After finishing their al, Ethan and Arthur rested beneath the large tree, enjoying the shade as a soft breeze rustled the leaves above them. The rhythmic chirping of distant birds added to the tranquility, making it all too easy to relax.
Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in Ethan's mind.
{Host, aren't you forgetting sothing?}
Ethan blinked, his tired mind struggling to recall. "What?" he muttered internally.
{Don't you want to level up?}
"Oh… right." Ethan almost smacked himself on the forehead. How could he forget sothing so important? He glanced at Arthur, who seed completely at ease, his arms crossed behind his head, eyes closed, breathing slow and even. Clearing his throat, Ethan spoke.
"Ahem…"
Arthur, without opening his eyes, responded lazily, "What is it?"
Ethan hesitated for a mont, then asked, "Shouldn't there be monsters around these woods? I an, the guards thought we were here to subjugate them."
Arthur's brow furrowed slightly, though his eyes remained shut. He seed to contemplate before responding. "Normally, yeah. Monsters tend to roam around here, especially because of the mana geyser. But I've been using this place as my training ground for a while now, so I've eliminated most of them. The smart ones that could sense danger ran deeper into the forest on their own. Occasionally, so still wander this way, drawn by the geyser's energy, and those are the ones the guards talk about."
Ethan nodded, processing the explanation. "So, if I wanted to hunt monsters, I'd have to go deeper into the woods or wait for one to stumble out?"
"Pretty much." Arthur opened his eyes slightly, then gave Ethan a quizzical look. "Why? Why do you want to hunt monsters?"
Ethan scratched the back of his head, feigning nonchalance. "Uh… I guess I'm just curious. I've never fought one before."
Arthur studied him for a mont before nodding. "Makes sense. You probably haven't seen them in real life yet. Alright, I'll take you to hunt them tomorrow."
Ethan nodded. "Sounds good."
The conversation faded into a comfortable silence as they rested. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long golden rays through the tree canopy. The once warm air cooled, bringing with it the scent of damp earth and distant fires from the city.
---
As the sun set, Ethan and Arthur made their way back toward the city, walking at a steady pace. In the distance, the main gate ca into view, its towering structure standing as a familiar landmark.
Ethan sighed, rolling his stiff shoulders. The exhaustion from training was catching up to him. His body ached, and his legs burned with each step. The previous owner of this body clearly hadn't been much for training, and today had been a shock to his system.
Arthur, walking a few steps ahead, spoke up. "Sa place, sa ti tomorrow?"
Ethan gave a tired nod. "Yeah."
They continued in silence, the city lights slowly coming to life as they passed through the gate without issue.
A sudden, pungent odor hit Ethan's nose, making him wince. He instinctively pinched his nose and scanned the surroundings. "Ugh, what's that sll?"
Arthur smirked, placing a hand on Ethan's shoulder. "That's the vegetable market. Happens every evening after the wholesalers pack up. So of the leftover produce starts to rot."
Ethan nodded in understanding, now noticing the scattered remains of discarded vegetables in the marketplace. As they moved past the area, the stench faded into the background, replaced by the more familiar scents of food stalls and baked goods.
The streets were bustling, filled with people heading ho or off to other destinations. The warm glow of lanterns illuminated their faces, casting shifting shadows along the cobblestone pathways.
As they reached the residential district, Arthur glanced at Ethan with mild amusent. "Your body must be aching."
Ethan deadpanned, thinking, Did you just notice? but instead, he nodded. "Yeah."
Arthur reached into his pouch and pulled out a small glass vial, about seven inches long, filled with a faintly glowing liquid. He handed it to Ethan.
Ethan took it, examining the vial curiously before giving Arthur a questioning look.
"That'll help with the fatigue. Take it before you sleep."
Ethan silently nodded, tucking it away as they neared the alleyway where he had teleported that morning.
Stepping into the alley, Ethan turned back. "See you tomorrow."
Arthur nodded. "Yeah. See you tomorrow."
Ethan disappeared in a flash, teleporting back to his mansion.
Arthur, however, remained standing there, as if waiting for sothing.
A voice, crisp and sowhat childish, echoed from the depths of the alley. "You shouldn't be with him."
A black and white spotted cat erged from the shadows, its eyes gleaming with intelligence.
Arthur leaned against the wall, unfazed. "Why not?"
The cat's mouth moved, but instead of a typical ow, a young girl's voice ca out. "He's not a good person."
Arthur smiled slightly. "And how would you know that? You haven't even interacted with him."
The cat gave him a look as if to say, Really? Then it spoke again. "Don't you know the rumors about him?"
Arthur, looking as if he were addressing a stubborn child, responded gently, "You want to judge soone based on rumors? Don't you know what kind of rumors are out there about ?"
The cat huffed, flicking its tail. "Not everyone is like you. You shouldn't assu they are. Not everyone deserves your trust."
Arthur exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "I know I trust people easily… but I'm not wrong most of the ti. I gave you a second chance, and look how that turned out."
The cat turned away, licking its paw. "Whatever. Don't listen to . Do whatever you want."
Arthur sighed, shaking his head. "Don't you have a report to give?"
The cat stopped grooming itself and gave him a serious look. "Yes. The mayor hasn't made any big moves yet. The people you told to watch are still there—nothing has happened to them…"
Arthur's expression darkened slightly as he listened, eyes sharpening. The city had many secrets, and it seed tonight would be another step toward uncovering them.
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