“So, you’re saying that you’ll be gone for the next few days, then?”

  “More like half a week or so. The trip there and back will take three or four days, and then we still have to hunt.”

  “Hmmm alright. But I want you to keep practicing even while you’re gone, got it?”

  Lucas rolled his eyes playfully but nodded regardless as Wren glared at him.

  “Just be careful, child,” The old woman’s glare softened as she looked at him. “We haven’t even gotten you to learn how to cast a targeted illusion yet, much less delve into sound or scent-based illusions. Visual illusions may work well on many things, but let this be a warning to you, creatures with stronger senses will find ways to see through simple illusions. Eventually, you’ll learn how to fool even the best senses, but that is not something I can teach you in minutes.”

  Rather than joke with Wren, Lucas took her advice to heart. He could tell that she wasn’t just being harsh or paranoid but trying to teach him an important lesson.

  “So, you’re saying that my illusions won’t work on Direwolves?” Lucas asked.

  “Oh, no, they’ll work just fine on them,” Wren replied as she walked out from behind the counter of her shop. “Or at least, they will at first. You might fool them at first, but those beasts can be smart, and they’ll eventually notice when something isn’t real.”

  As she spoke, the old woman circled around the shop, grabbing a few vials and potions. When she seemed to have everything she needed, she returned to the counter and spread them out for the raven-haired teen to see.

  “A greater healing potion, mana restoration, and an endurance potion. Take these, use them just in case things go badly,” She explained.

  The greater healing potion was a more vibrant green than the minor version, and Lucas could see some golden flecks swirling through the liquid. The mana restoration was the same familiar purple that Lucas was used to and knew quite well. It was the endurance potion that he didn’t recognize, the yellow liquid standing out against the dark wood of the counter.

  “Wren, I can’t just take these, they’re your stock. And I don’t even know what the last one does,” Lucas argued.

  When he tried to push them back towards the older woman, she all but shoved them into his hands. “You will take them, and you’ll use them in case of an emergency. If you’re so worried about it, then you can return whichever potions you don’t use when you get back. As for the endurance potion, it temporarily restores your lost stamina.”

  Given the type of situation that Lucas was walking into, the endurance potion suddenly seemed far more appealing. If he’d had any money, he would have insisted on paying his teacher, but he had nothing he could give her.

  “Thanks, old lady,” Lucas replied, grinning when he saw Wren scowl.

  “You’re lucky I like you and Fay so much, otherwise I’d take those back,” She grumbled. “And be careful with the endurance potion, child. It lasts a few hours but after it runs out, you’ll be left exhausted until you allow your body to rest. Only use it if you truly need it.”

  The warnings were sound, and Lucas nodded as he stored the vials away in his backpack along with the other supplies he’d already gathered.

  “I’ll see you in a few days, Wren,” He said as he went to leave.

  “Don’t die on me, Lucas,” The old woman called out. “Torment-I mean teaching you has been the most fun I’ve had in decades.”

  Lucas chuckled as he stepped back out into the streets of Helstrum. Grabbing a small list from his pocket, Lucas made his way to the market to grab the last few items on the list. A quick glance at his watch revealed that it was only a few minutes past eight in the morning, so he was making good time.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Fay hadn’t forgotten about the hunting trip that she’d suggested. Not even her birthday had distracted her from the idea. And after the party had died down and everyone in the Stella household was getting ready for bed, Fay had stopped by to talk to Lucas and make plans.

  It might have seemed like a bit of a rush, but she suggested that they head out on the trip the next morning. Fay had pointed out how they had a deadline before Lucas left, and she had a good point. She already had plenty of camping gear ready, they would just need to gather some supplies to make sure the trip went well, and then they would be good to go.

  At first, Fay had wanted to leave by dawn to try and get to the hunting location she had in mind earlier. Lucas had managed to talk her down from that idea, thankfully, and pushed the deadline to leave back to noon. Breakfast with her family turned out to be a good motivator to help convince the blonde, and Lucas did need to inform his teacher that he’d be out of town for a few days.

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  Magnus and Lissa had been supportive of the idea, but they’d been understandably worried, more so about Lucas than they were about Fay. But like Fay had told them, he really did need the hunting trip. If anything helped him deal with his nightmares and worries, hunting the very things that had haunted his dreams would be it.

  “Not too bad,” Lucas mumbled to himself as he returned to the third ring. Getting the last few items that he’d needed from the market had only taken half an hour, so he was going to get back to the house before the clock would even hit nine. If Fay was ready to go, they would be out of town before ten.

  “Lucas! You’re back!”

  Like he’d expected, Fay was already waiting for him by the time that he got back to the house. Magnus and Lissa were both standing and waiting as well.

  “Sorry I took so long. There was a line at the market,” Lucas apologized.

  “It’s all good! You’re back and we’ve got everything we need for the trip. At least, I think so. You’ve got the sleeping bags, tent, lighter, canteens, food, potions, and extra clothes, right?” Fay replied.

  Lucas chuckled and just shook his head as Fay rambled. “In order, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and even got some extra from Wren, and yes.”

  Magnus and Lissa laughed quietly while Fay giggled.

  “You’ve got the wardstones, right, Fay?” Magnus spoke up. “And your compass?”

  “Yup! Got them both, dad,” Fay replied, patting her bag before showing off her wrist where she was once more wearing the compass bracelet she’d been wearing when she and Lucas had first met.

  In fact, Fay was largely dressed and ready for a hunt. She wore the same black, leather-like cargo pants, dark green, long-sleeved shirt, and grey furred cloak she’d been wearing when she’d saved him. Along with that there were some new additions, such as the golden bracelet that she’d gotten from Sasha for her birthday and the bandolier of daggers that she now wore across her chest.

  And around her neck hung the brand new goggles that Lucas had gotten for her. She’d worn them either over her eyes or around her neck since the moment she’d gotten them. Lucas wasn’t even sure if she’d taken them off when she’d gone to sleep that night. But it warmed his heart to see her wearing his gift.

  Fay wasn’t the only one dressed for a hunt, though. Magnus and Lissa had made sure that if Lucas was going out to hunt dangerous creatures, then he would be ready as well. Part of his shopping that morning had been getting himself some new clothing for the trip. The clothes he’d worn when he’d come through the portal were being left behind in favor of some more durable materials.

  Like Fay, he’d bought a pair of the same black cargo pants, which he’d learned were made of something called wyrm leather. Apparently, it was more durable than normal leather while being far more lightweight and flexible. It felt pretty comfortable too, so Lucas didn’t mind. Along with that, he’d gotten a few long-sleeved shirts of his own, though his were a golden yellow color that reminded him of his familiar’s eyes. Rather than a cloak, Lucas had settled for a comfortable, dark grey fur lined jacket.

  While he didn’t want to spend more of Magnus and Lissa’s money, he’d been given the option of buying the clothes and going on the trip or refusing the offer and staying at the house. Backed into a corner like that, Lucas eventually caved.

  “Good, good. And Lucas,” Magnus suddenly shifted his attention to the other teen, causing Lucas’ head to snap around to the man. “You’ll be needing these if you’re going out on a hunt.”

  The familiar form of the xiphos that he’d been training with was an expected sight when Magnus handed it over. He’d been generous enough to even include a sheath for it as well that Lucas attached to the leather belt at his hip. When he pulled the sword free, he noticed how the edge was no longer dull, looking sharp enough to cut through anything.

  “I made sure it was as sharp as I could get it. It’s not enchanted or anything, but it’ll do just fine against some Direwolves. We’ll be dulling it again once you’re back for training, of course,” The man explained.

  Then he surprised Lucas by handing over a quiver full of arrows and the same sleek, wooden recurve bow that he’d given the dark-haired teen to test his archery skills with.

  “You did prove that you were very good with that thing. I’m sure you’ll get some use out of it. Just try not to break it, I don’t work with wood very often and I’d like to think that’s one of my finer works,” He joked.

  “So, if it breaks, does that mean you made it wrong?” Lucas shot back.

  He got a punch in the arm as payback for his comment, but it was worth it.

  “Be careful, you two. Make sure to watch each other’s backs.”

  Lissa’s words were accompanied by a tight hug to her daughter, one that Fay eagerly returned.

  “We’ll be safe, mom, I promise,” Fay replied.

  Lissa then repeated the hug for Lucas, surprising the young man as she pulled him into a tight grip.

  “Make sure you come back safe and sound, Lucas. Understand?”

  After two weeks away from his family, the motherly affection from the older blonde hit a bit harder than he’d expected. Lucas had to fight back a few tears as he hugged Lissa back and nodded his head.

  “Got it,” He replied, desperately hoping he didn’t sound as choked up as he felt like he was.

  When he was released from the hug, Lucas turned to Fay, slinging the bow and quiver he’d been given over his shoulder. He could see the hint of concern in his friend’s gaze, but she thankfully didn’t call him out on the unshed tears he felt building in the corners of his eyes.

  “Are you ready to go?” She asked.

  “Yeah, I am. Let’s go hunt some big wolves.”

  Fay grinned and grabbed his hand, pulling him along towards Helstrum’s gates.

  Behind them, the two heard one last shout from Lissa as she called out to them.

  “Don’t do anything your father and I wouldn’t do!”

  If Lucas and Fay ran a bit faster after that, nobody could really blame them for trying to get away.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  a bit more soon enough...