"Hmmm, hmmm, hmm"

Humming while walking through this familiar path, i can't contain my excitement because Cain finally going to teach me hunting! He almost forgot it, i could see it in his eyes at that time, it will be a disaster if he actually gone and confess his love to Lucy. Whether it was a succes or a failure it will be a loss for me.

Why?

Imagine if he confess and Lucy accepted, Cain will certainly be verry happy and date Lucy doing this and that typical of a couple until finally they get married (If he actually manage to convice her grandma and survive to tale the tale) leaving me here alone, forgotten and for sure with no hunting skill to show off.

If she refused ...

Well, I can see him depressed enough to forget about everything. Including his promised hunting lesson.

That was why i stop him right on his track and manage to convice him with a plan that i made on the spot, because whether his confession get accepted or refused i need to get what i want. At least that way one of us can get to be happy.

"Rai".

Snapping me from my thought Cain called to me.

"What" i replied.

Cain wore a simple hunter outfit with a green hood, with a bow and quiver on his back he got a look of a gallant hunter, well he was a hunter so that was just his normal looks.

Maybe this is the side of him that Lucy fall in love with, if that is true then he should thank his lucky star that i actually managed to stop him from confessing. If i didn't Lucy image of him will be shattered to pieces.

Cain fidgeted slightly, clenching and unclenching his hand before he finally ask a question in his mind "Did Lucy really like me? after what you said i couldn't help but wonder if that is true or this is just your attempt to make me teach you how to hunt".

I can't help but sweat a little, a hunter instinct is not to be triffled with, thankfully i got an easy answer to that question.

I raise a finger and with a sad expression started to tell him my story

"This all began two years ago when my mother left me and my family, at that time father was depressed and couldn't sooth me and my brother. But my brother being a handsome dude he is got plenty of girl to help calm his aching heart (to much if i may add).

"So with a depressed father and useless brother out of the picture, i was left alone, sad and pitifull, with no one to look after me i started to wander alone hiding in unnoticed place and dark corner of the village before i noticed something".

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"What did you noticed?" Cain asked curiosly.

I wave my hand to him indicating for Cain to get closer. When he is in front of me i said in a whisper.

"I can hear everything"

"Huh?"

I turn around in excitement and said to Cain "Yes, i can hear everthing in the village, from a loving conversation between family to a juicy secret that no one should be privy to, i can hear it all".

Speechless Cain can only look at Rai dumbfoundedly, He took a moment to think before finally realising what Rai just told him.

"You mean you know Lucy likes me because you were eavesdropping on people"

"Well yes to both but eavedropping sounds a bit harsh. Let's call it a surprise hearing because what i heard sure suprise me!"

Half curious half shocked, Cain asked Rai.

"What did you heard?".

Rai grinned and with outstretched hand he said "Our village head did not have only one son he has several others plus a daughter, three sons from a farmer family, one from the blacksmith and a daughter from the tailor and that is only what i heard. but in reality maybe he has several more. The village head sure likes to spread his seed around, even i wonder why he didn't become a farmer he defenitely more suited to the task than me".

Cain looked at Rai and found himself pittying Rai father, Edward. Not only his wife left him, even his son become a twisted kid.

Rain clenched his fist and continue speaking "that's the reason i overcome my sadness and filled the hole in my heart. Because everyone is just a big fucking family, hahahaahah".

Cain started to doubt whether this child rearing experience actually worth it, did he actually have to deal with a twisted kid this trial sounds more and more difficult than what he asked for.

Before Cain call Rai asking to cancel, he suddenly remember Lucy,

Her shining red hair, beautiful almond eyes and mature figure stop him from giving up. He thought 'what kind a man am i if i can't shoulder this burden for the sake of my loved one".

So with a renewed determination. Cain continue trekking this familiar path with a heavy step, followed by Rai who still laughing in his back.

...

It doesn't take to long after my conversation with Cain before we arrived into the deeper part of the wood. this unfamilar scenery giving a rise to my adventure spirit as i looked around left and right to take in all the new thing that i never saw.

"Rai!".

I look back only to see Cain with a different aura than before, if at first he had a look of hunter, now he has a look of war veteran, his sharp eyes looks like it can pierce anything he sees. what actually is going on with him?.

Cain announced in a deep voice "now that we entered the deep part of forest, it means that the danger increased and you must listen to all my instruction from now on".

I saluted and replied "Sir, yes sir"

"Good! your training begin now. First let me ask you what is the most important thing in hunting!"

"Hmmm, ... kiling the prey?" i hesitantly answered

"Wrong, the correct answer is finding the prey. A hunter who can't even find what he want to hunt is a disqualified hunter.

Look around you tell me what you see? Cain ordered Rai

I observed the wood around me and remember what Cain just said

'find a prey'

So i started to look around and finally found what i seek

"A footprint!".

"Good! you understand my meaning an animal or a monster always left behind a trace when they pass through that's what we must find.

Cain started to point to different part of the forest that i didn't notice.

Not only footprint, the trampled grass, a claw mark or a broken twig can also become a clue so always observe everything around you because they will guide you to the location of your prey".

And with that lecture from Cain i finally started my first lesson as a part time hunter.