"Chase Falcon, do you take Serene to be your lawfully wedded wife?" the officiant asked solemnly, the ceremony carrying a weight that made Blur hesitate.
For a moment, Blur stumbled over his words, uncertainty creeping in. But as his eyes locked with Serene's, he saw something; hope, perhaps. He saw a possibility that she could change, that their future together might be different.
"I... do," Blur finally said softly, a small, tentative smile forming on his lips, which Serene mirrored, her face lighting up in response.
"Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife," the official declared. "You may kiss the bride."
In the mortal realm, each God experienced their time on Earth differently; some found joy, others frustration. These experiences altered their perspectives on humanity, shaping them in unexpected ways. Yet among all the deities, none were as profoundly changed as Flage, the God of Hunting.
Flage had always been distant from humanity. He wasn't against the creation of mortal life, but he never embraced it either. Like Torrent, he rejected the idea of reproducing with mortals. In fact, Flage's discontent ran so deep that before even descending to Main World, he used his power to create a secluded cabin deep in the forest, miles away from any human settlement.
Upon arriving, he retreated into that wilderness, making his home far from civilization.
Unlike his fellow Gods, Flage had no intention of participating in the Demigod Project. His disdain for humanity ran too deep, and his desire to procreate with them was nonexistent. For Flage, there was no question; he would live in isolation until the time came to return to Higher World.
Flage was resolute in his decision. He hadn't agreed to take part in the project, and he had no reason to see it through or entangle himself in a life he never wanted.
In the remote forest surrounding his cabin, Flage found solace in the hunt. He had nullified his infinite divine power, reveling in the challenge of tracking and killing animals as a mortal. The thrill of the hunt was what sustained him. Whether it was small game like rabbits or squirrels, or larger, more dangerous predators like bears and cougars. No matter the creature, they were all the same to Flage: prey.
Nearly six weeks had passed since Flage arrived on Earth. Every day followed a similar pattern where he would rise early, bow in hand, and stalk the forest for his next targets. One evening, after completing his hunt, he made his way back to the cabin, a bundle of squirrels and birds slung over his shoulder, his bow grasped firmly in his right hand.
As he neared his home, something shifted. The air grew still, and a cool breeze stirred the leaves, their gentle rustling the only sound. Flage stopped in his tracks, muscles tensing as he carefully laid his catch on the ground. Slowly, his hand moved to his bow. He closed his eyes, listening intently to the subtle whispers of the forest around him.
In one swift motion, he pulled an arrow from his quiver, nocking it onto the bowstring. With practiced ease, he spun around, aiming directly at a nearby bush.
For a moment, there was only silence. Then, a woman emerged from the undergrowth, her eyes fixed on him.
The woman had dark brown hair that stopped at her shoulders. She wore hunting clothes that, at first glance, were clearly expensive, the kind wealthy people would use for hunting. But what stood out even more was the brown hunter's rifle she held, aimed cautiously at Flage, its quality matching that of her clothes.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her gun still pointed at Flage.
Though her voice was firm, Flage remained unyielding, his bow drawn and aimed at her with certainty.
"Drop your weapon," Flage said softly, his words carrying immense weight. "Unless you want to be killed."
"What?" the woman replied, raising an eyebrow as she gave a slight shrug. "You drop yours. I clearly have the advantage here."
"Is that what you think?" Flage asked, his gaze firm as he looked at her without flinching even slightly.
A tense silence filled the air, and the woman began to hesitate. "I-I'm a good shot, you know," she said, her voice revealing a hint of panic.
The silence persisted even longer, and Flage remained still, ready for any sudden moves. The woman stayed silent too, but for some reason, she believed his words. She couldn't explain it, but she felt like her gun was meaningless in the face of his hunter's bow.
After a few more moments of hesitation, the woman finally dropped her gun to the ground, raising her hands in surrender. "Fine," she scoffed, "you win."
Hearing her words, Flage slowly lowered his bow, but he still kept the arrow nocked, ready in case she attempted anything reckless.
"What are you doing here?" Flage asked again, his voice revealing his curiosity despite having lived there for over a month.
"You're asking me that?" she responded, her tone confused.
Seeing the seriousness in Flage's silence, the woman let out a frustrated sigh before answering. "Fine," she said. "I come here every month. To hunt animals."
"I've never seen you here," Flage replied, his words steady.
"I should be the one saying that," the woman retorted, her gaze dropping slightly. "And could you please lower the arrow?"
Flage stayed quiet after her request, his bow still poised, causing the woman to sigh in frustration once more. "What more do you want?" she asked, clearly irritated by his caution.
After another moment of silence, Flage finally spoke again. "How long have you been here?" he asked, his expression unchanged.
The woman's eyes widened slightly at the question before returning to normal. "What do you mean?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
"You've been watching me all day, haven't you?" Flage said, his tone sharp and certain.
The woman blushed slightly, her silence confirming his suspicion. Flage sighed, understanding the situation, then returned the arrow to his quiver and lowered his bow completely. He bent down to retrieve the prey he had caught earlier, then turned and began to walk away without another word.
"Wait!" the woman called out after a stretch of silence, following after the God. "Let me explain myself, at least."
Flage halted in his tracks, turning to face her. His expression was dark and menacing as he spoke. "You came here to hunt," he said. "One day, you discovered someone you'd never seen before living here. So, you got curious and started spying on them."
The woman remained silent, her expression confirming Flage's words, unable to deny them.
"But I don't care about these trivialities," Flage continued coldly, resuming his walk away. "You can keep up your monthly hunting without ever interacting with me."
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
The woman stood still, watching him go, unsure of what else to say to change the moment. Flage continued his silent departure before she finally found her voice.
"I'm Dawn, by the way," she said, her tone much softer than it had been throughout their exchange. "And you are?"
Flage ignored her completely, continuing his silent retreat toward his home. Dawn smiled, noticing his silence, seemingly recognizing the kind of attitude he had.
"I'll get that name," she whispered to herself with a smile, picking her gun off the ground before heading in the opposite direction.
The next morning, Flage awoke early, setting out for his usual hunt in the forest. As he ventured out, he realized that the more vicious creatures had become scarce, likely driven off by his continued presence. This left him with smaller prey; rabbits, birds, and the occasional fox, whenever he could find one.
As he ventured deeper into the forest, Flage spotted a rare sight: a fox. Immediately, he began stalking it, moving carefully so as not to spook the creature. Catching a fox was a challenge, requiring patience and precision. He knew one wrong move could send it fleeing.
As Flage silently crept closer, the rustling of a nearby bush broke the quiet. The sudden noise startled the fox, and it darted off in alarm.
Flage turned toward the bush, annoyance flickering in his eyes. Dawn emerged, looking equally frustrated. "Darn it," she muttered, clearly upset. "I swear I could have..."
But as she glanced back, Flage was already gone. "What?" she said, confused, realizing the God had vanished without her noticing.
Meanwhile, Flage pursued the fox with lightning speed, his movements sharp and unrelenting as he navigated through the forest. Obstacles were no hindrance to him as he effortlessly chased his prey, his focus never wavering.
As the chase intensified, Flage reached into his pocket, pulling out a small knife. In one swift motion, he hurled the blade toward the fleeing fox. The knife flew through the air, striking the fox's leg and causing it to stumble.
Injured and unable to run, the fox struggled in vain. Within seconds, Flage was upon it. He caught the creature effortlessly, lifting it by its uninjured leg with a single hand, his expression as calm and collected as ever.
Suddenly, a gunshot echoed through the forest, the sound sharp and almost too close for comfort. Flage instinctively shifted his attention back to the fox, noticing that it had been shot in the torso. He turned toward the source of the shot just as Dawn stepped out from behind a tree, a rifle in her hands and a smug smile on her face.
"See," she said with a taunting lilt in her voice, "told you I was a good shot."
Without a word, Flage released his grip on the fox, letting it fall lifelessly to the ground, and turned to walk away. Dawn's smile faltered as she saw his cold indifference to her actions.
"Oh, come on," she muttered in frustration, watching him leave in silence.
Days passed, and Flage continued his daily hunting routine, though his annoyance grew with each passing day. Dawn kept showing up, always lingering nearby. Despite her constant presence, Flage ignored her, knowing that acknowledging her would only give her the satisfaction she craved. He refused to give in, even as her persistence chipped away at his patience.
As the sun began to set one evening, Flage was making his way home when a piercing scream broke through the stillness of the forest.
Dawn stood frozen in terror, face-to-face with a massive grizzly bear towering over her on its hind legs, nearly nine feet tall. She barely dared to breathe, hoping not to provoke the beast further, but it was too late. The bear had already locked onto her, its powerful presence radiating menace. Panicking, she turned to run, but the bear lunged, its massive claws gripping her with ease.
Dawn screamed, struggling desperately to free herself as the bear pinned her to the ground. Its weight pressed down, and its claws tore into her clothes, inches from her skin. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and her heart pounded as fear gripped her. "Is this really how it ends?" she thought, terrified.
Just as the bear raised its claws for a final strike, an arrow shot through the trees, perfectly piercing the space between the bear's eyes with deadly accuracy. In the blink of an eye, Flage appeared, leaping onto the bear's back and gripping it by the neck.
The bear roared in pain as it attempted to struggle for its life, but Flage's strength far surpassed the creature's. With little effort, he choked the life out of the massive beast, its struggles growing weaker until, at last, it fell limp.
Flage stood, blood dripping from his hands, as he tossed the dead bear aside. Dawn lay on the ground, her chest heaving, still trying to catch her breath after the near-death encounter. The surreal nature of the moment overwhelmed her. It felt impossible, like something out of a nightmare or a story.
"Th-Thank you," she stammered, her voice shaky. "I can't believe that just happened. It feels... unreal, like fiction."
Flage didn't respond. He simply turned and started walking away, leaving Dawn in stunned silence. She stared after him, confused and surprised by his lack of acknowledgment.
"Oh, come on," she called out, exasperation creeping into her voice. "At least just tell me your name. I almost died back there!"
Flage stopped in his tracks but didn't turn around. "And whose fault is that?" he asked coldly.
Dawn fell silent, realizing he was right. She had been following him all day, distracted, and in doing so had failed to notice the bear until it was too late.
Without another word, Flage resumed his path, heading back to his cabin. Dawn hesitated for a moment before rushing after him.
"Wait, where are you going?" she asked, curiosity lacing her voice.
As expected, Flage ignored her, but this time, instead of letting him disappear, Dawn decided to follow him.
As Dawn followed Flage deeper into the woods, a sense of unease crept up on her. "Isn't this the dangerous part of the forest?" she asked, her voice tinged with caution. "I was always warned never to go this far in."
As expected, Flage gave no response and continued walking. They trekked through the dense forest until they finally reached a cabin, built from wood and modestly spacious, though not overly large. The area surrounding the cabin had been cleared of trees, creating a wide, open space that allowed the home to stand out against the backdrop of the wild forest.
Dawn stared, astonished. She couldn't comprehend how someone could build such a place and live in solitude so deep in the wilderness. While she took in her surroundings, Flage walked straight into the cabin without a word, closing the door behind him and leaving her outside in silence.
A few more days passed. That morning, as Flage prepared to go hunting, he opened the door to find Dawn sitting quietly on the front steps. She had been doing this for days now, waiting for him. But today was different. In her hands, she held a knife and a wooden plank, carving and sharpening it with precise movements. Next to her lay a small pile of already sharpened pieces of wood.
Flage glanced at her, puzzled by the sight. "What are you doing?" he asked, his confusion evident.
"Sharpening wood," Dawn replied, her eyes still focused on her task. "Good morning, by the way."
"Why?" Flage asked, still trying to make sense of her strange behavior.
"It helps me focus and stay calm," Dawn explained, her tone soft and measured.
A few moments of silence passed, broken only by the quiet scraping of the blade against the wood. "That sounds unintelligent and utterly useless," Flage finally remarked, unimpressed by her actions.
"Well, I find it relaxing," Dawn continued, glancing up at him with a small smile. "And it got you to talk to me. So, I wouldn't exactly call it useless."
Flage paused, realizing she had a point. It was the first time he had engaged her in casual conversation since they met weeks ago. Still, without acknowledging her statement, he turned and began walking toward the wilderness. As had become her habit, Dawn rose to her feet and followed him, just as she had done for the past few days.
Throughout the day, Flage hunted with skill, his mastery of the bow apparent as he brought down every animal that crossed his path. Dawn followed silently, observing him. By the end of the day, Flage had successfully hunted several rabbits, squirrels, and even a wild boar, an unexpected but fortunate find for the day.
Flage carried most of his catch back to the cabin, and for the ones he couldn't manage, Dawn quietly stepped in to help. They walked side by side in silence, but after a while, Dawn decided to speak up, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Why do you use a bow?" she asked, glancing at the weapon slung across his back.
The quiet stretched between them for several moments before Flage finally responded. "It has always been effective," he said simply. "No reason to change."
Dawn fell silent again, but she wasn't satisfied with his brief answer.
"But I still don't get it," she pressed, her voice filled with confusion. "Why not just use a gun? Why stick to... primitive weapons that make hunting so much harder?"
Flage let out a soft sigh, his disappointment evident. "Why would I voluntarily choose to make hunting easier?" he asked, his tone calm but direct.
Dawn stopped in her tracks, momentarily stunned by his response. It dawned on her that Flage enjoyed the challenge of the hunt, something most people had long since abandoned. After a moment of reflection, she hurried back to his side, the rest of his catch balanced on her shoulder.
As they resumed walking, the silence between them felt lighter. Dawn grinned, realizing something. "You know," she teased with a playful glint in her eye, "we seem to be pretty good friends now."
Flage let out a small scoff, clearly amused by her remark. "We have no connection," he replied, his expression returning to its usual stoicism. "You simply just carry some of my prey and equipment. That would make you a beast of burden, not a friend."
His words were harsh, but his tone remained soft, almost at odds with the meaning behind them. Dawn paused, processing his statement before breaking into a smile.
"From a ghost to a pet," she quipped, her voice casual and unbothered. "Honestly, I'll take it."
Once again, they continued in silence after a sigh from Flage, Dawn clearly unaffected by the God's bluntness, a faint smile lingering on her face as they walked.