historical

The first thing I did, as I woke up, was to get a bunch of junk food from the device in Loistavadvaar, and then I shadow walked back to my house in Ark, to take a shower. I filled my stomach and jumped to the city center to find out what was going on.

I needed a moment to get used to the strong sunlight.

The day outside was beautiful. People crowded around access points, and the sapling itself, to buy some necessary stuff to go hunting, or just to go on with their lives. A closer look made me realize that most of them weren't even buying and was just hanging around with others, or simply waiting for them.

I left the city center and headed out to Boris's place. I caught him leaving his house alongside Tihana, who was carrying Tam in her arms.

She was wearing the obligatory beanie, dark shorts with black plimsolls, and a T-shirt with a checkered shirt tied on her waist.

- Morning! - I shouted from afar.

- Peter! Morning! - he replied.

I even noticed that my fake daughter smiled. I shadow walked closer to them for the sake of not walking. Trust me, if you could shadow walk, you would do it all the time, so don't judge me.

- How is it going? Hows is her training? - I asked Boris.

- Good. Everything is good actually. She is making a lot of progress. I think it's time to let her start hunting actually. Maybe she is not as tough as soldiers, but let's face it. When we were starting, we weren't either.

I nodded, checking Tihana's expression with the corner of my eye. She tried her best to keep a poker face, but I could see the excitation underneath.

- If you think so, then I trust you. I'm gonna talk with Will to book the goblins for you - I said turning to her.

Her lips twitched, curving in a smile, so she had to roll and bite them from the inside, to stop it. It was of no use since anybody who would like at her could tell.

- Don't be so happy yet. We still need to do all the stuff necessary for you to become a hunter, and book the spot.

- I'm not happy at all - she said and turned away, so I couldn't see her face.

- Yeah, you weaselly little liar. The whole world could tell by a single look.

She turned back to face me, making a duck face and lightly kicking one of the slightly protruding cobblestones.

- If you hurry you might get to Will before he is stormed by other hunters - said Boris.

- Like I would let a bunch of weaklings prevent me from paying him a visit - I replied.

He laughed.

- You are an asshole, Peter.

- Thank you. Finally, somebody is acknowledging my efforts.

- You know what? You two are like real daughter and father - he said, and patted us both on the shoulders, then left.

Tihana have me a look, trying very hard to not smile.

- Come. Let's bully some hunters - I said to her, and just started walking towards the training grounds.

She followed me without a word, with Tam in her hands.

- So... Now when Boris is gone, you can tell me how bad it was.

- It was fine. I like him and Irina, and the boy too. I never had a brother, so it was fun to take care of him from time to time.

This made me look over my shoulder to check if she was being serious, and she was.

- Ok. That's unexpected. I thought you would complain about how boring, and annoying it was, and tell me that young kids are terrible. And how you never want to have children.

- What's so wrong with liking kids?

- Well, some call it ped...

I couldn't finish since she kicked me in the tight.

- Au! - she shouted, jumping on one leg with disturbed chicken in her hands. - Damn it!

I stopped and turned around immediately. Even with a seal on my body was tough like a rock.

- That's abuse, you know? - I told her.

- Why do you have to be such an ass? - she asked, as she finally stopped.

- Said the person who just kicked me.

- Because you were calling me names!

- Oh, so when I call you names it's bad, but when you call me an ass it's ok, huh?

Her expression changed, and she looked down at her feet.

- Sorry...

I took her beanie off and ruffled her head a little. She stepped back so I would stop.

- Why are you even wearing this? Isn't it too hot?

- I don't know - she shrugged her shoulders. - Because it looks cool? Why are you wearing your clothes? Isn't it too hot?

- Touché - I said and returned her hat.

She put it on with one hand, and we resumed our walk. It took us several minutes to get to the training grounds.

The sandpit was occupied by few people sparring in groups. Further Nadzieja was teaching another bunch of people how to use bows properly. She was scolding them a lot, as usual.

We passed by it all, and went straight to the main building, and then to Will's office. There was a whole line of hunters outside, waiting to get in. I ignored them, and at the last moment grabbed Tihana by the shoulder to shadow walk past the door, to surprise Will and two other people inside.

- Hi.

- Hi Peter, Tihana - Will nodded to us both. - Give me a moment.

- Sure.

Even before I managed to respond, he returned to writing something on a piece of paper, and then in a big-ass book, laying in front of him, on the desk. He finished quickly, then gave the note to the guys, who left.

People outside must have been complaining about me because as the door opened, they all became silent.

- If you want to say something to me, say it - I told them, but nobody said a thing, so I just closed the door.

Then I turned to Will.