"Soul Beast Hunting? Where?" The Duke asked.
After a month of experimenting with his new abilities, Hartwin declared Faust was ready to saturate his tempered core fully and bring it to the start of the completion state.
As usual, the Duke was not alone in his study with Faust. Sir Jonos Bold and Albert Twintoes were present as well. His stepmother was also often here, but recently Helena devoted most of her time helping Zisel master her new bloodline ability.
"HAHAHHA!! See you losers! I’m the most amazing being in the entire world! Some might even say I’m a god! A GODDD! Worship me, you peasants!"
Those were Zisel’s words to Faust and Augustine when she learned what had happened to her after waking up the next day. Needless to say, every meal after that tasted bitter to the two depressed sons of the Dawnfire household.
So when Hartwin told Faust he was ready to hunt, he was eager to saturate his core and grow more powerful. Who knew maybe he could unlock even more abilities?
Unlike Infusers and Channelers, who saw great improvement in their physique and essence with each rank they climbed, spirit users were not as fortunate. Their rank-up meant gaining an additional ability complementing or improving their already existing boon and a deeper bond with their spirits.
The deeper the bond between a host and their spirit, the stronger the boon’s effect. For Faust, it was already maxed out since he was a spirit using his own abilities. That’s why he needed no training at all to master his abilities.
Controlling the boon granted by a far superior being was not an easy task. It permanently altered a human’s body. For some, it takes half their lifetime to master it fully.
"It has to be nearby coastal towns, right?" Faust asked.
Inland, most of the region was cleared out; the few hunting grounds lay far from Cindros. He could not go north where the nearest forest was because of the closeness with the Empire. Velthros was no better; it, too, was at times hostile.
But like Lord Saltray’s town, there were several other outposts lined up along the coast close to Cindros. That’s where most of the soul beasts were washed ashore if they survived Velthros and the Empire’s efforts to subjugate them.
The natural location in which Cindros was located was so enviable for this singular reason. It was cradled right between two powerful regions defending against most of the soul beasts that came from the sea. No other coastal city, except a few, has this kind of safety.
And Cindros is the biggest of them. It wasn’t for free. Velthros took 10% of Cindros’ trade profits and had certain business liberties. Empire was not so fortunate, but there were some trade deals made with reasonable lords there too. Sometimes they even used unorthodox third parties to trade for sensitive items.
"Fine," The Duke said, to the surprise of everyone present.
"You will have five knights and twenty soldiers with you at all times. Sir Orin, Merek, and Naima will accompany you. You can choose the other two. Try to remain near Cindros."
Faust nodded.
"Lady Birhi to continue my lessons?"
The Duke remained silent for a while, then nodded lightly. Faust turned and was about to leave when the man added,
"And boy, stay clear of... people."
Faust paused for a while, then continued walking. It didn’t need to be said. He was not a social guy to begin with, and most nobles gave him the creeps. Eldraxis had some of the most fucked-up customs, like war-slaves, prima nocta, duels to death, and such.
Cindros was considered one of the more sophisticated places after Calystria, but things still weren’t banned outright.
Next, Faust went to the garden and asked Koren to pack and notify everyone who would travel with him two days later.
"Let it flow naturally. You won’t know how much you need if you try to control it forcefully. Trust your instincts." Helena said.
She and Zisel sat on the ground on layers of silky carpets, holding each other’s hands.
"I can calculate how much I need. I’m very efficient, you know?"
"Yes, but only in things you are taught. It’s very predictable. You need to be flexible. If people can read you like an open book—"
"They can exert greater force and overpower my spells," Zisel murmured on her own.
That sounded awfully close to lessons on how to fight other channelers rather than essence control. Faust wordlessly approached them and sat down right beside the two with a large grin on his face. They looked at him suspiciously.
"Father said I can go hunt soul beasts around coastal regions."
"No, he did not!" Zisel said, offended.
"You still need to finish your etiquette training." Helena said, "It could have waited another year."
"Hartwin says I need to saturate my core or at least try to. So we know what we are dealing with."
"You didn’t let me out till I was 14! Why the discrimination, huh? Because I’m a girl?"
"No," Faust replied with a smug face, "It’s because you are not cute and talented like me. Ah.. It’s a burden to be such a genius at this young age."
"You!" Zisel fumed, which only enhanced his sense of achievement.
Before he could start laughing like an evil villain, Helena interrupted with, "How much do you know about the coastal lords?"
"Enough to know I am supposed to stay away from them."
"Not all people are bad, Faust." Helena replied, cupping his face in her gentle hands, "It will do you good to be polite and make some friends your age."
Then she sighed and added, "I barely get to see you. Why do you have to leave so early?"
Faust resisted his best to pull away from her, but she was stronger than 90% of people in Cindros. His fledgling strength was nothing before her as she pulled him close and kissed his forehead and cheeks. Zisel was dying of laughter on the side, enjoying his suffering.