat back in a large chair to get some rest of his own. They both fell asleep soundlessly, dreaming about things larger than what they were used to dreaming of.
The portly dwarf awoke on his large chair in his colorful home as sunlight shined onto on his face through the glass of a window. He blinked out the sleep dust from his eyes and turned to stare quietly at the burnt out embers of his fireplace. Getting up, he grabbed a fire poker and prodded the embers to become a blaze once again.
Satisfied, he moved his attention to his empty bed.
Hmm, Dwindle thought, where’s the champ?
It only took a second for him to realize that Red had gone out to train already.
Dammit all, he thought in a rush out of the door, I overslept!