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C 6

It stopped snowing 2 days ago. The world was covered in a blanket of white and the heaviness of it was amplified in the silence.

I remember standing here all those years ago. An immense sense of Deja’vu enveloped me. I would have to kill soon. A tiny fear crept up my spine. Blood on my hands, the slickness and smell of it. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath in. The fear that used to constrict my heart and make my hands and feet go cold, this fear that stopped me from protecting those around me…I crushed it.

The face of my daughter rose to the surface of my thoughts. I saw her smiles, heard her laughter and felt her personality. A sense of protectiveness and savagery arose in my heart. I realized then that I would not hesitate to slaughter the entire world to protect her if needed.

I breathed out. My eyes opened and it was clear. It was time to carve my future.

I turned around and went back into the house.

The mood inside was restrained. This was because I had convinced my parents that a large raid from the Plains People were coming. They were quite far north and it was uncommon for them to come so far south but they had done so in the past. A nomadic people that had strange customs and were not afraid of raiding and pillaging.

The defense of the farmstead was strengthened. Fences reinforced and spiked.

I looked at my father lounging on his favourite chair. The villagers would say he looked youthful and full of vitality but I knew otherwise. My father had stopped smoking. Between my mother and myself, he couldn't take the constant nagging. Unfortunately his status didn't really change, the issue with his lungs was still going on. Just that, now it said “slowly weakening”. We even took him to the village healer but the healing spell didn't change anything. She kept saying that he was fine now and didnt believe what I said. I guess this is something that I will deal with down the line.

Lylia came up to me and I gave her a hug. She was growing well. I even started teaching her how to use the bow. It was a small shortbow cut from willow. It was light and suitable for a young girl to use. She enjoyed learning the bow and seeing my skill with the bow certainly inspired her. It warmed my heart seeing her bring her bow out whenever I practiced myself. Sometimes she would shoot the whole quiver, while other times just a few. She didnt have the discipline yet but once the monsters started to show, I would certainly push her more.

I have spoken to her a few times now about the coming future. This was an attempt to prepare her mentally for what was to come. I told her stories of monsters and described them to her in detail, weaving their characteristics, weaknesses and anatomy all in a story. The Orc and the little girl. The thundering Carbuncles and the handsome prince. The sneaky goblins and the brave little children.

I wasn't sure if I was actually doing the right thing. My mother kept telling me to stop exposing her to such nonsense but as much as I loved my daughter, keeping her behind a wall was a sure way to get her killed. Later in the apocalypse, there was hardly anywhere that was safe. If you weren't looking out for monsters or demons, you certainly had to be wary of your fellow humans.

Compared to my daughter, my parents were much more laid back. They didn't seem bothered and kept saying that the strengthened defenses were more than enough to keep the barbarians away. Rather than get frustrated, I simply made more of an effort to get strong enough to keep them safe until they realize the dangers.

My mother was in the kitchen, preparing a roast. Her melodious voice carried to the living room. The fire was going in the hearth and the house was warm. Such a homely scene must have made it hard for anything to think that the apocalypse was close.

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I spent the next half an hour with my daughter, drawing and playing with her. I knew just how precious this time was.

A loud MOOO made all of us except my daughter jump.

“It must be Floria! She had a big tummy meaning a baby was inside! Gramppa, Gramppa isnt that right? Has Floria got a baby now?”

“Ahem, why yes, of course, you're absolutely right Lydia” said August, while attempting to regain his composure.

We all went outside to the barn. It was rather empty, though not as empty as I would have liked it to be. I knew that one of the reasons why the apocalypse was so hard on everyone was that every living creature changed when the time came. Wild animals became dangerous beasts whilst farm animals also changed, albeit to a lesser degree. But it would take everyone by surprise.

Most didn't expect the household dog to suddenly become a rapid animal, tearing at the throats of their owners.

My request to kill all the animals fell on deaf ears but we did end up eating meat on most days despite my father’s protests.

In one of the stalls, a mother cow had given birth. She was busy licking the calf clean, its weak bleats were endearing.

“Aww, it's so cute,” said my daughter. “Why is there so much blood around it?”

Before I could answer her, something caught my eye. The calf had a little horn at the top of its head. Hastily, I casted [Greater Identify] on it.

Name: Weaker Bullhorn

Type: Aberrant

State: Weak…infantile

Lifeforce: Strong

Weaknesses: ??

Powers/Abilities: Charge (Level 1)

An Aberrant beast. These were common during the entirety of the apocalypse. Most possessed strange or powerful abilities and knew instinctively how to use it. Apart from power, nearly all Aberrancies were more intelligent than their derivative bases. Even now, in its infantile state, the Bullhorn calf was already eyeing us suspiciously, its golden eyes darting from each of us rapidly.

While Lylia was on her haunches looking at the calf, August pulled me aside and asked me in hushed tones, “Son, there is something amiss with this calf, its not right.”

I nodded my head but didnt respond immediately.

“Is this some kind of possessed demonic beast?” continued my father, “you know anything about it?”

“It's an aberration of a cow. Dont worry about it just yet, I’ll keep an eye on it.”

Just as I was saying that, my daughter takes a few steps towards it. My heart leap to my throat as I quickly went towards her. In my right hand, I drew my [Enhanced] dagger, now identified as a Swift Iron Dagger. Lylia turned towards me but then turned back to the beast and held out her hand. I stood beside her vigilantly, my dagger ready to strike should the beast show any signs of aggression.

Instead, the Bullhorn meekly leaned forward and started to lick her hand. Lylia giggled, “Hahah, that tickles.” It then turned away and started to nurse off its mother.

“Daddy, daddy, did you see that?” asked my daughter, beaming radiantly, “I think it likes me, can I name it?”

I let out a sigh and felt the tension come out of me. I knew I was rusty but getting my back up for something so small meant that it was worse than I thought.

“Sure Lia, just make sure not to get too close to it if Im not around ok. You see that horn on its head? It means that this little cow can be dangerous so please dont take any chances alright?”

“Ok!” she answered. Then she turned to it and started tapping her chin, a thoughtful look on her face. “Lemme think…I want to call you…Snowie!” The Bullhorn gave a weak moo before going back to its mothers’ udder.

Lylia and her grandfather walked out. I could overhear her saying she named the Bullhorn Snowie because it was snowing season right now. I stared at the Bullhorn a little while longer. Should I kill it now? It would make things easier for me. But the apocalypse was not yet here so it was strange that an Aberrant creature appeared.

I shrugged my shoulders, kill it now or later, the outcome was the same. I decided to wait for tonight.