Chapter 8: The Baron’s Hunt

Kael moved silently through the thick woods, each step purposeful, his enhanced Sharp Senses (Stream) allowing him to detect even the smallest shifts in his surroundings. The air was cool, and the scent of damp earth and pine filled his nostrils. His father’s words echoed in his mind—warnings to be careful, to not take unnecessary risks—but Kael knew that danger was unavoidable now. If the village was in peril, he needed to know. And beyond that, there was something else stirring in him: a hunger to prove himself.

The baron’s hunt loomed ahead, and Kael’s instincts told him this was more than just an ordinary hunt for a dangerous beast. The village had been on edge for days, and rumors swirled about more than just monsters lurking in the woods. There were whispers of bandit activity, rival factions, and perhaps even darker forces at play.

For Kael, this hunt was an opportunity. Not just to defend the village, but to test the limits of his abilities. To grow stronger. And, perhaps, to make a name for himself beyond the borders of Darvan.

The forest grew denser the farther he traveled, the canopy above blocking out most of the light. Kael’s new Stealth Talent (Stream) made him nearly undetectable as he moved, blending seamlessly into the shadows. Every now and then, he would pause, activating his God Eye to scan the area for any threats.

After an hour of navigating through the forest, Kael spotted a group of men in the distance, moving through the trees in formation. The baron’s soldiers, armed and armored, were patrolling the area around a large clearing. They were clearly preparing for the hunt.

Kael crouched behind a cluster of bushes, watching them closely. He recognized a few of the men—veteran soldiers from the baron’s forces who had come to the village before. Their faces were stern, their movements deliberate. But what caught Kael’s attention was the man leading them.

Baron Norval himself.

The baron was a tall, broad-shouldered man, his presence commanding respect. He wore a dark leather coat over a suit of chainmail, a massive sword strapped to his back. His face was hard, marked by years of experience in combat and leadership. Around him, the soldiers seemed more alert, more focused, as if his mere presence demanded it.

Kael felt a mixture of awe and caution. This was no ordinary man. Baron Norval was a seasoned warrior, known for leading hunts against powerful beasts and protecting the lands under his rule. But he was also a calculating man, and Kael knew that the baron would not hesitate to cut down anyone who stood in his way—whether beast or human.

From his hidden position, Kael could hear snippets of the baron’s conversation with his men.

“We’ll start the hunt at first light tomorrow,” the baron said in a low, gravelly voice. “The beast is in the southern quadrant of the forest. Keep your wits about you—it’s bigger than anything we’ve faced in years.”

One of the soldiers nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “The villagers have been talking about it. Some say it’s a monster from the old days, something that’s survived out here for decades.”

Baron Norval snorted. “Legends and superstitions. What matters is that we take it down before it threatens the villages.”

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

Kael’s mind raced. A beast powerful enough to warrant this kind of attention—whatever it was, defeating it could provide a massive boost to his essence and give him access to even more powerful talents. But how could he get involved without drawing the attention of the baron and his men?

He knew he couldn’t just barge into the hunt and expect to survive. The baron’s men would likely see him as an intruder. But if he could track the beast on his own, follow the baron’s forces from a distance, he might be able to strike when the time was right—when the beast was weakened or distracted.

As Kael continued to observe, something caught his attention. A figure moved through the trees on the far side of the clearing, staying just out of sight of the soldiers. Kael’s eyes narrowed as he focused his God Eye on the figure, and the information that appeared sent a chill down his spine.

Name: Revik

Essence Level: Torrent (Rank 8)

Talents:

— Poison Talent (Phoenix)

— Stealth Talent (Flair)

Torrent level, Rank 8. Far beyond Kael’s own Mote (Rank 1). And the Phoenix level Poison Talent? That alone made this man an extremely dangerous foe. His Stealth Talent (Flair) meant even Kael’s enhanced senses hadn’t picked him up right away.

Revik wasn’t one of the baron’s men. He was an outsider—someone with an agenda of his own. Kael’s mind raced with possibilities. Was Revik a bandit leader? An assassin? Whoever he was, Kael knew one thing: Revik was not here for the beast alone. There was something far more dangerous unfolding in these woods.

Kael weighed his options. Confronting Revik would be suicide—his strength and talents were far superior. But Kael couldn’t afford to ignore him, either. If Revik had his sights set on the baron’s hunt, then the village, the baron, and everyone involved was at risk.

Kael decided to follow Revik, staying far enough behind to avoid detection. His own Stealth Talent (Stream) would help him, but against someone like Revik, even a small mistake could mean death.

As he trailed Revik through the forest, Kael’s mind turned to the future. If he survived this, if he could prove his strength during the hunt, perhaps he could finally earn a place in the wider world—maybe even beyond the village. He had heard stories of the Academy in the capital, a place where the strongest and most talented young people from across the kingdom trained.

The Academy was an elite institution, and every year, only a select few from each viscount’s lands were chosen to attend. From the hundreds across the territory, only ten were given the chance to prove themselves worthy of a place. The competition was fierce, and the Academy was known for producing the kingdom’s finest warriors and leaders.

But to earn his place, Kael needed to stand out. He had to show that he was more than just a boy from the countryside with a weak Flicker essence. He had to prove that he had the strength, the talent, and the will to rise above the rest.

This hunt—this battle—could be his chance.

Revik’s movements were deliberate and silent, and Kael had to stay sharp to avoid losing him. The man was heading deeper into the southern quadrant, where the beast was said to be lurking. As they moved, Kael’s thoughts kept returning to the Academy. It was more than just a dream now. It was a goal.

But first, he had to survive.

As the trees thinned, Kael found himself overlooking a wide clearing. There, in the center, was the beast.

It was massive, far larger than any creature Kael had seen before, with dark, matted fur and claws the size of swords. Its eyes glowed a deep red, and it moved with the slow, deliberate grace of a predator that knew it was at the top of the food chain.

The baron’s forces were already there, spread out in a defensive formation, weapons drawn. But Revik had positioned himself on the far edge of the clearing, watching and waiting.

Kael’s instincts screamed at him to leave, to run before he was caught in the crossfire. But he couldn’t leave now. Not when he was so close. He had to see this through.

He watched as Baron Norval gave the signal, and the battle began.

Kael crouched low, hidden behind a thick tree, his heart pounding as the clash erupted in the clearing. The baron’s men charged the beast with a ferocity that shook the ground. Swords, spears, and arrows flew, striking the creature’s thick hide. The beast roared, its deep, earth-shaking growl filled with fury, swiping at the soldiers with its massive claws.

Despite their skill and organization, the soldiers were struggling. The beast’s power was immense, its strength overwhelming even the most seasoned warriors. Kael watched, his hands gripping the hilt of his sword, feeling the raw essence radiating from the creature. The sheer amount of energy it contained was unlike anything he had ever felt before.

He could feel it calling to him. If he could just get close enough, he might be able to absorb some of that essence. But before he could act, something caught his eye.

Revik moved.

The man stepped forward from his hidden position, his hands glowing with a sickly green aura as he activated his Poison Talent. Kael’s stomach tightened. Revik wasn’t here to help the baron’s men—he was waiting for the right moment to strike. And that moment had come.

Kael knew he had to act. Whatever Revik’s plans were, they involved taking advantage of the chaos in the clearing. And if the baron’s men fell, the village would be next.

Kael slipped from his hiding place, moving toward Revik, his mind racing with a single thought.

‘This is my chance to prove myself.’

As the battle raged on, Kael’s destiny was beginning to take shape. The hunt had become far more than a simple