Tyrus gave Fiona a sidelong glance, assessing if she informed them about his ears. She understood the message and shook her head. Since she had revealed nothing to him, Reo developed suspicions on his own. The issue was finding the right words.

The possibility of lying crossed his mind, but Reo's message about detecting lies put him on edge. Losing his trust didn't seem like a good idea, especially since they would be teammates. And being prohibited from joining Blue Dawn did not sit right with Tyrus. Accepting and completing contracts independently would be his responsibility. The offer seemed appealing initially, but he was unaware of the risks and time involved in completing a contract. Knowing as much as he could like customs and such was a requirement, and learning from them was the best option.

Another problem was joining an unfamiliar group. Until now, the explorers he had seen were all adults. One of them treated Tyrus as if he was invisible, implying that he wasn't worth speaking to. Many of them would treat him, a little kid, as insignificant as an ant.

Telling the truth was also a problem. Reo and Grant seemed like nice guys around him, but their perception could change if they found out he was a Beastfolk. The likelihood of things going wrong left him with two options: lying or being truthful.

Instead of shaking her head, Fiona nodded and smiled when Tyrus spared her another glance. Taking it as a sign of reassurance, he assumed that if Fiona approved, Reo and Grant wouldn't mind much.

A deep sigh escaped him as he uncovered a section of his hat, revealing his ears. Reo scratched his chin and smirked. “Hmph. I hit the nail on the coffin. My intuition was telling me it was ears and not horns, and I was correct.

“What if you were completely mistaken?” Grant said. “Suppose it was actually a sentimental object from his departed parents or a beloved friend?”

“If that had been the case, I would have apologized for asking. Not that big of a deal, tough guy. We don't need to talk about that anymore. From the transmission between Selena and Ivy, it sounded like your dad did a good enough job cleaning things up.”

Grant scoffed. “Good enough job? Good enough is not satisfactory for my father. To qualify as a royal knight, you must put in 200% of your effort.”

“You’re only saying that because you want to become a royal knight yourself; carrying on the family tradition and whatnot.”

“There's no greater honor than to protect Lethos and the imperial family. Reo, I suggest you aspire to join me.”

Reo rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I’ll pass on that. Don’t feel like taking orders from that damn captain or the imperial family. They give me the creeps.”

The two quarreled with each other, ignoring entirely the disclosure made by a certain person. Generally, one would be surprised when one can easily ignore a matter and introduce a new topic, but Tyrus simply disregarded it. It was fortunate that Reo and Grant held the same views as Fiona.

He sighed and tapped his ring, which brought forth the incantation book. Fiona observed as he flipped through the pages until he reached the chapter on the light element.

“You know… That’s a very popular book around Lethos. It is mandated for every first-year Elemental Sorcerer from different academies to examine it and gain knowledge from it.”

“I can see why,” Tyrus said. “There are so many spells in this book. It sucks there aren’t that many for light. Healing Touch is the first one I learned, and it’s already helpful. I care little about earth, and dark only has one incantation.”

“Your words suggest that you have already used Healing Touch.”

“It’s because I have,” he replied calmly. The moment the words left his mouth, he felt regret as Fiona gave him a skeptical look.

“Already? In spite of having just received the book? Shouldn’t this be your first time looking at it?”

Tyrus's brain gears turned. “Uh… I mean, Healing Touch is the first spell I want to learn. The description makes it sound quite useful, and I want to master it.”

She looked at him doubtfully, squinting her eyes. “Sure… Whatever you say.” She turned to Reo and Grant. “You guys done arguing like an old married couple? What’s the plan for today?”

“It’s about time we look for another contract,” Reo said. “Classes will resume soon. Grant and I need to prepare for the big exam. Besides, aren't we almost at the point of advancing from copper? That hobgoblin should’ve boosted us up a sizeable amount.”

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“Yeah, we need a couple more contracts,” Fiona muttered. “But what about Tyrus? Is it fine for us to continue when he’s just about to join?”

“What’s the problem? The Explorer Guild monthly exam is approaching, and our journey to bronze will take a week or two, depending on the contracts. He’ll be fine. All he needs to do is to succeed. In case he doesn't, we'll have to abandon him.”

Fiona glared at him, dissatisfied with his half-hearted reply. Despite the hurtful appearance of Reo's words, they were not intended to be malicious or have any hidden meanings. It appeared that way, at least. Reo, just like the others, had no problem accepting Tyrus into Blue Dawn. Provided he didn't impede their progress or place them in danger, they had no objections. By asking a sudden question, Reo was testing Tyrus's character.

One week away from the monthly exam and with Selena's preparation tip in mind, there was no room for slacking off. The contents were a mystery, and he must be ready for whatever is thrown his way. Conversing out in the open used up important seconds that could have been used for meditation or training. Tyrus had a good handle on what to improve after gaining a lot of insight in the past few days.

Staying cooped up in Valis would probably do him no good. Moreover, he had nowhere to live since he was all better. And he also didn’t want to ask Fiona and the others for money or intrude into their own homes. It just didn’t feel right to him. Although it was pleasurable to sleep on a comfortable bed and eat stew, getting back that luxury would have to be postponed. It was back to the outdoors.

“Um… You guys can go ahead and continue with your contracts. I’ll just train near the Emerald Hills for the time being.”

Grant agreed with the suggestion. “Excellent choice, might I add. An explorer, especially a warrior, shouldn’t doze off training. The mountains and Emerald Hills offer an excellent opportunity to further your skills. The area is rich with wildlife, which includes beasts and common animals. If you're cautious and choose your battles wisely, you'll surely make significant progress.”

“Are you sure about this?” Fiona said. “There’s nothing wrong with studying in the safety of Valis. Or you could come along with us! Traveling isn't exclusive to explorers.”

“No, I’m okay. I want to inspect the outskirts to familiarize myself.” There were many other reasons too, like finding food and such, but he’ll keep it to himself.

Reo shrugged and said, “If he wants to be alone, then let him; can’t change his decision. I’ll be inside the guild searching for contracts. Once you're ready, come find me. See you later, Tyrus.”

With a brief gesture of farewell, Reo departed from the group and entered the guild. Grant placed his hand softly on Tyrus’ shoulder. “Be careful of the red bison. Also, the forest near the mountains and the Emerald Plains is called Wildwood. Lesser hounds and caves are something to be wary of, if I were in your shoes. I eagerly await your return.”

A few pats on the shoulder later, Grant followed Reo and was gone in a flash. Fiona released a heavy sigh and frowned. “The idiot forgot to mention another thing. Whatever you do, do not, under any circumstances, approach an area filled with claw-marked trees.”

“Okay, but why though? What’s over there?”

“A beast recently designated its territory there. The emperor allowed it to continue since it posed no harm to travelers or trade routes. It's better to be cautious than regretful.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Great! Now remember; the monthly examination is in seven nights. If you’re not here, I’ll hunt you down and drag your ass back here. Don’t die on me, okay?”

Tyrus smiled. “I lived alone for a while. I can handle a few days on my own.”

Fiona stood still for a while, looking at him with a sad expression. After giving him a pat on the head, she whirled around and rushed inside the guild. Tyrus waited a couple more seconds, keeping an eye out for her return. When she didn't, he chuckled and twiddled with his ring.

“I better get started. I’ll leave through the eastern gate. They should let me pass like last time.”

Memorizing the route made finding the gate quick. The crowd outside the gate shrunk from an enormous size fit for the Explorer Guild to just a small tavern. The scene was typical: merchants, traders, and carriages.

There was a fresh sight to behold as some individuals arrived wearing outfits that looked like it was caked in mud. Among them were a mother and son pair, both with sunken cheeks and dead-shot eyes. Tyrus looked away and focused on something else as his stomach churned at the sight.

Walking up to the gate, Tyrus recognized a familiar face and jogged to him. “Hello there, mister. I want to leave for Wildwood. Here’s the badge from last time.”

“Hm? You again? What did Selena send you to do this time?” he said with a grumble. While the badge was being inspected, Tyrus caught sight of a lock of raven-black hair peeking out of the helmet. “Looks legit. You can get on through.”

“Thank you again, mister.”

“Call me Wade, runt. Since you enjoy leaving the city, I'm assuming we'll be meeting often. Now get out of here. I got work to do.”

Tyrus extended his thanks once again before dashing out of Valis. He gave the travelers one final look and then turned his attention to the Emerald Hills. The red bison roamed around and nibbled on the plentiful grass, as usual. The breeze carried the scent of blooming flowers and seawater, making the warm temperature even more enjoyable.

Valis was beautiful, but the feel of the cool breeze and the smell of the fresh air in the natural surroundings were refreshing. In stark contrast, the open expanse of the wilderness held no such limitations. Tyrus was only accountable to his own pace and stamina, with the open sky and boundless horizon as his backdrop. The outdoors offered freedom, where the journey was determined by the user's path, not by barriers like the walls of Valis.

After a quick jog around the Emerald Hills, evading the territorial beasts, Tyrus followed the route he used to find Ivy. Upon locating the marked tree and pinching his nose from the unpleasant odor of manure and other things, he halted in front of the cave. Deftly, he retrieved his dagger from the ring. It appeared slightly damaged, with a few scratches on the blade, but overall it was okay. A good scrubbing in a nearby pond washed off the blood and grime.

“Maybe I should get a sword instead,” he said. “Or a new weapon. I’ll think about it once I get more sil in my pockets. First thing first: training. The bats will do just nicely.”