The trio moved through a dense forest, following a narrow and winding path that only the local hunters seemed to know. The rays of the sun, filtered through the thick foliage, created a play of shadows on the ground, while the heavy silence was interrupted only by the cracking of branches under their feet.
Samuel was walking ahead, his brand new sword strapped to his back, senses on high alert. Helydia halted the march, her gaze scrutinizing every detail around them, while Kai, in the middle, kept his bow within reach, his fingers tense and ready to draw an arrow at any moment.
The peaceful atmosphere was quickly shattered by a strange noise in the distance – a sharp crack, followed by a heavy and threatening breath. Samuel suddenly stopped, raising a hand to signal to his companions to remain silent. Helydia and Kai exchanged a glance, then focused on the source of the noise.
Samuel crouched down and listened intently. "A predator," he murmured, sensing the nature of the creature. "Probably hungry."
Helydia, quietly approaching Samuel, finally spotted what was causing the disturbance. Through the trees, she caught sight of a massive beast, a kind of gigantic wolf with fur as black as night, its body tense and ready to pounce on an invisible prey. His gaze turned towards a frightened deer, just a few meters away, frozen in fear.
"a shadowy wolf" murmured Helydia, impressed by the size of the animal. "If he attacks us..."
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"He won't let us pass easily," Samuel cut in, gently drawing his sword from its sheath. But just as he was preparing to attack, Kai placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Master, let me do it." Kai's voice was strangely calm, his gaze fixed on the wolf.
Samuel remained momentarily stunned, observing the young man. Despite his low level, Kai had a sudden confidence, a certainty in his gaze that he had never seen before. Samuel nodded and signaled Helydia to step back.
Kai took a deep breath and slowly drew an arrow from his quiver. He draws the bow with precision, his hands not trembling. The wolf did not seem to have noticed their presence yet, too focused on the deer.
A heavy silence settled in. Kai took a deep breath, and as he exhaled, he released the arrow in a smooth and controlled motion.
The projectile whistled through the air, cutting through the trees with impressive speed before embedding itself directly into the flank of the alpha wolf. The beast let out a piercing howl, taken by surprise by the sudden attack. But before he could react, Kai had already nocked a second arrow, this time aiming for the animal's throat. He shot without hesitation.
The arrow hit its target, and the wolf collapsed to the ground, taken down in a matter of seconds. The deer, seizing the opportunity, dashed through the forest, escaping certain death.
Samuel, observing the scene, sheathed his sword. Helydia approached Kai, a satisfied smile on her lips. "Not bad for a level 2," she said, nodding her head.
As he wiped the sweat from his forehead, his heart still racing, he couldn't help but smile. "Thank you," he murmured simply.
Samuel, for his part, glanced at the slain wolf, then at Kai. "Good shot, Kid" he finally said, his voice devoid of emotion, but Kai could sense the approval behind the words.
"Let's continue," added Samuel before resuming his walk, this time with renewed confidence in his young archer. Kai, although still nervous, felt that he had just crossed an important milestone in his quest to prove his worth.