The goliath stone walls emerged as the man exited the finger of trees, staring at the city's defenses in all their glory. How little everything will change over the years... He continued onward, keeping the wall on his right and coming to the entrance's archway. As to be expected a steady stream of people and cargo was coming and going along the stone road that stretched out from the city center within. Without breaking his stride the man weaved through the throng and into the bustling heart.

Hasn't changed a bit indeed. Taking a stroll along the main street he came to a halt in front of a proud, well-furnished brickwork building, Large ornate glass panes were inset in its face. Home sweet home. With a slight smile on his face, he breathed a content sigh and proceeded through the double doors, as they swung closed behind d him the cacophony from the outside was cut off, and an air of peace enveloped the man.

"Hey hey hey, look who decided to come out from under their rock, long time no see!" A Slender girl stood behind the counter, leaning forward and excitedly waving to the young man.

"Well well, suppose it makes sense, you still being here and all Ava, what's new?" He approached the counter and placed an obsidian card, face down, on its polished granite surface.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" The girl picked up the card, scanning her eyes over its surface before setting it back down and sighing. "Well, what brings you back to the Capitol of Dreams?"

"The usual, I was in the area, figured it's been a while so what the hell, plus I need a little pocket change so I wanted to see if there were any hunts I could do. That satisfactory?" He made sarcastic puppy dog eyes and grabbed the card, putting it away in his back pouch.

"Sure, whatever, there's a Prowler out and about in the east forest, if you could get it dealt with, that'd be great" The girl turned and started tending to other paperwork still scattered around the counter. What an ending.

"Guess I'll see ya around!" She waved to him, not looking up from the papers.

"Nell." He turned to face her just before leaving the building. "Don't get eaten." He smirked and left

Back out in the forest the young man, Nell, stood flattened against a tree, again one among many. A rhythmic snap, crunch, and thumping echoed through the maze of trunks. Well, fuck, this. He peeked ever so slowly around the wood, catching a slight glimpse of a panther-like creature, glinting tusks protruding from its maw. In an instant the beast was gone, the padding of its feet against the dirt still as prominent as ever. Son of a... Here goes.

Nell grabbed the hilt of the sword on his waist, pulling it an inch out of the scabbard and creeping through the brush, the thud of the beast growing ever so louder. At once it stops, Nell whipped the sword out, holding it defensively in front of his crouched frame, the beast's mouth scrabbed against the dark gray metal, stopped just a hairsbreadth from his face. Nell struggled to move backward, trying to get out of slashing range. It wasn't all too successful, and inevitably the steel talons on the beast's right paw raked across his chest, leaving shallow incisions running from side to side.

Nell shouted from the sudden flux of pain, already dulling from the adrenaline release. He threw his body weight into the sword and to the left, and as the beast was thrown to the side, blade still clamped in its jaws, the weapon shrunk, slipping from its teeth in an instant as a shortened dagger, as Nell dashed back the sword grew back to its original shortsword size. "Yeah, like that you fuck!" He dashed forward to the beast.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Sword tip pointed forward the weapon expanded another foot, clipping the Prowler's shoulder fur as it scrambled left. Again it shrunk, Nell followed through with a left swing, and the blade bit into the bony tusks, using the hold to his advantage Nell shoved its head to the ground, producing a needle-style weapon and thrusting with his free hand.

The spike missed, and the lessening of weight behind the blade let the Prowler throw its head up, embedding the tusks tips into Nell's gut, stopping after only a half inch once the blade was reached. The momentum threw Nell over the beast's back, leaving the sword abandoned and jutting from the beast's tusks. It roared a challenge at the struggling and hunched figure that was now Nell. Really shouldn't have done this He coughed, producing a spatter of blood into the ground just inches from his face.

"You are a little feisty ain't you..." he coughed again, more blood. Not good. Focus, just... Focus. Nell's ragged breaths continued, he closed his eyes, seeing the Beast struggle with the added weight he knew his breathing room was limited. He reached deep into his innermost psyche, feeling a mental blockade of sorts, forcing the 'gate' to open up and grant access, Nell entered his mana chamber. Calling forth the skill mold he imagined grasping the energy within. His Eyes snapped open.

The beast stumbled forward, quickly getting accustomed to the sword's hindrance, just as Nell shakily got to his feet. "Bring it on!" He shouted as best the could, another coughing fit, another patch of blood marking the dirt. Though, it was different. Deeper. He reached his arms out to the creature's head, making the motions of grabbing it from afar. As he twisted his hands and arms, the beast cried out in yelping protest, the blood on its tusks flowing onto its soft skin and forming needle-like growths, entering its veins and tearing it apart.

The blood on the ground did the same, trickling to the creature and stabbing into its skin in ultra-thin spikes. It took about a minute, but the jerking motion of the Prowler ceased, as did its cries, and only then did Nell lower his arms and collapse, absolutely drained he summoned a metal flask, popping the strange green stopper and downing the contents. "Doesn't... feel so good, does it? Bastard." Nell's breathing slowed slightly, and its sickly sound subsided, soon enough it was back to what could be called normal. He struggled to a sitting position and surveyed its corpse. That's gonna suck to carry.

The day was nearing its end, and already many of the city's patrons had either left or gone inside, the many who remained subconsciously parted once the sight of the boy carrying a lumpy leather sack was caught. He struggled with the weight of the bag, but eventually made it to the Hunters building, nearly bumping into a leaving guest, another man, decently older than Nell, before stepping in and setting the cumbersome container down on the counter. "Prowler delivery." Nell tiredly exclaimed with triumph to the girl working the counter.

'"Yeah, you almost got eaten."

He spent a few minutes catching up with his apparent friend, collecting his payment, and looking for anything new before taking his leave and beginning the search for an open restaurant. God, please tell me they haven't left... He searched fruitlessly for nearly an hour before stumbling onto a row of small conjoined buildings. The centermost shop still had light streaming from the doorway. Score! Nell quicker his pace and stepped through the threshold.

"Hey! Tennan, long time no see!" He joyfully greeted the completely covered person behind the counter. Their eyes seemed to speak a thousand words, at the least, appearing to be glad to see Nell. He stepped to the counter and ordered a small Ispara steak, taking a seat at the nearby table and sighing, resting his aching muscles. As his thoughts stirred he eagerly munched down the savory meat, thanking the cook and enjoying the atmosphere, exiting after a few hours had passed. Despite the lack of words, Nell felt content with his reacquaintance with Tennan. Never one for many words, that's still the same. Nell's final mission was to find bedding, and it turned out to be completely fruitless.

"Damnit, why didn't I book a damn room earlier!" Nell directed his anger to the sky, and with a heavy sigh hung his head, beginning to search for a suitable alley not too far from the main road to sleep on. God, please don't let the guard find me. As if fate's ear was listening to his every thought, a dull light crept into the thin alley. Jace stood up quickly, preparing to blot the other direction when the light's wielder spoke.

"Nell? What the hell are you doing at this ungodly hour."

"Ava?"