The C-rank contract board was different from F-rank.
Better parchment. Clearer writing. And the pay was significantly higher.
Jak stood in front of it, reading. Shade sat beside him, drawing stares from passing adventurers.
Most contracts required parties. Groups of three to five. Warriors, mages, rogues working together.
Beast tamers worked alone. The bonded beast replaced the need for a party.
At least in theory.
Jak had never taken a C-rank contract before. Didn't know if he could actually handle one.
Only one way to find out.
He pulled a contract from the board. Simple job. Dire wolf pack elimination. They'd been attacking travelers on the northern road. Standard C-rank threat.
Pay was two gold. More than Jak had made in a month at F-rank.
He took the contract to the clerk. Got it stamped and approved. Was given three days to complete it.
Jak left the guild hall with Shade. Headed north.
The wolf pack's territory was two hours outside the city. Forest. Dense undergrowth. Perfect hunting ground for predators.
Jak had fought dire wolves before with his tracking hound. But those had been lone wolves. Weak. This was a full pack.
Eight wolves. Maybe ten.
He found their den around midday. Cave entrance. Bones scattered outside. Recent kills.
Shade's ears flattened. Through the bond, warning. Danger.
The wolves came out slowly. One by one. Surrounding Jak and Shade.
Nine of them. All adults. All hungry.
The pack leader was massive. Scarred. Experienced. It growled. Low. Threatening.
Jak drew his blade. His hands were shaking slightly. Not from fear. From adrenaline.
The wolves attacked.
All at once. Coordinated. Pack tactics.
Shade intercepted the first three. Moving through shadows. Appearing behind them. Jaws finding throats.
Jak barely had time to process. A wolf was coming at him from the left. He swung his blade. Caught it across the snout. Blood sprayed.
Another wolf from the right. He dodged. Too slow. Claws raked his arm. Pain sharp and immediate.
Shade killed two more wolves. Fast. Efficient.
But the pack leader was smart. It wasn't attacking. Just watching. Learning.
Four wolves dead. Five remaining.
The pack leader howled. The other wolves changed tactics. Stopped attacking Jak. Focused on Shade instead.
Four on one. Even with Shade's speed, that was dangerous.
Jak saw the pack leader moving. Flanking. Going for Shade while the fox was distracted.
He didn't think. Just moved.
His blade caught the pack leader mid-lunge. Not a killing blow. But enough to redirect it.
The wolf turned on Jak instead. Massive jaws snapping. He barely got his blade up in time.
The impact drove him backward. His blade lodged in the wolf's mouth. He couldn't pull it free.
The wolf shook its head. Trying to dislodge the blade. Trying to bite.
Jak held on. Arms burning. The wolf was stronger.
Then Shade was there. Appearing from shadow. Jaws closing on the pack leader's throat.
The wolf died.
The remaining wolves scattered. Running. Pack broken.
Jak pulled his blade free. Collapsed against a tree. Breathing hard.
His arm was bleeding. Three deep cuts. They'd need treatment.
Through the bond, Shade's satisfaction. The fight was won.
But Jak didn't feel victorious. He felt inadequate.
The fight had been messy. Desperate. He'd barely survived. If Shade hadn't been there, he'd be dead.
C-rank meant he had the power. But not the skill.
He needed to learn. Fast.
♢♢♢♢
Back at the guild, Jak turned in the contract. Proof of kill was the pack leader's head. The clerk barely looked at it before approving payment.
Two gold. Jak stared at the coins.
More than he'd made in a month at F-rank. From one day's work.
He could buy real medicine for Mira now. Better food. Maybe even save some.
But his arm needed treatment first.
The guild had a healer on staff. Mage class. Specialized in restoration magic. Cost was one silver per treatment.
Jak paid. The mage healed his arm in minutes. The cuts closed. Scars remained but pain was gone.
"You're new to C-rank," the mage said. Not a question.
"Yes."
"I can tell. You fight like someone who doesn't know what they're doing yet." The mage gestured to Jak's arm. "Those cuts are from dire wolves. Pack tactics. You got flanked."
"I did."
"Learn to position better. Use your beast to control the battlefield. Don't just react." The mage turned away. "Next time might kill you."
Jak left. The advice stung because it was accurate.
He was C-rank in power. F-rank in skill.
That needed to change.
♢♢♢♢
That evening, Jak watched the training yard.
Adventurers sparring. Practicing. Most were warriors. Some mages. A few rogues.
No beast tamers. Just him.
He watched how warriors moved. How they positioned. How they controlled space during fights.
Different from how he'd been fighting. More deliberate. Less reactive.
One warrior noticed him watching. Older man. Scarred. Experienced.
"You're the new tamer," the warrior said. "The one with the shadow fox."
"I am."
"Saw you turn in the dire wolf contract. Heard you got hurt."
"I did."
"You fight like shit," the warrior said bluntly. "Power doesn't mean skill."
"I know."
The warrior studied him for a moment. "You want to learn?"
"Yes."
"Can't teach you tamer techniques. Don't know them. But I can teach you how to not die stupidly." The warrior gestured to the yard. "Tomorrow. Dawn. Bring your fox."
"Why help me?"
"Because tamers are rare. Can't afford to lose one because he doesn't know basics." The warrior turned away. "Dawn. Don't be late."
Jak watched him go. Then looked at Shade.
Through the bond, approval. The fox understood. They needed training.
Tomorrow they'd start learning.
Tonight, Jak would take the remaining gold to Mira. Buy her real medicine. Real food.
Tomorrow, he'd become more than just powerful.
He'd become competent.