Dawns Horizon collected all the things they wanted from the cave. After everyone was ready the group headed out. Then they set off deeper into the forest, Abigail leading the way this time. When Tristan asked how she knew which direction they were supposed to go. She simply explained it was part of the investigation she was doing and part of her original goal, so she had an idea where they needed to go.

She was proven correct when she pointed out the tracks of the goblins clearly showing they came from the direction they were heading.

They traveled the rest of the day in relative silence. Abigail in the front, Dawns Horizon following and Thomas trailing in the back. Only a brief pause to grab food they could eat while walking. When the sun was three hours from setting Abigail addressed the group.

“We will stop at the next spot that is suitable so we can stay the night. Based off what I know and can tell we should be getting close to whatever is behind that shaman showing up so close to a town.”

When no one raised any questions or objection she continued onward. It didn’t take long to find something suitable for them to stay. It was a clearing that they could set up all their tents and still have room to move about and not feel crowded.

Setting up was rather simple, he pulled out his tarp, using the rope and some sticks he had to cut to size. He managed to make a decent tent that could keep him dry, even made it, so he had complete privacy. The real surprise that literally made everyone pause, was that Abigail summoned a tent that would be comfortable for at least two person. It appeared out of thin air.

Thomas knew what it was even if he had only read about it. A storage ring, every adventurer and merchant desires one. Depending on the quality, the size it could hold would range from a small box to the size of a house. Or so the circulating rumors say, Thomas has never seen one in person before. Nine Hells, he hadn’t even heard of someone having one in Les. Based off the expressions on Dawns Horizons face neither have they.

Which makes sense considering how outrageously expensive they are. Small ones sell for hundreds or thousands of gold, but large ones can sell for tens of thousands of gold.

Abigail noticed everyone staring and just raised an eyebrow at everyone. Instead of commenting Thomas got to work finishing setting up his small tent. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it would work. Setting his gear down he turned when he heard someone walking up to him.

Abigail approached him and spoke, “Let’s get some sword practice in before we eat, I want to see how good you actually are.”

They set off to an open spot leaving Dawns Horizon to set up their sleeping area. Tristan also said they could prepare dinner for everyone, and Phillip would try to catch something fresh for them to eat. For once it seemed that Thomas was included in the group which he was grateful for. All he had in his pack was dried rations, which was a hard bread that would last for weeks, jerky, cheese, and some dried herbs he found. When he tried to sell the herbs to Tessa, she told him about the benefits and taste if he added it to his meals, so he started keeping them instead.

When they reached an open area Abigail addressed him “so first thing we need to do is see how well you actually use the sword. So, draw your blade and come at me with the intent to kill me. Only rule, no mana usage at all, come at me with just your physical strength.” As she finished speaking, she summoned the stick he saw she had before.

Thomas raised an eyebrow; she was standing there with just the stick in her hand, so he asked. “Are you sure? With you just having a stick to defend yourself?”

A smile that Thomas would later call evil stretched across her face, she blurred forward, and a stinging sensation spread across his arm then she stepped back to original position. Realizing that she closed the gap between them, struck him then retreated before he could react. Thomas got a sinking feeling that this was going to be a painful sort of lesson.

All she said was “You’re not allowed to use mana that rule doesn’t apply to me.”

Pulling his sword free Thomas got into a fighting stance and attacked.

Thomas was questioning why he ever thought he was decent at sword play. As he lay panting on the dirty ground with stinging pain pulsing all over his body. The fun Abigail he had talked to all day and the cold professional one he saw when she talked to Dawns Horizon was gone. Infront of him was a tyrant, who during their first sparing session showed him just how bad he was at using a sword.

The vile stick she picked up that morning would snake out and slap him wherever he was doing something wrong. He quickly realized practically everything he did was wrong. He couldn’t complain though, after the first hour of corrections he could already feel a slight difference. At the end of the second hour, he ended up in this state.

The second hour she spent more hands on telling him to stop, tapping the areas he needed to shift or change. Then the fight would be back on, he could feel the improvements. Abigail walked over to his prone form and crouched down speaking to him in her normal happy voice. The smile on her face seemed genuine and not evil like it was earlier, which didn’t help calm him.

“You are good, you are a natural, every correction I gave, you settled into it easily. You may not realize it but that’s huge. It takes most people multiple times getting corrected before they learn over multiple days. We will see how much of it sticks with you though. You may not be a prodigy or true genius, but you have some skill that is worth nurturing. Either way, good job. Now let’s go eat since it looks like the food is done. Oh, don’t let it get to your head though, you have the right mindset to improve don’t lose that.”

She stood up and offered a hand to him. Feeling a bit embarrassed from never receiving praise like that, Thomas could only nod and took her hand. They walked back to the campsite as it was getting close to dark at this point.

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There was a small fire with a pot over it, the smell of food reached his nose. For once when Tristan turned and looked at him, the look in his eyes had changed. Almost like he felt some respect, maybe a tad bit of envy? Thomas wasn’t sure but Tristan spoke up.

“If you have a bowl or cup grab it and get some food. Phillip caught a rabbit and some good herbs, so rabbit stew is on the menu. Also let’s discuss watch rotations tonight.”

So, they did, Thomas had a bowl in his bag just for occasions like this. The watch rotations discussed, Dawns Horizon would take the first three then Thomas would get the second to last and Abigail the last one. About an hour and a half each, so it wouldn’t be too bad for anyone.

The meal together was almost normal except for Tristan once again trying to woo and flirt with Abigail. Apparently having already forgotten the earlier events. Her demeanor changed into the colder, professional one, Thomas had a feeling that was her go to when she was around people she didn’t like. Tristan didn’t seem to notice and kept at it.

The rest of Dawns Horizon just ignored him and the antics of Tristan. Even when Thomas tried to start a conversation with either member, they either only respond with one-word answers or shrugs. Giving up, Thomas ate just observing the group.

Thomas was cleaning up his gear and stuff before bed, when a whisper entered his ear from behind “To wake me for my shift, just shake the opening a bit. Just a warning, don’t try and enter my tent.” Startled Thomas just turned and looked at her.

In an indignant tone he asked, “why in the Nine Hells would I try that?”

She chuckled and completely ignored his reaction and said, “Good night see you in the morning.”

Grumbling to himself he finally managed to lay down and go to sleep.

That night Thomas slept rather peacefully considering the events of the day he had. His peaceful sleep was interrupted by a shake of his tent and a whispered “your watch.”

Waking up instantly, he put on a fresh set of socks, his boots once that was done, he crawled out of his tent. He was greeted by a sharp-eyed Phillip who upon seeing Thomas up, nodded and went to his own tent. The night was dark, or at this point extremely early in the morning. Based on what Thomas could tell the sun would peak over the horizon in less than three hours. By the time his watch was over he wouldn’t be able to get that much more sleep.

Shaking his head clear the sleep away Thomas patrolled the perimeter of their camp site. To get himself fully alert Thomas cycled mana throughout his body then back to his core, not in any proper strengthening technique. Just in a way to warm his muscles and make sure he’s ready to act in a moment’s notice.

The moon was bright in the sky, so visibility wasn’t a problem, still he made sure to grab his rune light in case of an emergency. The shadows of the trees made it impossible to see far into the underbrush, so he kept his ears open. Listening for any scuffling or sounds that something moving around in the night would make.

Luckily his entire shift was uneventful. It was utterly quiet all night.

Walking over to Abigail’s tent Thomas reached to shake the entrance when all of a sudden, her head popped out of the entrance. A quiet “Boo” reached his ears, he had to stifle a yell. He just stared into her golden eyes. Her long black hair framed her face really showing off her beauty. The teasing smile on her face made her look even more beautiful.

He didn’t know if he should be annoyed or just enjoy the view.

Taking a few deep breaths to slow his rapidly beating heart he said in a whisper “you about made my heart explode. That wasn’t funny. It’s your watch but I won’t be able to go back to sleep since dawn is so close. I can cover for you if you want?” Thomas said, trying to put a condemning scowl on his face but failing miserably, a light chuckle escaped instead.

“No, it’s fine, that makes it easier for me. There are a few things I need to discuss with you anyways.” She pulled the tent flap and stepped out.

Thomas was again surprised; she was wearing comfortable-looking clothes. A loose shirt and shorts, nothing inappropriate but for some reason it wasn’t what he imagined she would be wearing. Another thing he noticed was how well defined her physique was. It was clear she wasn’t strong just because of mana but because of the hard work she put in. Instead of taking away from her charm, it added to it. He learned something new about himself in that moment as well.

Quickly looking away so she didn’t give him the same treatment as Tristan. Clearing is throat “Talk to me about what?

“Let’s go over here to talk” She gestured and lead him slightly away from where Dawns Horizon was sleeping. Standing close to Thomas she made a small flat piece of some metal appear in her hand. Small enough to fit completely in her hand with an intricate rune carved into it. After she infused mana into it a slight white glow came from it.

“Okay we are free to talk, our voices won’t escape but we can still hear everything. This is a Silencing rune.” Thomas looked down at the sheet of metal and backed up at her a few times amazed.

“I will be frank with you, since this escalated more than I originally intended. We are hunting at least a goblin lord, maybe a goblin king or worse. I also know you are wondering why I invited you to come. Well, there is a reason, please be patient and I will explain when I am able to. Probably won’t be until we make it back to the guild. We are getting close to some seriously dangerous areas so be on guard against anything. I mean anything. I meant what I said when I told you that I will intervene on anything you can’t handle.” As she finished it didn’t escape Thomas’s notice that she was pointedly staring at where Dawns Horizon was sleeping.

Processing the implications of what she said Thomas realized all he could truly do was trust himself. He didn’t have the best impression of Dawns Horizon, but he also didn’t know Abigail at all. He got himself into this mess so he would get himself out. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath to resettle himself, he could leave, but should he? The minor sword training he received was worth more than the coin he would be paid. If he got to see her or Dawns Horizon use more mana techniques, he could hopefully get some insight on what he could do out of it.

Was it worth the risk of an unknown danger? With a sigh he opened his eyes staring back at Abigial. He already agreed to come along he wasn’t one to give up just because it got complicated.

So, he nodded and said “I will be on guard for anything. Thanks for the warning, anything else?”

A smiled grew on her face but shook her head no “you should probably go cycle a bit before the rest wake up.”

Since the conversation was over Abigail put the silencing rune away, walking side by side with him until they passed her tent. She stepped inside her tent as Thomas continued towards his. The few seconds it took for him to reach his tent he heard her tent flap open.

Glancing back Thomas gave up hope of figuring her out because there she was in her full armor already. Having not the slightest idea of how she could get equipped that fast. Maybe her storage ring? He had no clue. Deciding it wasn’t worth the headache of wondering how she did it. He was more concerned with how he got into this mess. He crawled into his tent and with barely enough room he sat down crossing his legs.

Closing his eyes he followed his cycling technique, breath in mana, cycled the mana from his core. Spread it throughout his channels and back before exhaling. Thomas continued cycling like this until his core was aching.

During his entire meditation time Thomas questioned if going with them was the right choice. He thought it was but only time would truly tell.