CHAPTER 189: CHAPTER 189 – FIRST FOOTSTEPS ON THE HUNTING PATH

Morning arrived quietly in the city of Anarets, as if the world had just awakened from a long dream. A thin mist still hung low between narrow alleys, while golden sunlight slowly filtered through the gaps in buildings, reflecting off the damp stone streets. The voices of merchants began to rise in the distance, replacing the chirping of small birds that gradually disappeared behind the rooftops.

On the upper floor of the inn, in two adjacent rooms, two girls awoke with sluggish, reluctant movements. Stacia stared blankly at the ceiling for several seconds before sitting up slowly and rubbing her face with her hands. In the next room, Alicia groaned as she rolled over, her hair a mess and the blanket wrapped around her like a cocoon.

"Ugh... I can still feel the chill of that place on the back of my neck," Alicia muttered half-asleep, sitting on her bed with half-lidded eyes.

Stacia was already brushing her hair and reaching for her new tunic. She glanced at the large window in her room and drew back the thin curtain. Morning light flooded in blinding, yet warm.

"I feel it too," she said softly. "The aura of that temple... Even though nothing happened, it felt like we were being watched by something without eyes."

Alicia shivered slightly at the memory of the whispering voice they never saw the source of.

"We’re not going back there today," Stacia continued as she got dressed. "I need time. Let’s go to the guild instead. Look for a mission we can do that doesn’t involve being stared at by buildings."

Alicia chuckled dryly. "Agreed."

After getting ready and enjoying a light breakfast at the inn soft bread, slices of caramelized apple, and a small glass of chilled mountain goat milk they made their way to the Hunter Guild building in the city center.

The morning atmosphere along Anarets’ main street was getting lively. Locals, travelers, and adventurers mingled in the flowing crowd. The sounds of wagon wheels, bargaining merchants, and laughing children created a distinctive symphony. The air was filled with the scent of tanned leather, metal, and the sweet aroma of freshly baked pastries.

The Hunter Guild building stood as sturdy as ever, with the emblem of a roaring wyvern carved above the massive wooden doors. Inside, the room was already crowded with hunters gathered in front of the large mission board made of old black wood. The sound of heavy boots and clinking armor filled the space.

Stacia and Alicia stood before the board, scanning the pinned mission sheets with iron nails. Some missions were written in red ink warning of high danger levels while others looked more basic: delivering goods, collecting alchemy materials, or light hunting tasks.

"This one," Stacia said, pointing to one of the light brown mission papers.

Alicia leaned closer and read:

MISSION: Wolf HuntDescription:

A pack of wild wolves has been spotted near the southern farmland outside Anarets. Estimated 6–8 wolves.

Reward: 8 bronze coins/head. Additional bonus for proof of the pack leader.

Danger Level: Low.

Note: Suitable for beginners. Beware of the pack. Do not separate.

"We’re not going to die from this, right?" Alicia asked, half-joking.

Stacia smirked. "If we die to normal wolves, I’ll be deeply ashamed in front of Sylvia."

"Especially after we helped defeat the ’judgment blade of a god,’" Alicia added with a playful tone.

They brought the mission sheet to the confirmation desk. The guild officer, an elderly centaur woman with neatly coiled gray hair, processed the mission swiftly. She recorded their names, stamped their ID cards, and handed them a small map of the hunting area.

"Those wolves usually appear around late afternoon. But you can start now to search for tracks," she said, handing over a small pouch containing a magic whistle for emergencies.

Leaving the guild, the noon air had begun to warm. The sky remained clear, with a gentle breeze blowing from the south the direction of the farmland where they would hunt.

After walking for about an hour along a narrow path overgrown with wild shrubs and small flowers, they reached a low hill overlooking a wide field. Farmlands could be seen in the distance, with the faint sounds of cows and goats echoing softly.

Alicia took out a magical lens for long-distance observation, while Stacia surveyed the terrain with a magical compass.

"Fresh tracks heading northeast," Stacia said, pointing to some disturbed soil. "Wolf prints. And... I smell faint traces of blood on the wind."

They began to follow the trail carefully, walking through tall grass and thorny bushes. Occasionally, Alicia cast light protective barriers to guard their rear, while Stacia summoned a small familiar, a one-eyed magic bird to scout from above.

Soon, a short howl echoed from beyond the trees.

They exchanged glances, and Alicia nodded. "We’re ready."

The first attack came suddenly.

A large wolf leapt from behind the bushes, aiming for Stacia, but the girl calmly swung her staff and summoned a small magic barrier. FWOOOM! A thin shield appeared in the air, stopping the sharp fangs just inches from her face.

Alicia quickly retaliated. "Blazing Grasp" A thin whip of fire lashed out from the lantern on her staff, striking the wolf’s body and knocking it to the side with a pained yelp.

Three more wolves emerged from the thickets, walking slowly in a circling formation, their growls low and echoing through the wind. Their eyes glowed a faint red, and their fur bristled like sharp wire, as if they instinctively knew their two targets were no ordinary humans.

The wild grass swayed gently beneath their feet, but the world seemed to freeze for a moment. Only their breathing remained alongside the biting tension in the air.

"Alicia, they’re flanking us!" Stacia shouted, flipping through her book with swift fingers. The air around her vibrated faintly as magic stirred.

"I see them!" Alicia responded. Her staff was already raised, the lantern at its tip glowing brighter. The blue flame inside flickered wildly like a hungry living creature.

One of the wolves lunged at Alicia from the left, jaws wide open. Its teeth were yellow-gray, and drool dripped onto the grass.

"Hex of Languish"

Blaargh! a burst of dark purple mist erupted from Alicia’s staff lantern and struck the wolf’s body. Its growl turned into a whimper. The beast staggered, its claws dragging, its movements drastically slowed as if ensnared by invisible cords.

From the other side, two wolves immediately took advantage of the moment to attack Stacia.

She didn’t move from her spot, only lifted her hand above her book. The sound of turning pages echoed with a magical pulse.

"Aegis of Temperance"

Instantly, a soft, glass-like light shimmered from the ground, wrapping around both of them. A buff barrier enhanced their defenses. Alicia felt lighter, her footing more stable.

The first wolf slammed into Stacia’s magical shield CRAAANG! its fangs clashed against an invisible steel-like barrier. But Stacia didn’t flinch, only her hair shifted slightly from the impact.

The second tried to bite her leg from below, but the girl swung her book down like a hammer without hesitation.

GHMM!

A heavy thud rang out as the gray tome struck the wolf’s skull DOK!

The beast recoiled with a yelp, and Alicia followed up with her next spell.

"Ember Chain"

Blue flames formed a chain that shot from her staff lantern, wrapping around the weakest wolf’s body. It let out a pained howl as the magical fire slithered across it like a living snake. The smell of burning fur began to fill the air.

Another wolf finally leaped toward Alicia from the side fast, claws extended!

But Stacia had already anticipated it.

"Pulse Barrier"

Zzrrumm! a circular pulse of magic burst from the ground around Alicia, slamming into the airborne wolf and hurling it like it had been kicked by an invisible giant. DUGHH! The beast crashed into a tree trunk and collapsed, though it still twitched weakly.

"Two more!" Alicia shouted, breathing fast, her warm breath fogging slightly in the air.

Stacia raised her book again, her fingers turning the pages swiftly.

"One more second..."

"Symphony of Agility"

A bluish aura enveloped both of them. Their muscles felt lighter, their movements faster, their reflexes sharpened.

At that moment, the wolf pack leader appeared.

A much larger wolf, with dark gray fur and a deep scar across its snout, stepped out from behind the tall bushes. It moved slowly, not with recklessness like the others but with a gaze that was both intelligent and cruel.

"...That’s him," Alicia muttered seriously.

The leader didn’t leap like the others. It merely arched its body, then let out a massive howl.

"HROOOAAAAAH!!!"

The roar shook the grasslands, even forcing the two injured wolves to rise again, invigorated.

"He’s injecting energy into them," Stacia growled. "Some kind of alpha-wave magic..."

"Then let’s respond in kind."

Alicia stepped forward, crossing her staff in front of her.

"Crippling Dread"

Her staff’s lantern flashed brightly, then dimmed, then glowed again with a dark purple hue. A shadow resembling a massive claw reached out from the darkness beneath the alpha wolf and at once, the beast trembled. Its legs weakened, and its stride faltered. A powerful debuff had crippled its strength.

"Nice!" Stacia called. "Now let’s finish this!"

She raised her book high. Wind swirled around her as the pages flipped on their own, forming glowing sigils.

"Chain of Resolve"

One by one, nodes of light shot down from the air onto Alicia, boosting her spells then formed a new circle beneath the alpha wolf’s feet.

"Now, Alicia!"

Alicia gritted her teeth. The blue flame in her staff’s lantern roared FWWUUUUSH!

"Soulburn"

A ball of blue fire shot forward and struck the alpha wolf’s chest, exploding in a silent blast only a POOMFF! was heard, but its fire seemed to burn from within.

The wolf howled in agony, writhed, then collapsed, convulsing on the ground. The two remaining wolves turned tail and fled immediately, their bodies trembling in fear.

Silence fell over the grasslands once again.

Only their breathing remained and the soft trails of dissipating magic.

They stood there, exhausted, but their eyes gleamed with victory.

Alicia patted Stacia’s shoulder. "We didn’t die."

Stacia stifled a laugh. "Yeah... and we just proved we’re not just a bookworm and a debuffer girl."

They approached the fallen bodies, ensuring the pack was truly gone. Stacia recorded the number and condition of the wolf corpses, while Alicia cut the fangs from the alpha as proof for the guild’s bonus.

The sky gradually shifted to a golden hue, signaling the decline of noon.

But in their hearts, this was a beginning. Their first step not as Sylvia’s followers but as themselves.