March 27, 1410

Ray charged at Viola, his energy being much more consistent than it ever was, trying to land a punch on Viola, but Viola kept easily dodging his attacks, Rya kept trying to trick her, but all his moves were easily read by her.

Ray was growing frustrated, Vincent words echoing in his mind, ‘try to push Viola.’ Ray desperately tries to, but because of that lucky kick he almost got on her, she hasn’t let herself get hit.

It's been a week since Ray declared he would attack the village, since the talk he had with Vincent, and Viola, they decided to stop cutting his hand, so it can grow back in time, when he sets off on his mission.

After hours of constant training with Viola, Vincent stops them. They both landed on the ground, while Ray was battered, and tired, while Viola was barely sweating.

“Alright that should be enough, you should take tomorrow to fully rest, since we haven’t cut your arm, it is almost fully grown back, you need the extra time to heal before you set out to fight Sierra.” Vincent said.

Ray looked at his hand, his palm, and thumb had already recovered, he was just missing his fingers.

“I don’t think he is ready yet.” Viola said.

“It’s fine, I’ll be ok, I need to do this early anyway, if I want to impress my master, I need to fully rest.” Ray said.

“Alright, fresh-blood, do you think you can show me how much you progress, extend your mark as much as you can.” Vincent ordered.

Ray nodded his head, he took a couple of steps back, and unleashed his energy, his black aura covering his body, soon his mark appeared passing his hand, it kept steadily going until it finally stopped passing his elbow.

“Ok, if this is what you can do, without being tired, I’ll say you are at least at eight percent, which is almost on par with Sierra blessing.” Vincent said.

“Good job, Ray.” Viola said.

“What should we do now?” Ray asked through a short breath, he tried better to control his breathing.

“Well it is time for dinner, what are you feeling to eat today, fresh-blood?” Vincent asked.

“I’ll say deer meat, it’s one of my favorites.” Ray said.

“I think we already ran out of deer meat, and I’m not really one for hunting, neither is Viola.” Vincent said.

“I can get it, I know how to hunt.” Ray said.

“How, you don’t have all your fingers.” Viola said.

“My thumb is all I need, to hold the bow.” Ray said.

“Alright, you can go get it, I’ll prepare the meal, Viola I can use your help with that.”

“Wait, are you sure it is safe, his hand hasn’t really grown back, what if someone sees him, or he encounters a knight.” Viola said.

“He’ll be fine, think of this, as some training, I’ll say stick high on the trees, so you won’t be spotted, though it's going to be hard doing everything with one hand, I’m sure you’ll manage.” Vincent told Ray.

“Right, I’ll be fine, I’ll make sure I don’t see any knights, before I go and kill any deer.” Ray said.

“Ok, don’t forget to take the supplies, the bow, and arrows, and the rope, be sure to knock when you come back, I don’t want deer blood all over my floor, we will prepare him right here, in the training room.” Vincent said.

Ray nodded his head, he got to his room, and quickly changed his clothes, he went to the supply closet, and got everything he needed. As soon as he went through the door, he put on his hoodie, which was hiding his face. He set out towards the woods.

After going through a couple of trees, Ray started climbing, using his strength he managed to jump a couple of meters off the ground, reaching almost halfway of the trees. Using his right hand he climbed the rest of the way, soon reaching a branch, he made sure to test it to see if it could support him.

Ray stood on the branch, and looked down, towards his surroundings. All he saw were the brown trees, and leaves on the ground, he saw rabbits, and foxes, but he didn’t pay any attention to those. Ray started jumping through the trees, checking for any deer, until finally he found one. Ray got his bow ready, but he kept struggling getting the bow at the right angle to shoot.

Ray shot the arrow, but just barely grazed the deer. Without his fingers to properly hold the arrow, he couldn’t use his full strength to kill the deer in one go. Ray sighed, he was still frustrated from not being able to land any hits on Viola earlier, and started chasing the deer, jumping through the trees, making sure to not lose the animal.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

The deer stopped, it looked at its surroundings trying to find any danger to it, soon Ray was on top of the deer in the tree branch, he contemplated his choices.

{I can keep shooting at it, until it dies, or I can use my good hand, and send a bolt of energy towards it, that will kill it for sure, I’ll be sure to aim at it head that way I can easily get rid of the evidence, in case a knight come upon the deer, after I left. Alright then.}

Ray aimed his right hand at the deer, focusing his energy, so that the blast would kill the deer quickly, and shot the deer in the head. The deer instantly feel down sideways, no longer being able to move. Ray jumps down from the tree branch, getting his rope ready to tie up the deer. Ray knelt down to the deer, inspecting the wound he gave it.

The blast went right through its head. Leaving behind a small circular angle that can be seen through. Ray took out his supplies to get the deer ready.

[Snap! Rustle!]

Ray quickly turned his head, and saw a person who was staring right at his wide eye, the person was wearing a brown jacket, with a scarf covering his face. The person suddenly turned the opposite way, and started running.

“Someone, please help me!” The person yelled.

{What! No! No!}

Ray dropped his things and ran towards the person, who was still screaming for help. Ray quickly caught up to the screaming person, and tackled the person to the ground, Ray turned the person over. It was a man, he was throwing his hands at Ray trying to push him off.

“No! No! Please, don’t kill me!” The man yelled, moving his body as much as he could.

“Stop. Stop. Shut it, shut it!” Ray said, trying to put his hands over the man's mouth. The man bit Ray's hand, Ray pulled back his hand.

“Please, don't do this!” The man yelled.

{No! No! I’m sorry, I’m sorry.}

“I have a fam-” The man tried to say, but Ray knocked him out by smashing his face against the ground, soon the only sound that could be heard was Ray heavy breathing.

Ray got up from the body, and rustled his hair.

{Dammit, dammit, DAMMIT, what do I do? Should I kill him, no I don’t think he got a good look at me. Dammit, how can I be so stupid. The deer! I need to get rid of the evidence I left behind on it. Ok, ok, I will tie him up, and take him to Vincent, he should know what to do, I’ll hide the deer's body, yeah, yeah. I’ll do that.}

Ray got rid of the man gear, Ray carefully placed it on one of the tree branches, so it wouldn't be suspicious, and dragged the body back to where the deer was. Ray grabbed the rope that was on the ground, and tied the unconscious man up, then he moved the deer to another location, before hiding it behind some bushes, Ray went back to where he tied up the man.

{How did I mess up this badly, I am so screwed, I need to blindfold him, just in case he wakes up, and gag him too, dammit, how did I not see him?}

Ray took off the man's scarf, and wrapped it around his eyes, Ray put the body over his shoulders, and started jumping through the trees.

{Careful, one jump at a time, be sure to listen to the surrounding voices. The last I need is someone to see what I just did, dammit this is going to cause more problems with the knights, it’s a good thing whoever I am carrying didn’t have knights with him, otherwise it might have been a problem, I can’t believe I mess up, after I told them I will be ok.}

Soon Ray was near the mansion, he put down the man on one of the tree branches, secured him with the rope, and headed down to the ground. He entered the clearing of Vincent house, and looked around, making sure no one was around to see him. Ray made sure the coast was clear.

Ray went back up to get the man, and put him over his shoulder, he got to near the clearing, and did a double check of his surroundings, he got himself ready, holding the unconscious man, tightly and dashed towards the house, getting the key ready, Ray insert the key as fast as he could, turning the lock to open the door, then the door open, and Ray jump inside the house.

Ray quickly put down the man, and shut the door, making sure it was locked, he could hear the voices of Vincent, and Viola in the distance, Ray put the man over his shoulder and headed to the training room.

As Ray entered the room, he put down the man lying face upwards.

{Ok, ok, I’m sure no one saw me bring an unconscious body to Vincent's house, and even if they did, they have no proof, I should be fine, I need to quickly tell Viola, and Vincent, dammit they are going to be mad, what should I do Eda? No time to worry about it, first thing first, getting Viola, and Vincent help on this.} Ray thought to himself.

Ray went back upstairs to go get Vincent and Viola. As he ran up the stairs, and into the kitchen breathing heavily, both Vincent, and Viola turned to look at him, with a confused look on their faces.

“Ray! what’s wrong you look sick.” Viola said.

“I did something really stupid, I need your guys help, I’ll be in the training room.” Ray said. He didn’t wait for their response, he ran to the training room, where the man was still laying down on the ground, as if he fell asleep. Viola was the first one to go into the room, Ray stepped aside so she could see what he did.

Viola looked shocked, her mouth was open, she stared at Ray, with wide eyes. “You didn’t! What could possibly make you do something so stupid.” Viola declared, looking at Ray with desperate wide eyes.

“I, I wasn’t thinking! I shot the deer with a bolt of energy, I didn’t know he was in the area, I was frustrated I couldn’t kill the deer in one shot.” Ray explained.

“What is going on?” Vincent said, as he finally came into the room. His footsteps were the only thing that could be heard in the room.

Both Viola, and Ray look at him with wide eyes, Vincent inspected the room, slowly looking at the body on the floor, and Viola, and finally at Ray. Vincent started walking towards the body, as he was standing in front of it, he slowly looked over it, he suddenly turned to Ray, with a confused look on his face, and told him.

“Why haven’t you killed him?”