William and Osric met up the next day at the guild again.
Yesterday they only sparred for an hour and rested the rest of the day.
Osric could finally test his one on one skills against someone that wasn't overwhelmingly more powerful.
He beat William in every exchange.
Although William had a small injury that slowed him down a little, they could both tell that even without that, Osric would've outmatched him.
They also discussed the details of Osric's training with Franklin in the midst of it all.
But Osric didn't become arrogant.
Instead he had one thought at the end of the spars yesterday.
'William has a natural talent for fighting. I didn't have that before the system.'
—
Back to the guild on the new day.
Osric and William greeted each other and immediately approached the mission board before choosing an easy Wolf elimination E-Rank mission.
William spoke.
"Damn. To think an E-Rank mission could only reward 45 copper."
Osric answered.
"Yeah. Although they are more aggressive than a Forest Lynx and kill more people, they are slower and easier to read and kill."
"They are still dangerous for any normal civilian or a single low ranked adventurer, but just two people suffice to kill one Wolf."
William nodded.
"That's true. My first E-Rank mission was a Wolf and it almost killed me back then."
"Yes. Let's go and make sure not to let our guard down. You never know if it might catch us off guard or appears with a friend."
"Alright."
The two of them didn't need to prepare much.
Osric had all his gear that was in good condition.
And so did William with his Iron one-handed bearded war axe and leather cuirass.
After reading the mission parchment, they left for the forest.
—
Cold air greeted them the moment they stepped beyond the town's outer edge.
Early January.
The forest looked different now than it had in late autumn. The ground was stiff with frost, thin patches of snow clinging to shaded roots and the northern sides of tree trunks. Their breaths fogged in front of them with each exhale.
The usual forest scent was muted.
Less rot.
More sharpness.
The kind of cold that carried sound further.
Osric slowed their pace as they crossed into the tree line.
"From here on, quieter," he said calmly.
William nodded and adjusted his grip on the haft of his axe.
The mission parchment mentioned sightings half a league north-east of Ashbrook — a lone wolf harassing woodcutters and livestock.
Osric crouched after a short while and ran his fingers lightly over the ground.
Disturbed frost.
Shallow.
Recent.
"Tracks," William murmured.
Osric nodded.
Heightened Senses (E) sharpened the details for him — not dramatically, not magically — but enough. The edges of the prints were crisp. No snow had settled into them yet.
"Adult," Osric said. "Not old. Weight looks average."
William looked impressed.
"You can tell all that from this?"
"Some of it."
He rose and scanned the trees slowly.
Combat Instinct (D) wasn't something he consciously activated. It was simply there — a faint pressure behind the eyes, a quiet readiness in his limbs.
Wind from the west. Wind favored them.
That meant their scent wouldn't carry ahead if they approached from the south-east.
"This way," Osric said, adjusting their path slightly.
They moved without rushing.
Measured steps.
Controlled breathing.
No unnecessary conversation.
A snapped branch here.
Tufts of grey fur caught on bark there.
Droppings half-frozen beneath a bush.
William noticed them this time without Osric pointing it out.
'He's learning.'
The forest felt still.
Too still.
No birds.
No small rustling creatures.
That told Osric enough.
"Close," he whispered.
William tightened his stance slightly but didn't overreact. He was learning to hold his ground.
Another few dozen steps.
Then Osric stopped.
Ahead, partially obscured by a fallen log and sparse winter brush, stood the wolf.
Grey coat thickened for winter.
Lean.
Scar along its muzzle.
It had seen them already.
Of course it had.
The wolf didn't snarl immediately.
It watched.
Measuring.
Osric didn't draw first.
He stepped slightly to the right.
"Shield the left. Don't chase," he said quietly.
William moved without hesitation.
The wolf circled once.
Testing distance.
Then it lunged.
Fast.
Lower than the lynx had been.
More direct.
William held.
No wide swing.
Just a compact defensive motion — haft angled, blade ready.
The wolf's jaws snapped forward—
And met iron.
Osric stepped in at the same time.
No flourish.
No hesitation.
A clean thrust beneath the ribcage as the wolf's weight committed forward.
Swordsmanship (F) wasn't elegant.
But it was efficient.
The blade slid in.
William pivoted and shoved with his axe haft, unbalancing the wolf further.
The animal collapsed hard onto its side.
It tried to rise—
Pain Resistance (E) steadied Osric's grip as the wolf's hind leg kicked wildly and struck his shin.
He didn't flinch.
He withdrew the blade and finished it with a short downward strike through the neck.
Silence returned.
Real silence.
Their breathing slowed in white clouds.
William exhaled.
"That was… clean."
Osric nodded once.
"Yes."
No unnecessary pride.
No wasted movement.
They had executed exactly as planned.
Osric wiped the blade against the wolf's fur and crouched to examine the body.
Healthy.
Well-fed.
No signs of pack scent nearby.
Single target, just as reported. The parchment had been accurate.
William relaxed his shoulders slightly.
"That was much easier than my first wolf mission."
"You hesitated less," Osric replied calmly. "And you held position."
William smirked faintly.
"Guess I'm learning."
Osric was about to respond—
When a faint crunch of frost sounded behind them.
Not animal.
Boots.
More than one.
Osric straightened slowly.
Combat Instinct (D) tightened.
William turned as well.
Four men stepped out from behind the trees and sparse brush.
Clothes worn.
Weapons unsheathed.
Faces unshaven and hard.
They didn't look like adventurers.
They didn't look surprised either.
One of them grinned.
"Well now… looks like you boys did the hard work for us."