As the two groups split, Sophia hesitated—she longed to ask Sean about her mother, but knew she had nothing to offer in return. With a silent sigh, she followed her father into the forest's depths, the tulip in her hair trembling with each step.The Hunting Party's New FormationSean's group now included Lucio, Windsor, Kyle (the Secret Keeper), Leviathan (the Flame Imp), Balor (the Voidwalker), and Monica (the Silver Hand Recruit). Gone were Matthew's brute strength and Anduin's healing, replaced by arcane fire and demonic fury. Sean, as always, lingered at the back, book in hand—every page turned added 10 EXP, a slow but steady grind.
Lucio, once perplexed by Sean's multitasking, now ignored it, focusing on the forest's whispers. The outer ring teemed with Black Iron Rank beasts—boars, stags—but today, a more dangerous presence lingered: Silver Moon Wolfpack.The Wolfpack's AttackA distant howl shattered the silence. Lucio tensed, grip tightening on his bow. "Wolves incoming—at least one Bronze Rank alpha, maybe more."
Windsor barked orders: Balor and Monica formed a protective perimeter; Kyle and Leviathan readied spells. Sean closed his book, eyes gleaming—not fear, but excitement. Wolves meant EXP, lots of it.
Twenty wolves burst from the undergrowth, led by a sleek, cyan-striped alpha—Windrunner Wolf, Bronze Rank, speed its deadliest weapon. Lucio's first arrow missed; the alpha dodged effortlessly.
"Hold the line!" Windsor roared, sword blocking a lunge. "Kyle, Leviathan—maim, don't kill!"The Art of Controlled CombatKyle's Flame Lance seared a wolf's flank, while Leviathan's Fireball knocked another into a tree, both spells scaled to wound rather than kill. Sean cursed inwardly—every instant kill robbed him of 5 EXP.
Lucio charged, scimitar flashing. Bronze Peak strength vs. Bronze Lower Rank alpha—no contest. The alpha's paw split under his blade, blood spraying as it yowled for retreat.
The pack scattered, but not before Sean landed the killing blow on three wolves, each death granting him +5 EXP. Slow, but steady, he thought, wiping blood from his dagger.The Cost of ExperienceOlga, watching from a distance, marveled at the group's discipline—two mages, a paladin, and a dwarf with a strange metal tube (Borin's musket, hidden for now). This lord's "friends" were no ordinary companions, he mused, recalling Sophia's earlier curiosity about the Church.
As the forest stilled, Sean reopened his book, ignoring the blood on his boots. Level 16, 328/700 EXP—progress, but agonizingly slow. Ten more days, he vowed, glancing at Kyle's glowing staff. Then Yorn, and the real game begins.
The hunt continued, each kill a step toward Bronze Rank—each spell, each arrow, a reminder that in this world, even a lord's path to power was paved in sweat, blood, and the rustle of turning pages.