Wilford stood at a crossroads. “South, East, or West? What do you think?” He asks.

“Go South. A seedling needs plenty of sun to grow in the dirt.” The voice says.

“Alright.” Wilford says before beginning to walk.

…

…

Wilford continues to trudge forward, his steps heavy and his hunger growing. He was very unprepared for this journey, but he didn't care. He was sort of hoping he would starve to death. His will to live was waning and he had no wish to continue on. If he couldn't burn as bright as the stars in the sky then what was a point? A life of mediocrity and stale daily tasks, lumbering away till old age took the strength from his limbs, till he rots in a tomb as he did in life? No, if it was going to be that way, he might as well die.

Wilford collapses to his knees before laying in the dirt, cradling his aching stomach.

“Get up, boy.” The voice says.

Wilford lets out a sigh. “What’s the point? There’s nothing to hold on for.” He says, dispirited.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“What are you talking about? There’s love and there’s sin, what more could you want? Also, I meant, get up, I smell wolves.” The voice says.

Wilford’s eyes widen. “What!?” He exclaims before getting up and drawing his dagger. “Wolves!? Where!?” He asks anxiously.

Suddenly Wilford heard the rustling of galloping footsteps across the grass and three shadows appeared before him before spreading out to surround the boy.

Wilford gulps. I’m dead. This time I’m truly dead. He thinks, losing hope.

The shadow before him, seeing his prey outnumbered and helpless, couldn’t hold it any longer and lunges forward.

“Mama! I want to live!” Wilford yells out before his instincts take over. He bolts to his right to dodge the wolf before leaping to plunge his dagger in the wolf’s neck.

The wolf lets out a howl of anguish as another wolf bites Wilford’s calf and pulls, causing him to fall to the ground, his leg punctured, and his wounds exposed.

Another wolf jumps forward to bite into Wilford’s neck.

Wilford, his eyes wide and his heartbeat racing, holds the dagger in front of his face. The wolf, wanting to bite into flesh only received a mouthful of steel.

Wilford’s heartbeat was beating so fast, he thought his heart was going to explode. Then, suddenly, it seems as if the pressure caused a barrier to break. Energy began to flow, as if breaking free from a dam, causing a feeling of comfort to rise from the anxiety and sense of doom.

Wilford slices with the dagger, cutting the wolf's mouth and causing it to wince back. As if his movements were practiced, the dagger aims once more for a wolf’s neck, as his leg pulls back and kicks with an immense force at the wolf who was biting his leg.

Blood splashes and the sound of crushing resounds, as Wilford rolls away and gets to his feet, prepared to act once more. But the wolves could no longer resist, the life draining from their bodies.

Wilford continues to watch with wide eyes, adrenaline still pumping. Then, a sensation is felt in his mind. His leg was deeply wounded and was bleeding heavily. Wilford looks at his bleeding leg, and realizing his impending death, loses consciousness. He could not face his own mortality and his consciousness ran away.

“What a bitch.” The voice says. Suddenly, a golden light begins to glow on Wilford’s leg, healing the wound. “Fine, since you awakened your battle energy, I’m still in the mood to continue watching.” The voice says, deciding to do Wilford this favour. “But I’ll be taking this wolf meat. I still want to watch you starve.” The voice says before the wolf corpses disappear.