Jarek place was located in the middle Wing of the foragers basecamp.
The inner wings had wooden doors to protect from people entering just anyhow and there was even a sort of courtyard that a beam of sunlight could naturally fall to from above.
They weren't luxurious, but they were much better than anything Eldros had known in both lives.
He led the way in, crocodile corpse still slung over her shoulder, and pointed to the middle room to the far side of the whole cave like house. "You stay there, Brat. I'll call you when food's ready."
She went to the kitchen, and soon the sound of chopping echoed out.
Eldros entered his new quarters, a simple room with a bed, blanket, and table. Clean and sunlit. He liked it. Small rooms made him feel safe.
Ignoring the bed, he sat on the floor and began his breathing exercises. Being a Magus meant a lot of things but one thing he's come to realize is that it meant a lot of mediate and condensing of mana into one's body.
Whether you practice the Magus Mystic or Magus Primaris. Or both.
Mana slowly flowed into him. The smell of cooking meat reached him not long after. It was rich, fragrant and his stomach groaned.
Still, he kept doing his Arcana art.
By evening, Jarek called out.
Eldros opened his eyes and went to the kitchen. On the table were seven or eight dishes, fried crocodile, braised crocodile, soup, and more. A proper feast.
Eldros had flash of when he would boil rats back on Earth, even his host body that lived in the gutter of this new world ate it when hunger strikes but he would only eat it raw. That was why Eldros goes around eating raw meat when he opened his eyes and woke up in a ruined city.
It was easier that way.
But, Jarek was a good cook.
Eldros stepped inside but didn't sit until Jarek had set the table. He noticed that the woman placed two additional plates that was obviously not meant for either of them.
That made Eldros pause.
"Someone else coming?" he asked.
Her eyes flickered. "Just a habit. Who knows? The two people might come for their food."
Eldros nodded and sat. He didn't want to pry into her business.
Unable to resist, he grabbed a fried piece of meat and shoved it in his mouth. It was burning hot, juicy, and delicious.
Jarek cleared his throat. "Use the fork."
Eldros obeyed, stabbing a piece with his fork. They ate in silence, Jarek ate slowly while Eldros was like a starving wolf.
Jarek eventually asked, "Why didn't you eat the bread I gave you on the way like this?"
Eldros shook his head. "That was something you own. But this crocodile was killed by me."
Eldros smiled faintly but said nothing. She noticed Eldros still left her plenty, never overreaching.
"That crocodile was big," She said. "It'll last us half a month. The bones and skin are worth a lot."
"I'll pay full rent," Eldros said flatly. "Don't deduct anything for the Crocodile. And, what did you do with the barbed tail?'
To him, the crocodile meat covered the bread and the sleeping bag. The bones and skin covered Jarek's silence over the bulky man that he killed on the way over. The rest was rent.
As for the tail. Eldros had warped it up in his bad. He liked to use things with venom or poison. It just makes things easier to deal with. The venom in this new world he found himself was even more potent.
'..I won't sell it...I'm going to have need for it..'
So in answer, he shrugged at her.
Jarek studied him for a moment.
Eldros was clearly someone who understood favors and grudges. She nodded. "Bet you've been wondering who I am, huh?"
Eldros kept eating but slowed. He had indeed wondered but he hasn't asked. The reason he followed her was because she had no aura and killing intent of someone that wanted him dead.
It was one of the ways he survived for long back in the gang. People can't hide when they want to kill you.
"Name's Jarek. Not my real name, but nobody here uses real names. I've got a few close comrades, we call ourselves Jarkel. Yeah, not the most creative name. There's four of us, including me. The rest are out on jobs."
He paused and leaned forward. "I want you to join us. You'll earn your keep, and get resources for Arcana art."
Jarek wasn't surprised. If he could tell she was a rogue Magus herself, then she surely saw the same in him.
"Okay," he replied with a nod. It made sense.
In the world, no one offered help without expecting something in return. This was at least honest. In fact, it would be suspicious if anyone offers help without waiting anything back.
"Good." she stood and stretched. "Don't rush your Magus art. Mana's like poison, it mutates you if you're not careful. Slow and steady's the way. But you're right to focus. That ruined cities nearby is full of resources. Eventually, you'll have to enter.
"Most especially. The resources that's needed to make cleaning potions that helps with the Noxium."
With that, she left.
Eldros stayed behind to finish the food. Then he cleaned the dishes and kitchen before returning to his room. Once inside, he resumed practicing.
He had no choice but to grow stronger. He had already lived a life of weakness once and it wasn't something he wanted a repeat of.
The outpost was filled with dangerous Magus.
The gangs were a kennel of wild dogs but this place, a den of vicious wolves. If he didn't grow stronger, he'd be killed by one of them before the side effects of being a Magus even got him.
He remembered something he read about in the book, the cleasing potions could help with the side effects. Nothing could cure it entirely but it could at least help suppress it.
He had heard about it from the other foragers too.
The ruined cities held the ingredients to make the potions, so the outposts probably had some for sale. He would need coins to buy one.
He reached to his chest where the sigil was.
It gave him regeneration, speed, and strength. Even though he was only at the first star of the Initiate of the Arcana and the Hand of the Demon, he already felt stronger than what the book said.
Since he was practicing the Magus Mystic for now, the first star was supposed to have the power of an ape.
'..but I feel like I could kill four apes now..'
The silver apple must be helping somehow in the regard.
He closed his eyes again. His goal was clear...to reach the second star tonight.
Mana surged around him. The ruined city was heavy with Noxium, but here, it was much thinner. That made things easier.
He opened up and pulled the energy in, a silver light glowing faintly in his chest.
Time passed.
Soon, snapping sounds echoed from inside him, and black sludge oozed out of his pores. His flesh was being refined, his strength growing.
A roar filled his mind as it sharpened and became clearer. His eyes snapped open, silver light flickering within.
A second coin like mark appeared on his abdomen as Noxium was transferred over.
He had reached the second star of The Initiate of the Arcana.