SWNOVELXO Chapter 243: Apprentice and Nightout
Emary Kalder had always been aware of his ability as a tamer, a gift made possible by his father's primary element of darkness. While handsome, his most striking features were his short black hair streaked with purple highlights, and his dark violet eyes inherited from his mother.
As a rare dual-type wielder, Emary primarily focused on darkness due to his tamer class. While many shunned the power associated with bloodsuckers, Emary regarded it as a wonderful gift. Even though kids his age struggled to get along with him, he didn't mind—he had no trouble forming bonds with beasts instead.
However, his overprotective parents limited his opportunities for growth. They ensured every creature he tamed was brought to him safely, and his involvement in army training was prohibited due to his inability to move like other recruits. Consequently, his monsters were too weak to battle anything beyond house pets.
His prized companion was Sparky, an electric rodent that had been rescued in near-death condition from the electrical plains by a group of adventurers. Initially weak, Sparky had grown strong enough to potentially paralyze a Roc without difficulty.
When Emary learned that the Hero of Taming would be visiting, he begged his father to invite the hero to their home rather than the capital. Despite the king's wishes to host the hero, Emary's father, owing the king several favors, ensured that Emary would finally meet the one person he idolized most.
Rumors spread throughout the kingdom of how each hero was slowly accumulating power, but the story that captivated Emary the most was how the Hero of Taming had risen to become a king. Despite only a few months of rule, he had created a haven for his creatures and won the love and respect of his people.
Although Emary shared only the ability to tame with Logan, he hoped to learn from him. The young tamer dreamed of leaving behind the pampering of his overprotective parents and finding strength through the guidance of a hero.
When Emary finally saw Logan, he was struck by how young the hero was—no older than himself. However, what truly impressed him was not Logan's independence from his creatures, but the remarkable woman standing beside him. Her silver hair streaked with vibrant colors was mesmerizing, and Emary blushed as he introduced himself to her.
"So, can you take him under your wing… at least before you head off to war?" the Duke asked, eager to begin negotiations. He was determined to convince Logan to take his son as a disciple.
Emary's heart raced as he awaited the hero's answer, only to have it postponed until the next day. The young boy scratched his head in desperation, realizing it would be a long night filled with restless thoughts and hope that the Hero of Taming would accept him. Eager to connect, Emary attempted a small chat with the hero later in the evening, only to discover that Logan and Silvia had mysteriously disappeared—no one seemed to know where they had gone as the night drew closer to its end.
Logan, meanwhile, was captivated by Silvia's remarkable abilities. She had warped the two of them to a serene, breathtaking location, unlike any he had seen before. A gentle waterfall cascaded nearby, its soothing sounds harmonizing with the croaks of small frogs and the chirping of crickets. Fireflies danced through the air, illuminating the tranquil night under the soft glow of two moons hanging high above them. The dual moons provided just enough light for Logan to clearly see Silvia's face in the calming setting.
"What a nice place you've found. Is this where you come to think or something?" Logan asked, settling down after crafting a long stone seat. He placed a few pillows on the surface to make it comfortable, avoiding the hardness of the stone as he relaxed in the magical scene.
"Yes, it is," Silvia replied. "I found this place during our trip to Dracone Ridge. In other words... we're in the Kingdom of Elris. But don't worry, I'm confident no one will come here. I've set up a barrier that alerts me if anyone—or anything—enters. I've also added monster repellent, so only small critters and animals can venture close." She snapped her fingers, causing the barrier around them to shimmer briefly, its light rippling to reveal the extent of her power.
"Doesn't that waste a lot of mana?" Logan asked, curious how she maintained such a complex setup.
"Not really," Silvia said with a slight smile. "I linked it to a pure mana stone that I've specially altered. It absorbs energy within the barrier to stay active. That's also why monsters avoid this place—the mana is too scarce here because the crystal drains it." She pointed toward a large crystal embedded in the middle of the lake.
"You really went all out, huh..." Logan remarked, watching as Silvia made the crystal vanish with another snap of her fingers, cloaking it in invisibility. Her ingenuity left him thoroughly impressed.
"So, tell me—why did you bring me to such a special place?" Logan moved closer to her, listening as she began explaining theories and future ideas for her projects.
"I'm not sure... you tell me," Silvia replied with a shrug, feeling both a little down she couldn't continue to speak her mind but also somewhat excited by what could come next.
"I can think of a few things… how about we start off by taking a nice dip in the water… I am sure I can find a way to keep us safe even at night." Logan tapped her shoulder adding a few shield spells around her, he was glad he kept Kryst back in the Kalder mansion for the night.
Not having proper swimwear they entered with undergarments using the clean freshwater to take a bath, luckily the fire shield kept their body warm, even warming the water around them, of course it was probably unnecessary due to being so close to each other, the bodies warmth was probably enough to ward off the cool nights air.