The lack of mana can be compensated with items that grant mana or replenish the lost ones, but at this point in the game, there was no such item that granted a reasonable amount of mana as a perk.
However, potions that replenished lost mana could be bought in the game.
Axton already acquired some copper coins, thanks to the critical hit bonus that multiplied his 1 copper coin to a hundred, equivalent to one silver coin.
[100 copper coins = 1 silver coin]
[100 silver coins = 1 gold coin]
Axton made his way straight to a potion shop to purchase some for the unforeseeable future.
With a hundred copper coins, Axton could get 100 low grade mana potions at the rate of 1 copper coin per potion.
…
[Mana Replenishment Potion (Low Grade)]
Perk : Replenishes 1 mana per second. Last for a period of 10 seconds
…
Axton did not have a problem with the description of the item and put all his money in.
'You never know how much you will need for this hunter guy,' Axton thought to himself, still a little bit shaken by the mystery that shrouded this hunter quest.
After that, he departed for the location that Iron Buck had written down for him on paper.
******
After a long journey, Axton finally arrived at a beat up house on the eastern side of the village outskirts.
He raised his eyebrows, wondering if this was truly the place that the blacksmith wanted him to go to as it did not look like someone even lives here.
The door of the house was shut right, almost as if no entry was allowed from outside.
"He can't be wrong," Axton pointed out while heaving a long sigh. "After all, he's an NPC."
*Knock*
"Knock once," Axton muttered, recalling the exact instructions that Iron Buck had given him.
"Then, twice…"
*Knock* *Knock*
"Finally, knock three times and step back from the door."
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
After knocking three times, Axton did exactly as the blacksmith had told him back at his shop and stepped away from the door.
*Thud*
Suddenly, an arrowhead pierced through the door from inside the house, forcing Axton's heart to skip several beats in shock.
It was at this time that he understood why Iron Buck had told him to back away from the door.
If he had not, then the arrowhead would have struck him squarely right at the centre of his forehead.
A grumpy old man creaked the door open from the inside, clearing his throat and spewing out saliva to the side of the house.
"Who the hell is that?!" he barked, then searched for the trespasser who disturbed his peace.
Catching sight of Axton's figure, the old man scrutinised him with several suspicious gazes.
"You are not from around here, are you?"
Axton shook his head. "No, sir."
"Then what are you looking for in these parts?"
Axton took out the paper that Iron Buck had given him to show the man as proof as he went over and handed it.
"Iron Buck sent me," Axton added. "He said you needed help with something."
As the old man was busy looking through the content of the paper, Axton tried to use his basic appraisal skill to see what he was in for.
Unfortunately, nothing popped up other than the man's name and profession.
Every other data was inaccessible to Axton.
…
[Jackal]
Profession : Hunter
Level : ???
Attack : ???
Defense : ???
HP : ???
Axton knew nothing about this person in front of him, and this alone, further deepened the mystery.
'This guy must be strong,' Axton asserted in his mind, '...and if he's strong, why would he need my hel—'
"Hmm!" the old man, Jackal, mumbled loudly as he massaged his bearded chin. "So he sent you, huh?"
Axton blinked a few times.
Everything about Jackal was just weird to him.
"Seeing how you already have not one or two, but three grade 3 Equipment, you must be strong enough."
Axton was surprised.
How could he tell?
Even Iron Buck who had given him the common grade versions of these items did not know that Axton left his shop with grade 3 Equipment.
Jackal was an exceptional character.
The old man turned around and walked into the house but not before gesturing to Axton to follow him.
******
"You see, lad… I need help with killing a certain creature that hurt my little horse," Jackal said.
He sighed and shook his head. "If I was still young, I wouldn't need anybody's help to get my revenge but I am worn out and can't do much. That's why I secluded myself here to hunt."
"What monster is that, sir?" Axton asked the important question, ignoring every other detail that Jackal was spicing his story up with.
"During one of my hunts recently, I encountered a Great Wolf. My horse was killed in that clash and I was able to escape of course… but with some scratches of my own."
Jackal paused and leaned forward, his face darkening.
"Kill the Great Wolf for me and I will reward you handsomely."
*Ding*
[New quest alert!]
[Quest detail : Eliminate the Great Wolf]
[Reward : You will be allowed to own a Grade 4 beast of your own, and half of the beast's attributes will be bestowed to you]
[Do you accept Jackal's request?]
[Yes / No]
Axton's eyes lit up at the rewards, and his heart beat even faster inside his chest.
Having animal mounts was not something that came until later in the game, at least level 40s and yet he could have one.
In addition to that, he gets to use 50% of the beast's abilities.
"If you can't take the job, that's fine," Jackal said. "I won't blame you because you are still young. The Great Wolf is a strong monster and there is a pack of wild wolves for training."
Axton closed his eyes and took a really deep breath.
"Yes… I accept."
"You can think it through if you want to…"
Axton looked at him and smiled.
His mind was already made up.