Chapter 10: A Month of Rest

After returning from our first hunt and subsequently the first time I have killed with proper training, and it could have been avoided, Aura's family decided that it would be best for us to take the next month off from hunting, it would give us time to process what happened to get a mental health evaluation, and in the eyes of the elves most importantly time to train aura as an elf practitioner. I walk through the armory and begin cleaning my gear, talking to my salamander the whole time.

"Rex why don't I feel bad for what I've done?" I ask him quietly, getting a growl of contemplation in return

"I have only been your partner for less than a year and you ask me a question for human morals, I do not have the answers." is his reply shortly after

"No, I'm not asking for the human morals, I am good with what I did them or us it was an easy choice, but the way I felt nothing as I killed them, it was like they were prey, and I was the predator."

"I am not sure, though I believe it may be you are a better partner than I had initially hoped, you did not rely on my instincts to guide you but you are already hunting like a true bearer of a dragon standing astride the world with nothing that can stop you, once we reach higher realms it will become much clearer." and with that my gear is cleaned, sharpened, oiled, and otherwise maintained. I return to my room with the dantians I took, then without hesitation I put the first one in my mouth chew and swallow it is awkward I want to feel it as gross, but it is the best way for my monster and I to grow, and for the next few weeks I won't be taking missions or going on hunts so this and my training will have to suffice. the small organ burns its roughly the size of a peach pit, but it is full of mana, most practitioners don't consume their opponent's dantians, but in order for me to awaken my dragon I will have to.

The next morning, I wake up to the maid Farina outside my room and she informs me that I have to go with her to see the family's psychiatrist for a mental health exam. I follow her out of the mansion and down a few quiet streets, until we find ourselves in front of a small clinic, farina says she will be back when my session is over, so I just go in and check in. twenty minutes later I find myself being ushered back into a small, cozy office with a small man whose eyes look just a little too big for his head.

"Hello mister Raebir, my name is Doctor Corey, I will be the one to discuss with you what happened the other day as well as the one to administer your mental health examination. first off I have to ask the particulars, you are mister Hunter Raebir, and you age is currently sixteen, correct?" the good Dr. asks introducing himself

"Yes Dr. Corey, my name is indeed Hunter Raebir, and I am currently sixteen years old, I would prefer if you called me hunter instead of my full name though just in case come guy has to write my story at some point in the future and my name is kinda hard to put on record." I reply as I sit down after shaking the man's hand.

"As you wish Hunter, first off can you tell me what happened the other day, I know some of it as you were recommended to my office by one of this city's official representatives, but I do need your side of the story" the Owl man asks while explaining his reasoning

I tell him about how we trained and prepared for a day hunting trip, and got ready to leave that morning, building to us taking down the water wolves and finding a monster seed. "Then, as we were leaving the forest, a small group of practitioners tried to stop us and take the seed we got, so I fought them and killed them."

"Do you think that it was maybe your monster taking over? I was informed of your monster by both the freelance guild, and the city representative's family, a winged drake is a watered-down version of a dragon, but it's still a dragon sub type and they have a habit of hoarding treasures?" he asks "And I also know that the representative gave you a license to eat dantians, so I am required to ask if you will try to cause trouble just so you can hunt to your hearts content and grow your monster."

"No, it wasn't Rex taking over, although I can't vouch for the treasure hoarding part, I would say it may have something to do with it." I reply then shift over in the couch so I can lay down and stare up at the ceiling exhaling a small breath of smoke "I don't want to cause trouble for dantians, but as you said and I personally know they are the fastest way to grow my drake out of his salamander form, I am thinking about ways around it without killing too many people especially innocents, I was going to see if there was a way for me to get my hands on some criminals. I know it's wrong, but I do need to grow faster."

"Well, I can see that you know your actions were wrong, but the level of remorse or lack thereof could be your monster's nature showing through, I will say that at this moment you need to be monitored loosely, so during your month-long suspension I want you in here at least once a week for an appointment, also I would like you to keep a journal." then the doctor dismisses me and farina is outside, waiting but with snacks and shopping bags.

The rest of the month flies by I go back to training and get the lock taken off of my sword. I advance to the second stage of the first level in my chain wielding art, and spend hours throwing knives, axes, and after I discover them nails or zenbon which I seem to have a high affinity for Aura continues archery with me in the evenings before dinner, and we spend most of the time after that in quiet conversation. I journal and bring it with me to my weekly meetings with Dr. Corey and he gives me a clean bill of mental health saying it's just the nature of my monster to be territorial and domineering and that the guild was going to issue a statement saying not to challenge me for a 2% cut out of all cores and seeds I sold to them. Which meant I had to go to the guild hall and fill out paperwork, man I just should have gone off into the woods to train in the primal way. A few hours later I walk out of the guild offices annoyed but ready to resume hunting and advancing in the practice.