Zatu watches as his grandpa enters the restaurant wearing a golden uniform.
And though Arbo's hair has long been whitened by age his muscles still fill the official clothes.
"Sorry for the delay kid." He pats Zatu's shoulder " and again congratulations on awakening."
Feeling the old hand patt him lightly Zatu feels the corner of his eyes turn up.
"Thanks, I'm happy you're here Grandpa."
The sound of a chair sliding against the ground pulls Zatu's attention.
When he looks to the side he sees Schalt getting up and giving Arbo a small bow.
"I have seen High councilor Greensword."
The young merchant says with deep respect in his voice.
A respect anyone in the city would show to Arbo, but Schalt knew his respect came from a different place.
While most respect the High Councilor for his battle feats and ever present protection off Unbreon. His friendship with Zatu had shown him something others couldn't even imagine.
The amount of wealth Arbo had amassed throughout his life was unfathomable.
To the point even Viscount Darkgalde, a man with a whole city under his belt, is unable to compare in spending power.
And by what Schalt estimated that difference wasn't even close.
"At ease boy." Arbo nods approvingly. "I appreciate the sentiment, but today is a celebration of my grandson so no need for many formalities."
Zatu chimes in from the side full of curiosity.
"How was the meeting? It's rare for them to call ya out of nowhere, what happened?"
Arbo sighs and sits down.
"This next wave will be a big one, the waves ten a decade later will be even worse. In view of that the kingdom offered a deal for a few cities and the council are discussing whether to take it or not."
"What kind of deal are you talking about grandpa?"
"They offered to promote Unbreon to a Count level city and a new city core for a slight tax on our city's main product, but to be honest the tax is more symbolic than an actual trade off."
"That sounds like a good thing, no? Why the emergency meeting?"
"You right kid, but since the new city core will call forth more beasts Viscount Darkglade is hesitant to take it right before the two worst waves of the millennium."
"What?" Zatu asks as his hands tighten under the table, him and Schalt were just talking about the abnormla increase in beast populations and now there would be another increase? "Why would a new core bring even more beasts?"
Hearing a question his disciple should know the answer to Arbo shoots a glare at Zatu.
"If only you paid attention to any lesson other than about swords and beasts you'd understand why." He sighs, taking a cut from one of the beast meats that filled the table.
"The core spreads and condenses the mana from the mana vein into the city area, making it easier to awaken better classes and buffing classes directly connected to Unbreon. And what happens when an area has stronger and denser mana?"
"More and stronger beasts are attracted." Zatu's brows frown. "Will we take it then?"
"Probably so." Arbo nods. "Core numbers and levels are limited to the kingdom level and Unbreon is just too far from the capital, even at this core is only possible because of the risk involved."
Hearing his answer Zatu looks down inside his cup, the juice is sweet, the food is good, but a heavy feeling sunk to the pit of his stomach.
"Is that a good idea? aren't the future waves already big enough?" He argues, knowing Arbo's opinion has a lot of weight in the council.
Arbos pauses eating for a second.
"I won't weigh down on this decision, Zatu." An unnoticed sigh escaping his lips. "Unbreon can't rely on me forever, this might pave the way for our cities future or might cripple it for decades, either way its not my call to make."
Silence grew loud even with the soft flute still playing in the background.
At the side Schalt shrinks back into his chair sipping on his drink.
Zatu stares at nowhere lost in thought and worry.
And Arbo wolfs down the meat on his plate.
After a few minutes of delicious eating Arbo pulls Zatu's attention back from space.
"By the way if they decide to take the deal I offered myself to go collect the new core, so I'll be away for two or so months." Then he turns his eyes to Schalt. "Either way Unbreon is planning a mega caravan to the capital soon, if you want to go you can come too, Schalt."
Schalt stops for a second pondering for a moment before shaking his head.
"I feel nervous away from my stores, but if possible I'd like to send a few wagons."
"That's fine, I'll send you a letter when the council locks down the details."
Hearing that a bit of worry emerges inside Zatu's chest.
"Be careful on the road old man, I know you're strong but never underestimate danger, you never know what type of beast might be lingering in the forests…"
Arbo laughs at his adopted grandson mirroring back a lçesson he had taught the kid in the first place.
"hahaha, I'll be careful Zatul and on the matter of beasts I see from the note you are shaking to go hunt. What's up with all this hurry?"
"I want to be useful Grandpa, there is only a bit more than a year before the waves, and if I'm not at least third tier I won't even be able to make any difference."
This time Arbo was the one to frown.
Reaching tier 3 in a year might not be impossible for a combat class, but it sure as hell wasn't safe.
And that is not mentioning the idea of fighting in the beast waves with a single year of experience.
"The waves are dangerous and you're still young Zatu, I was double your age when I went to fight on my first beast waves."
"Yeah, but you weren't trained from young like me, right? I was raised for this Grandpa, you say you were double my age, but at my age had you trained the sword for ten plus years straight?"
Arbo sighs, deeply worried Zatu is trying to grow too fast, fearful the kid might kill himself in the process.
But just like with Unbreon, old man Arbo knew he couldn't protect Zatu for much longer, so it was not his decision to make.
"Alright I won't stop you Zatu, but what is your plan to hunt in the outer city? And don't even think about going alone, all the monsters around the area are high tier 1 at a minimum."
Hearing the hesitant acceptance from his grandpa a smile blooms in Zatu's lips.
"Don't worry Grandpa, Schalt helped me hire a guide."
Arbo looked at the trustable Schalt and nodded, if Schalt had recommended the guide should be good enough.
"In that case, you don't need to worry about levels, you won't find any beast even close to your level, so you'll need a guide to weaken the beasts first before every fight. What's the name of the guide?"
From the side Schalt puts his cup on the table and answers.
"I don't know her name, but she goes by Night Fang. She isn't from the inner city, but someone from the Redhammers recommended her services."
Hearing the answer Arbo paused in thought, that name seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite grasp where he had heard it before.
"Does she work for the tower or something? I have an impression I heard this moniker around there."
"Not that I know off." Schalt says, frowning a bit as he searches his memory. "At least I couldn't find anything other than her history guiding people to the outer south."
Satisfied with the answer and the food Arbo turns back to Zatu and pulls a small velvet box from his magic pouch.
"I have to go soon Zatu, once again congratulations on awakening." With that Arbo takes his cup and raises it slightly. "To Zatu."
"To Zatu." Schalt echoes with his cup, while Zatu sits awkwardly at the side unsure whether to raise his own cup or not.
***
Later down the night, long after Arbo has gone back to the tower Zatu remembers to ask Schalt about Maira.
"So what happened with Maira? I remember she was here just earlier today."
"She asked for indefinite leave actually, apparently something really important showed up right after you left."
Zatu pauses in thinking, he did ask her for some help, but then again would she pause her job just for that?
He wasn't sure, if that was the case she should get some good gossip soon.
Satisfied with the night and ready to start his training tomorrow Zatu made his way through the darkened streets of the inner city.