The forest enveloped me in darkness, and the wind gained strength as the sun dipped lower, nearly caressing the horizon. Normally, I relished gazing at the sky from the comfort of my home during this hour. However, work demanded my attention, pulling me away from that cozy refuge. My destination: a nearby stream. The snow posed a slight challenge to my progress, but it was manageable. What proved less tolerable was the biting cold that struck me. While I was typically accustomed to temperature drops, this was different. Because of that, my hands trembled involuntarily.
'Ah, damn it. There's nothing I can do.'
Acknowledging my predicament became the only viable coping mechanism. Besides, the markers we had set to guide us to the river had worn down considerably.
'I'll need to replace them after the storm passes anyway, no use worrying about it now,' I decided. Hoping that most of the markers were still visible, I continued my journey. Despite a faint recollection of the path, the almost identical look of the surroundings made navigation surprisingly difficult.
'Good thing it's winter,' I thought, grateful for the snow that could serve as a guide if I lost my way. Yet, I was well aware that this advantage came with risks. With night swiftly approaching, the forest's usual inhabitants now had reinforcement. And this backup was quite strong. Creatures like night stalkers had been a constant pest for my grandfather. Personally, I made it a point to retreat indoors as soon as the sun set, awaiting morning to have some peace again.
Grandpa had also warned me that facing these creatures would be a formidable struggle.
"At least he believes I have a chance, and honestly, I do think that I am capable enough too. A mere dog with dark fur and glowing eyes wouldn't intimidate me," I reassured myself.
After traversing the snowy forest for a considerable time, I reached the river after an hour of alternating between strolling and running. Night had cast its blanket over the sky, lending an air of serenity to the water in the cold, dark surroundings. The river appeared clearer and smoother than ever, though I considered that my parched throat might be influencing my perception.
Kneeling by the flowing bliss, I began filling up the water skins I had brought with me, eager for a refreshing sip. Just as I was about to bend down, two bright lights appeared a little further down the stream, making me stop in place.
'What the hell is that?' I asked myself, searching my memory for any creature with eyes like those. Then, it struck me. I had thought about them only minutes ago. The realization likely saved my life, for as soon as I identified the source of the lights, I knew that I needed to act fast to avoid becoming a night stalker's meal.
Jumping to my feet, I swiftly unsheathed the dagger always at my side, leaving behind unnecessary weight like my bag and hunting bow. Adopting the defensive stance my grandfather had taught me when I was 12, a fundamental posture that most knights assumed when facing a night stalker in which one would cover the head. It stung my pride that a scavenger type monster considered me prey, but I recognized the advantage it gave me in combat.
My mind wrestled with anxiety, but I put my emotions to the background, craving victory to earn Grandpa's respect, to be seen not as a child but as a comrade. As the night stalker circled me, enjoying my unease with each step, I forced myself to focus.
"There's no way I'm letting it get to me," I muttered under my breath, tightening my grip on the dagger. Shifting to an offensive stance, I heightened my senses and infused my body with mana. The night stalker, sensing the change, paused in its play, now observing my every move. Its hesitation gave me a boost of confidence, the mix of fear and excitement overwhelming me.
"Being cautious now is too late, dumbass!" I shouted, a smirk forming on my face. Charging mana into my feet, I explosively dashed toward the beast, dagger raised for a stab. It dodged to the right, leaving me to pierce the air.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
'I knew it.'
Anticipating a dodge, I slowed my pace, redirecting the knife towards the monster. Unaware that it had scratched my forehead with its claws, I seized the moment. Its slowed response allowed me to strike its shoulder. Laughter erupted from me, bordering on madness, as I slashed open its body from the initial stab, inflicting maximum damage. A fountain of blood gushed from the wound, drenching my upper body in crimson.
Having delivered the first and final slash, the night stalker managed a feeble kick, forcing me back as it hastily backdodged to a safe distance. Panting heavily, it cast fearful glances my way, mirroring the fear I had felt just moments earlier. Witnessing it cower before me, an expression pleading for mercy, evoked laughter.
"What? Weren't you treating me like your plaything a few seconds ago? Look who's pathetic now!" I exclaimed, surprised by the cruelty that had surfaced within me. Recognizing that such behavior would likely paint me as a madman in Grandpa's eyes, I decided to rein in my emotions. Calming my breathing and slowing my heartbeat, I regained composure.
Amidst this mental reset, I observed the night stalker initiating a desperate run, lacking the speed needed to escape my pursuit. "Was I really scared by a creature like this? Why did Grandpa say the fight would be challenging?" Puzzled by Grandfather's earlier warnings, I readied myself to complete the task at hand.
"At least I can relieve you of your pain," I declared aloud. Channeling at least half of my mana into my legs, I patiently awaited the opportunity to strike. When a clear path was visible between the night stalker and me, I extracted my knife and executed my wind step. Embracing my affinity with the wind, I felt its power surge through me. In three seconds, I covered the 20 meters it had attempted to traverse. Landing on its back, I thrust my knife into its head, prompting a final, desperate howl before it went limp, causing us to collide with an oncoming tree. The grotesque state of its head stirred a twinge of remorse within me.
'Well, it's nature, I guess,' I thought, choosing to dismiss the unsettling sight as it was the easiest way to move past it. However, there was another task awaiting my attention.
That task filled me with dread for the hours to come - carrying the lifeless night stalker back. Letting out a deep sigh, I retraced my steps to the river to retrieve my bag and bow. Yet, something didn’t feel right. The night stalker I had faced was alone. My grandfather emphasized that these creatures typically hunted in packs, which is why he described them as pesky.
'Shit,' I realized instantly why it had emitted that howl before its demise. It had likely signaled its canine companions to come here. Expending the remaining half of my mana from the fight, I fortified myself, executing the last few wind steps. Gathering my belongings and swiftly returning to the night stalker's corpse, I secured it to my back with a rope, utilizing every bit of strength I possessed.
In the nearly pitch-black surroundings, the faint glow of four sets of night stalker eyes rapidly approached me. Their speed outmatched even the dreams of the deceased one I had just faced. Notably taller, by at least a meter, the one I killed was undoubtedly its offspring.
'Damn it, this was the child.'
Realization struck as to why the night stalker had wandered alone and attacked me recklessly. Fearing the worst, I tapped into my last bit of mana, propelling myself forward. Landing a few steps ahead, I sprinted as fast as my legs could carry me, relentlessly pursued by my revenge-driven assailants.
'I need to get rid of weight.'
Considering what to discard, my mind settled on the bag Grandpa had gifted me and the magical hunting bow. Everything else was indispensable. As I tossed my bag, one stalker halted to investigate, and the same thing happend with the bow. Now only two stalkers remained, still had slim chance of survival but it helped.
I sprinted for a few more minutes through the endless rows of trees only to find the forest abruptly ending ahead. A cliff, and both my relentless pursuers cut off my escape routes to the left or right. My mind raced, seeking a solution, but there was nothing I could think of.
Arriving at the cliff, I swiftly turned around, raising my dagger. The night stalker I laid down, and though I might have had a chance to escape, my mana was dangerously low, and enduring the backlash of depletion was not an option. My two assailants arrived, slowing down, yet unaware that I was their prey. Contemplating a desperate jump, a glance revealed the even slimmer odds of survival than confronting them now. Panting from exhaustion, I collapsed, a weak smile forming on my face.
'In the end, accepting a tragic death is better than experiencing a pathetic one,' I thought, stretching my arms, prepared to be shredded apart. However, to my surprise, both monsters fled instead. Rustling from the bushes announced the arrival of the old man, his imposing presence enough to drive the monsters away.
Approaching me with a smile behind his bushy, grey beard, he met my fading consciousness. The only words I could muster before passing out were, "You got old, geezer," before collapsing onto the ground, with not a shred of mana left.