A stark twilight enveloped the forest as dragging feet traveled its bare soil. Tyrus wanted to rest on a cozy bed with a cushiony pillow, given that his arms felt akin to the body of a slimy creature. He desired to enfold himself in cozy covers and slumber till daybreak. Now holed up in Wildwood, he couldn't enjoy such a delightful thing, even if it was offered to him with open arms. It was his own desire for strength that led him here, anyway.

Meadow regarded Tyrus with a mournful expression. His stare was emotionless, and his face seemed a tad ashen. He ambled with a noticeable limp and stared straight ahead while passing by swarming flies and preoccupied spirits. The duo had recently departed from a brook to cleanse their exhausted bodies and belongings. Following their departure, it was effortless to dry themselves using a campfire that Tyrus constructed. The tough part was arriving at the sanctuary without passing out from sheer exhaustion.

"Come on, you're almost there! Can't you feel the rich mana rejuvenating your body?"

By virtue of being an Augmentation Sorcerer, he had the capability of employing his own mana to regenerate his exhausted body to a certain degree. In line with Meadow's comment, he noticed a sense of weightlessness and a decrease in his bodily discomfort. Who knew hunting rock spiders and disassembling them for their cores could be this tiring? All he could do was trust that the process would be more streamlined when tomorrow arrived.

"Oh man, the aches are going to be the worst tomorrow," he muttered. Earlier, Tyrus attempted to apply Healing Touch to ease the suffering, yet it proved to be ineffective. The pain in his limbs persisted, and his fatigue remained just as exhausting.

At that point, it became apparent that Healing Touch was intended for a singular purpose: superficial injuries. It was futile for his arm in the past and it was meaningless for the present. Discovering an incantation more potent than Healing Touch would be a challenge. Presently, he will have to clench his teeth and deal with it.

In the absence of pain, your body won't adapt and grow.

Tyrus stopped dead in his tracks. "Where… have I heard that phrase? I've never said that before…"

Shortly after, he resumed walking with a throbbing head. It was a sensation he had encountered previously, one that arose after he had woken up with the memory of that person in the meadow.

By then, Tyrus had already settled on the conviction that these memories of unknown things had to be genuinely true. They were experiences he had undergone, but cannot recollect. The perplexing aspect was the reason behind their sudden return to him. Being a sorcerer has exposed him to many experiences in a brief period, and he has been learning as he goes.

He drew two deductions: either his brain had suffered damage resulting in memory loss, or some external factor was impeding his recollection. For a long time, he thought it was peculiar that he couldn't remember what he had been doing before he was on his own. It was like a massive lock had been placed on a section of his brain, leaving him with no idea how to recover his memories. Without help, it's impossible for babies and children to survive on their own.

Judging by what he saw, a mysterious figure took care of him. A person with calloused hands and battle-worn armor that suggests they were a warrior, yet a gentle and charming voice that contradicts that persona. They not only had familiarity but also an energy that his body couldn't ignore. With just one touch, he knew he was secure in their presence, and losing them would devastate him.

One of the most shocking revelations was that they informed him to keep on practicing Beast Transformation. It was a form he didn't really like using, as he saw it as something to avoid unless it was really needed in certain situations. Instead of training the form as the figure had asked, his sole attention was on his status as a sorcerer. Shocking of all was that they said that mastering the form would mean he reached the pinnacle of power a hybrid could attain.

As of now, he's able to grow fangs, claws, and a bodily boost. Despite everything, has he still not mastered it? Unless this was all he could achieve, he didn't feel like he had reached the pinnacle of power. The form proved to be ineffective in stopping the kidnapping carried out by the two men. What's the use of training if that was the best he could do with that form? Even then, what else was there to do? Was there another level he was unaware of?

Aside from Beast Transformation, the figure's identity was a mystery. The only lead he has is that Wanderer could have been the one taking care of him. Both of them looked powerful, yet their identities remain mysterious. Wanderer couldn't disclose their identity because of special reasons, and the other revealed little information. There was also the case of stew. They were way too similar.

Why else would Wanderer go through all that to help him? Although they were strangers, Wanderer still risked themselves for him and helped him become a sorcerer. Strangers typically wouldn't do that for one another unless they were friendly or had a connection. Tyrus was 70% sure they were the same person. If Wanderer was truly his caretaker, then why did they hide their identity and pretend to have just met?

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Maybe I'll know more if I ask Elder Treant some questions," he said to himself. "It's about time I ask him about the Tiger Tribe. The answers may lie somewhere there."

Meadow and Tyrus arrived at the sanctuary in short order. Once there, he saw Elder Treant engaging in dialogue with a familiar treant who was on their knees. As they approached, both trees stopped their conversation and turned.

"You've arrived," Elder Treant said. "I take it things went well on your hunt?"

Tyrus acknowledged with a nod as he came to a stop near the treant, peering intently at it. "Are you the armless treant? You look… refreshed."

The treant looked far more hale and hearty than he recalled. Leaves were beginning to crowd around its branches, and its bark had a healthier look to them. As for its missing arm, there were signs of it regenerating. It had grown considerably larger than earlier.

"Greetings, Hero of Wildwood. I am gratified that I am still in your memory. My regeneration is in its final stages, and shortly I'll be entirely recovered."

"That's nice to hear. Once again, I'm sorry about your arm."

"Your pity is misplaced, Hero of Wildwood. Now if you'll pardon me, I must resume my duty."

The treant rattled its branches toward Elder Treant and stood up from its place. Afterward, it commenced lumbering away, its boisterous footsteps reverberating across the ground until it disappeared from view. Tyrus discovered a grassy area and took a seat, facing Elder Treant, once it had vanished. The individual gazed at him inquisitively, on the verge of speaking, until Meadow suddenly appeared holding a green, uncurved leaf.

"Did you forget about the haircut?" she asked, moving closer. "Now that our hunt is over, I should be able to do it."

"You can, unless Elder Treant isn't busy. Are you busy?"

There was a chuckle from the Elder Treant. "I suppose you have something important to discuss with me. As an old tree, my only purpose is to keep the Wildwood sanctuary safe. Conversing with you to pass the time would be much appreciated."

"You heard him, Meadow. Also, are you going to cut my hair with a… leaf? Is that thing even sharp enough?"

"Of course! The edge is almost as sharp as your dagger. 'Nature's blade' is a common name for it because of its sharpness. Step foot into a group of them and you can kiss your foot goodbye."

"Are you sure that's safe? What if you… you know?" He made a slicing motion across his neck.

Meadow's shoulders hunched as she stared at the soil. Tyrus gave the leaf one last fleeting glance before letting out a sigh.

"If you've been using it for a while, then you know what you're doing. I trust you won't nick me and have me bleed out."

Her facial expression changed into a delighted one as she darted forward. "You can count on me, Savior. I didn't lie when I said I'd give you the best haircut around. I'll be careful around your ears."

Without any delay, she promptly began her work. Strands of his raven hair were whisked away like hay caught in a gust. So far, he felt no discomfort or any leaking liquids on his skin, which was already promising. He might as well talk during his haircut.

"Elder Treant, I think it's about time I ask you about the Tiger Tribe. Can you tell me about them?"

A strange gleam passed through Elder Treant's eyes. "It would be my pleasure. First off, I would provide a bit of context about the Beastfolk Kingdom before I delve into the Tiger Tribe."

"The kingdom boasts a diverse topography of jagged rocky terrain and vast fields teeming with vitality. Tranquil and limpid lakes mirror the vivid hues of the adjacent wildflowers, whilst concealed grottoes and subterranean streams conceal secrets. It is a bountiful terrain brimming with nutritious and prized harvests that are favored and exported globally."

"The Beastfolk Kingdom is located in the eastern region and shares borders with several nations, including the Lethos Empire, Ethia, and Askalid. There are copious Beastfolk dwelling there, partitioned into tribes based on their likeness. Three examples of them are the Tiger Tribe, Wolf Tribe, and Snake Tribe. Every tribe has a chief who oversees the tribe and represents their culture and principles."

"Ruling above all is a time-honored clan that has existed since a bygone era, affiliated with the Tiger Tribe and held in high esteem as one of the Great Lineages. Interestingly, they lack a surname like their peers and other nobles."

Tyrus blinked sluggishly as the surge of information permeated his mind. The nations he had a vague familiarity with, owing to Selena's interrogation, yet he was stunned to learn that there were likely many more clans than those identified by the three Elder Treant. His unfamiliarity lay with the Great Lineages.

Selena merely implied that Tyrus could be an assassin hired to eliminate them, leaving him uncertain about their identities. Their title alone suggested their importance, and they were listed alongside the imperial family. In addition, a family from the Great Lineages belongs to the Tiger Tribe and governs over the remaining tribes in the Beastfolk Kingdom. Does that imply that the Great Lineages are individuals who possess significant authority, like the imperial family, and possess comparable power?

"What are the Great Lineages exactly?" Tyrus asked.

"They are ancient bloodlines that carry the blood of notorious sorcerers known throughout history. Those affiliated with these lineages bear a potency beyond the ordinary, viewed as inherent gifts amongst sorcerers at large. Each family is unique from one another, as they each excel in one element that dwarfs others."

"For instance, the ruling family in the Beastfolk Kingdom exhibits a primary affinity with an element that falls under the common one, fire. Ice magic falls under the shade of water magic, so understanding the latter enables one to wield the former. However, if your primary affinity is a subcategory of a common element, there is no requirement for rigorous training to use that element."

Tyrus furrowed his brow in response to Elder Treant. "So? What are you trying to get at here? All this talk about subcategories and elements and I don't get the point you're trying to make."

The ancient tree fell silent as it watched Tyrus with impassive eyes. The occasional whisper of leaves and Meadow's grunting would momentarily break the silence. Tyrus was on the brink of speaking until the tree interjected.

"The primary affinity of the dominant family in the Beastfolk Kingdom, a faction of the Tiger Tribe, is dominantly lightning. With that in mind, I ask you: Has the family forsaken you? Or have you fled from the kingdom?"