The Primal Hunter

Meira had experienced a lot of surprising and frightening things throughout the last few years. From the fall of the Brimstone Hegemon and her becoming a slave to recently being freed and having Teacher privately teach her all the time.

Yet today was more frightening than any other. Because she was called for a private meeting by the Hall Master herself, but not with the S-grade. No, someone else had asked – or probably demanded – to meet her.

The Lord Protector. Boundless Hydra. One of the most fearsome beasts in the entire multiverse, second to only the Malefic Viper within the Order of the Malefic Viper, as far as she knew.

Every other time she had met frightening existences, like that one time her Teacher brought her to buy herbs from a dragon god; she was always with someone and never the person in focus. Always just a tag-along. But this time, there was no Lord Thayne, no Teacher… not even Izil. Just herself and a god who had lived for nearly the entire lifespan of the multiverse.

Viridia, the Hall Master, had teleported her part of the way there, but on the final stretch to the domain of the Lord Protector, they had to walk. As they walked, Meira felt incredibly nervous and built up courage as she asked the Hall Master.

“Uhm… Mistress, I-“

“Call me Viridia,” the Hall Master smiled. “You should get used to not being so… meek. That simply won’t do.”

“Oh… okay,” Meira nodded, getting a disapproving look from the Hall Master. Still, Meira felt too curious not to ask. “If I may… why does the Lord Protector want to speak to me?”

“I do not know for sure, but I have my suspicions,” Viridia answered. “And if I am correct, I believe it is high time you drop those social-conduct lessons you are currently doing and for us to set up some proper conduct classes.”

Meira froze when she heard the mention of conduct classes. A shiver ran down her spine as she tried to control herself, but images flashed in her head of the “classes” she had when she first arrived at the Order. Clenching her fists, she continued walking as the Hall Master noticed her actions.

“You have reached the cap of D-grade for your profession, with your class soon to follow, correct?” she asked.

Meira just nodded.

“And the Grand Elder has discussed his plans of properly Blessing you soon, right? It is already known that you are his disciple… but from what I was told by the Verdant Witches, he is considering making you his Chosen,” Viridia said.

“I… maybe…” Meira said. She had to be honest; she wasn’t exactly sure what it meant to become the Chosen of someone like Duskleaf. The thought just seemed so foreign to her. Even now, it felt incredibly odd that many approached her, not just because of the people she knew but because they assumed she herself was also worth their time.

“In either case, but especially if that is true, you will have to adapt your demeanor to the situation, not only for yourself but the Grand Elder. You will be his representative, and your words will hold authority, so to speak confidently and assuredly is a must,” the Hall Master continued.

Meira nodded once more. It made sense…

“If such is the case, I would gladly help you in this process,” Viridia smiled. “And do know that my first free lesson is that people will want to form a relationship with you primarily for selfish reasons. Which is exactly what I am trying to do by offering you these lessons.”

“Yeah,” Meira nodded. “I know.”

That didn’t really surprise her. In her meetings with Izil and the others, that was an often-discussed topic, as they always had people approach them with ulterior motives.

The two of them kept walking for a good while, only exchanging a few words in a rather casual conversation. It was only when they reached the gateway leading into the domain of the Lord Protector that Viridia left, and Meira realized she had just casually been talking to the Hall Master of the Order of the Malefic Viper for nearly twenty minutes.

It felt odd.

But not as odd as what happened next.

platform. Before she could even orient herself, a presence swept over her that made her

looked up with wide eyes as she saw

this was definitely the most frightening thing she had ever

Meira, the voice of the Lord Protector echoing through the entire world. “And why I wished to have this conversation within

or something, but Teacher had told

While I am still uncertain if I agree with the actions of Master and Duskleaf when it comes to choosing Chosen like this, I am beginning to see the novelty. It is different than prior blessed I have had, in that there is less blind worship,” the god explained. “The mere fact that even you, someone that was merely a former slave of Master’s Chosen, don’t crumble before me does make the entire situation, how to

Teacher?” Meira asked. Did the Lord Protector have something

this was not something I imagined doing, it’s better to just get it out of the way now to avoid annoyance in the future,” the Lord Protector’s voice echoed as a

One for a reason,” the second head said. “He was not the only disciple the Malefic One ever had, but the only one who remains. The only one Master allows to stay. Allows to assist him in his own personal

the gravity of him helping the Malefic Viper. For someone to be of actual assistance in any kind of project, their skills had to at least somewhat match that of the one they assist, which meant that the Malefic One recognized Duskleaf as an equal peer, at least in some aspects of alchemy. She knew that Teacher didn’t really do toxins that much, but in so many other areas, he was nearly

somewhat, but do you truly know

asked, curious and confused, forgetting

feared the Viper was around and would appear if the existence of the Order was threatened… but most of the older factions knew that the

was about to speak when

words spoken by the

Duskleaf much less so. You may believe him a pacifist alchemist… would you

Meira answered, not having to really think about

it means carrying with you burdens and secrets for the rest of your existence, even should you somehow attain immortality? Secrets you may never be able

wants, yes,” Meira nodded once

said. “Then fully embrace your new role and Path. And know that should you stray or break the vow you made today, I shall carry out my duty as the Lord

the realm and

frightening, Meira shuddered as she looked down the hallway, unsure where

Snappy,” the voice of the Malefic Viper echoed through the realm of the Boundless Hydra just as the elf girl disappeared. “Watching

bit needlessly emotional, but this is the first time Duskleaf has taken on an official

Viper said, a

rumors of the Dao Sect recently making

be changing recently. Records are converging, and all the big players are aware. Let us

nor bad on a fundamental level. However, they did represent opportunity and risk, as well as the chance

Path, new was nearly always good, as it was simply

would have never thought that something like a C-grade Perfect

Meira had a pretty easy time finding a group, even without factoring in the fact she was a

else entirely. Healing was a school of magic that included many concepts and affinities. Light and life affinity were

instead focus on truly helping people heal themselves through an odd

than healing, it was more accurate to call it

from simply healing other people to being able to mend and nurture other kinds of life, even those without a

it, the system was rather rigid when it dictated classes were for combat and professions for non-combat, but there were ways to make both work together. The Legacy of the Malefic Viper and the entire Alchemist of the Malefic Viper Path was a testament to that. As Teacher’s Master, it was natural

of natural treasures were in a constant struggle for energy and survival. They were in an endless battle to ascend and become more powerful, walking their own Paths. True, this was not a

initially leveled her class, after all. She had healed people who got hurt in the mines back with her clan and helped relieve those who suffered. That had earned her experience, so why

proof of this, and Meira hoped to do something similar. To have both, with a class that was not