Into the Wild

Anna stood at the edge of the forest, her heart pounding heavily against her ribs like war drums. It had tall trees with bushy leaves, serpent like vines hanging from their branches, vibrant wilderness—with scattered flowers and uneven land—made it look like a perfect picnic spot to her. However, the regular rustle of bushes, whispered hisses of serpents, soft steps of beasts and wailing of animals made one's hair stand on end.

Anna wore a black skin-tight combat outfit which fit her body perfectly, she had tied her hair in a bun with braids adorning it with elegance. Two daggers were placed inside a sheath belt on her waist.

"Do I really have to do it?" Anna asked as she looked at the two figures standing a few meters away from her.— White and Blake—

"We are only doing it so you can get combat experience, Miss Anieal" White replied as he looked at Anna, his crimson eyes had a mischievous glint.

Anna caught that and asked in a not-so-sure tone.

"Are you sure about this?" Anna asked with a serious expression.

"I am, that's how newly advanced seekers are taught… I guess." White replied as he nodded and shrugged at the end.

"You guess… huh" Anna said as she looked at White with a baffled expression.

"How did my brother agree to this?" Anna asked while looking at White.

"Maybe he felt moved by your hard work?" White replied while looking away. As he remembered his conversation with Damien

***

Damien was standing at the balcony of his room as he gazed at the beautiful garden with a porcelain teacup in his head, a small reminiscent smile tugging his lips as he remembered the times of training and playing around with his father in this very garden.

*Knock* *Knock*

Suddenly, he heard a knock on his door which caused him to burrow his brows in irritation.

"Come in." Damien said. His voice was gentle however a bit of irritation could be felt in it.

"I apologize for ruining your alone time, young master." White said as he bowed in apology.

Seeing that Damien spoke, His voice returned to its usual gentleness.

"Speak," he ordered.

"I wish to take Miss Anieal for a star beast hunt for her combat training." White said as he continued bowing.

"Hmm? and pray tell, why would you do that?" Damien asked with a raised eyebrow.

"If Miss Anieal goes on the hunt and happens to get hurt, she might stop trying to actively become a midnighter." White said as he looked at Damien with a sharp glint in his eyes.

"So, you want me to send Anna so she can get hurt and stop trying to actively become a midnighter?"

"Yes."

"I see..," Damien thought about it for a few moments after which he looked at White and nodded.

"You may proceed with it but make sure she doesn't get too badly hurt" Damien paused for a few moments and continued. "A few bruises and a few small wounds should do." he nodded at his own words and looked at White who was looking at him with a strange expression.

'A few bruises and a few small wounds? What? That's all?... he really is a sis-con…" White thought as he looked at Damien.

Damien however ignored his looks and spoke

"Got it?"

"Yes, young master." White said as he bowed one more time and left the room while coming up with ideas about how to make Anna stop from trying to actively become a midnighter.

***

"By the way, why can't I use guns and other firearms instead of these daggers?" Anna asked with a tilt of her head which made look cute.

Hearing her White started to shake his head.

"Hah.." He sighed and continued "Well. You can indeed use guns and other firearms but we are training for close combat and combat decision making. Not shooting." He gave a disappointed look to Anna as he spoke. Seemingly dissatisfied with such a basic question.

"Y-yeah, You are right." Anna said as she looked away, a tinge of redness had found its way to her cheeks due to embarrassment.

'I am getting stupid with continuous training?' Anna thought to herself

Suddenly, she turned towards White and asked

"What about using firearms when I fight other midnighters?" She had a thoughtful look as she asked so.

"Hmm… firearms are pretty useless on midnighters during night time when they can use their full strength." White replied to the best of his abilities.

"Full strength?" Anna questioned with a tilt of her head and confused expression on her face.

"Hmm? Miss Anieal you do know that midnighters can only use full strength at night time, yes?" White asked as he gazed in Anna's eyes.

"Y-yes I knew that, of course." Anna replied as she did a fake laugh to hide her embarrassment.

"You didn't know. Huh"

"Well. I guess it's because we are in Azor that you haven't felt it." White concluded as he nodded to himself.

"What does being in Azor have to do with it?" Anna asked.

"You know about the barrier, yes?"

"Yeah, because of the barrier it's always night in Azor" Anna replied.

"Because it's always night here the star essence—which is the energy used by midnighters—is denser, thus midnighters can use about half of their strength here all the time." White said as he rubbed his masked chin.

"So, they can only use half of their strength here?" Anna asked with curiosity gleaming in her eyes.

White nodded at her words and continued

"As for when it's not night, they can use about one tenth of their strength so they are still stronger than most humans." White said as he looked towards Blake.

Blake who saw that spoke.

"Thus, Miss Anieal, if you plan to use firearms they are only going to be effective when it's not night." Blake said as he looked at Anna.

Anna nodded at his words and asked what was on her mind for a while now.

"What about explosives then?"

"Same, however, explosives can hurt a seeker during night time but it still can't kill them." Blake replied.

"Well, if you use it in a reasonable amount that is." White added.

Blake turned to look at him and spoke.

"Shut up."

"What? I am not wrong, okay." White said with a wronged expression on his face.

"What do you know? You aren't even an awakened." Blake replied, White could guess him having a smug smile on his dumb face when he said so.

"Hmph!!" White however just ignored him with a harumph.

Seeing both of them act like this Anna could only shake her head.

"Let's begin." Anna said with a solemn look.

""Yes, Miss Aniela."" White and Blake replied at the same time.

Anna walked towards the forest in front of her. She could see many normal beasts and animals such as rabbits, deer, foxes, etc roaming around the outermost area of the forest. Whenever she tried to go near them they just ran away like their lives were dependent on it.

"Why are they acting like this?" Anna asked and turned to look at White who was following her.

"The normal beasts and animals of Azor have an instinctive sense towards awakeneds. So, when they found out that you were awakened they ran away." White replied as he explained it to her.

"I see." Anna nodded her head at his explanation and continued to go deeper in the forest.

A few moments later, Anna stood beside a boulder trying to hide herself as she looked at the star beast in front of her.