Chapter 15

While the revelation that the temple was keeping a close eye on him was significant, Nick wasn't about to change his plans for the future because of it. He might even use it to aid himself.Nick wasn't one to put himself in danger if it wasn't strictly necessary. Better yet, Nick had a very different definition of "strictly necessary" than most people. That meant intricate rituals and spellcrafting were perfectly fine, but he wasn't about to dive into the forest when the most powerful person in town thought it was becoming increasingly dangerous.

"Not without preparation, at least." He muttered to himself as he lay on the grass, staring up at the clouds while he tried to plan his next steps.

Preparation was the crux of the matter. In his old life, he could count on the knowledge inherited from his grandfather to guide him. Even in the few cases where it was insufficient, he had enough to understand how far out of his depths he was.

Here, he had no idea. Yes, he had killed the rabid wolf, but that seemed a minor achievement compared to the thunderhoofs his mother brought back home every so often. Those were at least twice, if not three times, the size of the creature he had killed and could shoot lightning. Not to speak of the Herd Leader variant that appeared every so often, necessitating a C-rank mission being submitted to eliminate the danger.

That much would have been enough to classify them as too powerful to survive on Earth’s thin mana. Few creatures so overtly magical were left around the globe, and those usually resided in hidden places where modernity had yet to reach.

A herd of thunderhoofs would have been enough to mobilize the entire international community to hunt them down.

The powerful families would immediately steal a few to breed themselves a new herd—at least as long as the ambient mana would sustain them— while the rest would be killed and fought over by every practitioner capable of casting a spell.

Luckily, that wasn't a problem here. Floria might not be a center of magical research, and its inhabitants might be mostly concerned with living simple lives, but that didn't mean they weren't frontier people used to living next to the largest uncharted area of the continent.

Nick needed to get stronger, much stronger than his efforts so far had granted him, and the best way to do that was to bite the bullet and start field operations.

It was a path Nick hadn't considered so far, too used to doing everything on his own. Having to conceal his 'weirdness' also didn't help, and the reaction he got to the first show of being more than expected hadn't exactly instilled him with confidence, but he wasn't about to miss out on serious gains because of that.

Standing up from the grass, Nick brushed the dirt off his pants. His mind raced with ideas, but he knew he needed to be practical. He couldn't do it alone if he wanted to grow stronger and learn. His efforts had brought significant results, but it wasn't enough anymore. He needed real-world experience.

Nick sighed, stretching his arms and looking up at the sky. It was a clear blue, with only a few drifting clouds, and a pleasant breeze carried the scent of the eastern plains. He glanced toward the town limits, where his house stood isolated from the bustling heart of Floria. He set off briskly, the decision firm in his mind.

The fields surrounding his house stretched wide, with tall stalks swaying in the wind like waves in a sea of green and gold. Soon enough, the familiar silhouette of his father appeared in the distance. He was trudging back from his night shift on the wall, his heavy frame slightly hunched with the fatigue of a long night's work, and yet his armor made no sound as he walked.

Nick smiled. His father was a much better fighter than he had initially given him credit for. He had to be to survive marrying his wife.

As they drew nearer, Eugene noticed his son and raised a hand in greeting. "Nick!"

When they met, he reached out and ruffled Nick's hair with a broad, calloused hand. "You having a good day, kid?"

Nick grinned, batting his father's hand away. "Better than expected, actually. I wanted to talk to you and Mom about something, though. If you're not too tired."

Eugene squinted at him, but he didn't press. "I'm never too tired for you, kid. Let's head home. We can talk there."

They walked together across the fields, the quiet of the morning stretching between them. Nick's mind buzzed with anticipation, but he kept his mouth shut. It was better to talk about everything when they were all seated. The final decision rested on his mother anyway.

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The familiar sight of the sturdy stone walls and brick roof greeted them when they reached the house. His mother was already at the door, wiping her hands on her apron. She smiled warmly when she saw them, her brown hair catching the morning light.

"I knew you'd be back as soon as I put the blackberry cobbler in the over," she teased, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "You stink, though. You're not going anywhere near the table until you clean up."

Eugene laughed, pulling her into a loose embrace before stepping back. "I was just going to suggest that, but it looks like Nick's got something on his mind. He wants to talk to both of us."

Elena's eyes shifted to Nick, her brow arching slightly in curiosity. "Oh? Sounds important."

Nick nodded. "It is."

Luckily, she didn't press either. The living room was cozy, and the smell of food lingered in the air, likely from the lunch preparations, and it set him at ease. Eugene set his helmet aside, and they gathered around the wooden table in the center of the room. Nick waited until both of his parents were seated before he spoke, leaning forward in his chair and steepling his hands.

"I've been thinking a lot about our training. The stuff you've been teaching Devon and me," Nick began. "It's been good—really good. But I don't think it's enough anymore."

Elena tilted her head, watching him with a calm smile, while her sharp eyes never left his face. Eugene folded his arms, listening intently. They didn't interrupt, for which Nick was grateful.

"We've both shown improvement in everything you've thrown at us, but training against one another only gets us so far, and you two are too strong to challenge us meaningfully. We need real-world experience— to face something that actually poses a real risk. And I think starting with the creatures on the eastern plains would be a good idea. The forest is too dangerous, but the plains should be within our ability, and you can handle anything we can't."

He paused, catching his breath. He hadn't meant to ramble so long, but he didn't want to leave room for objections.

"I know it's risky," Nick admitted, "but if we want to fight for a living later on, if we're going to be any good at it, we need this kind of experience. Devon wants this, too. And I think it's something we need to start doing now. I know you probably have plans for our development, but we need this.” Nick sat back. He didn't look up at first, unsure of how his parents would react. But when he did, he was met with two soft smiles that didn't carry any disapproval.

"Well, look at that. You've thought this through, haven't you?” Eugene chuckled.

Elena's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I was wondering when you'd bring this up."

Nick blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected them to agree so easily. "So... you're not saying no?"

Elena shook her head. "You're right. You've both been ready for more than just training. And the eastern plains are a good place to start. My mother certainly thought so."

"I'll help you map out some of the safer areas. You'll still face real threats, but we'll start small and see how you do.” Eugene nodded.

Nick exhaled, a sense of relief washing over him. He had expected more pushback.

"Thanks," he muttered, feeling a strange mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration. "Wait, what do you mean your mother thought so?"

Elena patted his hand. "You don't think you are the first kid to get impatient, do you? I knew I'd be an adventurer someday, and my mother was a capable Fencer. Killing your first thunderhoof is a rite of passage. I'm only surprised you asked first and not your brother."

Nick and Devon trudged behind their mother, starting to feel their backpacks' weight after two hours of walking. Both carried enough supplies to last a week—dried meat, water skins, and some basic tools for setting up camp. Their excitement was tempered by confusion, as they were still reeling from how easily their parents had agreed to this venture. Nick, in particular, couldn't shake the feeling that something bigger was at play, but for now, the thrill of what lay ahead was enough to keep him happy.

Their father walked behind them. He had taken a few days off from the wall to join them on this expedition, something Nick had not anticipated. Usually, Eugene's duties were constant, and the defense of Floria was never a task he skirted on. But here he was, grinning at them as if this was a long-awaited family outing.

"Still can't believe you convinced them to let us come here," Devon muttered, his eyes darting around as if waiting for someone to call them back.

Nick chuckled, glancing over at his older brother. "Yeah, me neither. I was ready for a long argument."

Behind them, the town of Floria was now a distant speck.

A seemingly endless expanse of tall grass stretched out before them. The wind picked up, sweeping through the field and rustling the blades around them, creating a soft, whispering sound. It was peaceful, but Nick knew better than to be lulled into a false sense of security.

"Do you boys know what's beyond the plains?" Eugene's voice came from behind them, breaking the quiet.

Devon furrowed his brow, clearly searching for the answer.

"I... uh," Devon hesitated. "I think there's a city? Near a lake or something?"

Nick smirked. "It's on a river. A wide one that cuts through the kingdom. And you can't see it from here because the plains are too vast. I learned about it in the temple."

Eugene chuckled, shaking his head as he caught up to them. "Nick's right. The river's called the Valis, and it cuts right through the eastern plains. On the shallowest part of the river sits a city called Alluria. That's where you two will be going soon enough for your apprenticeships."

"What?" Devon whipped his head around, his eyes wide with surprise. "Apprenticeship? I'm not going to some city! I'm going to train at the wall—with you! I want to be a real knight and defend Floria alongside you."

Eugene laughed loudly. "Easy, son. You’ll still get your chance at the wall if you want it once you return, but first, you'll see the world. You need to learn how to fight properly before you settle down, especially if you want to take my place one day. And Alluria is the best place to start. Trust me, it's what I did."

Devon grumbled under his breath but didn't argue further. He still looked frustrated, but Nick was pleasantly surprised. Admittedly, he hadn't focused much on his brother's future, but it was good to hear there was a plan for it.

They continued in silence for a while, the land gently sloping upward as they approached a low hill. His mother, who had been leading them steadily forward, suddenly stopped at the top and waited for them to catch up.

Nick jogged to her side, feeling something in the air he couldn't quite put his finger on. "What's wrong?"

Elena didn't answer at first, simply gesturing toward the plains below them. Nick followed her gaze and almost missed a step. His breath caught in his throat as he saw them.

Five thunderhoofs grazed peacefully below. Each stood at least seven feet tall at the shoulder, with thick hides that rippled with muscle. Their iron hooves gleamed in the sunlight, and every so often, a flicker of electricity crackled along their sharp, curved horns.

Nick could feel the air buzzing with what he now recognized as an electrical charge, a faint hum that prickled his skin.

Of course, he had studied them and even seen the ones his mother occasionally brought home, but it was nothing compared to seeing a herd in person.

Devon stopped beside him, his mouth hanging open. "Are we...?"

"Yep," Elena said calmly. "You're going to hunt one each."

Nick's heart skipped a beat. “Wait. Won’t the rest interfere?"

His mother turned to face them, her expression completely serious. “We’ll handle the majority, but this is a real hunt; anything can happen. That will be your rite of passage, just like it was mine and just like it was your grandmother's. Do you want to be taken seriously? This is how you prove you deserve it."