Bund

Hunting was tedious at first with little to no game, but beasts popped up further west usually reported by the Hunters Guild.

It would take others a few days to organize a hunting party whereas Isla and I went at it alone minimizing the logistics of the whole situation.

During this time, I figured out how to siphon energy from mana stone, I tried to crush it like a rock with my fist only to find it get smaller.

I used my mana and felt the leaking energy drawing It into my mana core, it was a rush like no other.

Like I drank six cups of coffee and an energy drink laced with cocaine.

But along with the rush came the ever-increasing craving, like a mental itch I could never scratch.

I fought a Peacock type bird that was eight feet tall and used mana to strengthen its beak into a sharp cone reinforcing itself it stretched its amazingly long neck faster than I normal human can see.

It tried to drill into me, nearly gutting me.

If I did not have Isla backing me up, killing it without damaging the feathers would not have been possible.

After processing the game, something we have become fast at doing, we rest and stay the night near a watering hole.

We needed the hot water to scald the beast, to safely remove the feathers.

We cook and smoke the rest of the meat and then head back to the Village, even though we both took shifts keeping watch and smoking the meat we still were full of energy from our huge catch.

I get to the Village through the western entrance early in the morning and drop off the meat to Algom.

"You hunted a Kurn…" Although he had long gotten used to the new avenue of meat he has been receiving, this was on a whole new level.

"I can't accept this"! merchants pay a high price for this meat in both Terra and Olim!"

I think about it for a moment before saying "Then sell dishes made of this meat, and give me half of the earnings, I am in need of mana stones at the moment".

Algom's mouth quivered "This…" he stammered before he could finish I said, "I would put a sign up and allow both Terra and Olim to eat here for one day because if you are seen favoring one side over the other it might create some backlash".

He just looked at me as I walked away not giving him a chance to refuse.

Heading over to the Hunters Guild; it is now mid-morning and a line has formed.

I get to the counter after a long wait.

"Well, well if it isn't the great hunters, what can I do for you today"? The woman's name is Amla.

After coming here for the past few months we have formed a professional relationship.

I hand her the bag without taking out the feathers.

As she peaks inside, she pauses.

"Can I ask you to take this upstairs and wait for me in the last room in the hallway". Everyone else who was either socializing, checking the bounty board or just in line stared at Amla.

They have never heard that before even some of the veterans had slanted eyebrows, a curious look plastered on their faces. "Filthy blood" I heard a voice jeer out as I turn my head and headed to the stairs behind the counter.

Opening the door, we saw a well-furnished room with a table and couch along with a few chairs around the table.

We sit on the couch facing the door and wait for Amla to come to give us our stones.

Coming in through the door was not Amla but the drunkard who I first saw when I first came to the Hunters Guild.

"Well then, it seems like you two have gotten quite the catch".

Not waiting for us to respond he says "Nobles love this material to make all sorts of art and some like to even pomp up their status by buying it to stuff it into their pillows.

You could make a lot of money with that bag in an auction" he states.

I look at him with a shadow of a smile "Wealth oftentimes costs too much".

Taken aback at the words coming out of a child he burst into laughter.

"And here I thought you were all muscle and no brain". The laughter died and his face became solemn.

"Mind telling me how two kids got a bag of Kurn feathers"? I look dead in his eyes and respond, "I cut its head off bleed it, boiled it in water, and then plucked its feather".

The tension in the room was palpable until his smile started spreading the lined face slowly as of feeding off the awkwardness.

"Dear gods I don't think I have laughed like that in years" he begins to slowly chuckle.

"Since you are adamant about selling it here I can offer you one hundred mana stones for the whole bag as long as it is full that is".

I nod my head and ask, "Where can I buy a Scile's".

Sciles are the scaled horses used for transport.

"I know a breeder who I can send you over to," he says as he pulls out paper and pen from a dresser and pens me a letter of introduction.

He brings out a leather pouch filled with what I believe to be mana stones.

"One hundred as we agreed".

Reaching out to grab Isla's bag, also full of feathers, showing it to him.

He again is shocked before laughing.

After he calms down and wipes the tear from his eye he reaches back into his drawer and gets another two cloth pouches.

"Thank you" I grab the stone pouches and place them in my duffel, as I do I notice an Olim slave tattoo on his arm used to hand me the stones looking exceptionally prominent on his light Terra skin.

"My name is Bund, if anyone gives you any problems let them know my name most soldiers will treat you fairly".

Walking out all eyes were on us, oddly even Amla was staring at us slack-jawed.