Roric Thorne's keen eyes, usually alight with the quiet intensity of a hunter, sharpened further. He nodded, his face serious, ready to receive his friend's request. Lord Alaric wasted no time. He recounted the Awakened Beast sighting, the chilling encounter Elias had endured, and the week-long search that had confirmed the creature's immense power and its unsettling ability to vanish without a trace. He spoke of the threat it posed to the Blackwood region, not just to the wilds, but potentially to the settlements if it decided to turn its attention toward them.
Roric listened intently, his gaze unwavering, occasionally offering a terse nod or a thoughtful hum. He, as well as other hunters, had seen more and more knights in the forests searching. They could tell something was up but decided not to pry. Roric's mind, accustomed to processing complex environmental data and tracking elusive prey, was already piecing together the implications. He knew that the search was done so as not to raise suspicion among the people. He understood the gravity of an Awakened Beast, especially one that could so effectively mask its presence.
"My knights are vigilant, Roric," Alaric concluded, his voice heavy with the weight of his responsibility.
"They patrol the territory and maintain order, standing ready for any large-scale catastrophe. They could help with the search for the beast, but their duties lie primarily in defense and law enforcement. They are not as knowledgeable as you hunters, nor do they have the time to track a beast of this nature deep into the wilds at the detriment of their duties. That is why I come to you. To the Hunter's Bureau."
.‡.
Meanwhile, back at Blackwood Keep, Aina was already considering the very topic that Lord Alaric was now discussing with Roric. She vaguely described the intricate societal structures of Aerthos to Elias, ending her list with the Hunter's Bureau, a fascinating construct that served as proof of the kingdom's pragmatic approach to resource management and public safety. She mentioned this because it had a direct link to what she said earlier about the beasts of the world.
"Regular soldiers and knights," she continued, "While vital for maintaining peace and order within the kingdom, are primarily focused on defense, law enforcement, and maintaining readiness for potential large-scale conflicts. Their training, their equipment, and their very purpose are geared towards protecting settlements and borders. The kingdom is large and naturally has a number of problems and troublemakers, leaving these knights too busy to venture into the dangerous wilds to hunt specific, powerful beasts or to brave the treacherous high-Flow regions to harvest valuable resources.
Resources were crucial. The kingdom, and by extension, the noble houses like the Dukkers, constantly needed Flowstone from these energy-dense areas. "
She paused and thought for a moment.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention. Within these Nodes, or areas with a lot of ambient Flow, lies a mineral, pulsating with concentrated super-crystalized Flow. It is essential for crafting Flow-infused weapons, tools, and even for certain advanced Flow techniques. This mineral is known as Flowstone. Sometimes, it forms within the bodies of Infused Beasts, growing larger and more potent with each evolution. Harvesting it was a perilous task, especially extracting it from powerful Imbued or Awakened Beasts."
Elias nodded.
'I see. I'd like to see one.'
"Furthermore," Aina proceeded, "There was the ongoing issue of dangerous creatures that stray too close to human settlements, posing a constant threat to farmers, travelers, and isolated villages. The knights can't be everywhere at once. And, pragmatically, there was the ever-present need to provide protection for the people. Then there's the issue of unemployment for individuals who didn't fit into the rigid military or agricultural structures."
"The solution, implemented centuries ago and now overseen directly by the government, was the establishment of the Hunter's Bureau. It was a brilliant, multi-faceted system. It allowed skilled individuals – those with a knack for the wilds, for tracking, for combat, and often, for nascent Flow-sensing – to take on these crucial tasks. It was not merely a collection of individual rogues who didn't quite fit into conventional jobs. No, the Hunter's Bureau is a highly organized, government-sanctioned entity, with administrative offices, meticulous record-keeping, and strict protocols for accepting jobs, reporting findings, and receiving payment."
'It sounds similar to the guilds I read about in novels and comics, but this one seems more... well-established.' Elias thought.
"Hunters could specialize: some were focused on beast hunting, some on Flowstone harvesting, others on scouting dangerous areas with high Flow density, or even wilderness survival guides. They all operate under a strict code of conduct, with severe penalties for misconduct, ensuring a measure of accountability. Bureaus had branches. There's even one here in Blackhaven. They serve as central hubs for assignments, information exchange, and fostering a sense of community among those who chose this perilous path," Aina explained.
'This is a bit too well-established. Plus, they are funded by the government. Meaning... I see, I see.'
"The Bureau has a clear ranking system. No matter how experienced one is, they are still subject to the Path of Ascension. You can be a veteran, but if your rank is low, say that of an Acolyte, you won't be able to get high-priority hunts like that if a hunter at the Vortary level. The only way, therefore, is to ascend to a higher level. This system was brought about to ensure that people didn't needlessly die from pursuing jobs outside their levels and to check vices like greed.Sanctions were also put on such individuals, ranging from suspension to expulsion to imprisonment, and in extreme cases, execution."
Elias nodded.
'Makes sense.'
Aina then opened a book she had brought and pointed at the diagram of a pyramid. It was broken down into a hierarchy of four stages with the character for zero written above the pyramid.
"Like any institution, the Hunters Bureau has a hierarchy. I won't bore you with the bureaucratic aspects of this organization, so I'm only going to talk about the Hunters themselves."
She pointed to the lowest level of the pyramid.
"At the bottom were the 'Tier Four' hunters. These were the entry-level individuals, often young and inexperienced, taking on mundane beast hunts – clearing out packs of wolves, dealing with troublesome boars – or escorting merchants through safer, well-patrolled routes. Their operations are confined to the less dangerous areas of the kingdom. These are mostly people who have awakened and are well-established on the Acolyte stage of ascension."
She moved up to the next level.
"Above them are the 'Tier Three' hunters. More experienced, more capable, they can handle tougher Imbued Beasts and venture into moderately dangerous territories, often working in teams of five to cover for their relative inexperience. These are people who are on the Vortary level. They understand the nuances of Flow signatures and basic beast behavior."
She moved her finger to the level above that. "'TierTwo' hunters are the individuals capable of tracking and engaging freshly Awakened or low-tier Awakened Beasts that have been around for less than a century and a half (150 years), relying on their honed senses and combat prowess. They are of the Saint level and are the ones called upon when a threat transcended the capabilities of local patrols."
She pointed at the level at the top of the pyramid.
"Then comes the 'Tier One' hunters. These were the elite, figures capable of taking on powerful high-tier Awakened Beasts or leading large-scale expeditions into highly dangerous, high-Flow regions. They are of the Praetorian level, and due to the level of these awakened beasts (living beyond 200 years), it was mandatory that they operate in teams of at least three."
She then pointed at the zero hanging above the pyramid.
"And finally, at the very pinnacle, are the 'Tier Zero' hunters. Or should I say Hunter. They should be the ones who can track and engage Apex Beasts. Only those of the Paragon level can take these beasts on. Sadly, there is only one Tier Zero hunter in Aerthos, a Paragon themself and also the chairperson of the Bureau. Now, your assignment..."
Elias rolled his eyes and groaned internally.
"Is to find out who this Tier Zero hunter is."
.‡.
Back at the Hunter's Guild, Lord Alaric finished explaining the situation. Roric Thorne looked to the clouds at the birds flying overhead, his expression thoughtful.
"Can you do it, Roric?" Alaric asked, his gaze direct, conveying the weight of his concern.
"Can you discreetly keep track of this Awakened beast while the knights return to their duties?"
Roric paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered the task.
"It's gonna be tough, Al. You know I've been retired for quite a bit and only work as a consultant and instructor for the Bureau." He met Alaric's gaze.
"So is this an order from the Lord of Blackwood?"
"It's a favor from a friend," Alaric said with a grin. Roric smiled back.
"You're gonna owe me for this." He raised his fist and Alaric bumped it with his own. Roric then bowed and excused himself carrying his daughter and walking away.
Eddie Gable, standing nearby, nodded approvingly, a rare smile touching his lips. He understood his Lord's plan.
'If there's any foul play, it's bound to return once the knights withdraw from patrolling the area and return to their duties. So he got someone to keep an eye out while making it appear as if the incident has been forgotten. And who better than the Tier One hunter, Roric Thorne?'
"Let's go back, Eddie," Alaric said, turning to walk away.
"Yes, my Lord," Eddie said, following.
'I still remember when the two of them were still boys, oh what trouble they used to cause.'
Images of two young boys, one with indigo-hued black hair and a slightly younger boy with red hair, ran around with smiles on their faces surfaced on his mind. The memory made the knight smirk.
The agreement was struck, a silent pact forged between Lord and Hunter, placing the safety of the Dukker lands in the capable hands of Roric Thorne.