It's a rough world to be human, small, edible with predators by night that drives all sane humans inside. Humans survive by being relatively quiet, staying on the move or holding down in heavily walled cities where they can at least be safe by day.
We look upon a former mercenary, now guard in such a coastal town, looking for a new apprentice after losing yet another to the monsters who have found a way to lurk among them.
(an introduction to something new, more excitable moments should be in the works)

The Monsters Among Us

“Something new Cory?”
Behind him, stirred a familiar inquisitive voice. The hot breath of invading curiosity peering over his shoulder at the roughed edged piece of paper he was pinning to the cork wood board.
“Get off my neck, will you?” The presence behind him shifting away as he stepped back, sparing his, comrade in arms a brief, slightly apologetic look.
The man behind him, framed by the pillars supporting the roof of the grand entry hall raised his hands placatingly.
“So… something happened to Jeff?”
Cory nodded tersely. Hand cupping against his jaw, almost pricking his fingers on the short hard spikes of his unshaven face “nothing but a long, fat bulge in a naga now”
“Oh…” the other man, James, folded his arms, leathery bracers squeaking against the polished hide guarding his vitals. James was a little younger, but blended into the other mercenaries, much as Cory did. But most of their group came from the same place, even if the locals were seeping into their ranks one apprentice at a time. Dark, short trimmed hair contrasting a pale complexion.
James nodded towards the board “that naga?”
Cory looked back, sighing. Sure enough. He’d managed to put the little scrap advertising Jeff’s replacement right near the official warning about the very creature whose gut was easing the flesh from the kid’s bones.
“That’s the one” Cory rolled his shoulder “first time I got a look at her, big one, constrictor type”
“And you’re sure it was her? Jeff isn’t just sick or something?”
His head shook slowly “didn’t see her feed but, I was on patrol with him…” he trailed off a moment “night, before last I suppose. We got separated, but I caught a glimpse of him down the street, not alone… searched high and low for hours, finally found where she was hiding” A grimace took his features “damn huge snake… if she hadn’t fed… I’d not have gotten the chance to say anything, I’m sure. But sure, enough there was a lump in those coils, it got caught a moment as she slithered out, hole in the back wall she must have made, just in case of armed guests. Found his things in her den”
A grunt escaped him “clothes neatly folded, damn him… he made it easier for her than had she bought a pound of meat from the butcher. Even then it doesn’t unwrap itself”
James tilted his head a bit “worse ways to go?”
“Assuming he got what he wanted…” Cory sighed “anyway, it was a little abandoned shop in the older part of town where I found her, already put in the report. Tried to chase her down, best chance to put a stop to her hunting in the city is when she’s fed, but… not a sign. We won’t see her for a fortnight I imagine. She’ll have found some, inaccessible tube of a space to slither herself into while she sleeps him off”
“That’s the trouble when a naga sets up inside the walls” James mused “They pop up, eat, and disappear again. Less common to sight them than whales off the bay”
“Sooner we catch her the better” Cory grunted, walking past James “till then, I need a new partner, hopefully one not so easily led by the dick to his death” he grunted “or hers… really reminds you why it’s good to get a mix of types in the ranks. Wouldn’t have happened if it was a local lass who took the job”
“To be fair, if the naga caught your apprentice alone, it would have probably gone the same way… just with more or less of a fight”
“Maybe” Cory stalked across the entry hall. The one side was flat, filled with notices about key reports and jobs. The other side of the open space held a pub of sorts, just for their crew. Place to sit, get a drink, maybe talk to some clients.
James followed him “You’ve had a run of bad luck, how many is that this month?”
“Three” Cory settled at a table, waving a hand to their barman, no need to ask what he wanted “One got wise and quit, this is the second to give their life to the work. The other got to die before they were eaten though”
“Right…” James rubbed his chin thoughtfully “there’s so little being done about… whatever it is flowing around in the sewers… you told me about that, right? One moment they’d gone down with a blade, the next, gone”
Cory grunted “well, city leadership gives us our instruction on how to protect folk. Nobody’s keen to send us down there. Between you and me, if it’s some sort of, slimy thing, they’re content to let it scoop up anything and anyone off the streets”
“Now to be fair…” James muttered, pausing as drinks were set on their table “I patrol around that area… homeless folk, they’re not around so much, but I’ve personally seen them on the move. I think it’s the fear of the thing, not its actions that’s the reason the streets there have emptied. I’ve only seen it go after the dead, not the living” A weak smile touched his lips “truth be told… I don’t mind it, so long as it isn’t preying on anyone who sleeps on the street mind you… I’ve noticed a lot less refuse, litter, whatever”
“Silver linings…” Cory sighed, and downed his drink in a single, long swallow “it makes the blood run cold, how easily these monsters can slink into the city, hiding in plain sight. How many naga have found a way in now? How many winged beasts have found a gap in the patrols. I swear, there’s even beasts dragging themselves up out of the sea. The walls feel like they’re just for show”
“I know what you mean…” James took a more measured drink “it’s still safer than out there though”
“For now,” Cory tapped to the table firmly “Doesn’t it feel like it’s building pace though? So many of these creatures are smart, they can learn. I feel like I’m trapped in a chicken coop with a big, foxes welcome sign stuck up beside it”
James shrugged “I still remember life on the road. We had prowlers and hunters, stalking us. Don’t you remember the mortality rate for anyone dumb enough to slip out to take a piss? Whole groups vanishing, day before we had a bloody dragon fly overhead. You ask me, it doesn’t feel different here, except that the walls keep most things out. I can sleep, in my bed, not fearing I’ll wake up somewhere slimy. Damn it” James grimaced “don’t you remember Rich? We literally, woke to him screaming, and a whole, bloody dragon head swelling out his tent as it ate him right out of his…” he shook his head, grunting, looking off “we’ve got it damn good here…”
“I know, I know” Cory rose a hand, trying to wave down James’s agitation “I just don’t want it to get that bad, without anywhere to run”
“Yeah…” James deflated “But we’ve got a good deal, you know? Security, enforcement, pretty glad the guild settled us into the city”
Cory shrugged “anyway… how’s your apprentice doing?”
“He’s good” James smiled slightly “had him three years now, he’s almost an old hand. High on the list to take one of the guild spots, if we lose a member”
“Well, I can only hope my next one lasts as long” Cory muttered, looking off towards the now distant board “assuming we find someone crazy enough to join. Gets harder and harder, so it feels”

The city was a peaceful place mostly. Cory walked his route through the port, colourful spot, most interesting to him. There was a collection of, creatures who sailed in on their ships. Birdmen, wolf women, he’d heard of animal folk, who bore uncanny resemblance to the beasts of earth and branch, and yet, seemed more human in mannerism and action. He doubted he’d ever know why. Some in the lands shunned them, he knew. Sordid superstition as to their, origin.
Today more than most, he found himself leaning to the crates of the merchant ships and watching the creatures trading their wares. He was vaguely aware some lived in the city, but it was mostly a human place. Thing was, looking at them, he had to dwell on the naga of the days past. Were they just, snake animalkin, like these wolven, vulpine, avian sailors? Or was there something fundamentally different? Other than size and propensity to eat people, he saw little real difference. But he could say the same for people, couldn’t he? The folk he met in this city were normally smaller, more peaceful than, say, the muscle bound folk who committed to banditry.
Was there a species difference, or, were there just… bandit naga? Outside of the merchant ships, of curious settlers, were these… animal folk divided into those who could live peacefully, and not?
It was strange. He found it harder to swallow their presence when he was reminded of naga. What was to stop their natural weapons and predatory nature coming to bear, in a more blooded feeding? Shouldn’t he feel as wary of a pack of wolf sailors, as he did a giant snake? Sometimes his mind swung the other way. Would there be naga allowed in town someday? He had his doubts… he’d never heard of one that didn’t find humans a pleasant fit.
With a grunt, he moved on along his route. Mostly he was here to be seen. A reminder to troublemakers that the members of his guild were in earshot, and naturally to respond should anyone not get the message. But, there was the other element. Keeping an eye out for danger. It was that aspect that got his mind wandering. What it entailed exactly. Obviously if a dragon or something swept in, obviously if he caught sight of that naga, but any naga? Technically yes, officially yes. But, he kept on staring at those, beastfolk. It had never happened but, what would he do if a ship of snakes sailed into port?
If he was being honest, he hoped he never had to answer the question. It was nice when things were simple.
His route proved uneventful, and he circled back towards the guild for a drink and a rest of his legs. Idly wondering if anyone would be waiting. Some bright eyed local, wanting into the guild. He’d seen too many of them, but, he felt better with an apprentice in his shadow. He’d have felt better with another veteran but, that wasn’t how the guild worked.
He found his way to the front desk of the guild, reported his uneventful route, pried about his notice, but, there’d been no interest.
A chair at their little bar found him, and Cory sank into it to rest off the break in his duties, casting idle glances towards the board. He’d get a new apprentice eventually. But the pickings were getting worse. When they’d first settled, there had been an influx. Their work didn’t require any specific trade or skills. Training the body was wise, but otherwise the main criteria was a set of eyes. Folk who didn’t have a trade, or had failed to secure an apprenticeship had jumped at the chance. Before their arrival, such people only had a few options. Find some menial labour, beg on the streets or try and leave the city. The former was preferable, but it ran into the same problem, not enough work. The merchants by the port he knew sometimes hired such people for the day to move boxes, but then they’d be jobless, hoping their coin lasted till they got hired again. And sleeping out on the streets was dangerous…
The guild offered steady work and pay. But the risks were meaningful. Escorting people outside the walls, patrolling the inner streets, hunting down those who would stoop to crime, or those monsters that snuck inside to feast. The nature of the city’s crime had changed under his eyes. It was less common, but had become more organised and hidden, and violent when exposed.
The original surge had abated, either been hired, died, or thought better of it. The newer arrivals were mostly either desperate, or quite young, newly confronting the dilemma of where to go in life.
He was roused from his brooding by a shadow over his table, one of the ladies from the desk smiling to him apologetically “sir, if you have a moment, we just now had someone ask about your notice”
It took Cory a moment to absorb the information, glancing down. There was a kid behind the woman, young lad to his eye. Seemed small, and wiry. He sighed, gesturing to the chair opposite him “leave him with me”
The woman bowed, and the kid moved to sit, staring at him with, doleful but curious eyes. Cory assessed the boy. From what he could see, the kid was small but, what little was on him was muscle, might be stronger than he looked. Seemed quite thin though. There was an almost, beaten, defeated look in those eyes, with, a glisten of barely sustained hope.
He took a long sip of his drink. Seemed about right… desperate kid “you understand the nature of the work we do here, kid?”
The boy nodded sharply “yes sir… I do sir. Catching people, and fighting, sir…”
“Not just people” Cory muttered “monsters too, dangerous, man eating monsters…”
The boy seemed quiet for a moment “yes, those too, sir”
Unphased? Cory raised an eyebrow, kid might change his tune after he sees one… “Well, apprentices don’t get paid till they last a week, you’ve got till then to think better of it”
“You’re letting me stay?” the boy’s elation was, sudden and intense “thank you, oh thank you…” he bowed so low he almost headbutted the table “I’ll work hard for you, sir”
“Cory is my name” Cory muttered “and for now, you’ll be my apprentice” he sighed. He had no room to be picky “got a name, kid?”
“uh, Daniel, is what my name is…” the boy glanced off as he spoke
“You sure about that?” Cory gave the boy a look
“It’s not my first name but, it’s what people call me, here. My old name is hard to say”
He shrugged “Daniel it is then. When did you last eat, Daniel?”
The question got the boy’s attention, a reaction Cory observed closely. He was going to bet it had been a while.
“A few days…” Daniel answered “but, I’m fine, and I won’t steal food, I promise, I won’t eat anything I’m not supposed to”
“Well, let me order you something… can give you that much” he sighed, beckoning to the bar “you’ll be staying with me for the duration of your apprenticeship, assuming you don’t find a place of your own. You won’t get much, but a roof, and something to eat. Won’t be special, it’s coming out of my coin kid, but, I’ll keep you alive so long as you do your work, understand?”
Daniel nodded quickly “thank you, sir… I’ll work, I’ll work hard for that”
Cory nodded faintly. He had other questions on his tongue, but held them for now. Kid seemed really desperate for the job. He could make use of that, but, right now it seemed the kid would take any question as a command. From his experience, desperate folk were often desperate for reasons they’d prefer to keep to themselves. He didn’t want this, sense of duty the kid was experiencing to prompt them revealing something, they didn’t want to. That would make things awkward. He needed an apprentice who would be comfortable by his side.
He gestured for food, pointing to the boy, before addressing Daniel again “do you know how the guild works, our structure?”
“Not really” Daniel murmured, suddenly a touch sullen “I only know you’re hiring, and it sounded like work I could do”
“Well, it’s like this” Cory muttered “our group only has so many members at once. The number is open to debate, members, like myself, meet up occasionally to discuss the rules of our guild. Each of us can have one apprentice, whom we train, guide to take our place if needed. It’s how we’ve always done it, keeps our numbers controlled. Should a member die, their apprentice, as well as any of particular merit, are considered to replace them. Normally it’s pretty linear, but not everyone keeps an apprentice, and if the conditions of death are… suspect, you understand…”
“Not really” Daniel murmured, looking up as a plate of stew was put before him “but I just need to do what you say, and I get a place to sleep… and I can stay here, right?”
“Yeah, for now” he muttered. Kid needed bigger life ambitions than that… but maybe he could bring up that topic after it was certain the kid was staying
Instead, he held his tongue, watching as the boy ate ravenously of the stew. Kid was an open book, wriggling on his chair in what seemed to be delight. Odd one. A frown took Cory’s features. Daniel seemed a pretty innocent and simple sort of kid, didn’t seem right to tarnish that with this sort of work. But at the same time, if Daniel had no other skills, this gave him a roof over his head.
“Once you’ve eaten up, I’ll see if my last apprentice’s gear fits you, and we’ll head out” Cory rubbed to his jaw… Daniel seemed a bit smaller, if the fit was too bad, he could maybe get them tailored to fit a little, otherwise, kid could make do.
Cory watched his new apprentice devour the paltry bowl, the kid’s unrestrained mannerisms leaving nothing hidden. Disappointment consumed the features when the bowl was emptied, but with a beckon of his hand, he drew Daniel away from the table… the lad’s mood shifting in an instant, trotting after him obediently. Kid reminded him more of a puppy than anything.
Fortunately, enough his last apprentice’s gear was still in good shape, being removed as peacefully as it had been given his fate, and the fit was, ok. It hung a little loose on Daniel, but the leather was tough, should help in a fight, made him look more the part.
With that settled, Cory stepped out for his next patrol, beckoning Daniel after him. His route took him deeper into the city. The guild liked to have each member patrol a couple different spots, find a happy place between becoming familiar with a region, and getting a second set of eyes on it. Familiar eyes could both notice a change quickly, but also overlook existing problems.
Still, as he walked, he couldn’t help glancing down to the tarnished metal grates in the ground. Didn’t feel good knowing there were things, underfoot… maybe even that snake making use of the tunnels.
“Kid, just as an aside…” he glanced back to Daniel, following dutifully, even if the boy’s eyes were floating everywhere “don’t trust naga, they can speak like us, coo sweet words but… they only see humans as prey, nothing more”
“Oh… ok” Daniel murmured “I should remove them from the town if I see one?”
Cory snorted, trying not to laugh, offering a rueful smile “kid, if you see one, you come tell me, you’ll need a whole lot of backup to handle one of those monsters, especially if it’s the constrictor type. Things are long as a street and thick around as a horse at full growth. Fully grown one would give even a dragon trouble, if it got the drop on it”
Daniel’s eyes widened suitably, and he nodded “oh… they’re that dangerous? Yes sir…”
Cory sighed to himself, trying to figure out that mood the boy put forth… was it resignation? Kid didn’t seem to be trembling in his boots the way he’d seen some apprentices. Just accepted whatever he was told as the reality of his situation.
“Mind if I ask where you’re from, kid?” Cory wondered aloud as they walked, eyes surveying. The locals nodded to them in passing, but hurried on their way… nothing stood out
“It was… a village, far out there… it was called Shadewood, I think…” the boy murmured quickly “I lived around there. The people were nice, mostly…”
“Let me guess…” Cory muttered “no place for you to stay? Too many kids, not enough work, and no real option to expand?”
“I guess so” Daniel sighed “I have been moving since… but nobody wanted me around, but I heard there was this city, big long lasting place… and I came here”
“We have similar problems” Cory conceded “every youth needs to find their place… normally seeking a set of boots to fill when the wearer passes on. The city has its walls, pushing them out further is a hard thing to think about, and building outside is hard… plenty of hungry eyes watch from out there. The roads are treacherous, you’re lucky to have even made it here. It’s mostly kids in your position who apply these days. Facing their three choices. Find work, try and survive leaving the city, or live inside, knowing the streets aren’t safe” he rubbed his jaw “plenty of dangerous things stalk at night… we rarely try to guard during the darkest hours, not worth it… there are things of a wing with better sight than us. Dive down, scoop a man away and just leave to eat him in peace”
Daniel nodded behind “It sounds difficult. I’m just grateful you’ll let me work for you, I just want to live here, in peace…”
“You picked a poor profession for peace” he warned “you understand that, right?”
“Yes…” Daniel murmured “but if I have a place to sleep warm and safe, and I’m not attacked every day…”
Cory frowned, attacked every day? Where had this kid even been…? “well, for my part I hope you find it suited to you, tired of replacing apprentices”
They patrolled in silence for the most part, Cory pointing out nook and crannies, alleys and the like for Daniel to keep his eye on, trying to give him some guidance on the job as they moved.
Though he was noticing a trend, Daniel’s attention would always be lingering away when he turned, often as not on some stall with enticing aromas wafting from it. The boy was still hungry. He supposed, it was to Daniel’s credit he wasn’t asking for anything. But it only made him feel guilty for the boy.
He let that thought linger for a while as they made it into the depths of the city, getting onto the main road. It cut from gates to port giving the line of trade easy passage through the buildings. Indented into one was a little eatery with outdoor seating he liked to stop at from time to time.
It was early to stop, and not common he’d feed his apprentice so much, but he could just about justify it as a one off.
“Alright kid, we’ll stop here a moment, get a bite to eat, rest our feet… don’t want to wear you out on your first day”
“Oh, ok” Daniel replied with, maybe relief? Cory considered the boy, hard to tell… kid just obeyed.
He led to the outside seating, settling down and watching Daniel do the same “I’ll order you something” he muttered, looking towards the inside of the place, begrudgingly dragging himself up to his feet again “wait here”
Cory wandered inside, considering what he could get cheap and quick. Something to fill the boy up but, not leave him dazed for the rest of their patrol. Leaning to the counter, making a little small talk while he waited, sparing only brief glances back to check his apprentice was staying put. Maybe it was good to give the boy a moment alone to contemplate his new life… but there was, something he couldn’t put his finger on.
The end result of his decision making was another stew, hearty food, scooped off the top of a pot they kept bubbling, but the boy hadn’t been choosy thus far.
Cory paid and took the bowl back out towards their table, taking note of his charge as he approached. His apprentice’s eyes were distant, yet focussed, a surprising intensity aimed towards a cart on the street. It didn’t take more than a few moments, seeing how the young lad’s gaze, shifted, it wasn’t the cart he was eying with such a look of, near giddy desire, intense yet slightly tender yearning; a more intense blend of emotions than he’d seen thus far from his dutiful apprentice. Rather, the strapping young man, bare muscles to the air, heaving impressive crate up which set the cart wheels creaking when they landed down.
Cory was silent and still, as the sudden awkwardness of the situation sunk in. He couldn’t take his observing gaze away before his apprentice seemed to notice. The lad’s body freezing up, head turning quickly to face his master.
Their eyes met long enough for him to see the flustered youth’s heightened focus flickering to fear, and through shame to embarrassment as it became clear across his face his, staring had been noticed “sorry…” his eyes glanced back to the worker, barely touching before springing away as if he was peeking glances at the sun “I… I get tempted I… know I shouldn’t”
He ran a large hand down his face, sighing into the skin. Well, learnt something new about his student, might explain a thing or two… The opportunity to just grunt, let the matter drop was tantalising, but, when he saw his crestfallen charge past his hand, he couldn’t just leave it like that.
“Your interests are your own… nothing wrong in that, if that’s who you like”
The lad perked up a little, smiling sheepishly “well… sort of, he’s, uh… muscular”
He was glad for his hand against his chin, it hid his frown. His charge was certainly on the smaller side, slip of a boy, lithe as a birch. Unlike himself, built like an oak. The awkward air only deepened as, something occurred to him “Just so we’re clear, since the topic has come up. I hope you’re not, interested in me that way, because, I’m not in you, and I won’t be”
There was a flash of, surprise, almost, consideration on the boy’s face, eyes flicking between him and, the man at the cart “oh… no, no, of course not. Never” The boy’s face took on a very, serious note, as he pressed his hand to his chest “never you, no sir. You’re, the only person who…” the boy’s sudden rigidity of stance melted “well you’ve let me work with you, everyone else turned me away. You, uh… you’d…” the boy looked off “you’re bigger than he is, over there, but I’d never. And… it never even occurred to me to think you’d look at me that way”
“Well, so long as we’re clear on that” the man felt some of the tension relaxing. The lad’s motives for approaching him as an apprentice, he felt the sudden concern over them lifting “you can pursue whoever you want on your own time, just so long as it doesn’t get in the way of business”
“Yes sir” the boy nodded solemnly “I’ve put a lot of consideration into that. I’ll be restrained”
He felt the frown returning… restrained wasn’t exactly the reaction he’d been aiming for, but he held his tongue from going any further. Not today anyway, he was more than happy to let the personal topic drop.
Instead, he flopped down into his chair and put the bowl with a carved wooden spoon before the boy “well, get this down you, and we’ll get back to patrol”

The rest of his route was uneventful, though Cory’s mind wandered to the past. It sounded like Daniel had been wandering a while. Perhaps he had, some idea of why the kid had a hard time settling now. His guild had always been pretty accepting even when they were on the road, surrounded by danger. If someone could prove themselves capable, they were welcome, nothing else mattered. But, he’d felt settlements had a different sort of air. One of preference, exclusion. When the people had a degree of safety, or maybe when they started to amass things in one place, they seemed to grow more paranoid of the company they kept. Whatever the identity they embraced, it was dangerous to think differently. Though, this city hadn’t been quite that way so far, maybe because of the prevalence of the port, the contact with the outside world.
It had been a strange thing to go from constant travel to the safety of walls. Both had their perks, but… his band had been built around the value of being able to defend themselves. What worked for them, maybe not so much for folk like Daniel.
The boy had gone quiet again.
They made their way through the valleys of the tall buildings, along the cobbled weathered streets towards the entry to the town, the guild building beside it.
“So… how’re your feet holding up?”
“I’m fine” Daniel murmured “is this, all I need to do? Walk and watch?”
“Watch for something you need to handle or alert others to” Cory added “trust me kid, you’ll come to like the days you can get away with just watching”
“It’s not that…” Daniel murmured “I want to be useful, I don’t feel useful right now”
“If you’re worried I’ll be kicking you out if you don’t make some, display of skill, put it out of your mind” Cory sighed, looking back to the trudging Daniel “I’ve accepted you as my apprentice, so, you’ve the job so long as you carry it out. Don’t flee at the first sign of danger, and don’t get yourself eaten by something, and you’ll do fine”
Daniel nodded “I can do that, probably… unless it’s a dragon, a big one…”
Cory couldn’t help a burst of a laugh from deep in his chest “kid, if a big dragon lands down in front of us, I’ll be running with you”
“Oh…” Daniel sounded almost surprised, earning him a questioning look from Cory, but the boy only glanced off
They made it into the guild, Cory wandering up to give his report. The evening had drawn in, and he sat Daniel down to a new bowl of stew, which the boy poked at with his spoon for a while before eating it. With his duties resolved, and his apprentice fed, Cory beckoned Daniel to follow deeper into the guild. Along the narrow corridors and up a staircase to reach the personal rooms.
“Here’s home for the next little while” Cory pushed in his door. His quarters were simple, desk, chest of his things pressed tightly to the foot of a compact bed. He nodded sideways as he got in “side room is yours”
Daniel moved in, curious, surveying the minimal space without comment, before stepping to the side room. The room smaller, with a bed much the same and little else.
“Hadn’t fully cleared it from my last. Anything you find you can make use of”
“Thank you” Daniel murmured “I can, sleep here, live in here?”
“When we’re not on patrol, you can do as you please with it”
Cory idly watched the lad move in to explore his new home, unbuckling his protective equipment to get comfortable in his space “I recommend you not stay up too late, we rise early, and being able to get to work when we say so, is a big part of your new job”
“Yes, I can do that, thank you” Daniel murmured. The boy seemed near stupefied, stumbling into the room, feeling along everything. Like he’d never seen a bed up close before.
“Yes… well, get comfortable, this room will be one of few small comforts. Outside of here, you represent the guild whether on duty or not
The boy didn’t reply, but Cory shrugged it off, moving to sit on his bed, rolling his shoulders. The kid’s time was his own for now. Strange pup he’d gotten himself this time… but, training they could do, the hardest part a lot of the time, was the willing to persevere. So far the kid was dutiful. If he had to train Daniel physically, teach him weaponry, feed him a bit better, those were things he could do. Daniel seemed a solid investment of the time, so far.
But, Cory put the boy from his mind for the time being, apart from being faintly aware of the sounds of movement in the side room. He pried open his chest, fumbling in it for a recent purchase. Reading wasn’t a skill he was strong in, but still he pulled free the bound book. Written down by a traveller he was told, of their time in the wilds. Brought back memories, so far. Offered the chance of learning about beasts he hadn’t seen yet. Cory propped himself back, and flicked open his book to lose himself in it till the light went too dim. Daniel’s training could start in earnest tomorrow.