AN: Hello, your lazy author present you chapter 32, enjoy :D!!

PR by Zenla, the royal proofreader

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We had entered the cave in the middle of the morning, and now it was the middle of the afternoon.

Muriem «... Oh, by the gods, Aenthar... You're bleeding... You are bleeding so much...»

Kerrina «... Aenthar?»

Dread and grief was filling their eyes, and Muriem was already crying.

Aenthar «I will be fine!!» I said while groaning in pain «Help me take off my backpack, there is a small first aid kit inside...»

Kerrina «We have to get away from here first!!»

Aenthar «It will... Ugh! It will be fine... They can't reach us, and they seriously wounded themselves trying...»

Muriem «But th-»

Aenthar «Besides... I'm in no condition to move, it will only get worse. We have to stay here, at least for tonight...»

Muriem «Fine... I, we trust you...»

Aenthar «Thanks... I love you girls.»

Kerrina «And we love you too! But it's not the time for that...»

They helped me sit and took the backpack. It was torn here and there, but was still holding on. In the first aid kit were some small vials and bandages. I took one of them and painfully applied half the content on my leg injury and had Muriem apply the rest on the injury on my back. It was a strong antiseptic I had made with concentrated alcohol and medecinal herbs, and it made me groan in pain. I was sweating a lot and my head was spinning. The burning sensation was spreading through my lower body, and it was still expanding.

I had a few antidotes, but I didn't know exactly what the spit of the monster was doing to my body. I couldn't carelessly ingest anything. Muriem carefully put some ointments on my wounds to stop the bleeding and applied the bandages. I told Kerrina to spread my forest essence on the blood stains I left on the ground and all around the place. Now she was setting the tent. Once she was done, Muriem helped me there and I suddenly lost consciousness.

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I woke up in the middle of the night. Kerrina was sleeping next to me, it was probably Muriem's turn to stand watch. The burning sensation had spread through my whole body, it wasn't as strong as before but now I had an annoying headache. I had recovered about a fourth of my mana, so I used it to mend my leg injury. It drained a lot energy from me and I hastly fell asleep again.

When I woke up again I was alone in the tent and asaulted by an intense headache and the burning sensation was a lot stronger. I was also very hungry and thirsty, I needed the girls, I didn't feel any magic user near so Kerrina must be somewhere else.

Aenthar «Muriem!!»

Muriem «Y-Yes!! Kerrina, he woke up!!»

She dashed into the tent and strongly hugged me.

Muriem «Aenthar! I was so worried!! You slept for a whole day and you were often moaning in pain.»

Kerrina «How are you doing?»

Aenthar «Please don't be so loud... I have a terrible headache...»

Muriem «Ha... S-sorry...»

Aenthar «It's okay, sorry to make you worry so much. And no, I didn't sleep for a whole day, I woke up in the middle of the night to heal my leg, that drained me... I need to eat and drink.»

Kerrina «I just got back with 2 rabbits, I'll make you something. It's good to see you feel better.»

Aenthar «Not quite. I healed my leg so I could walk today, but it was a mistake. The monster's bite made me ill, and it got worse when I drained my energy to heal my leg. I need my first aid kit Muriem.»

Muriem «It's true, you have quite the fever, I'm sorry I didn't notice before... I'll be right back!»

While Kerrina was cooking, I got some water and contemplated on which antidote to drink. Considering the type of monster that attacked us, and what I was feeling in my body with my mana sense, I selected one of them got a little bit of it. Later, Kerrina helped me eat and shortly after I fell asleep again.

I woke up at dawn the next day, and since the burning feeling and the headaches had lessened a lot I used healing magic to mend the wound on my back. I got tired again but it was bearable. Kerrina was sleeping next to me again, so I took her in my arms and hugged her. That woke her up, and I lightly kissed her.

Aenthar «Good morning beauty.»

Kerrina «... Aenthar! Yeah, good morning... It's good to see you feel better.»

She was surprised at first, then really relieved. I still felt weak, but I could walk, so I went outside. Muriem wasn't far away, and when she heard the noise coming from the tent she turned her head my way, saw me and rushed to me. I silently took her in my arms and she hugged me strongly. After that we ate breakfast and told the girls we should leave. Since I could walk I wanted to get back to Argot as fast as possible. I didn't know anything about my illness, it had calmed down, but it could get worse, and I didn't want to be in the wilderness if that happened.

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After an hour, we had finished tidying everything up started to go back to the village. A trip that would usually take 6 days took 10 days because of my state. After the first day my condition got worse, probably due to healing my back, so I spent all the second day recovering. Nothing dramatic happened the following days, but we had to move slowly so I wouldn't run out of energy. For 2 days I needed one of the girls to support me, but afterward I could walk on my own. However, it showed on my face that I was ill, I was pale and had lost some weight.

Once we reached Argot, slightly after noon, we left our bags of malchyte ore with Muriem to take home and warn our parents of our return, I had Kerrina go to the guild and sell the informations about the cave and the monsters inside, while I went straight to the village physician, Lucas. I explained to him how I got in that state. He went to get Ellis, the priest, and once back they gave me a thorough examination and discussed a little about my condition. Lucas gave me some medecine and Ellis recommanded me a few spells to improve my condition.

Just as they finished and left the building I was met by Nana, my father, Kerrina and Muriem outside. My father and Nana gave me a hug. They were worried when they saw my state, so I gave them a summary of what Ellis and Lucas said while we were going home. Along the way we stopped at Namir's and Jenna's fields so as to inform them of our return and what happened. When I reached home, I felt so relieved that once I sat down in the living room I fell asleep.

I woke up at dawn the next day in my bed, a little disappointed that Muriem wasn't with me. There was a bottle of water with a cup on my table, so I used the opportunity to take some medicine and used the healing spells. I went downstairs to greet my mother. She was happy to see me up. Apparently she spent some time looking after me yesterday evening. I was a little scolded though. Afterward, it took me a week to completly recover. I spent that time at home, working in alchemy and leather working.

The malchyte ore we got from the cave was sold through Old Johrgard and we earned 9 gold and 13 silver coins. The old man got some ore as payment, and was really happy. The information about the cave and the monsters must be confirmed by the guild, and only after that we would receive our payment. After 3 weeks the information got confirmed and we earned 30 silver coins. Total earnings of our little trip: 9 gold and 43 silver coins.

And we still had around 18 gold coins worth of malchyte waiting for us down there. But that would have to wait until later, until after some time at the academy. Our weapons and armors weren't good enough, and our martial prowess was probably lacking as well. And I was still lacking in magic. The elements I could use weren't effective enough, and I didn't know any of the more advanced spells requiring mixed elements. We wouldn't have had so much trouble otherwise.

We were now in the last month of autumn, a little more than 4 months until the new year, after the new year 15 days to the academy entrance examination, and 5 more days to the start of the term. We should use this time to save more money and prepare ourselves for the entrance examination. I wanted us to get the best scores possibles. Since it would be mostly cold, we wouldn't go to the Frontier much, meaning more training for us as well.

The girls and I should leave on the 15th of Zonthor to reach Tristam City on the 10th of Meldia at the latest. We could also get a good cart for 6 silver coins and a good horse for at least 20 silver coins. If so, we could leave after the new year and reach the capital in 10 days. That would leave us several days to decide whether to live in the academy or rent a cottage, several days to get used to the capital and buy things.

End of the first part!

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SUMMARY OF THE INFORMATIONS KNOWN ABOUT THE WORLD SO FAR

World: Premean

Moons: Sapha (silver-blue), 25 days cycle - Janus (silver-yellow), 20 days cycle

Day: 22 hours, 1 hour = 60 min, 1 min = 60 seconds

Week: 5 days, Prerus, Secrus, Trirus, Patrus, Qotrus

Year: 16 months (80 weeks/400 days)

Spring: Meldia, Grandia, Nendia, Raldia - Summer: Meranus, Tiranus, Doranus, Uranus

Autumn: Melyg, Alyg, Kilyg, Denlyg - Winter: Methor, Dalthor, Helcthor, Zonthor

Start of the year on the 1st Prerus of Meldia.

Zanitras continent, the biggest, from warm to cold climate, and homeland to the humans, elves and dwarves

Drywumbi continent, warm and hot climate, homeland to the rexons

Kliavren continent, moderate and cold climate, homeland to the lycans and andrellas

Iazecqath continent, warm and hot climate, homeland to the omdians and barbarians, most dangerous continent

Frontier: Unexplored and unclaimed wild lands thorough the world

Humans: thoreims (nords), yukhans (asians), kuendes (blacks), caecians (mix of the previous 3)

Elves: high elves, wood elves, dark elves, night elves (WoW style)

Dwarves: no subraces

Lycans: hototos (canins), tulas (felins), niamhs (rodents), ornats (bovidaes), honanis (primates)

Andrellas (winged humans/angel-like): 2 subraces

Rexons (draconian-like): 3 subraces

Omdians (demons-like, dranei-like): varied types

Barbarians: goblin (base race), orc (Wow style, evolution), troll (WoW style, evolution), ogre (Re:Monster style, rare evolution)

Ancien: extinct race who had advanced knowledge in both science and magic. Not much is left from them, and not much is known either.

Magic: material sphere, spirit sphere, divine sphere

Material sphere: fire, water, air and earth elements

Spirit sphere: body, mind and nature elements

Divine sphere: holy and dark elements

- Unknown element present in the monsters mana

Money: copper coins, silver coins, gold coins

100 copper coins = 1 silver coin, 50 silver coins = 1 gold coin

1000 copper coins = 10 silver coins, 5000 copper coins = 1 gold coins

A lowly commoner can earn/live with 250 copper coins per month (4000 copper coins a year)

Crafter ranks: beginer, apprentice, disciple, expert, master, grandmaster, creator

Warrior and rogue ranks: trainee, apprentice, advanced, expert, warlord, warmaster, titan

Mage ranks: novice, acolyte, adept, expert, magus, archmage, avatar

Adventurer and mercenary ranks: F, E, D, C, B, A (rare), S (handfull per continent), X (only 1)

Monster and beast ranks: F, E, D, C (highest rank for beasts), B, A, S (disaster), X (cataclysm)

Materials & magic crystals quality ranks: poor, low, medium, high, rare, mythique

Tristam: Caecian kingdom relatively recent, on the west side of Zanitras, bordering the Frontier on it's western side. Close to both the high elves kingdom (north) and the night elves kingdom (south). Its capital is called Tristam City, and near it lies Lana Academy, a known learning place for magic, battle and society.

Slavery: Debt slaves, crime slaves, war slaves

Debt slaves: Sold into slavery to repay debts. Sometimes a villager sell him/herself to get some funds for their village when they are in a dire situation. Have many rights.

Crimes slaves: Thieves, bandits and other law breakers turned into slaves after a period in prison. Have little to no rights.

War slaves: War prisonners whose ransom were not paid or whose release were not negociated.

- Elves, rexons and andrellas only practice crime and war slavery

Greater gods, worshiped by all races:

Great Mother Zeldia, goddess of creation and time

Aerytihor, god of life

Lygtihor, goddess of death

Icthorus, god of fire and light

Voldyr, god of seas and water

Eyjilee, goddess of wind and storms

Xiana, goddess of land

Patron gods:

Ungaardt, patron god of the thoreims

Kaizer, patron god of the caecias

Akima, patron goddess of the yukhans

Genessa, patron goddess of of the kuendes

Ildilyntra, goddess of hunt and forests, patron goddess of the elves

Thorendorg, god of mountains and strengh, patron god of the dwarves

Lucianos, god of hunt and agriculture, patron god of the lycans

Xathanael, goddess of peace and protection, patron goddess of the andrellas

Shorolt, god of war and honor, patron god of the rexons

Whalazach, god of freedom, entertainment and pleasure, patron god of the omdians

Ustengart, god of war and plunder, patron god of the barbarians

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AN: And this is the end of village life part. Now a break to prepare for Lana Academy, so see you in a week or so. Pray that lazyness doesn't strike me.

Also, that will give me the time to get used to thought and though, I think I won't make mistakes between those 2 in the future