Chapter Forty-Nine: Monsters

  School life was a rhythm Ash soon settled into, with the rest of the week being things Ash already knew. He had reluctantly accepted the leadership from the others for the dungeon party. The struggle was getting everyone to work together. Mina and Lira were like grease and fire; adding the two together led to nothing good.

  Yet he had to get them to work together somehow.

  “At the end of the semester, you will be entering a training dungeon controlled by the school. This will account for the greater majority of your grade. Pay attention in class, dears, and learn to work together. We do our best to prevent death in the dungeon, but it is possible!” Master Delver had told them.

  Ash looked at Lilith on his bed,

  “Any ideas? Heck, I’d call it a win if I could get Darrune to speak up! He’s like a stone!”

  Lilith cocked her head. She sent him an image of her and him eating together. Ash was about to wave the suggestion off, then paused. He rubbed his chin.

  “Maybe that’s exactly what we need,” Ash considered.

  With Lilith by his side, Ash hunted down the other members of the Eventide Knights. He found Mina first.

  “Tomorrow night, we are going to the adventurer’s guild and having a meal together.”

  Mina crossed her arms,

  “Why would I waste time doing such a thing?”

  “It isn’t a waste,” Ash began with an annoyed edge, “It’s group dynamics. We need to learn to trust one another, which starts with getting to know each other. We also need to discuss group roles and schedule practices. If possible, I want to do some dungeons, too.”

  Mina didn’t look happy about it, but Ash was beginning to understand something about her.

  Mina Dawnblade couldn’t stand not being the absolute best at everything she tried. She wanted to excel at this, and Ash was sure that led to her finally giving him a grudging nod.

  “Fine, tomorrow at the eighteenth hour. See you then.”

  Lira went along with the idea quickly enough, and Darrune shrugged.

  In Monster Lore, Master Hunter swept an imperious burning orange gaze around the class. This classroom looked nearly identical to Master Magic's, except drawn pictures of monsters with assigned weaknesses dotted the walls.

  “Monster hunting is one of the main tasks adventurers undertake across Dominion. Over the semester, you will be studying monsters. How to identify them. How to track them. How to kill them.”

  On the board, Master Fire hung up a picture of a hulking green creature with eyes like puss. Someone had taken serrated knives, painted them green, and attached them to the creature’s head to serve as ears. It had a slight hunch to its muscular form.

  “Some of you hunted this very monster for the exam. It isn’t rare to find them in the forests of Ivalia.”

  Next he hung up a picture of a pyrewolf, the thing Ash had hunted.

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  “Here we have a pyrewolf, one of you in this classroom hunted it. Today, we will discuss the difference between dungeon and non-dungeon monsters. Normally, Master Delver might cover this, but she is leaving it to me this year, and you will go into specifics in her class. Does anyone here already know the differences?”

  He waited for an answer. Nodding when he didn’t receive one, he went on.

  “Dungeon monsters are spawned from a Dungeon Core. Like all things, Dungeon Core’s have aspects. They do not have elan or elar in the same way you and I do; instead, they can shape their aspects into living creatures tied to them. They can also shape their surroundings, molding it to their aspect. Creating traps and puzzles are all within a Dungeon Core’s capabilities. As to their value and what you should do when you encounter one? I shall leave that to Master Delver. Now,” He tapped the green monster.

  “This is a hobgoblin. Tell me, what are some of their identifying features?”

  Ash raised a hand. Master Hunter pointed at him,

  “Er…their ears?”

  “Good! Yes, that is indeed one. As you can see, their ears are knife-like, almost serrated. Anything else?”

  “Their hunched stature,” One girl said confidently.

  “Exactly! It is what sets it apart from some types of trolls. Does anyone here know how to track it?”

  Crickets.

  “Unsurprising. When hunting hobgoblins, you will likely find them in forests, usually caves. They are almost always surrounded by many goblins, who it bullies into serving it. It likes to use blunt weapons or its fists and has access to tremendous strength. Some have even been known to use a technique. What are its weaknesses?”

  “It’s slow?” The same girl answered.

  “Yes, but more importantly, it has a temper. Taunting it will enrage it. One might use this to their advantage.”

  The lesson continued, discussing all the ways to find and kill hobgoblins.

  After classes, Ash prepared to go into Ivalia to meet his party.

  “Hey there!” Lira called, her eyes closing briefly as she walked up to Ash.

  Mina showed up soon after; she did not offer any greetings. Darrune grunted when he showed up, and they all entered. Once they found a table, they ordered, with Lilith ordering very rare meat.

  “Okay, Blue, you got us here. What’s on the agenda, O venerated leader?”

  “Why do you keep calling me Blue, anyway?”

  He hadn’t been questioning it, but she had done it multiple times now.

  Lira grinned,

  “Everyone needs a nickname! Besides, your eyes are very blue, and your hair is kinda blue twinged, I guess?”

  Ash shook his head, sighing.

  “My hair is ashen colored, not blue.”

  Lira shrugged,

  “Looks blue enough to me.”

  “Right. I called us here because we have some things to talk about. First, I wanted to break the ice a bit. Let’s go around the table and tell each other a little about ourselves. Darrune?”

  The plain-looking boy frowned,

  “I’m Darrune. I’m a smith.”

  He grimaced, looking away.

  Lira patted him fondly on the shoulder,

  “That must have been hard, speaking so much. Well, I am Lira! I’m from Elendari! I’m the oldest daughter of the Moami family. I like horse rides and bonfires on the beach.”

  Lira was being so bubbly that Ash wondered if she was lying for some reason. He looked at Mina.

  Before he could speak, Lira spoke up,

  “Oh, yes! Please, tell us all about you, Mina.”

  Mina scowled,

  “This is pointless.”

  “No, really, tell us all about yourself and your shashti loving ways!” Lira rested her chin on a fist, elbow on the table, and fluttered her lashes at Mina.

  Ash didn’t give Mina a chance to respond. He slammed a hand on the table, leaning close to Lira; his voice was arctic.

  “If I hear that word come across your lips again in this party, Lira, you and I will have problems. Keep your classist, racist Light, cursed opinions to yourself unless it has to do with party business, understand me?”

  Lira’s face went blank. Her throat worked, then she looked away.

  At that precise moment, the food arrived.

  Ash gestured,

  “Let’s eat. Then we have to talk about next steps.”

  Things were off to a fantastic start.