Chapter 48: Training Plan
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"I wasn’t thinking about the city." Arlen’s eyes tracked dust drifting through sunbeams. "I am talking about the Emberwood Forest. Three miles east of the molten aqueduct. Outer ring teems with low tier beasts, good for drills."
Zephyr asked, "What about Inner ring?"
"Inner ring? Don’t think about that..." He shook his head. "Even A-rank squads wouldn’t think about it. Void bears. Flare wasps. Alpha wolf, and countless more A rank or higher beasts live there. Stay outside."
Zephyr nodded. "Outer only. We’ll scout rogue beasts, test new drills. Star needs real prey."
Fenna crossed her arms. "I’m coming. Maybe I will find a beast worth binding. It is time for me to tame a beast."
"That’s a good idea. You can’t be a beast tamer without a beast." Alren said.
Arlen spent the next hour sketching maps: basalt crags like jagged spearheads; sulfur bogs coughing yellow steam; river fingers winding through black wood groves oozing amber sap. Noon shadows crept across the chart as the sun inched west, turning parchment gold.
Star dozed, eyelids fluttering, he was dreaming of flames, perhaps.
At last exhaustion weighed them down. Arlen rolled maps. "Two full days’ rest, non negotiable. Beasts heal only if they rest. I’ll pull supplies and update travel papers." He ruffled Zephyr’s hair like a father might. "And try not to punch anybody till then, eh?"
Zephyr exhaled. "No promises... but I’ll try."