Chapter 1
A Good Day For Hunting
The sun pierced through the dense canopy of leaves, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor as Vincent Griffith took a deep breath, determination burning in his light red eyes.
"Alright, Vincent, you got this" he whispered to himself, steeling his resolve. He scanned the lush greenery around him, searching for any sign of his target, a large red-horned boar rumored to be roaming the forest. Calming his nerves, Vincent steadied his breath before continuing on.
As he moved silently through the underbrush, Vincent's mind raced with thoughts of the incoming hunt. Although the red-horned boar is far from being considered the most dangerous beast, for a young rookie like him this would still prove to be a challenging battle.
Suddenly, a rustle in the bushes ahead caught his attention, and Vincent froze in place. His eyes narrowed, focusing on the source of the noise, and he held his breath, waiting for the creature to reveal itself. A tense moment passed, and then, like a vision from a nightmare, the massive boar emerged. Its red fur was matted with dirt and sweat, and its sharp, curved horn glistened menacingly in the sunlight.
"Found you" Vincent muttered under his breath, adrenaline surging through his body.
Channeling his water magic, Vincent drew the moisture from the air and shaped it into a sharp lance, the liquid solidifying until it gleamed like metal beneath the sun. A sense of power surged through him as he gripped the weapon tightly, feeling the cool surface press against his palm.
Climbing a nearby tree, Vincent took the chance to examine the boar, while it focused on eating from the nearby shrubbery.
Finding the perfect opportunity while the boar is focused on food, Vincent gripped the water lance in his hand as hard as he could before throwing it at the beast
WHOOSH
In the calm forest, the silence was finally broken by the sound of the magical lance piercing through the air. Frightened by the sudden noise, the large boar readied itself to escape. Unfortunately, it would fail to take even a step before the cold deadly weapon would puncture its back.
SQUUEEK
The boar let out an agonized squeal, its body convulsing as it attempted to shake the pain away.
With his initial ambush successful, Vincent hopped down from his vantage point. It was now time for him to face the red beast head-on.
The boar, fueled by rage and pain, twisted its massive body around and charged at Vincent. He leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the horn that could easily pierce a tree. As he landed, he called upon his water magic again, this time creating a whip of liquid that lashed out toward the beast.
"Over here! you fat pig!" he yelled, his heart pounding in his chest as he maneuvered around the angered beast. With every successful dodge, the water whip cracked against the boar's hide, leaving dark red welts but much to Vincent's disappointment doing little to slow the creature down.
"Is that all you've got?" Vincent taunted again.
The boar responded with another furious charge, this time he barely managed to roll out of the way. He could feel the hot, fetid breath of the beast on his skin as it passed, and knew he couldn't keep this up much longer. He needed a new plan.
"Think, Vincent, think! What would Father do?" His mind raced through memories of his father's adventurous stories, searching for an answer. Then it came to him, he needed to use the environment to his advantage.
Darting between the nearby trees, he forced the boar to repeatedly alter its course to avoid crashing into them. He could hear the creature snorting in frustration behind him, but the sound was almost completely drowned out by the pounding of his own heart.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of searching, Vincent found his target, a large boulder in the middle of a clearing.
"Here we go!" he muttered under his breath.
As the enraged beast charged forward, he gave it one last taunting smirk, before jumping onto the boulder mere seconds before being turned into a skewer by the beasts glistening horn.
BAAM!
The sound of the boar's large body colliding with the boulder echoed across the forest, with vibrations so loud that even the birds resting in the surroundings immediately took off. Vincent who stood atop the large boulder could feel his legs buckling beneath him.
"Alright piggie, about time we end this!" he stated, while looking down at the beast with a determined glare.
Once again drawing the familiar mana in from around him, Vincent focused on constructing his second water lance. He stood tall, looking down at the boar struggling to find its footing.
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"Father" he murmured silently, gripping the lance tightly in both hands. Just as the boar managed to shake off the dizziness and stand back up, Vincent focused his eyes on a single point of the creature's body.
Channeling all the strength he could muster with a loud grunt, Vincent thrust the lance downward, aiming for the vulnerable spot just behind the boar's massive skull. The two collided in a frenzy of tough hide and water, only the sounds of tearing flesh and boar-ish cries reverberating through the air.
In that split second, as the lance connected with the vulnerable spot behind the boar's skull, a surge of triumph flooded through Vincent, as he knew he had won. The sharp weapon pierced through flesh and bone, the beast letting out one last anguished cry before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
"Phew... it's over" Vincent gasped, his chest heaving from exertion. Letting his body collapse back onto the large boulder, He allowed himself a moment to catch his breath and drink some water.
As the adrenaline began to dissipate, Vincent became aware of the sounds of the forest around him - the rustling leaves, the distant melody of birdsong, and the gentle breeze that stirred the branches above.
"Such beauty..." he thought, his heart swelling with appreciation for the vibrant life that surrounded him. "I'll never take this for granted."
He studied the fallen boar for a moment, acknowledging both its strength and ferocity but also respecting the life that had been taken in pursuit of his goal.
"Thank you, mighty beast" Vincent whispered. Although hunting this boar was just as much for his own training as it was for supplying his village food, as the son of a knight of the red moon church, he didn't want to completely disregard the taking of a life.
With renewed determination, Vincent hoisted the heavy boar onto his shoulders with a rope, gritting his teeth at the strain. He knew the journey back to Herux village would be slow, so he didn't plan on wasting another moment for rest.
As he trudged through the dense forest, each step bringing him nearer to his destination, Vincent couldn't help but feel a sense of optimism about his future. He was no longer the timid boy who'd once been too frightened to venture into the woods alone. He was Vincent Griffith, a young man with a powerful gift and an unshakable determination to honor his father's legacy.
"Almost home!" he declared, grinning through his exhaustion as he continued on his journey. The taste of victory lingered sweetly on his lips, fueling his dreams of the adventures that lay ahead.
—
The sun dipped low in the sky, bathing Herux village in a warm golden glow as Vincent finally reached its outskirts. His muscles ached from carrying the heavy boar, but his heart swelled with pride and anticipation. He could hear the distant hum of conversation and laughter from the villagers, accompanied by the clatter of pots and pans as meals were prepared.
"Little Vinny!" cried an elderly voice, filled with joy. It was Old Muriel, her frail frame leaning on her walking cane as she hobbled towards him. "You've returned! And look at the size of that beast!"
"Yep, I'm back, it was a difficult hunt" Vincent replied, a modest smile gracing his lips. "But it was worth it."
"By the gods, Vincent!" exclaimed another villager, rushing over to greet him. "You've truly outdone yourself this time. Your father would be proud"
Vincent's father was also born and raised in Herux village, because of this many of its inhabitants, especially the elderly, saw Vincent as their own grandson. His father's passing was a difficult time for the young boy, fortunately, his neighbors would never let him get too down.
"Thank you" Vincent said, touched by their words. "I just hope I can continue to honor his memory"
Soon after, a small crowd of children had gathered around him, their faces alight with admiration and curiosity. They peppered him with questions about the hunt and marveled at his water magic, asking him to see the lance he'd used to vanquish the “fearsome evil beast”.
"Enough now, everyone!" came a gentle voice, cutting through the clamor. It was Elliot, the village butcher, emerging from his shop with a kind smile. "Let the boy catch his breath."
"Grandpa Elliot!" Vincent greeted, grateful for the reprieve. "Would you mind helping me transport this guy? I don't think my shoulders can last much longer"
"No problem, Vinny," Elliot chuckled in agreement, gesturing to his old wheelbarrow parked nearby. "Let's get this fellow to my shop, I'll make sure to keep a large piece for you and Mabel"
As they loaded the boar onto the rickety wheelbarrow, Vincent noticed the approving glances from the villagers and felt a strange mixture of pride and humility. He knew he still had a long way to go before he could truly call himself a knight, but for now, he was content with the progress he'd made.
"Here" Elliot said, tossing Vincent a small pouch filled with coins. "Your hard work deserves fair payment."
"Thanks, Elliot" Vincent replied.
After saying his farewells to Elliot, and promising the curious children to tell them more about his hunts another day, it was finally time for Vincent to head home.
Vincent's footsteps echoed through the quiet village as he approached his family home, the weight of the boar finally off his shoulders. He could see Mabel, his mother, standing at the entrance with a worried yet proud expression on her face.
"Vinny, you're back!" Mabel exclaimed, her voice tinged with relief. "I'm so glad you're safe!"
"Mom!" Vincent replied while giving his mother a hug, a grin spreading across his face.
"You should have seen it! I managed to take down the boar using the magic lance I created myself." His eyes sparkled with excitement as he recounted the day's events. "It was almost like wielding Father's spear, but made from water!"
Mabel's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly composed herself. "That's incredible, my dear. But remember, there's more to being a knight than just magic and weapons. True knights possess courage, honor, and kindness too!"
"I know, Mother," he assured her, his voice sincere. "I promise, I'll never let my strength change who I am as a person."
"Good," she said, nodding firmly. "Now come inside and wash up. Dinner will be ready soon, and we don't want you tracking dirt and blood everywhere."
As Vincent stepped inside their small modest home, he couldn't help but admire the familiar details that made it feel so comforting. the warm glow of the hearth, the worn wooden table where they shared meals, and the scent of herbs hanging to dry in the rafters. He took a moment to appreciate the life he had here, even as he yearned for the adventures that awaited him beyond the village.