“You want to join us?” Qalda asked, stepping toward Lucas.

  “You can’t!” Otto shouted. Gio and Qalda shot him a glare, and he shrank back, lowering his voice. “You signed a contract with the Central Empire. If you violate it, you’ll be branded a criminal.”

  “Unless... we adopt him,” Gio said with a grin that sent shivers down Lucas’s spine. He then glanced at Qalda who was still hesitating.

  She studied Lucas with furrowed brows, analyzing him.

  “Since we saved his life, we can claim him as payment. The military hasn’t paid us anything, after all,” she said coldly, shooting Otto a glance. “And if you keep annoying me, we will claim you as well.”

  Otto froze, instinctively taking a step back.

  “I want to join you,” Lucas said firmly.

  “Why?” Qalda asked.

  “I’ve seen nothing but injustice in the military. They promised to train me before sending me into battle, but if not for Evelyn and Gio, I’d be dead right now. All I found in the army were lies and comrades I couldn’t trust.” Lucas glared at Otto. He had never liked the man, but after the incident in the cave, he made sure to keep his distance. “I know hunting monsters is dangerous and that I am weak. But I will grow stronger…”

  Lucas paused. He had let his emotions carry him too far. He almost revealed he didn’t belong to this world.

  “I must become strong so that I won’t be pushed around,” he finished.

  The Unbowed had different reactions. Gio smiled faintly, though it quickly disappeared. Evelyn, for the first time, actually looked at him. Edir, however, shook his head.

  “I ain't backin' this,” the dwarf muttered, his voice low and apologetic. “He don’t know the weight of bein' Unbowed. He don’t feel the hate grindin' us down every bloody day. Better he joins the army. Aye, let him polish boots and sleep in a warm barrack. Better be a soldier in peacetime than live chasin’ ploughin’ monsters.”

  “That isn’t an option for me,” Lucas muttered, clenching his fists. Even if the army was a more peaceful option, which he doubted, he still wouldn’t be able to roam and look for ways to return home. “If there is prejudice, I’ll face it with you. If there is hatred, I’d rather it come from strangers than from the people supposed to watch my back. I don’t fear danger. Only by facing it can I grow strong.”

  Qalda smiled and glanced at Gio, who nodded slightly.

  “He can make his own decisions,” Evelyn said suddenly, surprising them all. “Besides, he doesn’t yet...”

  “I agree,” Qalda interrupted her. She turned toward Otto. “You will be going alone.”

  Otto clenched his jaw. He looked from the massive green man to the silent mage, then glared at Lucas with eyes that would kill if they could. Without a word, he turned and walked away toward the Stonehill.

  Lucas blinked. He couldn’t believe the Unbowed had allowed him to join them.

  “Lucas,” Qalda said once she confirmed Otto had left. “We agreed that you will join our group, but to become Unbowed…”

  She paused, opening the large satchel she had placed on the ground.

  “Do you know what we are?” she asked, digging inside for something.

  “Mercenaries who don’t belong to any faction and hunt monsters,” Lucas answered without hesitation.

  “Nay, she ain’t askin’ that!” Edir laughed, his earlier coldness melting away. “Ye tell me - how are we different from the other sellswords killin' monsters for coin?”

  Why ask me this now? Are they going to reject me? The thought came uninvited, but Lucas quickly pushed it away.

  “You are stronger than typical mercenaries?” he guessed.

  “Exactly,” Qalda smiled, stepping close and offering him a small knife. “So until you become strong enough, you are an Unbowed-in-training. You won’t be called one of us yet.”

  Lucas looked at her wide-eyed, then shifted his gaze to the knife.

  “Take it, will you?” Qalda practically shoved it into his hands. “Our group has a custom. We give new members a small present.”

  “Thank you,” Lucas said, noticing the other two had also started searching their satchels. Evelyn already had hers ready.

  “Learn our language,” she said, handing a book to Lucas. It had a violet and a little girl drawn on the cover, with two large letters printed above them.

  Is this how they teach children the alphabet? Lucas smiled, genuinely.

  “My turn,” Gio grinned, handing Lucas a set of clothes. “I desperately need someone with a shred of taste amongst these savages, and you’ve been volunteered. And don’t you dare refuse, or I will have the boss toss you out. I simply can not have you ruin my grand plan.”

  “What else would ye give but a useless rag?” Edir mocked, shoving the lean man aside with his bulky frame. “I ain’t handin' ye a trinket today. But I’ll forge a weapon of yer choosin'. Once! On the house! And I promise ye, it’ll be Uncommon tier!”

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  “Thank you all,” Lucas bowed deeply. He never expected the Unbowed to welcome him so warmly.

  “You will receive your fifth present a bit later,” Qalda nodded with a faint smile, grabbing her satchel and slinging it over her shoulder. “We have one more member. Like you, he is not an official Unbowed yet.”

  Lucas nodded and placed the book and clothes in the small bag the army had given him, stuffing it full.

  “Ah, almost forgot,” Qalda exclaimed, slapping her forehead. “Since the Unbowed always give what they take, we will take and split your share among us. Five times, one for each present.”

  Lucas froze, the smile of gratitude fading from his face. Of course…

  <<<>>>

  Lucas woke early. Or rather, he barely slept at all. The Unbowed had camped in the open, and with neither a tent nor a bedroll, Lucas had spent the night shifting on the hard ground. As the sun began to bleed over the horizon, he stood up, dusted himself off, and walked toward the river at the edge of the forest.

  Lucas took a deep breath, the chill air filling his lungs. It was a beautiful morning, despite the exhaustion dragging at his eyelids. Just as he crouched at the water's edge, he heard Gio’s voice.

  “I am charmed that your first instinct was to scrub yourself clean.”

  Lucas looked up. The man was perched on a high branch, leaning against the tree trunk.

  “I thought I was the first to wake up,” Lucas said, cupping his hands to splash the cold water onto his face.

  “My kind has no need for sleep,” Gio said softly. He dropped from the tree, landing without making a sound. “I admit, I am surprised you have not asked what I am yet.”

  “I didn’t want to intrude. Besides, I know what you are. Perhaps that was one of the reasons I couldn’t sleep last night.” Lucas grinned and rinsed his mouth with the river water, squinting against the sunlight. It looks like vampires aren’t afraid of the sun.

  “But now that you’ve mentioned it,” Lucas continued, looking up and stealing a glance at Gio’s long, pointed ears. “Are you an Elf?”

  “Tsk.” Gio looked away, curling lips in disdain. “I’ve shed that sordid skin long ago. I am not one of them. I am Sanguine. But do not worry, I never bite... unless I’m invited.”

  Lucas nodded to the man, who had regained his playful demeanor and was now grinning.

  “You are a peculiar little thing. I’m rather glad we kept you,” Gio said, realizing Lucas wasn’t planning to speak. He crouched beside him, taking a subtle sniff of the air. “How... refreshing. You aren’t frightened.”

  “If you wanted to kill me, you’d have done so already. I saw how powerful you are, and I know my limits,” Lucas responded honestly. Instinctively, his eyes darted to the water’s surface to check if Gio had a reflection. He had.

  “My, my, are not we straightforward?” Gio narrowed his eyes, studying Lucas for a moment. “Very well. I shall teach you how to handle a weapon. I would prefer to keep you in one piece - I intend to be amused by you for a few decades. At least until... well, time collects its due.”

  “You almost managed to make death sound poetic,” Lucas smiled, standing up and wiping his face. “I was going to ask you anyway, but I don’t want to learn double swords. At least not yet.”

  “What do you want to learn?” Gio asked, raising a brow. “And please, do not tell me you plan to become some witless brute, swinging about a slab of graceless steel…”

  “Don’t I get a say in that?” Qalda called from a few steps away, stretching and yawning as she walked toward them.

  “Oh, please. You can not teach him,” Gio shook his head. “If he attempted to fight as you do, the poor thing would simply... die.”

  “First, I want to learn to shoot a bow, or perhaps a crossbow,” Lucas interrupted them.

  Both Qalda and Gio grimaced, looking genuinely disappointed in his decision.

  “I want to become useful as fast as possible,” Lucas explained quickly. “But I also want to do it while keeping my life out of grave danger, so none of you are forced to save me.”

  If I can master the bow, I have a chance to deliver the killing blows from a distance and also hunt animals, Lucas thought. I need to gain XP.

  He wasn’t planning to become a dedicated archer, but he believed that in the short term, it was the most realistic and effective way to grow strong.

  “Tsk. Such a waste.” Gio shook his head and turned back toward the camp.

  “Wait,” Qalda stopped him, then turned her gaze to Lucas. “Starting tomorrow, you will hunt for food. Gio will teach you how to use a bow.”

  Gio spun around, mouth opening to protest, but Qalda continued before he could speak.

  “You will wake up two hours earlier than the rest of us to practice archery. You will also go to sleep two hours later. Every spare moment you have will be spent training.” Her tone was cold and firm. “But I don’t like the idea of you relying solely on a bow. You will also train your body. I’ll give you a week before you decide on a melee weapon.”

  “Why precisely a week? Oh, are we going to the city?” Gio asked, licking his lip.

  “Yes, we are, after we visit the village and complete their bounty,” Qalda nodded. “I heard there is a new dungeon in the north, but I want to refill our supplies first. And pick up Felix. I am worried he might decide to stay in the church if we leave him there too long, you know how he is…”

  “I don’t have a bow yet. I was planning to ask Edir…” Lucas began, but Gio interrupted him.

  “We have a few. You may take them if you wish. They did belong to your little friends, after all,” he said with a sharp grin. “Now, move. I’m suddenly feeling excited.”

  <<<>>>

  Lucas had been shooting at the tree trunk for almost an hour, but he had managed to hit it only ten times, missing nearly forty.

  “Bwahaha! My blind crow has better aim than ye, ye hopeless bastard!” Edir laughed loudly, taking a heavy swig from his flask.

  “You wait, I’ll beat your crow in no time,” Lucas responded, retrieving the last of his stray arrows from the grass. “What’s in there? The smell is quite strong…”

  “It’s Gut-Scrubber! Brewed it meself.” Edir grinned, leaning in until the fumes nearly knocked Lucas out. “Fancy a sip? It’ll burn the weakness right out of ye.”

  “Some other time, thank you,” Lucas declined as politely as he could, struggling to keep his face straight.

  He walked back to his mark, thirty steps from the tree, and drew the bowstring. His fingertips were already numb, swollen, and blistered.

  This is my fiftieth shot, he thought, focusing on the target.

  He held his breath just before loosening the string, exactly as Gio had taught him. The arrow flew true, whistling softly before embedding into the wood.

  “Well done,” Gio praised him.

  But Lucas didn’t hear the words. His focus was locked on the blue window that had flashed before him the moment the arrow landed.

  [Archery (Novice) proficiency has increased: 1/10.]

  [You’ve gained 1 Experience Point!]

  I can gain XP while training? He realized, his eyes widening. And even increase my proficiency…

  “Gio, Lucas, Edir, we are leaving soon,” Qalda called, interrupting his excitement. “This is going to be Lucas’s first bounty hunt.”

  The next chapter will be out Tomorrow.

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