The weeks passed silently and I had learned everything this village could possibly teach me. This particular day didn't appear to be more eventful than others. The sun was shining brightly and I walked around the village leisurely and spectated the different people who have become one unified new tamer clan since we arrived. Fang and Claw were currently instructing a few young clansmen on how to wield a few different weapons but most of the time they focused on their usual daggers. It is a joy for my eyes when I see how well my Night Serpent Eyes have learnt to fight and are now starting to give this knowledge to another generation of fighters. These people that I can now witness are nothing like their past selfs who have just hidden inside their huts when we marched into their village to deliver the beaten bandits. The people that stand before me now would have stood their ground if they were to be confronted with an opposing number of men. With a smile on my face I continued walking around before I heard a scream.

?I guess some things never change" I could barely control my laughter when I saw Natalie being chased around the village by the young children and as so often I called for Leroy, Lisa and Liana to substitute Natalie's role of running from the children.

During the past few days I noticed that my Little Racer felt envious about them having all the fun so I had a few races with him and Liz and the two of them were enjoying themselves to their fullest. We would often run around in the forest and see who could catch the prey the fastest. I noticed that compared to the beginning when I couldn't compare to them in the speed department at all that now my ability to keep up with them was frightening. Furthermore it seemed that these races were a motivation for all of us to become even stronger.

We often finished a fun day of racing at a clearing around a big part of the nearby river. This place where one could meet the Naga siblings pretty much every time when they weren't in the village was a part of the river where it wasn't only two or three meters deep. There was a large cave underground and the watercurrent wasn't too strong, in other words this was a tranquil new place for the water-loving siblings. What made it interesting for me was its hidden position. During our stay here I had imparted a quest to those two when I got to know of this location.

Yesterday was the time when they brought the wonderful news. The feels at home in this cave and it will flourish soon as long as nothing happens to the plants. I was overjoyed to hear this because we used almost everything of the supplies of this rare herb to make itself feel at home here.

Gabriel's task now was to guard the cave at all times and I instructed my Night Serpent's Eyes to build a sentry post close to this location. We had started building many sentry posts around the village lately because I wanted to take precautions against possible bandits settling down somewhere inside the forest.

While I was walking through the village I heard a commotion coming from the northern gate.

It was rare that someone came through this village but to be safe we have fortified the village quite a bit. There was a lack of good stones but no lack of trees at all which sparked the idea in my head to build some palisades. Add that to the various sentry posts and the archer tower that are currently being constructed and you might actually think you are about to enter a military stronghold.

Theresa came walking from the gate and told me that it's is a coincidence nobody expected. The merchant who was trying to get through our village was none other than the merchant who has led us to this village. Theresa and I walked towards him and meanwhile he disembarked from his carriage. I don't know what it was but something was different. While we were walking towards the gate I already shouted to the few Night Serpent's Eyes to let him enter because we knew him. He seemed to be pretty bewildered.

?Young Sir, I doubt we have ever met, for I would remember a man such as you" he paused ?not to mention, a woman whose beauty could rival the dryads"

?Okay, he looks like the merchant but that one was by far not a charmer like this one' I thought.

?Merchant didn't we meet in the south on the way leading to this village?"

?Oh, no you are mistaken. Only two merchants know of this route, my twin brother and I. It's one of the safest even with the occasional bandits but the bandits around here are very lenient. If you part with a fifth of your wares they won't rob you or try to kill you like many other bandits. They are only a bunch of drunkards who need some wine to be calmed."

?Your brother doesn't think as nicely of them as you do." I replied. ?He tasked us to stop those drunkards as you call them before more people get hurt. They probably don't steal so much from you because they took everything from the villagers."

The merchant's skin colour became a little pale but he regained his focus quite fast after that. He approached me and wanted to hold my shoulders to ask a serious question as I could read from his facial and body movements but something unexpected stopped him from doing so.

A hissing sound could be heard and my scarf unfolded itself while changing its colour before resting on my shoulder.

I totally forgot that Cham doesn't like it when others get too close to him and I simply didn't think of the fact that people might be scared of a living scarf.

Lincoln was currently running around with the other three young racer lizards although he is still struggling to keep up. Cham on the other hand seemed to like the idea of being a scarf and thanks to his camouflaging ability he perfectly blends with my clothes.

The merchant was frightened silly and stammered some incomprehensible stuff before recollecting himself.

?I am sorry for taking so much of your time. You said my brother tasked you with the bandits?"

?Yes, he did."

?And...did you fulfill it?" One could see his greed almost solidifying while he asked this question.

When I nodded to confirm his question he jumped into the air ?Finally, I can finally get some real profits if they are gone. Thank you!"

?No need to thank me. I would prefer it if you paid for our services."

The colour of this man's face was once again fading when he heard this.

?Wow this guy might be related to Cham. He can change colour pretty well' Drake mocked in my head.

The man's head hung low. ?How much?"

?I don't want money. As a merchant you should have lots of information about the places you go to, right? We will take some intelligence as payment.

The man's mood was once again lifted ?Alright then, what would you like to know?"

?There is a school of magic somewhere in the north. How do you get there?"

?That's an easy question. If you follow the road to the north after leaving your forest you will come a town. It was once filled with people but since those two long eared witches settled down nobody dared to go there. This town is in front of a long canyon. If you go through the canyon it is faster but with the two witches you might face some hardships. They are not especially fond of humans. As I have said if you go through the canyon you will arrive at a big city. The city is the coastal city Seadawn. Right besides this city is the school island. When you look at the gargantuan building on top of this island you will know how this city came to its name. Does that answer your question?"

?Yes, it does. I have one other question. How can you enter the school?"

?Enter the school, hahaha!" the man looked at me and became serious once more ?Thousands of possible students apply each year but only few are chosen every two years. The next day of choice is in half a year. There are two prerequisites to have a chance to study there.

The first one is that you have to be talented in magic. Otherwise everyone would simply try their luck. And secondly even if you are talented you will have to pay the fee of five hundred gold coins."

The first prerequisite wasn't a problem for me at all but I had learned recently how the money system here works. Ten copper coins is one silver and ten silvers is one gold. This entry fee was clearly to stop poor people from gathering there to become wizards. Even for me who could theoretically use the wealth of two clans 500 gold coins wasn't a sum that I could easily afford.

?Then tell me one more thing, merchant! How can you earn money fast?"

?Interesting, I doubted that you would still ask this question after you knew about the price of entry to the school." He snickered. ?Well there are lots of jobs but when I look at your gear I would say there are a few jobs that would suit you well..."

?And which would they be?" I inquired.

?You could be a hunter to bring the king rare pelts"

?Objected!" Theresa shouted and the merchant looked around to see many different beasts menacingly staring at him

?You should understand that we are a tamer clan and hunting only for pleasure or rare pelts strongly interferes with our ideology." she said while stroking the Alpha direwolf that made sounds which frightened the merchant quite a bit.

?Another suggestion would be that you take on the role of a bodyguard. It is a dangerous job but you get paid between ten and 30 gold per month, 40 if you are extremely talented."

?That's not even half the money I need to get into the school. What else have you got. If you really want to make this much money in half a year then there is only one legal job in existence to achieve it but I must warn you, many people who have entered this profession die every day. Young Sir you have to become an adventurer."

?How and where?"

?In every big city the adventurer's guild has a base. When you reach Seadawn it is one of the first and biggest things you will see and as for how you become one I have heard there is a dangerous test but not how it works, young man."

?I have two final questions: what is your name and how much does a merchant earn?"

?Oh, boy... you are interested in that business as well? Alright! It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Dyon and I guess I make twenty gold on a tour after selling all my stuff. Why do you ask?"

?I am pleased to meet you. My name is Valentinus and since we have defeated the bandits who took approximately four gold from you on each tour we will be taking two gold as a tribute for using these exceptionally safe roads." I said with a devilish grin while stretching out my hand. I couldn't help but add ?Since you will be a customer here very often we will make a guests residence near the river so your horses can quench their thirst. If you'd like to order something to eat please call for our services at the price of one silver per meal." After saying these words I turned back and called for some people to meet me at the townhall. School was already finished for the day so it was very quiet.

?I wanted to meet all of you here to tell you that I will be going further to the north to earn some money and enter the school of magic."

There were many voices uttering their objection but four voices were different.

One belonged to Mercy: ?Milord, I was left behind by you once I won't allow it to happen a second time. I will accompany you" I nodded and Mercy was at ease.

Two other voices were lamenting that I shouldn't go. They were the Naga siblings.

?The two of you are two of the best people I have ever met and in this clan there is no one who dislikes you. I can't risk it that you follow me and I will lead you to your death. Furthermore you two are the only ones who know how to take care of the , speaking of which you should go back to the cave. I told you I don't want it to be unsupervised at any time."

?Relax, I got my hawk keeping an eye on it" Natalie said.

I smiled and faced the last voice.

Obviously it was Theresa ?how can you think of leaving us when my father appointed you as the new chief before..." she sobbed ?before he left"

?I won't leave you just like that. The Night Serpent will always remain right here" I said while pointing at me statue ?I taught many of our clansmen how to fight. It was Maverick's wish that I take care of the clan...And I have. It was Maverick's wish that I take care of you and I am because I can't make sure that hundreds of us are safe but I can make sure that you are if you are traveling with me. And... it was Maverick's wish that I become a wizard so that I can protect you better and I will!?

I turned around to see Maverick's Sabre toothed black bear standing on two legs and roaring before he went back the stand on all fours and extended one paw towards me. When I took the paw it lowered its head.

In the background the village elder was shocked beyond measure before he had to sit down and muttered ?unbelievable, it isn't even the child's own familiar yet he commands its respect. I wonder..." the old man had to sit down and mumbled

?...Was the bear unshackled..."