Chapter 2: Chapter 2 - Sheep and Rabbit
After registering with the Tamer's Guild, we made our way to my home in order to settle some matters with Kai.
My house was around an hour away from town. Its land area was huge but there was no one else nearby. That was the reason why I was able to buy it for only twenty silvers. Since there was a lot of vacant land, it was a perfect place for us to commence our duel.
"This is the place eh? Not bad!" Kai gazed around.
"Yeah, I figured I will be able to save more in the long run if I buy a place of my own early."
"So how about it, let's start?" Kai twisted his body left and right as he stretched his arms.
"Sure, let's do this Ovis."
"Y-yes, master" She went to stand in front of me then readied her weapon.
"Hey hey! Wait up!" Kai signalled us with his hands to stop.
"What's the matter? I thought we're going to start already?" I curiously inquired.
"Before commencing a duel, the tamers must decide the type of battle and how much money is involved first."
"There is money involved?" I doubtfully asked.
"Of course there is! That is why a lot of tamers like to challenge others, especially the ones who they think they can beat."
"I see, how much is commonly wagered then?"
"A silver is a common bet but we can do it for fifty coppers if you like."
"Fifty coppers it is. Then what it is about the type of battle?"
"Common battle types are one on one, round robin, elimination. Tamers can also join the fight. It is not limited to that though since there are some tamers who have other proposals".
"Since we only have one familiar each, then we can only do one on one, right? Should we jump in the fight as well?"
"I suggest to just let our familiars on their own first. Is that good with you?" Kai asked.
"Sure! Let's do it."
A one on one familiar only duel for half a silver. Although it was more like a practice match for me, I could not afford to lose any more money.
Our familiars stepped forward. Orya and Ovis were facing each other with a suitable distance between them. Orya was armed with a dagger in each hand while Ovis had her steel mace and a round shield.
"Orya, attack!" Kai commanded.
Orya leaped forward and slashed with her daggers.
"Ovis, block it then strike back!" I shouted.
She used her shield to defend, clashing with Orya's dagger. Ovis was about to hit the enemy with her mace when Orya kicked her shield to put some distance between them.
The bunny girl leaped to attack but it was blocked once again. Ovis attempted to counter but her opponent was able to evade it. The exchange of blows with the same movements kept on for a while, probably because Kai and I were not giving them new commands.
I could tell that there was some force in both of their attacks but the way they moved was just too sloppy. There were lots of wasted movements and the trajectories were easy to predict. I guess it was understandable though since it was their first battle.
"Ovis, I'll let you fight freely until I say otherwise."
The meek girl nodded before she charged Orya with her shield. Orya kicked the ground to launch herself upward. While she was in midair, Ovis threw her mace towards her.
"Watch out!" Kai shouted.
The Rabbikin crossed her arms. With the sight of the impending harm, she closed her eyes subconsciously out of fear. The mace came flying but it did not hit her. Orya who was anticipating an impact lost her balance as she landed. Ovis took this opportunity to ram Orya with her shield, knocking her away.
"That's it! It's my lost!" Kai declared with a smile.
"I can still fight, master!" Orya protested as she stood up.
"It's enough. You did alright." Kai replied.
"Are you sure? You are not going easy on me, are you?"
"We don't want our precious familiars getting extremely injured on their first fight, right? Plus I think it is already enough to see what they are capable of."
"I guess so," I replied.
"Here's your prize! Congratulations on your first win!" Kai handed me fifty coppers.
"Thanks," I said before I gave out a sigh of relief.
I was glad that we won our first battle, not because I was hell bent to prove that Ovis was cuter but because I was really running tight on money. Because of my win, my money had a total of four and a half silvers. The duel made me more financially secured than a few breaths earlier.
"We'll be taking our leave now then!" said Kai.
"Thank you very much for your help." I bowed down to show my gratitude.
"Hey hey, I think I should be the one thanking you for helping me pick a familiar!" Kai patted my shoulder then he looked at the Rabbikin. "We will be training hard after we go home, understood Orya?"
"Yes master!" his familiar enthusiastically responded.
I watched the two walk away until they were no longer in sight. After they were gone, the tangerine sky took my sights. The night was coming near.
"Are you alright?" I asked Ovis who was standing beside me, fidgeting.
"Y-yes master… but…"
"But?" I raised my eyebrows.
"Can I…. Go find where the weapon I threw earlier went?"
"Oh sure, find your mace then come inside the house after you get it."
Ovis nodded before she ran to the forest to search for her weapon. I went inside my house to call it a day. It was a small wooden hut with a common area which was both my kitchen and dining room, plus two bedrooms; just enough space for the two of us.
I started preparing dinner with the ingredients I had stored. I was not that great at cooking but it was way cheaper preparing my own meal. Buying cooked food was impractical especially since I already had an additional mouth to feed.
After I was done, Ovis went inside the house with small steps, one at a time.
"Come in, it will be your home now so don't be shy." I invited as I served the food on the table.
Ovis just nodded and we proceeded to eat. It was surprising that she actually knew how to use a spoon. I thought familiars eat with their hands until they were taught otherwise.
After the meal, I guided Ovis to her room which had a small wooden bed and a cabinet.
"A-are you sure… I c-can stay here?" She blankly stared at the small space as if it was luxurious.
"Of course, you have the room all to yourself. Be sure to rest up because I will be training you hard tomorrow."
Ovis nodded in response while I went back to my room to rest
***
"Ah?" I mumbled after I woke up due to some noise.
It was not that loud but I could tell that someone was doing something. I peeked at my window and the sun was just about to rise. Even though I still wanted to sleep some more, I got up from bed to check what was the source of the ruckus.
"M-morning, master…" Ovis greeted me while she was wiping the floor with a cloth.
The house became sparkling clean yet she was still at it. I did not remember commanding her to do housework. I was just standing, dumbfounded.
"I used the food I f-found inside the c-cupboard to m-make breakfast…" Ovis stood up then served the food.
"Oh? I did not know you can cook." I sat down despite still being baffled by her actions.
I took a bite and it was way better than the ones I could make even though what was available to her were only left over ingredients.
"You are a good cook. You should eat as well." I invited.
She just nodded before she sat down to join me. Emptying my plate was not difficult at all. Mornings became something to look forward to since I would not need to do chores any longer but… I was a bit disturbed on the fact that she did all those work out of her own volition.
"Um… Ovis?" I hesitatingly called her after I noticed that she was done eating.
"Y-yes, Master?"
"I appreciate all your efforts and all but…"
"Is the food n-not to your liking?" She asked while fidgeting.
"N-no! In fact you actually did a good job! It is just that next time, I would appreciate it if you'll ask for my approval first before you do something."
"I-I'm sorry master, I will not do it again!" Ovis got down to the floor and bowed.
"Hey, I'm not mad! In fact, I would even like it if you'll take over the cooking and cleaning from now on."
"R-really?" Ovis slowly lifted her head with teary eyes.
"Yeah, but can you tell me why did you do all this on your own?"
"M-my previous master would punish me if I don't have anything in order before he wakes up so I thought…"
"I am not your previous master so forget everything of that, understood?"
"Y-yes, Master!" She bowed down once again.
"We'll spend the whole day training today. I'll wait for you outside so meet me when you're ready."
"Yes, M-master!"
I went to my room first to get my sword then I went outside. It was still early so I was met with a blast of cool air. While waiting for Ovis, I wielded my sword around to get some exercise. I went closer to a nearby tree and used it as a dummy opponent.
I sliced at it a couple of times and all I was able to give it were scratches. How I wished I could do what sword masters do on children fantasies, cutting trees in half with a single strike.
"M-master, sorry for the wait!" Ovis who was holding her weapon and shield arrived.
"Took you long enough, let's get started then." I turned around as I wiped the sweat on my forehead with my arm.
"What shall we do, master?"
"We'll be working on the basics first. I'll be attacking you so be sure to block my attacks, alright?"
"Y-yes, Master!" Ovis raised her shield.
"Haaaa!" I shouted as I slashed my sword against her.
She used her shield to block my strike but she intuitively closed her eyes.
"Never lose your sight of your opponent during battle!" I instructed as I struck her even more.
"Y-yes Master!"
"Fix your stance! You'll easily lose balance if you stand like that! Widen your legs!" I lectured while still attacking.
"Y-yes Master!"
"Keep your eyes on your enemy! I will not strike the same spot every time!" I uttered before I did a sweeping low strike
"Yes, M-master!" She crouched and lowered her shield to block my attack.
"You are losing your form!" I then followed with an overhead strike.
"Ah!" Ovis was able to block it by raising her shield but she lost balance and fell down.
I pointed my sword at her face while she was lying down on the ground.
"The enemy will not stop even if you fall down. Find a way to get back up quickly or you'll get killed." I told her without restrain in my words.
"Y-yes, Master!" She quickly got up and went back on her defensive stance.
I resumed attacking and lecturing her at the same time. I believed it was the most efficient way for her to learn since I was planning to take quests starting the next day. I may be a beginner as a tamer but I had a bit of an experience in fighting. So I thought I could whip her up to shape.
After practicing blocking, I let her attack me while I parried her blows. Not only that she lacked experience in swinging her weapon, there was a noticeable hesitation on her strikes.
Even though she was still unsteady, she was way stronger than me physically. They said that the Sheepkins were just as strong as an average Human but that did not seem to be the case for her. I could tell that she could break a few of my bones if she poured her all on her attacks.
"You won't hurt anyone by swinging like that! Put your back into it!" I yelled.
"Y-yes, Master!" Ovis swung her mace left and right alternatively.
"Your attack pattern is boring! Be more creative but do not throw your weapon like last time!"
"Y-yes, Master!"
We kept on practicing until I noticed that she was running out of breath. Her form became way better than yesterday but it was still not good enough.
I commanded her to practice magic as she rest, and to not leave the house while I buy some supplies in town. I wanted to ensure that everything goes smoothly for our first job that was why I wanted to be well prepared.
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