Decided

Mikael then had to tell the mission from his perspective. The moment when entering the woods, the enemies he fought and sensations he felt.

When requiring more details, Simon asked and sometimes René also intervened.

After he got to the point where they left Nodan, Simon said:" Good, that is as in depth we go. I wanted one full story with both of you present, to get the big picture. The others should be waiting outside, I have to give my staff a sign to let them come up. One moment."

Mikael felt a light flux come from Simon, together with a fleeting glance from him. When their eyes met, he nodded.

"Your perception is very good. Makes up for the bit lacking control. But all a matter of training."

They heard the footsteps of the others, and soon the room was filled by their whole group.

Mark was walking with a cane, the crude support replaced by a more fitting one.

Meri also seemed much better, more energetic and rosy.

"Nice to see all of you here, more or less alright. First of all thanks for participating in this mission, despite the increase of difficulty and changed information. This only speaks for your competence and skills. I'll make sure to include that in your profiles, together with a personal note, with a stamp."

'Is this something important? Must be when he announces it like that.'

"Then I want to hear a brief summary of the events, weird occurances and impressions you got, even things you might only imagined. The two here already gave be the big picture."

After each one told their versions which pretty much matched, except constant nagging from Sophia and complaints which Herald had.

"That monster was already a pretty tough foe, injuring our most capable Hunter and leader severely. But not only was there hordes of undead, but the hidden threat of a necromancer." Alf finished, shaking his head.

"For some time I doubted to return home in one piece."

Simon sat there, writing on a parchment the information which filled the entire paper.

He nodded when reviewing it, glancing at each party member, before opening his drawer. From within he took out many pouches, 8 to be exact and each quite filled.

"For each one the reward was 15 gold pieces. Fewer for our guides, but as the mission got out of hand and required your intervention, I thought to also give you the same. I have to calculate the additional money, so tomorrow you can get that from my staff a floor lower.

And before I dismiss you, I want you to keep the details of that mission secret. The important bits, necromancer and also our friends abilities." he nodded towards René and Mikael.

"Not so many know about René, but except for us here no one Mikael's. Let keep it like that."

With that, each one of them agreed, taking their pouches and bidding goodbye.

"Mikael, you can stay for a bit. About training."

Everyone left, leaving the previous three in the room. Crownfield stood up from his chair, walking around his desk, up and down until he sighed.

"Sadly, I can't teach you right now personally. I didn't anticipated your awakening so early." he shot a glance towards René, who just smiled in response.

"It is in my opinion to early for you. Even when others do earlier. But your personality, origin and circumstances are a bit bothersome. I don't want an explanation," he cut of Mikael as he wanted to explain.

"digging into someone's past is a break of trust, and I want to keep that between us.

What I have is enough, at least for now.

So instead of me you will have René teach you, first the basics like manipulation, interior and exterior, extending or retracting your aura and other necessary skills. You will do so not in this village. Would destroy the point of keeping it secret, and with the looming danger of an necromancer in Nodan that is out, too." he sighed. Another look at René, he held up two fingers.

"So we got two options. For the first step, moving your own mana, simply doing it indoors suffice. But later manipulating it excessively, with failures and experiments, that doesn't cut it. When another magician notices you two, I can't guarantee safety, anonymity or success."

"Why success?" Mikael blurted out, quickly closing his mouth.

Simon didn't took it badly, but René answered instead.

"As Simon could put pressure on you, others also have their ways to either help or hinder you, maybe even damaging your mind in the process. He is at least able to triple that force, and that solely on your mind. That would render you an idiot for a lifetime. Without any defense."

Mikael shuddered at that thought.

'Me, only a salivating shit babbling idiot. Rather avoid that.'

"Ease up, with a bit of training you can easily counter that. Like you did when moving the mana. Instead to your arm, make it flow through your brain and center." Simon said, leaning on his desk now.

"So what are the options?" Mikael asked, looking forward being soon able to defend himself.

'Never have I thought that magicians got so many ways of fighting. The options are sheer endless depending on your creativity.'

René began then to list:" First, you two go to a far away place, some hours away from here. So no one accidentally finds you, or may pass your positions as they travel. This has the pro of coming back here, maybe getting a tip from me and meeting with your friends. The cons are the travel time, limiting the time to teach. That also makes it harder to practice, as a lot is simply repeating lasting tasks, like meditating."

Then René took over, with one leg over the other looking at Mikael.

"The other is a journey with me."

Slightly perplexed, Mikael blinked repeatedly.

"A journey where?"

René shrugged his shoulders.

"Dunno. But we together would start in the next few days, after some things are sorted out. After buying some stuff and miscellaneous equipment, we would go towards west, in the direction of another hamlet some days away. Name's Miners hut, or so they call it. A mining place you guess it."

"And why there? Aren't there more fitting places? Or just the wild, so no one even has a chance to find us."

"There is always a chance. Expect the unexpected, my little friend. We go there as the people venturing towards that spot are all pretty disclosed, and don't pry. Apart from the miners, some other hoodlums gather there. Another reason to make that our destination. But that is for later."

"On the way you traverse much no man's land and a smaller forest, no comparison to Nodan. Like that training shouldn't be difficult, and when you train there isn't a time limit. René is most of the time there to help and support, a capable bodyguard when you are vulnerable."

"We would be all alone then, no? After all the others can't now how to train magic or mana, right?"

"Correct, and who knows how long we travel. But this is also beneficial. We can hunt monsters, without needing to hold back, so you can invoke magic to your hearts content. And the experience is not comparable. I will let you fight for yourself small battles. You get nowhere when always in a group. You are a stone rank now, so that shouldn't be a hurdle." he said, glancing at Simon who sighed again.

"Yeah you aare. Someone that survives evolved monsters, fights and kills them like you deserves such an early promotion. When going down, ask the employee at the counter to update your ID. He is already informed."

"And, well, there is a third option." René said, as if just recalling it.

'Honestly, both of them don't sound so good. The first is just not efficient, the other makes me leave this village. I just found some nice companions I want to do more missions with.'

His hopes for a good third option where then shattered.

"Just give up on the whole magic thing. Wait a couple of months Simon got time and set up a place to train, staying here and doing small missions."

Just having contact with magic, of course Mikael wanted to use it as soon as possible.

'But I can't even train the foundations here. So often I encountered a awoken person, it's a matter of time until someone eats me out, or harm me.

At some point I have to leave either way. For a mission or to find the culprits of my escape. And it's not like I have a home or family to return to.'

With a nasty aftertaste of that thought, he said:" That isn't a good choice. I'd take the second one, if you're also okay with that."

"Okay? I was the one suggesting it to Simon." René eplied smiling, standing up from his chair over to Mikael, patting strongly his shoulder.

"I really liked you maturity and battle awareness, as well your general personality. With the potential you have, it is like grooming my successor. Also I want to get out of this village. Apart from the necromancer nothing really happens here, and few adventure out deep enough into Nodan that it's worth coming along. Simon doesn't need my help either way."

"Not true. There is enough for you to do, but apart from battling and scouting you don't hold up well. I said myself I'd like to groom you, so sending René with you is in my comfort zone."

"Then when do we depart? I may need to get some stuff." Mikael asked, holding the heavy pouch in hand, already considering what he might need.

'A bigger backpack, maybe some potions. No, absolutely some. And maybe some alchemical items. These bombs Herald had from Vertikas. Maybe they sell something similar here. And some more clothes.' he added as he once again, due to all the battling, dodging and sweating, nearly ruined his pants and shirts.

'The mail needs some oiling, and I also need a bit of soap. When we travel I have to wash them on the go. Then more underwear, provisions, tools... He made a mental list of things he might need, and at the end his only worry apart from money, which he had for now enough of, was space.

'Where do I gonna leave that? Maybe cutting off some non-essentials. Is there maybe anything that makes my bag hold more items?' he thought.

'Maybe Jenny knows some advice...'