The Beast Tamer
Before Whitey stirred that early morning, with time to spare, I took Sienna up on her offer and headed to the training grounds to grab a wooden practice sword.
Sienna ducked back into the mansion for a moment to fetch her own training gear before reemerging.
"This is my weapon."
Out in the open, she drew a pair of wooden throwing axes from her bosom.
"Those..."
"I made them myself for practice."
She showed them off as she spoke—small, short-handled axes perfect for gripping in one hand and hurling. They looked surprisingly well-crafted. She'd made these herself? She must have a real knack for woodworking.
"You've got some impressive handiwork there."
"You have to be versatile to survive in the forest."
"Sounds good. Shall we spar?"
Throwing axes, huh. Lately I'd been using throwing daggers myself; if this went well, maybe I should switch weapons.
We took our positions at opposite ends of the training grounds.
No other guards around this time either. Ever since the mountains were sealed off, the city's gotten tense, and everyone's on high alert.
"It's a thrown weapon, though, so it might be a bit dangerous..."
"Don't worry about it. Throw freely."
"All right! You seem strong, so I'll go all out as you said."
With that, Sienna drew the practice axes from her belt, one in each hand. Despite her flashy looks and feminine figure, her aura shifted the moment she gripped her weapons—raw and imposing.
A bit wild, that presence. Must be the northern blood.
"Throw first to start us off."
She was younger than me, after all—mid-twenties at most—so I yielded the initiative with room to spare. Let's see what she's got.
And right then—
Whirrr!
The moment my words ended, an axe came flying.
Clang!
I raised my wooden sword and deflected it, caught off guard. Fast. Even from that distance, it was in my face in an instant.
And...
Whirrr!
Two more were already inbound.
...Can't let my guard down.
I twisted aside to dodge one and batted away the other.
Clang!
"Whoa!"
Sienna's eyes widened in surprise.
"You're as strong as they say."
"Just eating and training."
"Heh... Didn't expect you'd deflect them that easily."
"Well..."
Whirr!
Mid-conversation, I sidestepped an axe sailing toward my back.
"Whoa! Even that one?!"
"Impressive technique. How does the throw curve like that?"
One of the axes I'd dodged earlier had looped around and come at me from behind? That level of skill was something else.
"...And you dodge it like it's nothing."
"I've got sharp senses."
Still, those throws were vicious. In a real fight, they'd be a nightmare—especially since Sienna probably battled in the dense northern woods. Dodging axes hurtling from between trees? Good luck.
Clang!
"Whoa, again!"
More than a few axes on the ground already. She must be running low, unable to retrieve the ones I'd knocked away.
"Whew... It's been ages since I met someone who bats them away this well."
But then, after hurling another, Sienna launched herself toward me.
Close quarters? She's confident there?
Thwack!
I swatted the incoming axe aside and faced her charge.
Thud!
She leaped high, bringing her axe down in a heavy chop. Solid power for her frame.
But...
Whoosh.
I slid my wooden sword under hers and deflected it aside. Her close-combat experience seemed a touch green.
"Whoa."
Her stance crumbled as the axe glanced off. I moved to end it, pressing the tip of my sword toward her vital spot—
Thud!
—but with unbelievable flexibility, she wrenched her body around, spinning full circle to cross her axes in an X-slash at me.
Decent split-second judgment. But...
That just means I kick her instead.
Exploiting our reach difference, I went to drive my foot into her gut—
Then a fleeting thought: She's a guest, and Whitey's trainer-to-be. Can't hit too hard.
So I just lifted my leg and shoved her abdomen gently.
"Whoa!"
Her axes sliced empty air as her momentum stalled.
Then—
Thump!
Sienna tumbled back, landing butt-first on the ground. I extended my sword toward her.
"I win."
"Y-yes..."
"Good match."
"J-just like that?"
"Meant every word."
And I did. She could help with my training too, right? I needed practice against proper ranged techniques.
Sienna's throwing was the best I'd seen—unmatched.
"Do you know Aura?"
"...Not yet."
"But you're training for it."
"Using a breathing method from the village elder."
Figured as much—no Aura yet. But once she awakened it, she'd pick up the basics fast.
More than that, I was curious how her axes would fly with Aura behind them.
"Want me to help?"
"R-really? Wait, you're an Aura user?"
"Been at it a while."
It had been some time since I'd first awakened mine. Now that I had the basics down cold, I could confidently call myself a Complete Aura user.
"Y-you look about my age..."
"I'm a quick study."
About her age, huh. Given her looks, she probably pegged me younger. Fine by me—no one saw me as late teens anyway.
Anyway.
"In exchange, teach me your throwing technique."
"Pardon? Throwing?"
"I use daggers, but axes look solid too."
I picked up one of the fallen wooden axes from the ground. Light, being wood. Real ones would weigh more, I bet.
"Hard to get the knack without tips."
Whoosh!
I hurled it at a straw dummy across the grounds.
Thunk!
It buried straight into the dummy's chest.
"Whoa... You throw well."
"Slower than yours, though."
I was way stronger than her, yet my axe lagged in speed—and hers spun in unpredictable arcs that were hell to evade. Had to learn that.
"So greedy..."
"My one hobby and talent."
In this joyless world, what else was there? Strength and combat—that's the thrill.
"Fine, I'll teach you the basics later."
"Thanks."
With that promise from Sienna, training wrapped up.
I showered quick and headed to the doghouse, where Whitey was still snoozing.
...How long does it plan to sleep?
Usual wake-up time was later, though. I toweled my hair dry-ish and flopped onto the yard grass.
Sun was rising—prime photosynthesis time.
One of my favorite parts of the day. I lay there savoring the cool breeze for a bit.
"What're you doing?"
A shadow fell over my head: Sienna, fresh from her own shower.
"Photosynthesizing."
"Just lying here?"
"Yeah, feels great. Tamer, lie down too."
"Oh, sure—next to you?"
She stretched out on the grass beside me.
...She actually lay down.
Well, sunbathing's good for you.
Winter was nearing, but here it stayed mild—cool and pleasant.
"Lane, what's next on your schedule?"
"This till afternoon, then training."
"That's your daily routine...?"
She blinked at the endless sunbathing reveal.
Yeah, not very human. Zero productivity.
Only possible in my unique "dog" position.
Still...
"Used to be every day, but now I hit the Kaine Mountains too."
I had work these days.
Rest over tomorrow, then mountains again.
"Oh, the Kaine Mountains... Wait, aren't they sealed?"
"I'm on investigation duty."
"E-even so, you can just go?"
"Nope. I'm with the search team, so it's fine."
I sat up as I spoke. Mention of the team reminded me—I needed to pick up my patched buff coat from yesterday. The maids' sewing was top-notch; fixes came back lightning-fast.
"Search team? But... you're a slave, right?"
"Think of me as half-servant."
Even I saw it that way. More Rowell's personal help than mansion staff, but still.
"Heading out on investigation tomorrow, so take good care of Whitey."
"Ah, sure... How long are you usually gone?"
"Night or next morning, mostly..."
This trip, we'd probably raid their main base. Might take a day or two extra.
"Tomorrow's could run long."
"Oh..."
"Don't worry too much. If I'm late, soothe Whitey for me."
Last time I was gone three days, it sulked hard.
With Sienna here now, though, should be fine.
"I'll grab my coat then."
After fetching the repaired buff coat from the maids—
Kyung...!
"Whitey's up?"
"Yeah! Came out a bit ago."
Back home, Whitey was awake, so I watched Sienna start its training.
The rest of the day passed lounging in the yard, observing Whitey's sessions.
Next morning, rest done, I rejoined Search Team 1 for the mountains.