Chapter 13: The Hunt
In the vast canopy of the sky-high trees, dappled sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, scattering tiny, fragmented beams onto the lush, verdant grass below, creating a mottled tapestry of shadows. Felix sat cross-legged under a large tree, carefully slicing two plump rabbits roasting on a makeshift spit.
This was the outskirts of Mistwood Forest, bordering the primitive woods near Devil’s Cliff. The forest wasn't known for treasures that would attract adventurers, but rather for its occasional appearance of ferocious carnivorous beasts – a formidable challenge even for seasoned adventurers.
The roasting spit was rudimentary, crafted from two branches Felix had skillfully cut from the tree with a dagger. The spit itself was a sword, taken from an adventurer who had fallen to Felix. The sword's sharp edge had earlier sliced one of the roasting rabbits in half, causing it to fall into the fire and emerge charred and blackened.
Felix could now be certain of one thing: he must have been born to a wealthy family, as he possessed minimal wilderness survival skills. His attempt at cooking – particularly this rabbit roasting endeavor – was far from successful, having already burnt two rabbits to a crisp.
It wasn't until he started cooking the third rabbit that Felix began to pick up some tricks. To avoid slicing the rabbit in half with the sword's sharp blade, he resorted to brute force, snapping the blade of the fine steel longsword.
One of the rabbits on the sword was now fully cooked, while the other was still medium-rare. Felix, feeling a pang of hunger, bit into the seemingly ready rabbit, only to find that it was only superficially cooked, the inside still raw and slightly bloody. Frustrated, he scored the rabbit with his dagger before returning it to the spit.
The allure of barbecued food is often in its aroma, which can be deceiving compared to its actual taste. Eventually, with some newly learned techniques, Felix managed to cook both rabbits, filling the air with an enticing fragrance.
After slicing into one and confirming it was thoroughly cooked, he finally took the food off the fire.
Lacking salt or any other seasoning, Felix found the meal surprisingly delicious. These rabbits, initially intended for breakfast, were now being eaten at around four in the afternoon, magical time. Deducting the time taken to catch the rabbits, it had taken Felix over six hours to prepare his 'breakfast,' which was now more of a dinner.
Surviving in the wilderness was no easy feat, and Felix's experience was a testament to that. It wasn't just about having physical strength. Upon leaving Snowdrift Hollow, he realized he had forgotten many essential items. Perhaps he had never been one to fuss over the details of daily life.
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Without a tent, Felix had no choice but to sleep on tree branches, an uneasy and uncomfortable rest. The most unbearable part was the early morning, when dew would form and the wind would cause it to drip incessantly on his head.
Felix’s considerable strength was a small consolation. For an average adventurer, the biggest concern in such an environment would likely be snakes and other poisonous creatures. Without enough strength to deter them, the snakes and other venomous beings hidden in the forest could pose a significant threat. A single bite could be fatal.
Moreover, in such dangerous locales, it was inadvisable to light a fire at night unless one wished to attract packs of vicious wolves or other hungry, powerful beasts.
Without salt, Felix's diet during his monster-hunting days was bland and tasteless. His only hope was to find his target quickly: a beast that could be exchanged for a substantial amount of gold.
Felix had come here with a simple purpose: he needed money, a bag full of glittering gold coins. This was necessary to repay the savings spent by the Snowcharm innkeeper on his treatment and to support himself on his journey to the human world.
He needed a horse, provisions, and, of course, a tent.
Felix disliked owing favors, especially to women.
He had once heard from travelers at Snowcharm’s tavern that a bugbear resided in this forest, identifiable by its angry roars.
This bugbear was Felix's target.
Known for its thick skin and ability to wield elemental earth powers, the bugbear was rumored to be strong enough to withstand a few blows from a glaurung.
Its fur and core were highly valuable – human nobility prided themselves on owning a complete bugbear pelt, and spellcasters were eager for its magical core.
In the world of Delrano, alchemy is not advanced, leading to a currency system largely based on silver and copper coins. In Delrano, gold coins are incredibly valuable.
A single, shimmering gold coin can be exchanged for one hundred and twenty standard human silver coins. In this world, where alchemy is limited, many of the poor have never even seen a gold coin in their lifetimes. Gold is predominantly in the hands of nobles, spellcasters, and adventurers.
Felix plans to travel to the human world in search of his forgotten memories, as the fragmented images deep in his memory seem to be of humans and human architecture. Perhaps the answers he seeks are there, in the world of humans, possibly within the legendary churches.
Of course, he must first have money. The quickest way he has found to earn it is by hunting magical beasts.
A bugbear in the Snowdrift Hollow region could fetch a high price of around three hundred gold coins. Felix had also heard from other travelers that nobles with vast territories in the human world might be willing to pay a thousand gold coins or more for it.
After wrapping the half-eaten rabbit in leaves, Felix extinguished his campfire and headed deeper into the primitive forest. According to information provided by a traveler, the bugbear's territory should be near Devil’s Cliff, encompassing a mountain and a lake.
Places with food and water sources, like this, are often occupied by magical beasts, as a water source means a steady supply of food.