Chapter 11: Into the Wild.

The morning sun peeked over the rooftops of Magnolia as Richard stepped out of his house, stretching his arms. It was time to get moving. His pouch was dangerously light, and with rent coming up, he needed to complete another mission.

Instead of taking another combat-heavy job, Richard had asked Mira for something quick and profitable. That's when she suggested a gathering mission—collecting Briarthorn and Swiftthistle from Hillsbrad Mountain. The reward was decent: 4,000J per stalk, and it didn't require him to fight anything too dangerous.

Still, five to six hours by carriage seemed too slow. He had a better idea.

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As the morning sun rose over Magnolia, Richard stepped into an open clearing just outside the city. He exhaled deeply, stretching his arms before focusing his magic energy.

Raising his hand, he called forth his Summoning Magic.

"I call forth thee, heed my call—WAR WOLF!"

A large silver summoning circle flared to life on the ground, pulsating with magic. The space around it distorted slightly, as if the air itself was shifting to accommodate the creature that was about to emerge.

A moment later, a massive black-and-red wolf stepped forward, its muscular frame moving with effortless grace. Its sharp amber eyes glowed with intelligence as it surveyed the area before locking onto Richard.

The wolf let out a deep growl, shaking its thick fur as it stretched its powerful limbs.

Richard smirked. "Good to see you, Groff."

Thanks to the training past week he was able to reduce the time needed for summoning. In battle, the difference between life and death could be decided by mere seconds, so shortening his chant was a crucial improvement.

His goal was to eventually be able to summon just by calling their names, but he wasn't quite there yet. It still required a basic incantation, but progress was being made.

For now, this was enough.

Groff stepped closer, giving Richard an expectant look, full of excitement.

Richard chuckled, running a hand along the war wolf's thick fur. "Sorry, buddy, no battle for now."

Groff huffed in mild disappointment, but still stood tall, awaiting instructions.

Instead of a battle, Richard needed him for something different.

"You're giving me a ride this time," Richard said.

Groff let out a low grunt, clearly unimpressed with the idea. Still, after a few seconds, he lowered himself slightly, making it easier for Richard to mount.

Just as Richard was about to climb on, a thought crossed his mind.

"Wait," he said, tilting his head. "Groff, can you form a saddle using your Armor Magic? It'd make the ride more comfortable for both of us."

Groff considered this for a moment, then gave a short nod. His body began to glow faintly, the magic flowing through him as his armor ability activated.

"Armor Magic: Saddle Formation!"

Thin layers of black metallic plating emerged along Groff's back, shaping into a sturdy saddle-like structure. The design was seamless, built to allow Richard to sit securely without hindering Groff's speed or flexibility.

Richard grinned. "Nice work."

He climbed onto Groff's back, adjusting his grip. The saddle was firm yet comfortable, perfectly molded to prevent slipping even at high speeds.

"Alright," Richard said, feeling ready. "Let's go!"

With a powerful push, Groff took off, his muscular legs propelling them forward with smooth, controlled movements.

The wind rushed past Richard's face as they gained speed, weaving effortlessly through the terrain.

Although not comfortable as a Carriage,This was far faster than any carriage.

At this pace, they'd reach Hillsbrad Mountain in just four hours.

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By midday, Richard finally arrived at Hillsbrad Mountain. The towering peaks stretched high into the sky, their rocky slopes blending into dense forests filled with thick vegetation. Small rivers carved their way through the land, glistening under the sun, and the air was crisp and fresh, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and grass.

Sliding off Groff's back, Richard stretched his arms, shrug his shoulders to shake off the stiffness from the long ride. His muscles ached slightly, but nothing he couldn't shake off.

He took a deep breath, taking in his surroundings. This was different from his previous missions. There is no direct confrontation waiting for him—just nature and the task ahead.

Still, just because this wasn't a monster hunt didn't mean it was without danger.

Monsters lurked everywhere in places like this.

And if there was one thing Richard had learned from his previous mission, it was that getting ambushed was a real possibility.

That meant he needed backup.

Richard raised his hand, channeling Summoning Magic.

"I call forth thee, heed my call—SHADOW PANTHER!"

A dark purple summoning circle flared to life beside him. The shadows around him twisted and pulsed, gathering into a single point as a sleek black panther emerged, stepping forward with a graceful silence.

Her fur shimmered faintly, the deep violet markings along her body glowing softly. Her long tail flicked once as she stretched, her muscles rippling beneath her smooth coat.

Her piercing amethyst eyes locked onto Richard, a quiet intelligence gleaming within them.

Nyx – The Shadow Panther

Shadow Magic → Can travel through shadows, create shadow arms to bind or attack enemies.

Enhancement Magic → Boosts power, speed and agility .

Stealth Mastery → Moves completely silently and becomes hard to detect in low-light environments.

Has keen senses for tracking enemies or avoiding detection.

Nyx let out a low, satisfied purr as she padded closer, her body moving like liquid darkness.

Richard crouched down and ran a hand over her fur. "How are you doing, buddy? We've got work to do."

Nyx blinked slowly before rubbing against his arm, acknowledging his words.

"Alright, here's the plan," Richard said, standing up. "Groff and I will focus on finding the herbs. You keep an eye on the surroundings—if anything dangerous comes near, warn us."

Nyx flicked her tail once before melting into the shadows, becoming nearly invisible beneath the dappled shade of the trees.

Satisfied, Richard turned back to Groff, who was already sniffing at the ground, waiting for instructions.

"Now for the main event," Richard muttered, pulling two stalks of Briarthorn and Swiftthistle from his pouch. He held them up in front of Groff's nose.

"Groff, remember this scent."

The war wolf lowered his snout, inhaling deeply. His ears twitched, his nose wrinkling as he took in the strong herbal scent. After a moment, he let out a low growl of acknowledgment, his keen tracking instincts kicking in.

Richard smirked. "Alright, let's start searching."

With a swift movement, Groff lowered his head and began sniffing the air, taking in the wind currents, filtering out the natural scents of the mountain until he locked onto the herbal traces they were searching for.

He let out a sharp bark and started moving.

Richard followed, stepping lightly across the uneven terrain. Nyx's presence was barely noticeable, her movements so silent that he almost forgot she was there.

Now, it was time to get to work.

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