Age of Beast Tamers and Exorcists
Chapter 72: Getting More Familiar: An Impending Danger

Chapter 72: Getting More Familiar: An Impending Danger

He didn’t dare to say such a thing out loud. Not yet. *** The slim lady rose from her crouch. Then she extended her arm at Zmey. He glanced at her; at first, he didn’t want to take the hand. But thinking about the fact that such an act might create bad blood because it was an insult, he grabbed her arm. There was nothing else he could think of right after he had stood to his feet other than "impressive." She didn’t bulge in the process despite his bulky masculine shape. One thing was sure about elite fighters, both men and women. They were as strong as titans, equal to hundreds of men. But the point about it was that Zmey didn’t yet have a clear understanding of ascension in ranks. How do mages actually get stronger? No one told them that in the Magic Sanctuary. This must be the con of getting rushed without an in-depth understanding. The lady, her innocent smile suggesting weakness, said to Zmey, "I heard the criteria you met to join us here. You’re definitely a sign that a strong next generation is coming up soon. Besides, it was not easy for us to get such high grades when we were newbies like you at the Magic Sanctuary..." "... Was it the same for Captain... Xero?" Zmey asked with a gentle tone and raised brows. "Eh... the best advice one could give you here is for you not to get too close to him. You shouldn’t try to be intimate with him nor be his enemy. It’s much safer to be in the middle of the two options," the lady advised. She extended her hand towards Zmey, then said, "I am Sofia. One of the best shooters, strategists, and Water Element Exorcists out there. What about you?" Zmey replied, "Zmey Ashbane. A Beast Tamer..." He held her hand in a handshake. In an interval of two seconds, they released the handshakes. Solvia asked him, "How many tames by now? Two, at least...?" Zmey looked both ways at that moment, caught by surprise by the number she had set. Was she thinking too highly of a mere newbie or something? But if Zmey was oblivious to anything else, he caught on now that she wasn’t joking. Then, he cleared his throat. He said, "Just one..." But before he completed his statements, Solvia was already moving ahead of him. She had taken left, her arms clasped behind her. He only stood there.... looking at her with an undeniable sign of ’I-regret-talking-to-her’ in his eyes. Now, she insulted him with such a move. This was someone he did not want to shun earlier. At that moment, Solvia glanced backwards. Then she said, still moving forwards, "The Eagle Vanguard isn’t a place to laze around. Go to a less chaotic kingdom if that is what you want." Zmey tilted his head. Had she been sarcastic all along? Because she was very sarcastic right now. She then waved her hand in the air. "See you around, Zmey Ashbane." Zmey sighed. ’At least she remembers my name in full. What a piece of something I don’t have the intention of saying. This is what you get from welcoming conversations with people.’ ---- He turned away from the kitchen’s wall, away from the aromatic scent of soup, grilled meats, and other sorts. It was clear now. Luca Xero held the highest authority in this place, much like a king. He could do and undo. And the best choice one should make was to stay away from him. Neither being his friend nor his enemy. In no time, after asking others for directions, he reached the stream. These men weren’t just washing armours and weapons. But also themselves. Zmey couldn’t believe that this was the place meant for him to work. But it was inevitable. Due to rule one, never offend Luca Xero. The stream was wide on an average scale. It had insects buzzing on its bedding. Solvardia was a desert. The Eagle Vanguard might be the only spot with such a vast water supply compared to other areas in the kingdom. Zmey slid in. He joined the others. But of the many men, only about three of them were actually doing the job. Others were splashing water in the air towards one another, like little kids. While wiping blood from a spear with a soaked, but not wet towel, Zmey mumbled, "Didn’t she say no one lazes around here? Pftt..." At that moment, a raven-haired man in his 30s rose by his side. Right away, he discerned that he wanted to start a discussion with him. But first, the man picked up a dry towel from the bedding and handed it to Zmey. He got the message. He used it to dry the body of the spear to avoid rusting due to the water. The man said, "Whoever that person is, she’s right. Right now, those men aren’t just playing like typical kids..." He turned and pointed at them. Zmey glanced at them as well. "It looks like they are throwing water alone. But the truth about this is that they are practising in advance for the chaos that’s soon to come. Magic of Necrots and beasts could come in a sprinkling form like water or rush beneath one’s feet too. I assume you get it now. It’s true that it’s child’s play, but it holds greater meaning. Everyone is afraid of the close danger, and that is the true reason for this." Zmey turned his stare towards him. He furrowed his brows. Then he looked back at the men. He mumbled, "Scared?" "Yes," the man replied in a simple tone. "It’s laughable to hear such an elite fighter. We here are the best of certified protectors of kingdoms. But, you see, beneath those strong exteriors lies a heart. It already foresees the cruel future before it comes. A lot is currently unfolding. All we can do is prepare ahead of time." Zmey looked at the men with a closer watch. At one moment, he mumbled, "You’re right... The water splashing is more than meets the eye." The man nodded. "Yes," he affirmed. Then he picked up a water bottle from the bedding and threw it at Zmey. He caught it with the speed of a hawk catching its prey. "You must need that more than I do," he said. Passing by Zmey’s side, he held his shoulder with light force. And said, "Welcome aboard, newbie. No one would expect unrealistic performance from you guys here. So, don’t be hard on yourselves. Call me Gabriel." Zmey nodded. Then he replied, "I’m Zmey. Thanks for this..." He raised the bottle with a firm smile. Gabriel gave back the same kind of smile. And left. Somehow, Zmey thought he imitated him because he himself seemed to have done so at first. First names at first, then firm smiles at the end. He shrugged, then gulped the water from the bottle. *** The following weeks had had the three of them going through the same crazy work they had been in since day one... Skyler to the kitchen, Callister sweeping the compound. And Zmey to the stables. He had, out of free will, slowed down in cleaning the stables one day. So, Luca won’t have a reason to assign him a new task if he finishes on time. Yet, the case was the same. But Zmey thought that he was actually made for this. Why would such a thing bother someone who had experienced nine lives in a row? Meanwhile, one morning, Luca summoned them. He now freed them from those tasks and assigned them a new one. To join the police force of the Eagle Vanguard. Zmey crossed paths with Gabriel during a morning exercise in the woods. Jogging over two kilometres. Carrying logs on a long journey. Sometimes, we played hide and seek where they allowed brute force. Gabriel had explained to him that there were two main classes on the Elite Team. The Police Force and the Warlords. Due to the situation in Solvardia, the police force acts as security in different sectors of the lock-up centre where they secure citizens. The infestation of Necrots had got to its peak. The citizens were dying. They had to provide different centres across the kingdom to contain them. And the police force watched over them. Indeed, they went there. The three of them were now police. But what happened afterwards was far beyond anything surprising.